A group of 28 Maltese and Libyan workers arrived on a relief flight from Mitiga last night, vowing to return once the situation there improved.

The flight, operated by a Petro Air aircraft, was organised by the government through Malta-based airline Medavia in the wake of an escalation of violence in the North African country, about 40 minutes by plane to the south of the island.

The workers said they were not in the thick of things but could hear bombs and often saw them zooming through the sky. They felt the situation was risky for them, so they decided to return to Malta for safety. However, almost all said they would return to Libya once the situation got better.

Carmelo Grech, who has been working in Libya for years, even before the uprising which led to the fall of the Gaddafi regime, said the North African country was not safe any longer.

He acknowledged he was not in an area dominated by fighting but he could still hear bombs exploding in the distance. “It’s difficult because it keeps you awake at night. I prefer being safe here until the situation improves,” he said.

Alex Mifsud and Anthony Mallia said they were hearing rumours about workers being abducted and the escalating violence made them resolve to pack up and leave.

However, they too planned to go back once things started returning to normal. Mr Mallia said he was contacted “several times” by Malta’s Foreign Office to enquire about his whereabouts and whether he was OK.

They offered him the possibility of leaving and he returned home to his relatives’ embraces, especially by his young daughter.