Egypt says plane hijacker to face terror charges
Mustafa hijacked domestic flight in 2016 using fake suicide belt
Cairo - Egypt’s chief prosecutor says a man who hijacked a plane and diverted it to Cyprus in 2016 will face trial on terror-related charges.
Saif Al Deen Mustafa, 60, was extradited to Egypt in August after a drawn-out legal battle in Cyprus. Egyptian prosecutor Nabil Sadek says he will face trial on charges of hijacking a civilian plane and taking passengers hostage.
No date has been set for the trial.
Mustafa hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight in March 2016 using a fake suicide belt and diverted it to Cyprus, where he was arrested.
Mustafa said he did it to protest against Egypt’s government. Cypriot prosecutors say Mustafa later told authorities that his sole motive was to be reunited with his estranged Cypriot family.