Eric King-
The Libyan airline hijacked must have had security flaws before the hijackers were able to seize it.
How hijackers were able to board a plane with grenades is a mystery. Security should be high especially over the Christmas period, but there were clearly serious flaws present.
A number of plane hijackers have occurred over the years, and we would all be expected to believe that by now lessons would have been learnt as to how the hijackers were able to board a plane with their arsenal without being caught. If the hijackers went through all the security and metal detectors at the airport and got on the plane, serious questions must be asked.
The Libyan airliner carrying over 100 people bound for the capital, Tripoli, was hijacked Friday morning and forced to land in Malta. The hijack raises fresh questions as to the safety measures taken to keep passengers safe
Strangely, many passengers were allowed to leave the plane, after one hijacker on board the Airbus A320 threatened to detonate an explosive device, according to Maltese news reports. Exactly what the hijackers wanted is not clear, not much news has been given about that. Libya is in a state of political chaos, dogged by civil conflict from multiple armed groups.
The flight is run by the state-owned Afriqiyah Airways of Libya which took off from the southern Libyan city of Sebha and was scheduled to fly to Tripoli, the capital, which is on the coast. Its diversion to Malta, 200 miles across the Mediterranean Sea from Tripoli, must have frightened the life out of its passengers
Prime Minister, Mr. Muscat said that the flight had landed and that local security services were “coordinating operations.” He said there were 111 people on the plane, including 82 men, 28 women and one infant. The first group of passenger released consisted of women and children.
The hijacking is likely to be related to the internal conflict in the country and is a reminder for westerners to avoid countries caught up in war. The hijackers may have got their demands or may be satisfied by the disruption they caused. An investigation will need to be conducted as to how they managed to get on board the plane with hand grenades without detection.