A photograph shows Mr Innes grinning broadly as he stands next to Mustafa in the cabin of the hijacked Airbus 320 as it sat on the runway of Cyprus's Larnaca airport. He was one eight Britons reported to be on plane.

Friends and family of Mr Innes, who lives in Leeds and works in health and safety, said the behaviour was typical of an irreverent young man who loves a joke.

"Only Ben could get a selfie! #proud" tweeted Sarah Innes, a relative.

His mother, Pauline Innes, from Leeds, was less eager to discuss the situation until her son was safely returned.

"Obviously he's not come home yet and there are security issues to think about - we don't want to talk about anything until it has all been resolved," she said.

However, she took issue with descriptions of the picture as "a selfie".