EgyptAir hijacker Seif al-Din Mustafa (Second from left)
Larnaca (IINA) – Cyprus has agreed to extradite to Egypt the man accused of hijacking an airliner last week, BBC reported citing local sources.
Seif al-Din Mustafa, 58, used a fake suicide belt to hijack the EgyptAir flight and forced it to fly to Larnaca, a port city on the south coast of Cyprus.
He has been held in Cyprus and the extradition process is expected to be fast-tracked, AFP reported.
Mustafa has been described as being mentally disturbed and can be charged with air piracy, kidnapping and threatening behavior.
According to Cypriot police, the suspect gave a voluntary statement admitting to the hijacking, AFP added.
The incident is believed to have been motivated by a row between Mustafa and his ex-wife, who lives in Cyprus.
Egypt had asked Cyprus to hand him over under a 1996 bilateral extradition treaty.
EgyptAir flight MS181 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew and a security official, when it was diverted to Cyprus. The drama ended with all passengers released unhurt at Larnaca airport and the man giving himself up after a six-hour stand-off.
AB/IINA
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