CAIRO (Sputnik) – Flight MS181 was rerouted to Larnaca airport after departing Alexandria in the early hours of Tuesday. The hijacker, identified as Seif Eldin Mustafa, was detained after a seven-hour negotiation process that left the Airbus A320’s passengers and crew unharmed.
"Flight 742 departed from Larnaca airport to Cairo some time ago. Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy and the hijacked plane’s passengers are on board. The plane is expected to arrive at 9:00 p.m. [19:00 GMT]," the ministry said.
Mustafa was found to have fashioned a device he claimed was a suicide vest from cell phone cases and items in his carry-on luggage during the scare. He appeared to have been motivated by personal reasons in the hijacking, and Egyptian media claim he may have suffered from a mental disorder.
The suspected hijacker could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
