Plan carrying 118 people hijacked over Libya.

Plane carrying 118 people is hijacked over Libya by ‘two men'

Two men armed with hand grenades are threatening to blow up a plane carrying 118 people, including a child, after hijacking it over Libya. The plane was travelling on an internal flight when the hijacking took place and has since been diverted to Malta International Airport where emergency measures are being taken. Libyan media suggest that there are two hijackers on board claiming to be in possession of hand grenades, and demanding the release of  Muammar Gaddafi s son Saif al Islam. Reports state that the hijackers are threatening to blow up the aircraft which was carrying 111 passengers, including one child, and seven crew, if their requests are not met. Negotiations are ongoing but it has been confirmed that the first 25 passengers, consisting of women and children, have been released, although it is believed the male passengers are still on board.

Sources at the airport told the Malta Independent that negotiations are ongoing and the first passengers could be let off the aircraft soon. Footage from the scene showed passengers, many clad in black, exiting the flight was is stood stationary on tarmac at the airport.

A Flight Radar image was released showing the path of the flights as it headed towards the Mediterranean island. The prime minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, confirmed he had been informed of the incident involving the Afriqiyah Airways A320 flight. Informed of potential hijack situation of a # Libya internal flight diverted to #Malta . Security and emergency operations standing by -JM
11:36 AM - 23 Dec 2016
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Joseph Muscat
@JosephMuscat_JM
The #Afriqiyah flight from #Sabha to #Tripoli has been diverted and has landed in #Malta . Security services coordinating operations.
12:30 PM - 23 Dec 2016
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Joseph Muscat
@JosephMuscat_JM
A spokesperson from the Armed Forces of Malta told the Malta Independent that counter terrorism officers had been deployed.

Afriqiyah Airways operates from Sebha to Tripoli on Friday, leaving at 10.10am and arriving at 11.20am. It operates another flight on Tuesdays. It is more than 30 years since the last major hijacking took place in Malta. Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways flight diverted to Malta flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/…
12:04 PM - 23 Dec 2016
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Flightradar24
@flightradar24
In November 1985 an EgyptAir Boeing 737 was diverted to the island and what followed
was a 24 hour standoff that ended in the brutal massacre of 62 people.