EgyptAir Skyjack Ends at Cyprus Airport, Culprit Surrenders

The seven-hour highjacking incident on EgyptAir Flight MS181 has come to an end at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, after the perpetrator surrendered to authorities early on Tuesday, following negotiations. No one on board was hurt.

Identified by the Cyprus Foreign Ministry as Seif Eldin Mustafa, the middle-aged man claiming to be carrying explosives, demanded that the flight – on its way to Cairo from Alexandria – be diverted to either Cyprus or Turkey.

Although yet unclear, reports say the man was seeking to contact his former wife who is a Cypriot. Other media reports say he was seeking the release of female prisoners in Egypt.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the hijacking was “not something that has to do with terrorism”, while Cypriot civil aviation authorities said the assailant did not have a gun.

Eighty-one people, including 21 foreigners and 15 crew, were onboard the Airbus 320, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

Larnaca airport is closed with scheduled flights diverted.