Rouida Ihab told The Associated Press that the hijacker "wanted the foreigners ... Only foreigners. He didn't want Egyptians or double nationalities."
She also says the initial confusion about his identity came about because the hijacker was sitting in a seat that had been assigned to another passenger.
Authorities say Seif Eddin Mustafa, a 59-year-old Egyptian, has admitted hijacking a domestic EgyptAir flight yesterday and diverting it to Cyprus by threatening to blow it up with a fake explosives belt. He has been detained in Cyprus.
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