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EgyptAir hijack: Man held after using fake suicide belt | EgyptAir hijack: Man held after using fake suicide belt |
(about 5 hours later) | |
An Egyptian hijacker who forced a domestic flight to land in Cyprus used a fake suicide belt, officials said. | An Egyptian hijacker who forced a domestic flight to land in Cyprus used a fake suicide belt, officials said. |
His motives remain unclear but the Cypriot president said the incident was not terrorism-related. | His motives remain unclear but the Cypriot president said the incident was not terrorism-related. |
Footage released by Egypt's interior ministry shows the man passing through several security checks at Alexandria's Borg El Arab airport. | Footage released by Egypt's interior ministry shows the man passing through several security checks at Alexandria's Borg El Arab airport. |
The drama ended with all passengers released unhurt at Larnaca airport and the man giving himself up. | The drama ended with all passengers released unhurt at Larnaca airport and the man giving himself up. |
Hijacker jokes divide social media | Hijacker jokes divide social media |
How the hijacking unfolded | How the hijacking unfolded |
Cypriot officials named the hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa and said he was "psychologically unstable". | Cypriot officials named the hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa and said he was "psychologically unstable". |
Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Mustafa had initially asked to speak with his Cypriot ex-wife, who police brought to the airport, before making a series of "incoherent" demands. | Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Mustafa had initially asked to speak with his Cypriot ex-wife, who police brought to the airport, before making a series of "incoherent" demands. |
He was appearing in court in the Cypriot city of Larnaca on Wednesday. | |
The Egyptair plane left Larnaca at 22:05 local time (19:05 GMT) bound for Cairo, its original destination. | The Egyptair plane left Larnaca at 22:05 local time (19:05 GMT) bound for Cairo, its original destination. |
Questions over security | Questions over security |
Egypt's tourism ministry insisted all airport security measures had been "fully implemented" before Egyptair Flight MS181 began its flight earlier in the day. | Egypt's tourism ministry insisted all airport security measures had been "fully implemented" before Egyptair Flight MS181 began its flight earlier in the day. |
CCTV footage released by the interior ministry shows Mustafa being frisked at two security checks and passing a slim bag through X-ray machines. | |
The BBC's Youssef Taha says Egypt has taken steps to improve airport security after Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 was blown up over Sinai last October. | The BBC's Youssef Taha says Egypt has taken steps to improve airport security after Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 was blown up over Sinai last October. |
They include an extra $1bn a year and a deal with British consultancy Control Risks to review procedures at Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam airports. | They include an extra $1bn a year and a deal with British consultancy Control Risks to review procedures at Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam airports. |
Despite this, our correspondent says checks remain inconsistent, with many VIPs and MPs refusing to be searched and airport and airline staff routinely bypassing full security screening. | Despite this, our correspondent says checks remain inconsistent, with many VIPs and MPs refusing to be searched and airport and airline staff routinely bypassing full security screening. |
Analysis - BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | Analysis - BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
It is only some small comfort that the man who hijacked Egyptair flight MS181 was bluffing. The bulging white "suicide belt" with wires sticking out turned out to be a fake. | It is only some small comfort that the man who hijacked Egyptair flight MS181 was bluffing. The bulging white "suicide belt" with wires sticking out turned out to be a fake. |
It at least means that this time Egypt cannot be accused of letting someone smuggle explosives through airport security and on to an airliner as they did in October at Sharm El-Sheikh airport, destroying a Russian passenger jet in mid-air. | It at least means that this time Egypt cannot be accused of letting someone smuggle explosives through airport security and on to an airliner as they did in October at Sharm El-Sheikh airport, destroying a Russian passenger jet in mid-air. |
But it still triggers a number of worrying questions about aviation security. | But it still triggers a number of worrying questions about aviation security. |
How was it that a passenger, described by the Cypriot authorities as "mentally unstable" was able to carry enough materials through Alexandria airport to resemble a bomb? | How was it that a passenger, described by the Cypriot authorities as "mentally unstable" was able to carry enough materials through Alexandria airport to resemble a bomb? |
And what is to stop any future airline passenger, similarly unarmed, from pretending that he or she has a real device strapped to them? | And what is to stop any future airline passenger, similarly unarmed, from pretending that he or she has a real device strapped to them? |
For Egypt's battered tourism industry, which has yet to recover from the October airline bombing, this hijack is a further blow it can ill afford. | For Egypt's battered tourism industry, which has yet to recover from the October airline bombing, this hijack is a further blow it can ill afford. |
'Always a woman involved' | 'Always a woman involved' |
After a standoff lasting several hours, the hijacker walked down aircraft steps and surrendered to Cypriot security forces. | After a standoff lasting several hours, the hijacker walked down aircraft steps and surrendered to Cypriot security forces. |
Shortly before that, several people were seen fleeing the aircraft, including one person, apparently a crew member, who climbed out of a cockpit window. | Shortly before that, several people were seen fleeing the aircraft, including one person, apparently a crew member, who climbed out of a cockpit window. |
Other passengers had left the plane after appearing to have been released. | Other passengers had left the plane after appearing to have been released. |
Earlier, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades had responded to a reporter's question about whether the hijacker was motivated by romance, by laughing and saying: "Always there is a woman involved." | Earlier, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades had responded to a reporter's question about whether the hijacker was motivated by romance, by laughing and saying: "Always there is a woman involved." |
Egyptair said the Airbus A320 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew and a security official. | Egyptair said the Airbus A320 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew and a security official. |
A statement from Egypt's civil aviation ministry said 26 foreign passengers were on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch citizens, two Belgians, two Greeks, a French national, an Italian and a Syrian. | A statement from Egypt's civil aviation ministry said 26 foreign passengers were on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch citizens, two Belgians, two Greeks, a French national, an Italian and a Syrian. |
Are you at Larnaca airport? Have you been you affected by this story? Email us: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you at Larnaca airport? Have you been you affected by this story? Email us: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |