.jpg) 5A-ONB, the aircraft involved in the hijacking, photographed in September 2016 | |
| Hijacking | |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 December 2016 (2016-12-23) |
| Summary | Hijacking |
| Site | Malta International Airport,Luqa, Malta |
| 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 adomestic passenger flight fromSabha toTripoli, Libya that washijacked on 23 December 2016 and made aforced landing inLuqa, Malta. The flight was operated byAfriqiyah Airways, Libya'sstate airline, and carried 111 passengers: 82 males, 28 females and one infant.[1] The two hijackers later released all of thehostages and surrendered to the authorities.[2]
The aircraft involved was anAirbus A320-214,registration 5A-ONB,msn 3236. The aircraft was equipped with twoCFM InternationalCFM56 engines.[3]
The aircraft, carrying seven crew and 111 passengers,[3] had taken off fromSabha 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 withhand grenades, according toMalta 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 atMalta 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 theLibyan flag under Gaddafi.[6] He then put the flag down and returned inside.[6]
Negotiating teams were placed on standby andMaltese 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]
On 2 December 2020, Suhah Mussa was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment and fined €9,990 after hepleaded guilty to the charges against him.[8]
35°51′27″N014°28′39″E / 35.85750°N 14.47750°E /35.85750; 14.47750