EgyptAir Flight 181

EgyptAir
Industry	Airline
Founded	1932; 94 years ago
Headquarters	Cairo, Egypt
Products	Air transport services
Website	www.egyptair.com

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article EgyptAir Flight 181, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025

EgyptAir Flight 181 was a scheduled domestic service operating between Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria, Egypt, and Cairo International Airport. On 29 March 2016, an Egyptian man hijacked the flight, claiming to be wearing an explosive belt, and compelled the crew to reroute the aircraft to Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. Most passengers and crew members were released soon after arrival. Approximately seven hours later, the hijacker surrendered peacefully, with no injuries reported among those on board. Subsequent inspection revealed that the belt contained mobile phones rather than explosives. The aircraft involved was an EgyptAir Airbus A320-200.

Hijacking

Flight 181 took off from Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria at 06:38 local time (UTC+2), heading for a brief journey to Cairo International Airport, carrying 56 passengers along with seven crew members. Shortly after departure, the captain was informed that a passenger, asserting he had an explosive belt, demanded the plane be diverted to Cyprus. Flight attendants collected passengers’ passports as the aircraft climbed and announced the change of course to Larnaca. The plane landed without incident at Larnaca International Airport at 08:46 local time (UTC+3) and was positioned remotely on the tarmac. The airport was closed to all other air traffic during this period.

Resolution

Following the landing, negotiations commenced; all individuals on board were released except for three passengers and four crew members. The hijacker expressed a desire to meet his estranged wife residing in Cyprus and requested asylum, presenting authorities with a letter addressed to her. According to Cypriot media reports, he also demanded the release of female detainees in Egypt, while Egyptian officials indicated he sought communication with representatives from the European Union.

Subsequently, seven more people disembarked via stairs, and one crew member exited through a cockpit window. At 14:41 local time, Cypriot officials declared the hijacking concluded with the arrest of Seif Eldin Mustafa, an Egyptian citizen. No harm befell any passengers or crew throughout the incident.

A photograph later circulated showing a passenger smiling alongside Mustafa, whose purported explosive belt was visible beneath his coat. The passenger, Ben Innes, explained he took the selfie to better examine the device and determine whether it was genuine.

Passengers and crew

Flight 181 included six Egyptian crew members and one security officer from Egypt. Of the 56 passengers aboard, 30 were Egyptian nationals, 14 were European, and eight were Americans. Among those on board was renowned opera singer Farrah el-Dibany.

Aircraft

The airplane involved was a twelve-year-old Airbus A320-233 bearing registration SU-GCB (MSN 2079), equipped with two IAE V2500 engines.

Perpetrator

Seif Eldin Mustafa was taken into custody in Cyprus, where authorities pursued his extradition to Egypt for trial. After judicial review and an appeal invoking human rights considerations, Mustafa was returned to Egypt, where he faced prosecution, was found guilty, and received a life sentence.

External links

"EgyptAir flight Ms181." EgyptAir.