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Libyan passenger plane hijacked and diverted to Malta Hijackers of Libyan plane diverted to Malta agree to release 25 hostages Hijackers of Libyan plane diverted to Malta agree to release 25 hostages
(about 1 hour later)
An airliner on an internal flight in Libya has been hijacked and diverted to Malta, where the airport appears to have been shut down. Hijackers who flew a Libyan plane to Malta have agreed to release 25 women and children, and are in negotiations about the fate of more than 90 people still trapped on board, the country’s prime minister said.
The Airbus A320 operated by the state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways had 118 people on board, and was travelling between the cities of Sabha and Tripoli. There were 118 people travelling on the Airbus A320, operated by the state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways, when it was hijacked on an internal route between the cities of Sabha and Tripoli.
The two hijackers claimed to be in possession of a hand grenade, the Times of Malta reported. The two hijackers claimed to be in possession of a hand grenade, the Times of Malta reported, but it was not clear what their demands were.
All flights to and from the airport had been cancelled or diverted Negotiations were underway by early afternoon, and the first releases were announced soon after Muscat spoke to his Libyan counterpart Faez al Serraj.
Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, tweeted: “Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by.” “First group of passengers, consisting of women and children, being released now,” Muscat said on Twitter, without giving details of the conditions of their escape.
Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM First group of passengers, consisting of women and children, being released now.
The Maltese president, Marie-Louise Coleiro, appealed for calm as the airport authorities confirmed an “unlawful interference” at the airport and said emergency teams had been dispatched. All flights to and from the airport had been cancelled or diverted, and security forces gathered near the plane, which sat on the runway with engines still running long after it landed.
Muscat had earlier said security and emergency operations were on standby. The Maltese president, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, appealed for calm.
Following the news re #Afriqiyah Airways @Maltairport, I appeal for everyone to remain calm and follow official updatesFollowing the news re #Afriqiyah Airways @Maltairport, I appeal for everyone to remain calm and follow official updates
A senior Libyan security official told Reuters that when the plane was still in flight on Friday morning the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.
“The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused.”
Malta lies only 350km north of Tripoli, and even closer to Tunisia, and has been a destination for hijackers before.Malta lies only 350km north of Tripoli, and even closer to Tunisia, and has been a destination for hijackers before.
In 1985 an EgyptAir flight from Athens to Cairo was forced to land in Malta, where a 24-hour ordeal ended with the death of 60 hostages, many killed when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane in what was considered a botched operation.In 1985 an EgyptAir flight from Athens to Cairo was forced to land in Malta, where a 24-hour ordeal ended with the death of 60 hostages, many killed when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane in what was considered a botched operation.
A decade earlier the then prime minister Dom Mintoff negotiated a happier conclusion to another hijacking. A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Tokyo was hijacked over Iraqi airspace, then flew to Malta after being refused landing permission anywhere else. Mintoff secured the release of 247 passengers and 8 crew in return for fuel, and the plane headed to Dubai where the remaining hostages were released.A decade earlier the then prime minister Dom Mintoff negotiated a happier conclusion to another hijacking. A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Tokyo was hijacked over Iraqi airspace, then flew to Malta after being refused landing permission anywhere else. Mintoff secured the release of 247 passengers and 8 crew in return for fuel, and the plane headed to Dubai where the remaining hostages were released.