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Libya Malta hijack: First passengers released at airport Libya Malta hijack: Man waves Gaddafi flag from plane
(35 minutes later)
The first people have been allowed off a hijacked Libyan jet during a stand-off at Malta International Airport. A man has emerged from a hijacked Libyan jet waving a flag associated with the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, during a stand-off in Malta.
Malta's Prime Minister has said only some of the crew remain on board the domestic Afriqiyah Airways flight but it remains unclear how many hijackers there are. The man appeared after most of the 118 people on board had been released from the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320.
The domestic flight was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli.
At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.
The Airbus A320 which was flying from Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted. The flag-waving man is then understood to have gone back inside the passenger plane.
It is believed that 118 people were aboard the plane.
Initial information suggests the hijacker is trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC.Initial information suggests the hijacker is trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC.
But a Libyan member of parliament who spoke to a colleague on board the flight told Reuters news agency the demands were not yet known. However, a Libyan television station which says it interviewed a hijacker said he wanted to promote a new pro-Gaddafi party.
Col Khayali also said there was only one hijacker - although some reports say there are two. "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party," he was quoted as telling Libya's Channel, according to the broadcaster's Twitter account.
He added there were 111 passengers on board the Airbus A320, plus seven crew members. Col Khayali also said there was only one hijacker although some reports say there are two.
The plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later.The plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by.Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by.
Mr Muscat said on Twitter that the passengers list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby.Mr Muscat said on Twitter that the passengers 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.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."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.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."That is an open space and it is possible that along that route something was smuggled on board," he said.
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".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.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.In the meantime, Malta International Airport has been closed and all flights have been diverted.
What is airport security like in Libya?
by 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.
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