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EgyptAir Hijacker Had Fake Explosives, Wanted to See Ex-Wife

HeadlineMar 30, 2016

In Cyprus, a court has ordered an eight-day detention for an Egyptian man who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight and diverted it to Cyprus by threatening to detonate what turned out to be a fake explosives belt. All 72 passengers and crew were ultimately released safely from the plane, and Seif Eldin Mustafa was arrested. Officials said Mustafa told police, “What’s someone supposed to do when he hasn’t seen his wife and children in 24 years and the Egyptian government won’t let him?” Authorities described the alleged hijacker as psychologically unstable.

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