Illegal immigrant flown to hospital

Eight illegal immigrants were rescued by the armed forces yesterday after being sighted by a French patrol military aircraft about 39 miles southwest of Malta.

The illegal immigrants had asked for assistance.

The AFM said one of the immigrants had to be air-lifted by an army helicopter and flown to hospital because he required medical attention.

The other illegal immigrants - all men - were disembarked at the AFM Maritime Squadron base at Haywharf and were handed over to the police for more investigations.

The army was informed of the sighting of illegal immigrants by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome.

The police said the immigrants were claiming they were from Palestine.