The dramatic 2016 hijacking of an Afriqiyah Airways flight carrying 120 passengers has re-entered the spotlight as Malta has deported one of the hijackers to Libya after his release from an eight-year prison sentence.
Maltese police have recently confirmed the deportation of one of the hijackers. Although authorities did not disclose his identity, it is believed to be Ali Saleh, who had consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation.
According to the Times of Malta, the deported individual will not be permitted to re-enter Malta or any other European Union country.
On December 23, 2016, the hijacking of an Afriqiyah Airways A320 stunned Libya. The plane, seized in Libyan airspace by Musa Saha and Ali Saleh, was taken over by the two men who claimed to be supporters of the former regime. They threatened to blow up the aircraft, although it was later revealed that their weapons were fake.
The aircraft, carrying 28 women, an infant, 82 men, and six crew members, took off from Mitiga International Airport. Communication between the control tower and the captain was lost, prompting Libyan authorities to alert their Maltese counterparts. The captain negotiated with the hijackers, trying to persuade them to land at the intended destination.
However, the hijackers forced the plane to fly approximately 350 km north to Malta, raising fears of fuel depletion. Upon landing in Malta, negotiations led to the successful release of all hostages.
Musa Saha, the mastermind behind the hijacking, claimed to be the leader of a new political party, the “New Al-Fateh Party,” and stated that the hijacking was a publicity stunt for the party.
Saha and Saleh were tried separately. In 2020, a Maltese court in Valletta sentenced Saha to 25 years in prison for his role in the hijacking. Saleh, who is from Sebha in southern Libya, admitted to the charges during court sessions.
Saleh’s trial was delayed due to his refusal to cooperate with investigators, prolonging the legal proceedings until his eventual deportation.
