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Monday, February 21, 2011, 16:34

Updated: Libyan fighter jets arrive in Malta

Two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters unexpectedly flew to Malta this afternoon with their pilots claiming they escaped to Malta after having been ordered to bomb protesters who have taken control of the second city of Benghazi.

The pilots told the Maltese authorities that they left from a base near Tripoli. Their aircraft were armed with air to ground rockets.

The pilots initially asked for emergency clearance to land and for refuelling. Upon landing they were questioned by the police and sought political asylum.

Their arrival followed shortly after the arrival of two civilian helicopters which flew in and landed at Malta International Airport this afternoon carrying seven people.

Informed sources said the helicopters 'escaped from Libya with no official clearance' but arrived in Malta regularly.

Such was the haste of their departure from Libya, that only one of the passengers was carrying a passport. The passengers claimed they are French.

Immigration police are checking the identities of the passengers while holding them at the airport.

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Joseph Aquilina

Feb 22nd 2011, 09:54

Libya has oil and some democracies/capitalists prefer to have oil then fight for a good cause. What really has come clear from all these protests is how much the U.S. (and at this point the E.U. as well) can't care less about human rights when their interests (oil, military, etc.) are at stake. With protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Iran, Yemen and Bahrain, the U.S., and E.U. and where taken by surprise. They have an interest in having these countries keep their regime. And seriously this is not the first time where counties opt for money rather then liberty and justice. The U.K. has liberated the main Lockerby suspect in order to gain reduced prices on gas from Libya. They did not bother about the injustice of such an action, they did not bother about doing business with an oppressive dictator, they just opted for an option that could give them GAS at the cheapest price!! This is the WEST!

Ben Harper

Feb 22nd 2011, 09:56

Mr Vincenti : Please read the international news before you make such stetements because you give the impression that Maltese people only have access to local information / news.

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:17

It's ok to do charity but Mr. Sewehli, I must remind you that our country is already full of foreigners let alone space is continuously decreasing. May I remind you that our financial situation is not good and we are not living in heaven. If your population is going to come here it will mean a disaster for us. It's unrealistic asking us to take the burden of other countries when we don't even have the means to support ourselves. Why don't you accept them in your home instead? Isn't it too much for us to bear? I believe that if the situation was vice versa we wouldn't be allowed to enter libya so easily let alone take a plane and land wherever we want. And don't tell me it's about racism. It's about that we need to protect our country because the maltese population comes first.

C. Attard

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:09

@ P. Borg
Int bis serjeta?!

R Saliba

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:30

speak for yourself P Borg and not in Malta's name

S. Camilleri

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:59

@P.Borg
I'd normally agree with you but these are exceptional circumstance and if he can do anything to help Libyans ... we should. Too long Herr Ghaddafi and his ilk has sullied the image of North Africa, Arabs and Libyans. If accepting planes AND NOT SENDING THEM back whilst Ghaddafi is in power is of any help then we should accept them

Corinne Vella

Feb 22nd 2011, 09:09

Malta's standards are not Libya's. That is why no one from Malta defected to Libya.

M Psaila

Feb 22nd 2011, 09:25

@ P. Borg - oh shut up will you? Do have any decency left in you? These people are fighting for rights which you and me take for granted.

Kenneth Cassar

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:03

@ Ahmed Sewehli:

Kindly ignore P.Borg's comment. Malta, as a democratic country, will fulfill all its international obligations. Best of luck.

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:54

Then tell me how Italy got their militia prepared for attacks? Why there are armed ships in the Suez? Sure not for Malta but everything begins with small things. Who knows what can happen??? Why AFM have stop leave? There must be something to worry about than. You are so easy in judging others. The most important thing is letting anyone come in like in a hotel.

I never said "sending them back", my comments where to protect maltese because we have nothing to fight with if anything happens. Who knows whether there is some plan at the end.

And for those people saying to shut up - please mind your language. You are able to listen to whatever other nationals want to say but when a maltese speaks you have to show your arrogance.

P. Borg. (the original)

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:59

Kindly ignore the comment by the first P. Borg. This P. Borg stands firmly in solidarity with the Libyan people so that they may eventually topple this brutal dictator. We will gladly help in anyway possible so that this happens as swiftly as possible and with the least bloodshed possible.

Good luck!

Friedrich Plechinger

Mar 1st 2011, 10:47

Hi Doctor Sewehli,

I am Freddy Plechinger, a German who was born in Benghazi and also a former student with Saint Edward´s college in Malta. I am an Airline Captain and was working for many years also in the Middle east and I am erstound and positively surprised that finaly the people in Nord Africa and the Middle east are showing courage and stamina to say enough is enough. All these people want is a life in peace with the privellege of the human rights that most of the western world and else where are enjoying. No wars, no more suffering, no more injustice. I really wish all these people the best of luck and the strength to rebuilt their countries in a way that will be successfull economicaly and politicaly so to show the world that confilicts can be solved also in a human way and that tyrans and dictators have no chance ever to arise again.
The question is, what comes there-after? We Germans had also a very bad history and we do not want it ever again to happen, I hope that that there will be finaly peace down there.

Ahmed Sewehli

Mar 5th 2011, 02:56

Unfortunately my father and three of my brothers were kidnapped in Tripoli by Gaddafi's thugs early Monday (28/2/11) morning. If you google my name you will find links to the story in various media including BBC, ABC (Australia) and Manchester Evening News.
I thank everyone who has posted kind and supportive comments in favour of the Libyan people.

Christian Sciberras

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:24

I agree; it's a great opportunity to increase our arsenal. About time Malta got it's own realistic firepower.

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:25

I think that accepting everyone in here is not a good idea. May I remind everyone that Libya has fighting equipment including all these jets etc while we have just nothing or almost. Also, who knows the history of these people who are escaping and entering our country. They may be big criminals or go knows what. What if libyan authorities understand that we are hiding their people in here and decide to attack? How are we going to fight back? I do not believe in this thing of the EU. What do you think that they will come to rescue us in a second? Come on. We are just an accessory for the EU, we're not so important. African people are not like the rest of the world, with all due respect. Whenever something happens we moan and moan instead they fight with real arms. Their authorities wouldn't give a damn on sending jets and bombard this little rock in the mediterranean if they want to. They are killing their same nationals let alone if they come to do it with us.

Corinne Vella

Feb 22nd 2011, 09:15

@P Borg. It is thanks to the freedom you enjoy that you are able to say what you think even if you do not make sense while people in Libya do not enjoy the same freedom, no matter how much sense they'd make.

ruth ripard

Feb 26th 2011, 11:47

As i see it, the International committees have been acting prudently (although too slow for most of us) to avoid giving the tyrant Gaddafi the excuse he needs to shift the blame (once again) on a foreign cause for the tragedy currently in his country. He has already tried blaming the US, UK, BinLaden, the DRUG CRAZED youths, and his own downtrodden population. Also, and most importantly, we need to disassociate Libya from Gaddafi and his regime when setting up sanctions, because only the common man will suffer in the long run... at least put the sanctions in place till the situation has been resolved and then extend our hand in friendship and solidarity to a brave nation that is trying to overthrow its shackles. I also believe that most of the people we are seeing surrounding Gaddafi during the ranting speeches are there under duress and probably have their families at risk if they do not pretend allegiance. As for 'refugees' ... with Gaddafi OUT of power there would not be any! What i would really like to see is humanitarian aid sent IMMEDIATELY to Libya's borders to begin helping the LIBYAN PEOPLE.

Karl Rizzo Naudi

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:21

I agree Mr Goggi. These things are not to be taken lightly!!

Roberta Booker

Feb 22nd 2011, 08:23

@ Mr Daniel Goggi

Indeed Mr Goggi! You took the words right out of my mouth!! These are very serious issues!!

Josef Laspina

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:12

@Mr Goggi

Indeed Mr Goggi's is a sharp insight in the matter.

Luke Fiorini

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:17

@Mr Goggi

A very informative comment, it is a shame that not all people can see things through your all encompassing angle

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:35

Ezatt, dik il-preokupazzjoni tieghi. Dawn nizlu bi gidba, min jaf x'gideb iehor jaf ikun hemm minn taht. Alla hares kollha jiddeciedu li jaghmlu hekk. Alla jilliberana minn din is-sitwazzjoni. Nispera mhux se jhalluhom jigru lhawn u lhemm qisu qatt ma kien xejn ghax inkella jista jigi kulhadd u jidhol bla dokumenti u jaghmel li jrid. Il-gvern ghandu l-ewwel jahseb biex jipprotegi lil maltin ghax finalment ma nafux x'ghandhom f'mohhhom dawn in-nies. Meta se niefqu nemnu bhal mazzun u nafdaw f'kulhadd???

marc caruana

Feb 21st 2011, 21:41

iddahakx nies sur borg taf kemm i sitwazzjoni delikata din ghalina l maltin . jien mal politika ta dal gvern ma nghaqbilx imma f sitwazjoni bhal din trid tkun kawt u tnehhi il partigjanizmu min nofs ax at the end of the day ahna maltin nazjon wiehed mux 50 50 ok siehbi . kun matur. tislijiet

J Abela

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:24

Vavu...

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:40

Sur P Borg jekk jogbok iddistingwi ruhek minni li ilni nikteb fuq dawn il-pagni. Meta tikteb tuzax ismi.

P. Borg.

Feb 22nd 2011, 10:51

Gheziez Sur P Borg u Sur P. Borg,

Jekk joghgobkom iddistingwu ruhkom minni li ilni nikteb fuq dawn il-pagni hafna iktar minnkom it-tnejn.

P. Borg.

Peter Korsten

Feb 21st 2011, 21:28

What do you think that the NATO forces would do if a neutral and peace EU member state would be attacked by Libya? The F-111s that bombed Tripoli in 1986 may have been retired, but the vast military block to our north would not take kindly to it. Malta may be neutral, but that doesn't mean that non-neutral states would remain passive in such an event. And Libya knows that. They have enough trouble on their hands already; they don't need their military decimated as well.

Denis Pace

Feb 21st 2011, 22:13

Neutrality????
Neutral to what? a despot?

C Cassar

Feb 21st 2011, 22:46

Malta is not on anyone's map. It would be a waste of a missile to fier it on Malta, since it has nothing to offer anybody. So please, stop being so naive in thinking that Malta is thought to have any value whatsoever to anybody apart from 2 people from Libya.

Steve Mifsud

Feb 21st 2011, 22:57

Are you serious? Fire some rockets our way? Do you honestly believe the Libyan authorities haven't got anything better to do? I find your paranoia amusing. The whole world, at long last, is turning against this animal and you want to remain neutral even now. Malta did not steal the aircraft so I doubt they have any problems with this country. At the end of the day, when all the dust settles, these 2 pilots will go back to Libya as heroes - and rightly so.

Michael Ohman

Feb 22nd 2011, 03:34

Other small nations close to our days have been afraid of their neghbours, their people reasoning "neutrality" as defence.
The close aproximity of Malta to Libya may be uneasy, certainly. But the world extends to Libya, not the other way around. Malta is part of Europe and a counted nation in the world. It's not as fragile, not as divorced from the politics of larger countries as it would've been in older days.

And about the word "neutrality". No one and nothing in politics is neutral. Just undecided.
Obeying orders to kill your own should be an example of good morality. Who is the being to condemn such astonishing behavior?

There is an uneasiness among the maltesians as being part of the hurricane of politics around them. I think you should proudly accept and remember these days. Not hide amongst old monuments. It's not the maltesians war, but no one today should through people out who takes the greater risks and stops the fight to reason for a better world.

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:42

@ C. Cassar

Sur Cassar infakkrek li fit-tieni gwerra dinjija hemm kienet ta fuq il-mappa u kieku jigri xi haga kontra il-libya ibqa cert li il-pajjizi kollha ta l-EU isibuna fuq il-mappa imbaghad. L-istess bhal ma gara fil-passat nispiccaw il-bazi ta l-EU u kulhadd diehel u hiereg minn hawn bl-addocc.

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

Feb 21st 2011, 20:53

Gerard

If the Pilots apply for political asylum we are bound to grant asylum

If the Libyans want to have their Jet Fighters back - we are obliged not to return them just yet - since we cannot be sure that they will not be used against unarmed protesters.

This Country must stand up to its principles


regards


Dr Frank Portelli

Anthony Farrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 20:57

Anti Gaddafi demonstrations are being held at Libyan embassies across the world - see link below. Why not in Malta ?

http://multimedia.lastampa.it/multimedia/nel-mondo/lstp/24015/

M. Borg

Feb 21st 2011, 21:40

You actually mean "non-committal", "wouldn;t care less", "I'm ok **** you Jack" don;t you? Like we were neutral when Ceaucescu was butchering and torturing his people; he and the rest of the tin pot dictators like KIM il Sung that we cosied up to when we were "neutral"!

N.Grima

Feb 21st 2011, 21:24

Technically they don't have any superiors as Senior Colonel is the highest rank in the Libyan Army.

Christine Bonello

Feb 21st 2011, 23:11

I agree with you 100 % . What they did was brave. They have spared many lives with their actions.

a pace

Feb 21st 2011, 23:16

n vella i coudnt agree with you more !!! these pilots should be rewarded for there bravery !

Hubert Paul Farrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 21:23

You have to accept the fact that most of those who were demonstrating are:
1) Maltese Passport Holders / Residents / Citizens as much as you are
2) As a minority, they have a right to voice their opinions
3) The protests were directed at another country's diplomatic services, not Maltese institutions.

CA Miller

Feb 22nd 2011, 03:46

Because we requested that the Americans mind their own business and not interfere - and now we will get our wish ... hopefully.

James Zerafa

Feb 22nd 2011, 01:11

Are you ppl insane? Malta should not get involved with this. EU main countries are standing idle and neutral in order to prevent formation of enemies and you want Malta to be the nation which intervenes in this. If Gaddafi (correct me if it's written wrong), is pissed with what is happening in Malta, we could be involved in his targets. I respect the fact that these ppl wanna protest but they should protest in their country since its related and not in Malta. I mean i dont see Maltese ppl living in Australia protesting about high electricity bills. I know its not the point but let's be serious Malta should not get involved or serious changes will take place in our beloved homeland.

Joe Degiorgio

Feb 21st 2011, 23:39

Semplici hafna. Il- pilota ghandu buttuna fil- cockpit li minghajr ma jarma l' isplussiv ta gol- armi jista jarmihom flok jisparhom. Jista jkun illi telquhom x imkien fil- bahar ta bejn Malta u l' Libja.

Peter Korsten

Feb 21st 2011, 21:32

"The large poded canisters fitted underneath each wing seem to be SNEB rocket pods used in air to ground combat."

In case anybody was wondering what they were ordered to do. Thank you, Jesmond, for the insight into military hardware.

James De Giorgio

Feb 21st 2011, 19:19

Andrew your comment is preposterous... these pilots have refused to BOMBARD protesters for goodness' sake, and have taken a very brave decision! Sending them back means certain death simply because they refused to kill hundreds of people at a go! In Benghazi, security officers who refused to fire on protestors were shot in the head and burnt. I hope your comment was only ignorant of the situation rather than reflective of your general ignorance...

Andrew Zammit Manduca

Feb 21st 2011, 21:43

I am sorry James but you do not seem to realize the power Gaddafi has. All he has to say is one word and the pilots will be locked for and killed here in Malta creating even more tension in our country. From the way you are speak it seems like at this point you do not really care about the safety of our country at all. I do not know about you but I do not fancy seeing any violence in Malta and keeping these pilots here is only risking that. Sometimes in this world you start to realize that first you have to thing about yourself if you want to survive. This is one of the cases. So I stand by the comment I passed before and hope you realize the risk Malta is in by keeping these pilots here.

M. Fenech

Feb 21st 2011, 23:15

@ Andrew Zammit Manduca.
Shame on your comments.
@James DeGiorgio
Very well said, and I agree 100% with what you have stated.

Charles Muscat

Feb 22nd 2011, 01:58

May I ask Mr. Manduca what kind of mess Malta is already in? You cannot put Malta down simply to try and make a little bit of sense in your letter.

Kenneth Cassar

Feb 21st 2011, 18:59

Yes, you are. We are bound by international obligations to grant political asylum. By declaring war on us, Libya would be declaring war on Europe if not the rest of the world. Very unlikely, especially in the circumstances.

R Saliba

Feb 21st 2011, 19:00

Obviously not. If that was the case than we'd be at war with most of Africa.

Hubert Paul Farrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 19:04

Yes you are. Gaddafi only cares to control his territory at the moment, from which he is loosing his power fast. It's true that he has a mad sense of humour and its totally unpredictable, but the only thing that kept him where he was latetly were good neighbourly relations. If he loses those, nothing is left. I am also preety sure that he does not have any resources for such a paranoid attack, so much so that in his own territory he is using foreign mercenaries!

C Cassar

Feb 21st 2011, 18:50

Don't be so stupid. These pilots are claiming asylum, not attacking Malta. You'd better get back to reading the Beano.

Len.Brown.Vella anglo/maltese

Feb 21st 2011, 18:50

Its a bad advert and a bad image is being spread across the world, as i just heared the news on Sky News and the BBC via satellite., my friends who normally spend time in Malta are going to give it a miss, don't know about the retired Britains what they think of it all, but they too will start packing, wioll kinow more about it to-night when i shall pop down my local for a few jars. L.Vella Gozo

Charles Micallef

Feb 21st 2011, 19:03

@ Les Brown,

let us not get paranoid.... Libya has enough to do at home than to start thinking of bombing Malta because two of their pilots defected...!

Peter Korsten

Feb 21st 2011, 19:57

"...if we allow ANY Tom Dick AND HARRY IN."

Well, a supersonic fighter jet makes a change from a leaking boat, don't you think?

Anyway, there's a difference from poor Sub-Saharan Africans who come to Europe with nothing, and those who forsake their careers and their families, from a very privileged position (I mean, jet fighter pilots, not a street sweeper) because they don't want to kill civilians.

L Camilleri

Feb 21st 2011, 20:13

This has nothing got to do with tourism, or any money spent on advertising.. Get some salt in your heads please. British packing to flee too? Pathetic! Nothing new.... Two fighters landed in closest airport refusing to fire. Should they land back in their base? They are working against violence. Also, the key men of the Libyan army are backing out one by one.. Gaddafi himself is believed to have left the country and fled... Who's in charge now to bomb Malta? Give it a rest.. These are signs that Libyans are getting their freedom back.

Monica Galea

Feb 22nd 2011, 00:29

I wouldn't worry too much about the tourism dollar at the moment. There are people's lives at stake here and Malta is in a position to help and can't ignore them and hope they go away.

Adrian Cardona

Feb 21st 2011, 19:24

Bravu! how intelligent and compassionate. These colonels refused to fire on their own people and risked their lives to escape. And you would send them back to be burned alive. Very impressive reasoning.

Alex Buds

Feb 22nd 2011, 03:18

Your comment is disgraceful. These are brave men and women. They deserve to be treated like heroes for giving up everything to protect their fellow countrymen. The risk they personally are taking here is a thousand times higher than the risk you would be running if Malta treated them as the heroes they are. Shame on us if we treat them any less.

Peter Bonnici

Feb 21st 2011, 18:44

Yes of course. Phone the PM tomorrow after 9am and advise him on this drilling business, will you?

Elaine Debono

Feb 21st 2011, 21:00

So in a time of distress and turmoil for others of your kind all you can think about is how to make money!!! What sort of human are you?

Jeremy J Camilleri

Feb 21st 2011, 18:15

US allies?

E Galea

Feb 21st 2011, 18:17

"Sources said that the pilots had initially asked for emergency clearance to land and for refuelling." If an emergency call was made for refueling, then that justifies Malta Control Tower's action. This has nothing to do with fighter intercepts and the like. It is the same situation when Iraq fighter planes fled to Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf War. Only that it is in itself dangerous for us in Libya decides to retaliate against these defectors. What should be expect? And by the way, do you think that the 6th fleet did not detect them? Seriously!!!!!

Ramon Mangion

Feb 21st 2011, 18:40

Whilst I dont know the exact details, if there really was an emergency what do you do ? let them crash at sea ?

Henry Spiteri

Feb 21st 2011, 18:06

@Joseph Calleja-Every country in the World has its own problems,but this is very seriuos.How can we stay nuetral when innocent people are being killed.We are not living in an other planet.

Paul Sammut

Feb 21st 2011, 18:33

Henry Spiteri go and fight yourself and don;'t involve us or our country Henry.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 21st 2011, 18:51

@Henry Spiteri
I am sure you have heard the phrase " Never, ever get in between two fighting dogs". There is a chance of both dogs turning on you, and you become the victim. Nothing personal. I am sure you have your reasons. And how is Malta going to help?

E Galea

Feb 21st 2011, 18:04

If I am not mistaken I believe that in the eventuality that the pilots did in actual fact defect to Malta, then the planes will become Maltese property. Always if I am not mistaken.

wally vella-zarb

Feb 21st 2011, 18:23

@ E Galea. I think that you are mistaken. Even if the pilots did indeed defect (still not clear who they are or what is their intention) the planes would still be stolen property belonging to Libya and the Libyan authorities, whoever they may be, would immediately ask for - and obtain - their return.

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 21st 2011, 18:35

Here, have a read through this famous defection of a Soviet Air Force MIG 25 pilot Viktor Belenko to Japan in 1976. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Belenko

John Frendo

Feb 21st 2011, 18:36

Wrong E Galea. They are State property and considered as Libyan territory the same as a Maltese military ship is considered as Maltese territory.

E Galea

Feb 22nd 2011, 01:15

Thanks for the info, but in the case of Viktor Belenko, te aircraft was not on American soil, and the Japs had the final say!!!! Here we are talking about Maltese soil and the final say is that of the Maltese since they entered our airspace "unauthorised". And if it is still property of the Libyan state, just as the ships registered under Malta and so on, it does not grant permission to enter ports unauthorised.

dvella

Feb 21st 2011, 18:36

if we do as you say son, we'll have the rest of the world knocking on the door step asking for a share. And am sure you know what I mean!!!

Martin Camileri

Feb 21st 2011, 17:36

oh the drama! so exciting ;o) Malta is the centre of the world afterall.. hehe

J Farrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 17:42

How do you know they were undetected? Were you in the control tower to blabber that they were undetected? INstead of sowing hatred and doubts stop your irresponsible talk and get on with your own business.

Adrian Cardona

Feb 21st 2011, 17:49

@JJ Mercieca qed tparla minghajr ma tifhem siehbi. they were detected.

wally vella-zarb

Feb 21st 2011, 17:56

"Obama is no Reagan or Bush" And for that let us be truly thankful. BTW, are you one of those who still think of Arabs as "Tal-Ħabbażiż"?

dvella

Feb 21st 2011, 18:43

what's the use having an AWACS without SAM, surface - to - air - missiles?? boqq. The US won't provide this service for free, may I believe!! And if they show us the bill beforehand, you'll surely 4get about it.

JJ Mercieca

Feb 21st 2011, 17:35

We wouldn't keep those jets not for foolish "neutrality" or "independance" which are outdated concepts anyways but because they are probably very poorly maintained 2nd hand french jets. Not even the French would want them back.

J Farrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 17:43

One cannot remain NEUTRAL when dictators are killing their own people. We side with the people. But on this one I say let's walk carefully, and instead of condemnations we walk with full diplomacy and a steady hand. No hurries and no false moves. There is our national interest in the line of fire.

v. muscat

Feb 21st 2011, 18:18

the best comment i've ever read on the blogs. nice one

dvella

Feb 21st 2011, 18:45

tajba silv, kieku nimpjegaw nofs malta ma l airmalta!!

P. Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 07:45

You're joking. This country never had a disaster recovery plan let alone a preventive plan.

JFarrugia

Feb 21st 2011, 17:17

And you got that info from where?, The Libyan airforce has had Mirage fighters for many a year, the Libyan pilots were in fact trained by the French air force, These are 2 of the 12 they have in service. It could be however that these are in fact French pilots or engineers who were doing work in Libya.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 22nd 2011, 03:20

@ Alexander Morana

Libyans fly their own jets. The Maltese government has a duty to protect these pilots --including their families back in Libya.

C Falzon

Feb 21st 2011, 19:18

Not so sure about that. The annual cost of keeping such a machine flying is probably higher than the entire AFM budget.

a cassar

Feb 21st 2011, 17:19

Excuse me,but if Reagan has become a saint I should become the 13th apostle !!!

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