The man accused of hijacking an EgyptAir flight today had a “suicide vest” that contained no explosives -- just mobile phone cases made to look like a suicide belt, according to the Cyprus Foreign Ministry.
The hijacker had wanted to fly to Istanbul, but the plane did not have enough fuel so he opted for Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus, ministry spokeswoman Margarita Kiriakou said.
When the plane landed there, the suspected hijacker initially released everyone but the captain, his co-pilot, a flight attendant, a security guard and three passengers.
The hijacker decided on his own to release all but those seven, Kiriakou said.
See the harrowing escape from the hijacked EgyptAir flight's cockpit
The hijacker had several demands including speaking with his former wife who lives in Larnaca. Police brought her to the airport and "they spoke for a while," Kiriakou said.
The man believed to be responsible for the hijacking was arrested and EgyptAir tweeted that all the hostages were released.
The Foreign Ministry of Cyprus tweeted the name of the suspected hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa. Officials said the hijacking was not terrorism but may have been motivated by a personal issue.
"He will be kept in custody and legal procedures will follow," Kiriakou said.
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