First Passengers Released From a Libya Hijacked Plane In Malta

  

The first passengers have been released from the Libyan passenger plane hijacked by two pro-Gaddafi supporters who had threatened to blow the aircraft up

A group of 25 women and children were initally allowed to leave the plane after two men armed with grenades took control as it flew over Libya, redirecting it to Malta.

A second group, numbering 40, was released shortly afterwards, before all of the remaining passengers of the Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight were allowed to leave.

According to Libyan media, the hijackers demanded the release of Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al Islam, who it was thought had already been freed in July.