Hitch keeps plane in Moscow

A technical fault led to the return Air Malta flight from Moscow to be delayed till this morning because of crew flying time restrictions.

Civil aviation industry sources said yesterday the technical hitch was spotted during the routine inspection after the plane had landed in Moscow. The fault was remedied but the flight was unable to depart as that would have meant the crew would have been on duty longer than what regulations stipulate.

Air Malta thus decided to send the passengers, and the crew, to a hotel and the flight is now scheduled to leave early this morning.