Two Libyan fighter jets landed unexpectedly in Malta on Monday, witnesses told Reuters.
Local newspaper reporters saw the single-seater Mirage jets land at Malta's international airport on Monday afternoon, Reuters reported. The Maltese Foreign Ministry said it was trying to establish why the planes had landed.
| The jets were escorts for the copters? Some VIPs who wanted to make sure the opposition didn't blow them out of the sky? What does that say about the Libyan air force? |
The Al Jazeera satellite network reported the Libyan fighter jets were seen landing in Malta with two civilian helicopters. At least seven passengers were aboard, only one reported to be carrying a passport, according to Al Jazeera. All of the passengers were being held by immigration officials, the network reported.
Al Jazeera's Karl Stagno-Novarra, reporting from Malta, said officials on the Mediterranean island were preparing for it to be used as a base for evacuating European citizens from Libya, an hour's flight away.
| Update: AaayPeee sez the fighter pilots, both colonels, asked for asylum. The fighters are apparently Mirage jets -- thank you France. The jets were not escorting the copters but arrived shortly afterwards. |
|