'Pro-Gaddafi' Hijackers Surrender After Libyan Plane Diverted To Malta

The Airbus A320 has 118 people on board.
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  • Up to 2 hijackers armed with hand grenades divert Libyan plane
  • Hijackers claimed to be from pro-Gaddafi group Al-Fatah Al-Gadida
  • All passengers and crew released in Malta
  • Hijackers surrendered after hours of negotiations

Two suspected hijackers have surrendered after diverting a Libyan plane to Malta, where they threatened to blow up the aircraft with hand grenades, according to Malta state TV.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 was on an internal flight within Libya from Sabha to Tripoli with 118 people on board when it landed in Valletta at 11.32am local time.

Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat confirmed a “potential hijack situation” and said security and emergency operations were standing by.

Maltese troops survey a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport
Maltese troops survey a hijacked Libyan Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320 on the runway at Malta Airport
Darrin Zammit Lupi / Reuters

Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

It has been established that #Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, 1 infant.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

He added: “It has been established that Afriqiyah flight has 111 passengers on board. 82 males, 28 females, one infant.”

Emergency teams were dispatched to the site of what Malta International Airport called an “unlawful interference” on the airport tarmac, as all flights were diverted and the hub was closed.

The airliner's engines were left running after it landed in Malta
The airliner's engines were left running after it landed in Malta
Darrin Zammit Lupi / Reuters

According to reports, the hijackers claimed to belong to the Al-Fatah Al-Gadida organisation, a pro-Gaddafi group, and had stated they were willing to release the passengers, though not the seven crew members, if their demands were met.

It is not known what their demands were, but following several hours of tense negotiations, 109 passengers were allowed off the aircraft. The final crew members including the pilot later followed.

Some outlets had claimed there was just one hijacker aboard the plane and the BBC carried reports that he was trying to claim political asylum in Malta, citing information from the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali.

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Hijacker again emerges waving #Gaddafi green flag from Afriqiyah diverted to #Malta from #Libya. pic.twitter.com/WKZln47HFK

— Mark Micallef (@mmic78) December 23, 2016

Photo of first passenger released from potential hijack @TelevisionMalta #maltahijack pic.twitter.com/vlpEPsngjR

— Keith Demicoli (@demicolikeith) December 23, 2016

Malta’s National Security Committee coordinated the operation, a government statement said.

One Libyan lawmaker was among the list of passengers, the Associated Press reports. It was unclear whether the lawmaker, identified as Abdel-Salam al-Marabet, was actually on the flight.

A Libyan news channel identified the hijackers as Mousa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, though as yet their identities are officially unconfirmed.

Two men responsible for hijacking #Libya n plane are Mousa Shaha and Ahmed Ali, according to pilot who spoke to @LibyasChannel

— Alwasat (@alwasatengnews) December 23, 2016
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