Enthusiastic welcome for Kurt Calleja at the airport

A crowd of some 300 people gave an enthusiastic welcome to Kurt Calleja, his band and delegation when they returned from the Eurovision Song Contest early this afternoon.

The singer appeared surprised as he emerged at the airport arrivals lounge to see the cheering, screaming crowd waving Maltese flags and 'welcome home' placards. Others carried balloons and pictures of Calleja and his band.

The Calleja family had a huge banner with a picture of the band.

Calleja threw signed T-shirts at the crowd and signed a large number of autograph books.

The flight from Istanbul was delayed by half an hour, but that only served for the crowd to get more enthusiastic, singing This is the Night to while away the time, while some tried the complicated moves.

The crowd was made to wait longer because Calleja forgot his mobile phone on the plane and had to go back to get it.

Calleja placed 21st on Saturday, Malta's best result since 2005. It was the first time that Malta made it to the finals since 2009.