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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat

Cyprus Extradites Egyptian Plane Hijacker

Seif Eddin Mustafa is escorted from the courthouse in Larnaca, Cyprus. AFP file photo

An Egyptian man who hijacked an EgyptAir flight two years ago and ordered it to land in Cyprus has been extradited to his homeland where prosecutors ordered him to remain in detention for 15 days pending an investigation.

Egypt’s Chief Prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said in a statement that Seif Eddin Mustafa was handed over to an Egyptian Interpol team in Nicosia after Cairo provided assurances that he would face legal proceedings that conform to international standards.

Mustafa hijacked the EgyptAir flight in March 2016 using a fake suicide belt and diverted it to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. A six-hour standoff with Cypriot authorities on the tarmac of Cyprus' Larnaca airport ended peacefully after all 72 passengers and crew were released and Mustafa was arrested.

Officials at Cairo airport confirmed the arrival of 60-year-old Mustafa amid tight security late Saturday. 

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