MALTA, Dec. 23, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Two hijackers have surrendered and all 118 passengers and crew members aboard are safe after a flight out of Libya was forced to land in Malta.
According to Libyan media outlets, the Afriqiyah Airways A320 jet was commandeered by the hijackers, identified as supporters of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Maltese TV had reported that the two men were carrying hand grenades and are threatening to detonate them if Gaddafi’s son, Saif Gaddafi, was not released from custody.
The plane was flying from Sebha, Libya to Tripoli when it was diverted to Malta.
Through negotiations, hijackers first allowed women and children to leave the plane. Later, the men identified as hijackers were taken into custody, according to authorities. According to reports, no one was hurt.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.
