Libyan passenger plane diverted to Malta - Maltese PM calls it "potential hijack situation"

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38416112

A bit too early to start commenting on, yet ...

ibyan passenger plane diverted to Malta - Maltese PM calls it "potential hijack situation"

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

Update:

A Libyan passenger plane with 118 people on board has been forced to land in Malta in what the Maltese prime minister called a "potential hijack situation".

The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for airline Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted, local media report.

There were two hijackers involved, who threatened to bomb the plane, according to initial reports.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said security operations were standing by.
 

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
That is true. It has been handled well (apparently).
Sadly, most terrorist actions (which have not been stopped, beforehand), end up with very tragic consequences. These days.

From my original posts source:
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.

That is a bit crazy. Given the nature of that country, they are just asking for things like that to happen. In this day and age.

Anyway, on this occasion at least. The outcome has not been too bad.

The outcome, which is:
The hijackers of a Libyan jet have been arrested following a stand-off at Malta International Airport.

The domestic flight with 118 people on board was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli.

They surrendered to Maltese authorities after most of the people had been released from the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320.

It remains unclear exactly how many hijackers were involved.

However, it appears they may be supporters of the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
 
Last edited:

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
Hide everyone, hide! The evil terrorists are out to get ya!

You have got a point statistically speaking.
Statistically it is extremely unlikely I/we will be killed/injured etc, by terrorists.

I'm probably more likely to die from old age, car accidents, illness etc etc.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
36,389
10,699
136
Was anyone hurt or killed?
It seems the hijackers had a motive other than dying... they wanted attention? Doesn't make a lot of sense.
 

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
Was anyone hurt or killed?
It seems the hijackers had a motive other than dying... they wanted attention? Doesn't make a lot of sense.

No, it ended just fine.

Summary:

Libya Malta hijack: Hijackers arrested as drama ends peacefully.
The hijacking of a Libyan plane has ended peacefully after the men who seized control surrendered in Malta.

The domestic flight with 118 people on board was hijacked after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli.
All the passengers - including one infant - and a number of the crew had already been released.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat initially said that the men had been armed with pistols and a grenade - but later tweeted that the weapons appeared to be replicas.

Source, as before:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38416112