Hostages released from hijaked Malta flight as terrorists make demands

UPDATE: ALL hostages with the possible exception of a few crew members have been released by the hijackers who tool over Libyan Airbus A320 and diverted to Malta. 

There were 118 passenges and crew aboard the flight, 109 of whom have been released onto Maltese soil. 

The hijackers demands have not been made public and Malta appears to have been a practical rather than ideological target for the landing. 

A LIBYAN Airbus A320 operated by Afriqiyah Airways on an internal flight with 118 on board was reportedly hijacked by two grenade carrying men and diverted to Malta on December 22.

Flight AAW209 was carrying 111 passengers including 28 women and one child as well as seven crew and is now isolated in a secure area of Malta International Airport surrounded by armed security officers and police.

At the time of writing, there are no reports of any injuries to those on board and it has been suggested that the hijackers are prepared to release hostages if their demands (so far unknown) are met.

Flights out of Malta have been cancelled whilst this situation continues and incoming flights have been diverted, mainly to Sicily.