Air Malta has cancelled its daily Tripoli flights today and tomorrow in response to the airport’s temporary takeover by armed militia yesterday, an incident that reminded the world of the volatile situation in post-revolution Libya.

The incident was caused by a group of disgruntled ex-rebels who entered the airport with tanks, heavy machine guns and armoured vehicles

Maltese workers were able to leave Tripoli safely yesterday since the noon flight took off just before the incident but it took until evening for the authorities to regain control of the airport.

However, that did not stop other flights from being disrupted. Maltese workers usually have the option of a daily Tripoli flight but the flights today and tomorrow have been cancelled “due to the closure of the airport”, Air Malta said.

Thanks to Air Malta’s decision to start operating flights from Benghazi, customers have the option of travelling east to catch a flight back home today.

Air Malta said it was offering the flight change at no extra costs and it would continue to monitor the situation and keep the public informed.

“Air Malta gives utmost importance to the safety and well-being of its clients and crew and apologises to its clients for any disruptions due to circumstances beyond its control,” the airline said.

The incident yesterday was caused by a group of disgruntled ex-rebels who entered the airport with tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy machine guns, completely blocking air traffic. Flights were diverted to Metiga air base in the city centre.

“It is total confusion. Everyone is fleeing. Several armoured vehicles and tanks are positioned on the tarmac, blocking traffic,” an official at the airport said at one point.

“Cars mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armed men are surrounding the aircraft and preventing them from moving,” another official said, adding that some passengers were forced to leave the planes.

Officials said the takeover by militiamen from the city of Tarhouna was in response to the fact that their leader, Abu Elija al-Habshi, had been arrested on Sunday.

The motive of the gunmen was to pressure the governmetn to explain the whereabouts of Mr al-Habshi, according to the official Lana news agency.

Tarhouna in central Libya was widely seen as a favourite of deposed ruler Muammar Gaddafi. Its dominant tribe, also called Tarhouna, held many positions in the Libyan military under Gaddafi. The city’s residents are viewed with suspicion by former rebels. Libya’s interim government took control of Tripoli International Airport in April from a coalition of brigades that had been guarding the facility since the capital’s liberation in August 2011. Tribal rivalries have swept Libya since Colonel Gaddafi was overthrown.

Businessmen who spoke to The Times from Libya said the situation in the country had in the past few weeks become increasingly tense, with armed men roaming the streets freely and a sense of disregard for human life.

The assult by the militiamen on the Libyan capital’s main gateway to the outside world underline the massive task facing the authorities in the reintegrating the disparate armed groups that took part in the overthrow of now slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s regime last year.