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| Security forces arrest EgyptAir hijacker after airport standoff in Cyprus | Security forces arrest EgyptAir hijacker after airport standoff in Cyprus |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| CAIRO — A nearly six-hour hijacking standoff in Cyprus ended Tuesday after the surrender of a man who commandeered an Egyptian airliner, claiming to have an explosive vest, officials said. | CAIRO — A nearly six-hour hijacking standoff in Cyprus ended Tuesday after the surrender of a man who commandeered an Egyptian airliner, claiming to have an explosive vest, officials said. |
| There were no immediate reports of injuries among the more than 55 passengers and crew on the EgyptAir flight, and Cypriot officials said no explosives were found on the hijacker or on the aircraft. | There were no immediate reports of injuries among the more than 55 passengers and crew on the EgyptAir flight, and Cypriot officials said no explosives were found on the hijacker or on the aircraft. |
| But full details of the incident remained unclear — including the motive. | But full details of the incident remained unclear — including the motive. |
| Terrorism was not initially suspected. Cypriot authorities described the hijacker — identified as Seif Eldin Mustafa — as “unstable” but did not elaborate on his mental state or background. | Terrorism was not initially suspected. Cypriot authorities described the hijacker — identified as Seif Eldin Mustafa — as “unstable” but did not elaborate on his mental state or background. |
| [What a horrific week of terrorism tells us about the world] | |
| Mustafa was taken into custody amid a series of fast-moving events that included an escape by an apparent hostage who slithered down a rope from a cockpit window. Cyprus’s foreign minister then posted a Twitter message saying the hijacker was arrested. | Mustafa was taken into custody amid a series of fast-moving events that included an escape by an apparent hostage who slithered down a rope from a cockpit window. Cyprus’s foreign minister then posted a Twitter message saying the hijacker was arrested. |
| In Cairo, officials at EgyptAir also declared an end to the hijacking, which began during a domestic flight in Egypt. It concluded with only a handful of passengers and crew as hostages after the hijacker freed most others at Larnaca International Airport, where the plane landed. | In Cairo, officials at EgyptAir also declared an end to the hijacking, which began during a domestic flight in Egypt. It concluded with only a handful of passengers and crew as hostages after the hijacker freed most others at Larnaca International Airport, where the plane landed. |
| Earlier, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the hijacking was “not something which has to do with terrorism,” but the reason was not fully apparent. | Earlier, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the hijacking was “not something which has to do with terrorism,” but the reason was not fully apparent. |
| Cyprus’s state broadcaster said the hijacker asked for the release of political prisoners in Egypt. Earlier, however, a Cyprus government spokesman speculated that the hijacker was driven by a possible failed relationship after asking to deliver a letter to a woman who lives on the eastern Mediterranean island. | Cyprus’s state broadcaster said the hijacker asked for the release of political prisoners in Egypt. Earlier, however, a Cyprus government spokesman speculated that the hijacker was driven by a possible failed relationship after asking to deliver a letter to a woman who lives on the eastern Mediterranean island. |
| [Egyptian aviation under scrutiny after Sinai crash] | [Egyptian aviation under scrutiny after Sinai crash] |
| EgyptAir Flight MS 181 was flying from the northern Egyptian port of Alexandria to the capital, Cairo. Instead, the plane was forced to head north to Larnaca, a port on the southern coast of Cyprus. | EgyptAir Flight MS 181 was flying from the northern Egyptian port of Alexandria to the capital, Cairo. Instead, the plane was forced to head north to Larnaca, a port on the southern coast of Cyprus. |
| Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s minister of aviation, told reporters that the hijacker had held seven hostages before his arrest, including the captain, his assistant, one flight attendant, a security officer and three passengers. No further details on identities or passenger nationalities were given. | Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s minister of aviation, told reporters that the hijacker had held seven hostages before his arrest, including the captain, his assistant, one flight attendant, a security officer and three passengers. No further details on identities or passenger nationalities were given. |
| Later, Fathy said some phone calls made by the hijacker while aboard the plane pointed to possible personal and mental problems. | Later, Fathy said some phone calls made by the hijacker while aboard the plane pointed to possible personal and mental problems. |
| Fathy said the pilot and hijacker had a discussion over whether to fly to Turkey or Cyprus, and decided on European Union-member Cyprus — about 300 miles to the northeast — apparently because the plane did not have enough fuel to reach Turkey. | Fathy said the pilot and hijacker had a discussion over whether to fly to Turkey or Cyprus, and decided on European Union-member Cyprus — about 300 miles to the northeast — apparently because the plane did not have enough fuel to reach Turkey. |
| An Egyptian civil aviation authority spokesman told The Washington Post that 56 people were on board, including 30 Egyptians, 11 Italians, eight Americans, two Belgians, two Greeks, a French citizen and a Syrian. He declined to comment further. | An Egyptian civil aviation authority spokesman told The Washington Post that 56 people were on board, including 30 Egyptians, 11 Italians, eight Americans, two Belgians, two Greeks, a French citizen and a Syrian. He declined to comment further. |
| EgyptAir initially said there were 88 passengers on the plane. | EgyptAir initially said there were 88 passengers on the plane. |
| [Cyprus no stranger to spillover from Middle East] | [Cyprus no stranger to spillover from Middle East] |
| Cypriot media reported that the hijacker wanted to see his ex-wife, who lives in Larnaca. The woman was said to be on her way to the airport. | Cypriot media reported that the hijacker wanted to see his ex-wife, who lives in Larnaca. The woman was said to be on her way to the airport. |
| Militant attacks in Egypt have surged in recent years, driving tourists and foreign investors away as the government struggles to revive the economy. | Militant attacks in Egypt have surged in recent years, driving tourists and foreign investors away as the government struggles to revive the economy. |
| Egypt’s U.S.-backed military is battling an Islamic State affiliate in the country’s northern Sinai Peninsula. In October, a Russian passenger plane was brought down over the Sinai by a bomb planted aboard, an attack that was claimed by the Islamic State. | Egypt’s U.S.-backed military is battling an Islamic State affiliate in the country’s northern Sinai Peninsula. In October, a Russian passenger plane was brought down over the Sinai by a bomb planted aboard, an attack that was claimed by the Islamic State. |
| Plane hijackings were once more common, but increased security and passenger screening have sharply reduced the number of aircraft commandeered in flight. | Plane hijackings were once more common, but increased security and passenger screening have sharply reduced the number of aircraft commandeered in flight. |
| In February 2014, a man falsely claiming to have a bomb demanded that a Pegasus Airlines plane — traveling from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to Istanbul — be diverted to Sochi, Russia, which was then hosting the Winter Olympics. The pilot landed in Istanbul, telling the hijacker they were in Sochi. The man, who was apparently intoxicated, was arrested, and no passengers or crew were harmed. | In February 2014, a man falsely claiming to have a bomb demanded that a Pegasus Airlines plane — traveling from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to Istanbul — be diverted to Sochi, Russia, which was then hosting the Winter Olympics. The pilot landed in Istanbul, telling the hijacker they were in Sochi. The man, who was apparently intoxicated, was arrested, and no passengers or crew were harmed. |
| Less than two weeks later, the co-pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines Flight from Addis Ababa to Rome took command of the aircraft and landed in Geneva, demanding asylum. He was arrested and no injuries occurred. | Less than two weeks later, the co-pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines Flight from Addis Ababa to Rome took command of the aircraft and landed in Geneva, demanding asylum. He was arrested and no injuries occurred. |
| In March 2015, Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, took control of the plane before crashing it in the French Alps, killing all 150 people aboard. | In March 2015, Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, took control of the plane before crashing it in the French Alps, killing all 150 people aboard. |
| Deane reported from London. Murphy reported from Washington. Heba Habib in Cairo contributed to this report. | Deane reported from London. Murphy reported from Washington. Heba Habib in Cairo contributed to this report. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
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| Egyptian aviation under scrutiny after Sinai crash | Egyptian aviation under scrutiny after Sinai crash |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |