x
Breaking News
More () »

Malta plane hijack: Passengers being let off Libyan airliner

Update: Two hijackers aboard a Libyan plane that was forced to land in Malta on Friday have threatened to blow up the aircraft with grenades, Maltese officials ...
MALTA-LIBYA-HIJACK

Update:

Two hijackers aboard a Libyan plane that was forced to land in Malta on Friday have threatened to blow up the aircraft with grenades, Maltese officials said.

The hijackers, who took over the Afriqiyah Airways flight with 111 passengers on board, have begun allowing passengers to leave the plane.

Latest developments

  • 65 passengers have been released from the plane so far.
  • Malta’s armed forces are leading the negotiations with the hijackers.
  • Foreign ministry says there is no word on their demands yet.
  • There are seven crew members on board.
  • Flight was scheduled to travel from Sabha to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

MALTA – Authorities in Malta are dealing with the “potential hijack” of a Libyan airliner, its prime minister said Friday. Local media said 118 people were believed to be on board.

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.”
A Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs communications officer, Etienne Saint John, told CNN that the plane landed “a few minutes ago.”
“Security personal are on the scene. There is an ongoing meeting at the Prime Minister’s office regarding the plane.”
Developing story – more to come

Before You Leave, Check This Out