A man seen climbing out of the cockpit window of the EgyptAir flight that was hijacked. (Agence France-Presse photo)
Highlights
- Remaining seven hostages on the hijacked EgyptAir flight escape
- Hijacker threatened pilot with blowing up an explosives belt: Egypt govt
- EgyptAir MS181 was headed from Alexandria in Egypt to capital Cairo
The hijacker who seized an EgyptAir flight and forced it to land in Cyprus has been arrested, government spokesperson Nicos Christodoulides said on Tuesday. A man was seen climbing out of the cockpit window as it was reported that all passengers were safely off the plane.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
The hijacker "emerged with his hands in the air" to counter-terror police officers who laid him on the ground and searched him before taking him away.
The hijacker had claimed to be wearing an explosives belt when he took over the plane this morning. Reports had quoted the pilot has saying a man had threatened to blow himself up.
The Airbus was hijacked on its way from Alexandria in Egypt to capital Cairo.
The hijacker was identified as Seif Eldin Mustafa by the Cyprus government. A passenger had earlier been wrongly named as the hijacker.
The plane had 60 on board when it was hijacked. Most of the passengers and crew were released within an hour.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said the hijacking was not related to terrorism.
Cyprus media said the hijacker wanted to see his ex-wife, who lives in Larnaca.
An Egyptian government spokesman told a news channel that the hijacker wanted to go to Istanbul but was told by the captain that he did not have enough fuel for the journey.
Five months ago, 224 people were killed when a Russian Metrojet airliner was brought down by ISIS terrorists over Sinai in Egypt.
Cyprus has seen little militant activity for decades, despite its proximity to the Middle East. A botched attempt by Egyptian commandos to storm a hijacked airliner at Larnaca airport led to the disruption of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Egypt in 1978.
Post a comment