Libyan aircraft hijacked, 118 on board

14:50

All crew and passengers released and hijackers surrender.

Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

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14:38

Libya’s Transport Minister, Milaad Maatouq, said the hostage crisis had ended and refused to comment on the details of the agreement, or the fate of the kidnappers.

Speaking to the New Arab website, Maatouq said that the commander of Malta’s armed forces, Colonel Jeffrey Curmi, had led the negotiations with the hijackers.

The site named the hijackers as Musa Shehaa and Ahmed Ali adding that they were seeking political asylum.

Police say the hijackers belong to a pro-Gaddafi group called Al-Fatah Al-Jadid, which is possibly a reference to Gaddafi’s Al-Fateh revolution.

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14:00

Almost everyone released, only some crew members and the hijackers left on board.

Potentially 2 hijackers and some crew members still on board aircraft.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

13:48

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announces that crew members are now being released.

It is not known what the hijackers’ demands are at this stage. It is not clear whether this is an act of terrorism or the result of the bitter Libyan political feud.

Crew members being released.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

13:40

A total of 109 passengers have been released from the hijacked plane, meaning two remain in addition to eight crew members.

Further 44 passengers being released.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

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13:26

65 passengers released so far.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

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13:00

Passengers have begun disembarking from the plane.

DIRETT: Ajruplan maħtuf jinżel f'Malta – JINĦELSU L-EWWEL GRUPP TA' PASSIĠĠIERI – https://t.co/JraM3BTRHF pic.twitter.com/ZMpQKyWyy9

— Television Malta (@TelevisionMalta) December 23, 2016

First 25 passengers released.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

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12:33

Reports that negotiators are on the scene trying to bring an end to the standoff. Hijackers are thought to have hand grenades on board.

A Libyan security official told Reuters that the pilot told Tripoli Airport Control before communications were lost that the pilot tried to land in Libya but the hijackers refused.

The hijacker told crew he was “pro-Gaddafi” and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not its seven crew, if his demands were met, the Times of Malta said.

It was unclear what the demands were. Some media reports said there was more than one hijacker. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising in 2011, and the country has been racked by factional violence since.

Troops took up positions a few hundred metres from the plane as it stood on the tarmac and no one was seen boarding or leaving it. The aircraft’s engines were still running 45 minutes after it landed late in the morning, the Times of Malta said.

Some other flights at Malta International Airport were cancelled or diverted, it said.

“The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him,” A Libyan security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused.”

Large numbers of security officials could be seen at Mitiga airport after news of the hijacking.

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12:22

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke to Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, his spokesperson said on Twitter.

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12:07

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirms that an Afriqiyah plane was hijacked with 111 passengers on board including 82 males, 28 females and one infant. There are also seven crew members on board.

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

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11:47

The internal flight left from Sebha at around 10:10 heading to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. the plane landed at around 11:32.

Afriqiyah Airwaysflight #8U209, Airbus A320, from Sebha to Tripoli, Libya reportedly hijacked to Malta pic.twitter.com/9cf0EHi80T

— Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) December 23, 2016

A Libyan passenger plane with 111 people on board has been forced to land in Malta due to a potential hijack situation on 23 December 2016.

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11.08

A Libyan passenger plane  with 118 on board has been forced to land in Malta due to a potential hijack situation, the Maltese prime minister has confirmed.

The Airbus A320 was on a journey from Southern Libya when it was forced to divert to Malta International Airport after an “unlawful interference” was reported.

Emergency teams have been dispatched with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirming security forces were on standby.

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

Two hijackers are said to be onward. They had threatened to blow up the plane.