By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Reports reaching us indicate that two men have hijacked a Libyan passenger plane on Friday morning, diverting it to Malta.
The aircraft is said to be conveying about 118 passengers when it was seized by hoodlums suspected to be loyalists of late Libyan leader, Mr Muammar Gaddafi.
They were said to have threatened to blow up the plane with hand grenades before gaining control of the aircraft and diverting it to Malta.
According to Times of Malta, the hijackers have promised to allow all 111 passengers leave the Airbus A320, but not any of the seven crew members, if his demands were met.
At the moment, according to reports, the office of Maltese Prime Minister, Mr Joseph Muscat, confirmed that a negotiating team was on standby at Malta International Airport awaiting instructions from the PM, who is in a meeting with the National Security Committee.
Meanwhile, an unnamed official at the Libyan foreign ministry disclosed that all passengers aboard the plane were in good health.