Hijackers of Libyan Plane Agree to Lay Down Arms, Release Passengers – Reports

Hijackers of the Libyan plane that landed in the Malta International Airport agreed to lay down arms and release 118 passengers, who were on board of the jet, the Malta Today media outlet reported on Friday.

© Sputnik

MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, an Afriqiyah Airways A320 plane landed in Malta after it was hijacked. According to media reports, the plane initially headed from Libya's city of Sebha to Tripoli, and was diverted by hijackers, one of whom is believed to have a hand grenade.

Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat stated that the remained crewmembers and the hijackers left the aircraft.

Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) 23 декабря 2016 г.

​Earlier, the minister confirmed that the hijackers agreed to release the passengers. According to the miniter, all 109 passengers have left the plane. Some crewmembers and the hijackers remained on board.

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

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016​

65 passengers released so far.

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 23, 2016

​​​The media reports say that two hijackers threatened to bomb the plane. The hijackers of a Libyan passenger plane that landed in Malta earlier in the day are demanding the release of Libya's long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi's son from prison, the Al Bilad newspaper reported Friday, citing sources. One of the hijackers claimed he is a leader of the pro-Gaddafi party.

Earlier, the Malta International Airport has resumed its operations.