EgyptAir Plane Hijacked To Cyprus

CNN: EgyptAir hijacker identified; overtook plane because of ex-wife, officials say

(CNN)An Egyptian man hijacked an EgyptAir flight over his ex-wife, forcing the plane to land in Cyprus, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities identified the hijacker as Egyptian national Seif El Din Mustafa, presidential spokesman Alaa Yousuf said. Earlier, Yousuf identified the hijacker as an Egyptian-American dual citizen with a different name.

The Airbus 320 had at least 81 people on board, Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said.

By midday Tuesday, many of the passengers had been released. But three passengers and four crew members remain on board, Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathy Ateyya said.

The hijacking is not related to terrorism, but rather the hijacker's ex-wife, a spokesman for the Cyprus Ministry of Transport said.

Egyptian authorities have been negotiating with the hijacker.

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