EgyptAir Hijacking Not Terrorist Act, But 'Woman Woes' - Cypriot President

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday that the hijacking of the EgyptAir commercial jet that landed in Larnaca was not a terrorist act, but only “woman woes.”

ATHENS (Sputnik) – During a joint press conference with European Parliament President Martin Schulz Anastasiades said:

“Everything is always tied with a woman.”

Actually yeah. Good point. Who is this mystery woman that allured this man to take such drastic measures. #EgyptAir https://t.co/pikcHKsvuf

— Aisha Yaqub (@chaandbeti) March 29, 2016

​According to Cyprus's state RIK television, the hijacker may have had his own ulterior motives in mind when taking control of the aircraft.

According to the broadcaster, the hijacker requested a 4-page letter written in Arabic be passed to an unidentified woman residing in Cyprus. Reuters reported the woman is his ex-wife.

Officials at Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs responded to reports that the hijacker’s motives are personal, saying they were aware of the reports that he is seeking asylum and discussing his ex wife.

“He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren’t stupid. This guy is,” they said.

Earlier in the day, the EgyptAir passenger flight MS181 on route from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked by a single male suicide bomber with between 60 and 82 people on board, according to various reports.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry says several foreigners remain on board the hijacked EgyptAir commercial jet that landed in Larnaca.