EgyptAir Hijack Hostage Situation Ends As Suspect Arrested

The hijacker of an EgyptAir flight has been arrested, ending a six-hour hostage situation in Cyprus's Larnaca International Airport, officials have confirmed.

All passengers and crew are safe after a man named by Egyptian officials as Seif El Din Mustafa hijacked a plane that was travelling from Alexandria to Cairo on Tuesday morning.

EgyptAir Flight MS181 had 81 people on board when it was hijacked and directed towards Cyprus.

The pilot reported that one of the passengers threatened that he had an explosives belt, forcing the pilot to land in Larnaca Airport.

Since Mustafa's arrest, the Egyptian government has confirmed the suicide belt was fake.

The hijacker was seen being led away from the airport by the authorities.

His motives for hijacking the aircraft remain unclear, although there were reports that the suspect wanted to see his estranged wife, who is Cypriot, and had written her a letter.

Egyptian state media released the photo below appearing to show the hijacker.

Cypriot president Nikos Anastasiades sparked criticism today when he was caught on camera laughing about the hijacking while hostages were still being held by the suspect.

Anastasiades said: "It is not something that has to do with terrorism."

Laughing, the president added: “You know what I mean. Always there is a woman involved.”

Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed that the hijacker was not a terrorist, but an “idiot”.

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

EgyptAir announced shortly after 7.30am on Tuesday that Flight MS181 had been hijacked. 

At about 8am about 20 passengers, mainly women and children, were allowed off the aircraft.

Reports of the hijacker's motives changed throughout the morning. 

Sources said that he was seeking asylum, while others claimed he wanted to be put in touch with his estranged wife, who was escorted to the airport.

It remains unclear exactly what his motives were.

Pictures emerged appearing to show a letter, which was reportedly for the hijacker's ex-wife, being passed to a flight attendant from the cockpit. 

By about 8.30am, most of the hostages were allowed to leave the plane, except for the crew and four passengers.

The airport, located on the south coast of Cyprus, was closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

Pictures emerged on social media appearing to show the hijacker having photos taken with some of the hostages.

At about 12.30pm, a figure was seen climbing out of one of the plane's windows in footage broadcast by the BBC.

At 12.43pm Cypriot officials announced the hijacker had been arrested.

According to reports, there were four Briton's caught up in today's events.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing support to Britons involved.

An FCO spokesman said: “We are relieved that the situation at Larnaca Airport has now come to a safe conclusion.

"We are providing consular support to British Nationals caught up in today’s events.

“We remain in close contact with the Cypriot and Egyptian authorities.”

The hijacking is likely to resurface concerns over security at Egyptian airports.

Last year a Russian aircraft crashed over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula minutes after it took off from Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

All 224 people on board were killed in the crash. Russia later said an explosive device brought down the aircraft and the extremist Islamic State group said it downed the plane.