The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus 320 Aircraft, registration number 5A-ONB, detained since 23 December hijacking event, left Malta today at 3.54pm following its release by the Maltese courts yesterday, an airline statement said.

The aircraft had been detained by the Maltese Courts to facilitate the gathering of evidence by the police. The release of the aircraft, which now will return to the airline’s commercial network operations, was welcomed by Afriqiyah Airways.

Afriqiyah Airlines reiterated its commitment to continue its collaboration with the Maltese authorities in relation to the investigations linked to the hijack.

Afriqiyah Airways Flight Operations Manager, Captain Shadli Abussen expressed his satisfaction that the aircraft can now be re-deployed on the airline’s business and schedule. Capt Shadli also thanked

Capt Ali Milad and the crew of flight 8U209 of December 23rd, for the calm and competent manner in which they handled the threatening situation which developed on board of the aircraft. He added that

“Despite the political instability in Libya, Afriqiyah Airways has continued to maintain a commitment to train its crews to the highest international standards. In the case of this hijack, he noted, it is evident that, the Afriqiyah crews and their Maltese counterparts managed the crisis in a really professional manner and as such should be lauded for that.”

The Chairman of the Airline Abubaker ElFortia again reiterated his thanks to the Maltese Government and those involved in the resolution of this situation.