Investigation Summary
The flight departed Sabha at 08:10 local time (06:10 UTC), scheduled for a short domestic hop to Tripoli. While en route at FL340, two hijackers, later identified as Suhah Mussa and Ahmed Ali, took control of the aircraft. They initially demanded to be flown to Rome, but due to fuel constraints, the aircraft was diverted to Malta. The pilots attempted to request a landing in Tripoli, but the hijackers refused. The aircraft landed at Malta International Airport at 11:32 local time (10:32 UTC) and was directed to a remote section of the airfield near the end of runway 23. Maltese military units and negotiators surrounded the aircraft while the engines remained running for approximately 90 minutes. During the standoff, one hijacker appeared at the aircraft door waving the green flag of the former Gaddafi regime. Negotiations led to the phased release of passengers, starting with women and children at 13:50 local time, followed by the remaining passengers and finally the crew. The hijackers surrendered peacefully at 15:45 local time (14:45 UTC). A search of the aircraft by Maltese security forces confirmed that the hand grenades and pistols used to threaten the crew were non-functional replicas.
Final Conclusions
The incident was concluded as a case of unlawful interference (hijacking). The primary motive was political, intended to draw attention to a new pro-Gaddafi political party. Both hijackers were arrested and prosecuted in Malta. On December 2, 2020, Suhah Mussa was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined €9,990 after pleading guilty to the charges.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Hijacked Afriqiyah Airways plane lands in Malta — Live news coverage from TRT World showing the hijacked Airbus A320 on the tarmac in Malta and reporting on the initial stages of the standoff.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Door Security
The investigation examined how the hijackers gained influence over the flight path, though it was not explicitly stated if they breached the reinforced cockpit door or used threats against cabin crew to compel the pilots.
Airport Security Screening
The incident raised significant concerns regarding security screening protocols at Sabha International Airport, as the hijackers successfully smuggled replica weapons onto the aircraft.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was an Airbus A320-214 delivered in 2007.
- 02There were 111 passengers and 7 crew members on board; all survived without injury.
- 03The hijackers were armed with replica weapons, including a fake hand grenade.
- 04The hijackers identified as members of Al-Fateh Al-Jadid, a pro-Gaddafi group.
- 05Malta International Airport was closed to all other traffic during the standoff, causing numerous diversions.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Security Protocol Review
The hijacking prompted a review of ground security and passenger screening procedures at Libyan regional airports, specifically Sabha, to prevent the carriage of prohibited items.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the official investigation report.