Well At Least The Plane Has Landed

[-Talbot-]

http://news.sky.com/story/1668659/man-strapped-with-explosives-hijacks-plane

I wonder what his motive is?

[TWR]

How did this person get passed the so-called security in Egypt? we have flown in / out of that country & the security is rubbish.

[Jomlett]

Egypt media says 10 US citizens, 8 Brits on hijacked plane. Egyptian passengers have been freed...

[ummmm]

Passengers have been released.

[Jomlett]

Yes, tweet from EgyptAir says that following negotiations with the hijacker, everyone has been freed from the plane apart from the cabin crew and five foreign nationals.

[Islay]

TWR - when we flew into Egypt and out again we found the security very good - I suppose each person looks on their situation differently.

[TWR]

I also noticed that they tried to rip us off with excess weight, it back fired on the staff, I proved them wrong Islay, that was at Hurgarda.

[naomi24]

Islay/TWR, security at holiday resorts is not as stringent as that at the major airports. I wouldn't be surprised if this is an inside job - someone working at the airport.

[TWR]

You could be right on this one Naomi.

[Eve]

I read about a possible claim for asylum in one article.

[Jomlett]

Yes, Reuters quotes Egypt’s state news agency, MENA, as naming the hijacker as an Egyptian national called Ibrahim Samaha. No chance of asylum after hijacking a plane, though!

[douglas9401]

If it is a flight from persecution you have to question the mindset of someone who expects to be welcomed to a country with open arms after terrorising the general public.
Of course the world increasingly believes that it has a right to everything that everybody else has.

[naomi24]

I doubt very much that this man intended to seek asylum. I rather think, though, that an asylum would suit his needs.

[-Talbot-]

One report says it is a result of a domestic with the missus ...

(Don't shoot the messenger)

[TWR]

Ironing calls, back later to irritate.

[Jomlett]

He has an ex-wife in Cyprus, it said, reporting that witnesses said the man threw a letter from the plane in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to his ex-wife, who is a Cypriot!

[Hopkirk]

No chance of asylum after hijacking, Jomlett?

The ones who hijacked an Afghan plane to Stansted about 1999 or 2000 got it in the UK!

[Jomlett]

Officials at Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs responded to reports that the hijacker’s motives are personal, saying they were aware of the reports that he is seeking asylum and discussing his ex wife. “He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot. Terrorists are crazy but they aren’t stupid. This guy is,” they said.

[youngmafbog]

Appears to be just a sad individual.

As for airport security what's the betting it turns out he has not weapon or explosive.

Those people walking from the plane were remarkably calm and it appeared a stewardess walked out and back in, again quite calmly.

[Jomlett]

BBC News television is saying that the man identified as the hijacker, Ibrahim Samaha, a professor of veterinary medicine, has spoken out to say the reports are wrong and he was one of the passengers, now freed.

[237SJ]

Somehow I would believe what the Cypriots are saying rather than the Egyptians