Kip Powick Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Hijacked aircraft in Malta CNN (CNN)Authorities in Malta are dealing with the "potential hijack" of a Libyan airliner with more than 100 people on board, the country's prime minister said Friday. The plane, an internal Libyan flight operated by Afriqiyah Airways, landed at Malta's international airport, where emergency and security personnel were waiting. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted that he had been "informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by." In another tweet he said that the plane was carrying 111 passengers, including one infant. The French news agency AFP said an additional seven crew members were on board. Follow Joseph Muscat ✔@JosephMuscat_JM It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant. 6:46 AM - 23 Dec 2016 358358 Retweets 127127 likes The plane was on service from Sabha, a city in southwestern Libya, to the capital, Tripoli. A Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs communications officer, Etienne Saint John, told CNN that security personnel were on the scene. "There is an ongoing meeting at the Prime Minister's office regarding the plane." According to the airport's website, several flights had been diverted to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Italy. Outbound flights have been delayed. Developing story - more to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Latest from the BBC Libya Malta hijack: Hijackers arrested 8 minutes ago From the section Europe http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38416112 A number of passengers have left the plane at Malta International Airport The hijackers of a Libyan jet have been arrested following a stand-off at Malta International Airport. The domestic flight with 118 people on board was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli. They surrendered to Maltese authorities after most of the people had been released from the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320. It remains unclear exactly how many hijackers were involved. However, it appears they may be supporters of the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Live updates Image copyright AP Image caption People disembark from a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 A man was seen waving a green, Gaddafi-era flag from the top of the plane steps shortly before the incident ended. Taher Siala, the foreign minister of Libya's internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers wanted to set up a pro-Gaddafi political party. Airport security in Libya: Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent, Tunis Airport security in Libya is as lax and chaotic as the country's' politics. Various armed groups who do not have any particular allegiance to any Libyan administration control them all. Over the years there have been several incidents that passengers have become accustomed to, which often go unreported. This includes planes being delayed because rival armed groups drive up the runway, or even temporarily board them if they have a particular demand or a personal axe to grind. The capital's main airport was burned down during the 2014 rival militia clashes to control it. Libyans already have trouble flying out of their own country, and cannot travel direct to any European country. European airspace has been closed to all flights from Libya for over two years. The latest incident will undoubtedly dash any hopes that a change in that reality will take place any time soon. One of the hijackers told a Libyan television station: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party." Initial information had suggested the hijackers were trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC. Image copyright AP Image caption An Afriqiyah Airways plane stands on the tarmac at Malta International airport as an unidentified man waves a flag The incident began after the plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later. At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the passenger list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby. Col Khayali said the plane had left Sabha's Tmenhant military airport at 11:05 local time for Tripoli. "It was hijacked and investigations are continuing to establish how any explosives or weapons made it on board," he said. He added that security at Tmenhant was poor, with a distance of 5km (3.1 miles) travel between the airport building and planes. "That is an open space and it is possible that along that route something was smuggled on board," he said. Image copyright Reuters The deputy mayor for Lija in Malta, Madga Magri Naudi, told the BBC that paramedics and soldiers were standing by to see "what the next step is". A special committee meeting was taking place to address the situation, she added. In the meantime, Malta International Airport has been closed and all flights have been diverted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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