EgyptAir hijack: Cyprus 'agrees to extradite suspect' Published duration 6 April 2016

image copyright EPA image caption Egyptian officials had asked for the extradition of the suspected hijacker

Cyprus has agreed to extradite to Egypt the man accused of hijacking an airliner last week, reports say.

Seif al-Din Mustafa, 58, used a fake suicide belt to hijack the EgyptAir flight and forced it to fly to Larnaca.

He has been held in Cyprus and the extradition process is expected to be fast-tracked, AFP reported.

Mr Mustafa has been described as being mentally disturbed and can be charged with air piracy, kidnapping and threatening behaviour.

According to Cypriot police, the suspect gave a voluntary statement admitting to the hijacking, the news agency added.

The incident is believed to have been motivated by a row between Mr Mustafa and his ex-wife, who lives in Cyprus.

Egypt had asked Cyprus to hand him over under a 1996 bilateral extradition treaty.

image copyright AFP/Getty image caption Stand-off ended after six hours with no-one injured

EgyptAir flight MS181 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew and a security official, when it was diverted to Cyprus.

The drama ended with all passengers released unhurt at Larnaca airport and the man giving himself up after a six-hour stand-off.