All passengers who were aboard EgyptAir flight MS181, which was hijacked early on Tuesday, arrived safely in Cairo on Tuesday night after spending several hours in Cyprus, Egyptian media report.
The flight was hijacked shortly after taking off from Alexandria on Tuesday morning and was diverted to Cyprus.
The single hijacker, who was named as Egyptian citizen Seif Eldin Mustafa, took control of the plane in an attempt to meet with his estranged ex-wife, who lives in Cyprus.
Upon the plane’s landing in Cyprus’ Larnaca airport, several passengers were released but the pilot, three foreign passengers and some crew members remained onboard for some time while negotiations with the Mustafa were ongoing, reported the independent news website Egyptian Streets.
All those remaining on board the plane eventually departed and the hijacker was arrested.
Cypriot officials said that an alleged “suicide belt” which Mustafa was carried was a fake and no explosives were found on board the plane.
Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail greeted the passengers and crew at Cairo International Airport, where they landed at around 9:00 pm on Tuesday, according to Egyptian Streets.