President George Abela arrived in Malta yesterday afternoon on a direct 13-hour flight from China, where he was injured while on an official visit.

A special medically-equipped Air China A330-200, carrying Dr Abela, landed at 4 p.m. and he was transferred into a waiting ambulance and taken straight to Mater Dei Hospital.

Strapped to a stretcher, Dr Abela was brought down in an airplane service lift and directly transferred to the ambulance, which drove slowly away escorted by a policeman. A few well-wishers applauded as it left the airport.

Dr Abela's son, Robert, was waiting at the airport together with his wife Lydia, who is the Labour Party's executive secretary.

Health Minister Joe Cassar, acting President Anton Tabone and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg were also in front of the airport's Ministerial Lounge, where the plane stopped.

A little girl, carrying a Maltese flag, was among the 30-odd people who waited outside the airport's fence for Dr Abela to arrive. Many of them were plane enthusiasts who wanted to see the aircraft land. The Chinese government provided the plane, manned by Chinese medical staff, for the direct journey.

Dr Abela is in pain after suffering a hairline fracture to his back when he fell at the hotel in Shanghai on his way to breakfast on Friday. His injury requires rest, although an orthopaedic surgeon said the nature of the fracture was not a serious injury in itself.

In a statement issued following Dr Abela's arrival, the Health Ministry said the medical team, which accompanied the President on the flight, was consulting with local doctors to ensure seamless treatment. Dr Abela will continue being treated with pain relief and bed rest.

Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech yesterday expressed their solidarity with Dr Abela and urged people to pray for his quick recovery. The Malta Union of Teachers also wished the President a speedy recovery.