Libyan plane with118 people on board hijacked & diverted to Malta, hijackers later surrenders

A Libya internal flight with 118 people on board was on Friday hijacked by two people believed to have a hand grenade and diverted to Malta where it landed.

According to reports by The Times of Malta, the two hijackers had threatened to blow up the Airbus A320.

The Times also reported that the hijackers told crew members he was "pro-Gaddafi" and that he was willing to let all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, except its seven crew, if his demands were met.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted: 

"Informed of potential hijack situation of a #Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by -JM An update said the two hijackers are pro-Gaddafi supporters armed with hand grenades. Their demands are not known yet. Meanwhile, Maltese forces have surrounded the plane after it landed in the country. Negotiation is underway.

It was unknown whether the demands were met or whether the hijacker was acting alone.

The hijackers who declared their loyalty to late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi later freed all their hostages unharmed and surrendered afterwards.

Malta prime minister Joseph Muscat, later tweeted that; 

"hijackers surrendered, searched and taken into custody".

Malta is a tiny island in the Mediterranean with about 500 km (300 miles) north of the Libyan coast.