Afriqiyah Airways Flight 209
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- Malta International Airport, Luqa, Malta
.jpg) 5A-ONB, the aircraft involved in the hijacking, photographed in September 2016 | |
| Hijacking | |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 December 2016 |
| Summary | Hijacking |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A320-214 |
| Operator | Afriqiyah Airways |
| IATA flight No. | 8U209 |
| ICAO flight No. | AAW209 |
| Call sign | AFRIQIYAH 209 |
| Registration | 5A-ONB |
| Flight origin | Sabha Airport, Libya |
| Destination | Mitiga International Airport, Libya |
| Occupants | 118 |
| Passengers | 111 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 118 |
Afriqiyah Airways Flight 209 was a domestic passenger flight from Sabha to Tripoli, Libya that was hijacked on 23 December 2016 and made a forced landing in Luqa, Malta. The flight was operated by Afriqiyah Airways, Libya's state airline, and carried 111 passengers: 82 males, 28 females and one infant.[1] The two hijackers later released all of the hostages and surrendered to the authorities.[2]
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-214, registration 5A-ONB, msn 3236. The aircraft was equipped with two CFM International CFM56 engines.[3]
Hijacking
The aircraft, carrying seven crew and 111 passengers,[3] had taken off from Sabha International Airport at 08:10 local time and was due to land at Tripoli at 09:20.[4] The two hijackers threatened to blow up the aircraft with hand grenades, according to Malta state television.[2] One hijacker declared himself to be "pro-Gaddafi" and that he would release all passengers, but not the crew, if his unknown demands were accepted.[2] The pilots had tried to land in Libya, but the hijackers refused their request.[2] The aircraft was forced to land at Malta International Airport at 11:32 am local time.[1] The aircraft's engines were still running after it was surrounded by the Maltese military.[5] One hijacker was reported to have appeared at the aircraft door waving a large green flag similar to the Libyan flag under Gaddafi.[6] He then put the flag down and returned inside.[6]
Response
Negotiating teams were placed on standby and Maltese military units arrived at the airport.[2] Upon landing, at least 25 passengers had been released by the two hijackers, and negotiations were held.[5] Following the release of all passengers and crew, the hijackers, Suhah Mussa and Ahmed Ali, surrendered to the Maltese authorities and were taken into custody.[7]
