A man claiming to be wearing a suicide belt hijacked an EgyptAir flight from Alexandria to Cairo, forcing the pilot to divert the plane to Cyprus, all because, like a move out of The Wedding Singer or a Roxette song, he may or may not have wanted to deliver a letter to his ex-wife.
According to reports by the Guardian, the hijacker demanded political asylum and threw a letter from the plane addressed to his ex-wife. Comments by Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades suggested the Egyptian hijacker desired to contact the woman, a Cypriot national, who was even reportedly brought to the airport to talk to him.
As many as 50 passengers were on board at the time of the hijacking, and the plane remained under hostage for six hours, which ended peacefully with his arrest.
Whether the hijacking was done in the name of love, in the glory of love or, as some officials
report, seeking the release of some female prisoners, this is the worst kind of baggage to board your flight.
Tom is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and he’s currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.