Two American Air Force F-16 fighter jets, armed with missiles, had to make emergency landings in Malta yesterday as they were low on fuel. The fighters, taking part in the Nato-led mission over Libya, are based at the military base in Signonella in Sicily. It is the first time American military jets have used the island since the start of the Libyan conflict after a series of French Mirage planes, as well as Danish F-16s, landed for similar reasons.