Hijacked Lybian Plane redirected to Malta, grenade threat

[Windmill knight]

Whoah, not a quiet day this holiday season!

(Tweets and images in link.)

Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways plane lands in Malta, suspect threatens to detonate grenade

https://www.rt.com/news/371416-afriqiyah-airways-hijacked-libya-malta/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS

Up to two hijackers, described as being from the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida have seized control of Afriqiyah Airways flight 8U209 in Libya, forcing the Airbus A320 plane to divert to Malta. It’s understood there are 118 people on board.

“Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by,” Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted on Friday, adding in a second tweet that "security and emergency services [are] coordinating operations"

It's understood the plane was making an internal flight from Sebha to Tripoli, but has now landed at Malta International Airport where armed soldiers have surrounded it on the runway.

"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him,” a security official from Mitiga airport in Libya told Reuters. “The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

There are conflicting reports as to how many hijackers are on board the flight, with some media outlets indicating two while the Times of Malta report there is only one suspect involved.

Described as being “pro-Gaddafi,” the hijacker is reportedly in possession of a hand grenade and has threatened to blow up the plane if demands are not met, although the nature of these demands are not yet known. It’s reported that Libyan and Maltese authorities are in negotiations with the hijackers.

Malta’s prime minister confirmed that there are 111 passengers on board, 82 males, 28 females and one infant, plus seven crew.

Airport authorities in Malta described the incident as an “unlawful interference” and, although they confirmed all flights to the airport have been diverted, it appears some “operations” have resumed.

Malta’s President Marie-Louise Coleiro tweeted to appeal “for everyone to remain calm and follow official updates.”

Opposition party leader Simon Busuttil, also tweeted about the incident, calling it a “grave concern.”

“My full cooperation to Govt to protect Malta security and the safety of passengers,” he wrote.

 

[Alana]

Some passengers were released according to RT:

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed that the first group of 25 out of the 118 on board were freed, while a second group were released a short while later bringing the total to 65.

https://www.rt.com/news/371416-afriqiyah-airways-hijacked-libya-malta/

No information available yet about the demands of the hijakers.

Edit to add, from Sputnik:

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201612231048917970-airliner-capture-libya/

The media reports say that two hijackers threatened to bomb the plane. The hijackers of a Libyan passenger plane that landed in Malta earlier in the day are demanding the release of Libya's long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi's son from prison, the Al Bilad newspaper reported Friday, citing sources.

InewsMalta reporter Jake Azzopardi reported from the airport that two people onboard are threatening to bomb the plane if they are not given food and fuel to take off.

2nd edit: 109 passengers are now released which leaves 9 people left on board with the hijakers. They are probably the pilots and crew.

 

[seek10]

_http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/libya-hijack-plane-malta-terror-8u209-afriqiyah-airways-latest-updates-live-a7492206.html

The hijackers of the Libyan plane have "surrendered, [been] searched and taken into custody", says Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Twitter.

The image below, broadcast on Television Malta, shows the final crew members and hijackers leaving the aircraft.

The hijack is now over and the hijackers have been apprehended after leaving the plane, apparently voluntarily
...
One of the men who hijacked a Libyan internal flight and diverted it to Malta has told Libyan TV he was the head of a party supporting late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The man, who gave his name as Moussa Shaha, told Libya's Channel TV station by phone that he was the head of Al-Fateh Al-Jadeed, or The New Al-Fateh.

Al-Fateh is the name that Gaddafi gave to September, the month he staged a coup in 1969, and the word came to signify his coming to power.

 

[loreta]

So they are so bad, the followers of Gaddafi, so mean and dangerous that they take an air plane and tell they will explode it? Who can believe this story? Who gave permission to one hijacker to go near the air plane door and show the Gaddafi fly? Because I think it was during the pourparlers with authorities. Who is behind this coup?

 

[angelburst29]

The detained hijackers of the Libyan aircraft, which were brought before the court in Malta on Sunday, may face life imprisonment in line with the Maltese legislation, local media reported.

Hijackers of Libyan Passenger Plane Facing Life Sentence - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201612251048986792-hujackers-libya-plane/

The two men were charged with hijacking, possession of fake weapons, violence against a person on board, holding people against their will, making threats of violence and an attempt to cause financial or economic instability in the country, the Times of Malta newspaper reported.

The detainees reportedly denied some of the charges, including the hijacking. An Afriqiyah Airways A320 plane flying from Libya's Sabha to Tripoli with 118 people on board, including seven crew members, was hijacked and landed in Malta on Friday. The two hijackers, who demanded the release of Libya's long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi's son, surrendered shortly after the landing.