Grinning Hostage Poses in a Photo With Hijacker Before Being Released

While a hijacker was busy holding hostages, a passenger managed to pose with him for a photo before being released.
Grinning Hostage Poses in a Photo With Hijacker Before Being Released
Cypriot security forces take a sniffer dog into an EgyptAir Airbus A-320 parked at the tarmac of Larnaca airport after the six-hour hijacking of the plane came to an end on March 29, 2016. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)
3/29/2016
Updated:
3/29/2016

“I have no idea why he took the selfie but I imagine he probably volunteered to take it as he’s not afraid to shy away from anything,” Innes’s roommate Chris Tundogan told MailOnline.

“I find it pretty mental but that’s just Ben I guess!” He added.

Innes was one of the last three remaining hostages to get off the plane. This photo appears to show Innes running across the tarmac:

The remaining passengers on the hijacked EgyptAir Airbus A-320, which was diverted to Cyprus, run on the tarmac after leaving the plane (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)
The remaining passengers on the hijacked EgyptAir Airbus A-320, which was diverted to Cyprus, run on the tarmac after leaving the plane (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)

In another photo, Innes appears to put his hands up so snipers didn’t shoot at him and the two other passengers:

The remaining passengers on the hijacked EgyptAir plane run on the tarmac after leaving the craft (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)
The remaining passengers on the hijacked EgyptAir plane run on the tarmac after leaving the craft (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)

Seif Eldin Mustafa, who was wearing a fake explosives belt, surrendered to authorities after a standoff that lasted hours.

A man believed to be the hijacker before surrendering to security forces after a six-hour standoff (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)
A man believed to be the hijacker before surrendering to security forces after a six-hour standoff (George Michael/AFP/Getty Images)

During the time he held the passengers captive Mustafa made erratic demands, including giving a letter to a woman, asking the Egyptian government to release female prisoners, and asking to speak with his Cypriot ex-wife.

He was taken into custody after the incident. No passengers or crew members were harmed.

Meanwhile, authorities said that they knew they were dealing with an incoherent person.

“From the start, it was clear that this wasn’t an act of terrorism, and despite the fact that the individual appeared to be dangerous in terms of his behavior, we understood that this was a psychologically unstable person,” said Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.