The world held its breath when an Egyptian plane veered off course Tuesday morning. The devastating terror attacks in Brussels happened only a week ago. There were 82 passengers, including 10 American citizens, trapped on that plane. Everyone feared the worst.

But ISIS had nothing to do with this airborn drama. The entire hijacking was just one man’s crackpot scheme to win back and/or harass his ex-wife.

The Hijacking

EgyptAir Flight MS181 was en route from Alexandria to Cairo when Egyptian-American passenger Seif El Din Mustafa took control of the aircraft. Mustafa claimed he was wearing an explosive suicide belt. The crew did not see the belt, but they treated the threat seriously and signaled airport traffic control. Mustafa successfully diverted the plane to Cyprus, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.

When the aircraft eventually landed in Larnaca airport, Cyprus authorities were waiting. Snipers were positioned around the airport, ready to take out Mustafa at a moment’s notice. Everyone had their eyes trained on Mustafa, ready for the terror he was about to commit.

But during hostage negotiations, authorities discovered that Mustafa wasn’t trying to sow terror at all.

“It’s all to do with a woman,” said Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades, “We are doing everything to release the hostages.”

The Worst Romantic Gesture Ever

As snipers kept him in their crosshairs, as police and reporters waited for hostages to emerge with baited breath, Mustafa tossed a letter out the cabin window and onto the tarmac.

It wasn’t a list of demands or a ransom note. It was a love letter! Addressed to his ex-wife!

Apparently, Mustafa’s ex lived in Cyprus and he wanted to deliver her a letter begging for reconciliation. Why that letter had to be delivered via hijacked Egyptian plane is a mystery.

Local police then tracked down his ex-wife and brought her to Larnaca airport to reason with Mustafa. Whatever she said worked; the passengers were freed and Mustafa arrested by 7:45 am EST.

The whole situation was best summed up by Egypt’s minister of foreign affairs: “He’s not a terrorist, he’s an idiot.”

From what we can tell based on media reports, Mustafa’s ex did not take him back.