As the drama surrounding the EgyptAir flight hijacking unfolded across news channels and social media, all passengers were released unharmed while the hijacker himself surrendered, and it was revealed that he was just an Egyptian man trying to talk to his Cypriot ex-wife.
The man identified as 59-year-old Seif Eldin Mustafa, caused a terror scare as he threatened to detonate a fake suicide belt, and diverted the flight to Cyprus. While he demanded release of female passengers in Egypt at first, he later dropped a letter at the apron of the Larnaca airport, which he said was for his Cypriot ex-wife.
British man’s selfie with EgyptAir ‘hijacker’ goes viral https://t.co/yF8DREr2rF pic.twitter.com/BzvlRNhjWd
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 30, 2016
As 81 people including 21 foreigners were held hostage and the world held its breath for one of the weirdest hijackings in history, here’s how Twitter reacted.
Terrorists have no Marital Status. Ex Husbands should not be targeted for action of one Mad Man #EgyptAir
— Joy (@Joydas) March 29, 2016
The suspect did this to get back with his estranged wife.
Is that you, Arbaaz?#EgyptAir— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) March 29, 2016
Now all we need to do is to add the line “I’d hijack an airplane for you” to the chorus of @BrunoMars‘ ‘Grenade’. #EgyptAir
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) March 29, 2016
#EgyptAir interrogations –
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) March 29, 2016
#Egyptair hijacker like a parody of hijackers. Real hijackers ought to sue. pic.twitter.com/DDsL0ANagC
— Gayatri Jayaraman (@Gayatri__J) March 30, 2016
Dear Mr. Hijaker, I’m sure ya do have plenty of ways to rant about your Ex than hijacking a civilian plane! #EgyptAir
— Mohamed AbdelAal (@Abdelaal_) March 29, 2016
This guy hijacked a plane for his ex-wife and I can’t even get a text back #EgyptAir
— Sarah (@chicknugget13) March 29, 2016
According to World News all Passengers in the #EgyptAir Flight are Safe because the hijacker wanted his Ex wife back not 72 Virgins of #ISIS
— Muhammad Aamir Raza (@IamAamirRaza) March 29, 2016
ISIS: “We claim responsibility for this Hijack!”
NEWS: “Hijacker just wants to see his ex wife”
The hijacker later released most passengers while holding foreigners hostage, only to release them later, before surrendering to authorities.