To my mind this is hijacking, and is illegal under International law, no matter how it is carried out.
On Saturday an Egyptair plane en route to the States was escorted down to Prestwick by the RAF due to a threat to set it on fire. It might only have been a note left in the toilet, but these threats have to be taken seriously.
It now transpires that five Syrians on the plane have claimed political asylum in the UK. If any of these people are implicated with the note they should be charged with hijacking, but fist they should be sent back to Egypt to be charged there - they are not our problem. Also, under asylum law, they should have claimed asylum in the fist safe country they entered i.e. Egypt.
I am sick to death of the UK being seen as, and acting as, as soft touch.