A Libyan national involved in the 2016 plane hijacking in Malta, which included 120 passengers, has been deported, according to Times of Malta.
In December 2016, an Afriqiyah Airways A320 was hijacked in Libyan airspace by Suhaha Mussa and Ahmed Alid, both Libyan nationals. The men claimed to belong to a pro-Gaddafi group.
The hijacking ended without any injuries, and the motives behind the hijacking remain unclear.
The plane was on a domestic flight from Sebha to Tripoli when the two men diverted it to Malta. Although they threatened to blow up the plane, it was later discovered that their weapons were fake.
The Maltese police announced on Friday that one of the Libyan hijackers had completed his prison sentence in Malta. He was found guilty of hijacking and terrorism.
The man was detained until his deportation due to his lack of cooperation with authorities. He is banned from entering Malta or any other EU country.
Earlier this week, Maltese Embassy in Libya opened a new visa application centre in Misrata, in collaboration with VFS Global.
At the inauguration ceremony, Malta’s Ambassador to Libya, Charles Saliba, delivered a speech emphasising the Embassy’s efforts to enhance commercial and social exchanges between Libya and Malta. He highlighted the aim of fostering closer bilateral relations and promoting a positive narrative about Libya.
Saliba noted that Malta was the first EU member state to establish direct flights to Libya and is now the first Schengen area member to open a visa application office in Misrata. This initiative aims to facilitate visa applications for residents of Misrata and surrounding areas.
“Misrata is considered as a major hub for business activities, as well as a maritime hub with its port and Freezone area and air link with a newly built airport,” the Embassy said in a statement.
On 11 December 2014, the European Commission banned Libyan airlines from passing over EU member states’ airspace, due to safety control concerns in a country experiencing periodic security tensions.
