Plane with 118 people hijacked

Libyan plane with 118 people on board has landed in Malta in what the island’s prime minister called a “potential hijack situation”.

The Airbus A320 was on an internal flight for Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted on Friday morning.

Two hijackers appear to be on board the plane on the runway, according to Malta airport.

Initial reports suggested the hijackers had threatened to bomb the plane.

Joseph Muscat, the Maltese premier, said that security forces were standing by to deal with the unfolding situation.

He tweeted that he had been alerted to the incident involving the plane, which landed on the Mediterranean island.

In a post from his official account, Mr Muscat said: “Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta.

“Security and emergency operations standing by -JM.”

Emergency teams had been dispatched to the airport and soldiers and special forces vehicles were seen on the runway surrounding the plane.

The aircraft had been flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways.

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