EgyptAir hijacker identified; overtook plane because of ex-wife,
An EgyptAir plane with 63 passengers and crew aboard was hijacked
Tuesday by a man claiming to wear a suicide vest and forced to land in
Cyprus, said airline and government officials, renewing concerns about
airport security in Egypt.
Most of the passengers were released following negotiations with the hijacker at the international airport in Larnaca. Seven people were still on board the plane, including the pilot, co-pilot, a flight attendant, a security officer and three non-Egyptian passengers, said Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s civil aviation minister.
As the negotiations with the hijacker were continuing, the motive for the hijacking remained unclear. “There were no real, tangible demands by the hijacker,” Mr. Fathy said. The Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades, told reporters, “it’s not something that has to do with terrorism.”
Mr. Fathy declined to discuss reports that the suspect had demanded the plane land in Cyprus in an effort to reach his ex-wife, who lives in the country.
Citing security reasons, the aviation minister declined to identify the hijacker. Officials couldn’t confirm the man’s claim that he was wearing an explosives vest.
The Airbus Group SE A320 plane was bound from Alexandria to Cairo when it was taken over by a passenger threatening to trigger the vest. According to Mr. Fathy, the hijacker demanded that the plane with its 55 passengers, seven crew and security officer land in Turkey or Cyprus. It set down in Larnaca, which was closer, he said.
Egypt’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement that the
country’s ambassador to Cyprus was working with Cypriot officials in a
situation room there. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades was also
contacting his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, to discuss
the matter.
Mr. Sisi said in a statement that the two nations would coordinate to resolve the matter and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
The Larnaca airport was closed, and Emirates Airline and other air carriers diverted inbound flights.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S., plane hijackings have become rare. Locked and reinforced cockpit doors have made it more difficult for hijackers to take over a plane. Passengers, crew and staff also undergo more screening to prevent them from bringing weapons or dangerous items onto planes.
Tuesday’s seizure of the EgyptAir plane comes just months after a Russian jetliner was downed after departing Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh airport raising concern about security at Egyptian airports.
The Russian airliner crashed Oct. 31 en route to St. Petersburg, killing all 224 people on board. Islamic State’s Egyptian affiliate Sinai Province claimed responsibility, saying it had smuggled a bomb on board the airliner in retaliation for Russia’s military support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Egyptian investigators initially denied allegations of terrorism. The Russian and U.K. governments said terrorists had downed the plane.
In February, Mr. Sisi acknowledged that the plane had been brought down by terrorists that sought to undermine Egypt’s relations with Russia. The crash decimated Egypt’s tourism industry, with Russia and the U.K., two of Egypt’s biggest tourism providers, suspending flights to the country over airport security concerns. Flights remain suspended almost six months later.
Most of the passengers were released following negotiations with the hijacker at the international airport in Larnaca. Seven people were still on board the plane, including the pilot, co-pilot, a flight attendant, a security officer and three non-Egyptian passengers, said Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s civil aviation minister.
As the negotiations with the hijacker were continuing, the motive for the hijacking remained unclear. “There were no real, tangible demands by the hijacker,” Mr. Fathy said. The Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades, told reporters, “it’s not something that has to do with terrorism.”
Mr. Fathy declined to discuss reports that the suspect had demanded the plane land in Cyprus in an effort to reach his ex-wife, who lives in the country.
Citing security reasons, the aviation minister declined to identify the hijacker. Officials couldn’t confirm the man’s claim that he was wearing an explosives vest.
The Airbus Group SE A320 plane was bound from Alexandria to Cairo when it was taken over by a passenger threatening to trigger the vest. According to Mr. Fathy, the hijacker demanded that the plane with its 55 passengers, seven crew and security officer land in Turkey or Cyprus. It set down in Larnaca, which was closer, he said.
Mr. Sisi said in a statement that the two nations would coordinate to resolve the matter and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
The Larnaca airport was closed, and Emirates Airline and other air carriers diverted inbound flights.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S., plane hijackings have become rare. Locked and reinforced cockpit doors have made it more difficult for hijackers to take over a plane. Passengers, crew and staff also undergo more screening to prevent them from bringing weapons or dangerous items onto planes.
Tuesday’s seizure of the EgyptAir plane comes just months after a Russian jetliner was downed after departing Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh airport raising concern about security at Egyptian airports.
The Russian airliner crashed Oct. 31 en route to St. Petersburg, killing all 224 people on board. Islamic State’s Egyptian affiliate Sinai Province claimed responsibility, saying it had smuggled a bomb on board the airliner in retaliation for Russia’s military support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Egyptian investigators initially denied allegations of terrorism. The Russian and U.K. governments said terrorists had downed the plane.
In February, Mr. Sisi acknowledged that the plane had been brought down by terrorists that sought to undermine Egypt’s relations with Russia. The crash decimated Egypt’s tourism industry, with Russia and the U.K., two of Egypt’s biggest tourism providers, suspending flights to the country over airport security concerns. Flights remain suspended almost six months later.
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