Libyan plane carried pilots to fly Mirages back - PM

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Feb 28th 2011, 18:23

Thank God that the pilots who were detailed to fly the planes back were not allowed to do so! The Mirage fighter planes are still fully armed according to several sources. For all I know these two pilots could have been ordered to use the ammunition against the Maltese people or against some other country once they regain control of the planes. The two pilots who brought the planes here should definitely not be sent back to Libya.

joanna farrugia

Feb 28th 2011, 11:58

@ j borg imma kif minn kollox tridu tapprofitaw ruhkom? mela l oppozzijoni mhux mal gvern qed tahdem

Marlene F Hills

Feb 28th 2011, 09:31

Prime Minister Gonzi is indeed being put to the test and is in an awkward position. Should he have allowed the Libyan plane to land with pilots on board with the job of taking back to Libya the two Mirage fighter planes brought to Malta by two defectors? It would have been easy .But we are listening to ..who are we listening to??Should the two defectors be allowed asylum? Although compassion should aways be excercised by those in power they should not mix up bravery for cowardice. The North African countries are undergoing a huge upheaval and there has always been two sides of the coin in such regimes for example Iraq.Foreign interference left iraq in a mess. Loyalty and compassion with justice should rule and I wish PM Gonzi good luck.

Evarist Saliba

Feb 28th 2011, 09:14

It is a pity that such information remained hidden, unnecessarily, from the Maltese public. I say unnecessarily because the position of the Maltese government - a very correct one - was known to Ghaddafi who could have retaliated. At the same time, it was not known to others who were watching carefully the leanings of the Maltese authorities vis-a-vis Ghaddafi to the extent that doubts were expressed in the media as to whether Malta would grant asylum to the defecting Liban pilots.
Re the last point, the moment to decide is after the situation in Libya returns to normal and the pilots themselves may change their mind. In the meantime, let them be our guests, and let us also look carefully after the aircraft.

V.Briffa

Feb 28th 2011, 09:01

Looks like it was more as a 'Trojan Horse' to get a special squad into our airport, it is about time that Malta considers serious budgets for our defence and AFM ... what have to say on the other hand we have very really good intelligence unit.

isabelle borg

Feb 28th 2011, 08:56

I think it's in times like these that we should be really really proud to be Maltese.

Unlike the British govt who took ages to send aid to their nationals, with some even reporting that emails and calls weren't being answered, the Maltese govt sprang into action and helped over 8,000 if not more people.

This is truly a great acheivement and shows real management!

Joseph Bartolo

Feb 28th 2011, 03:37

He Said ( Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi )
Said request by Libya the planes to be returned had been denied, and the planes were ? meaning was at MIA ? or taken somewhere else ? still there ?

Can you please clearify if they are still there or where taken somewhere else ?

Thanks

R Bugelli

Feb 27th 2011, 22:56

Would have Joseph Muscat as prime minister, with Alex Sceberras Trigona and Karmenu Vella breathing down his neck, done the same? Now, that is the question.

J.Borg

Feb 27th 2011, 22:25

Wow! Well done to our government, they are handeling this problem very professionally, maybe I might have underestimated Dr.Gonzi after all

J.Borg

Feb 27th 2011, 22:25

Wow! Well done to our government, they are handeling this problem very professionally, maybe I might have underestimated Dr.Gonzi after all

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 27th 2011, 21:47

There you have it, most definitely well done for this very wise decision which shows true character in adversity. Yes, I respect this decision, pretty much so. The pilots who flew these machines to Malta took the gamble of their lives in order to protect innocent civilians. That has to be put into perspective in any considerations on behalf of thier requests. May God bless and protect Libya and its people. Well done Malta, you're doing very well and keep at it with your humanitarian efforts. Nice.

J.Bezzina

Feb 27th 2011, 21:37

Proud to be Maltese especially because in a crises like this the government and the opposition are working together for the best interest of the nation. As normal citizen it just make us more secure. Prosit Joseph Muscat and Laurence Gonzi.

J Borg

Feb 27th 2011, 21:15

And that's where the 'Par idejn sodi' came into play. We should thank God that we have such a serious and cautious person leading our country in such a delicate time. The position of Prime Minister is not for amateurs.

j.camenzuli

Feb 27th 2011, 20:51

As I wrote previously that the planes are Libya's property. Once everything calms down and life returns to normal in libya these would have to be be returned. The pilots that flew these over are in an awkward position but they cannot return to Libya as they will be shot for defecting.. Their fate depends on who governs the country after this upheaval.

Martin Farrugia

Feb 27th 2011, 19:45

Well done, really. A five-star crisis management which is striking the perfect balance between fortitude and righteousness on one side and a common humanity on the other, and which makes one proud to be Maltese. Keep it up.