The pilots union said that only two pilots reported sick on 19 September, the day when an Air Malta flight from Orly was cancelled.

The Airline Pilots Association was referring to reports made in the media that Air Malta flight AMC466 on 19 September was cancelled because “unprecedented number of pilots reporting sick concurrently”. 

On the day in question only two pilots reported sick (at 0900 and 1100 respectively). Another pilot on standby duty had been on sick leave for over a week, ALPA said.

Pilots are legally bound not to fly when sick and may only report for work again when cleared by a doctor. An Air Malta appointed aeromedical examiner visited the pilots concerned and certified they were unfit to fly, ALPA said.

Around 60 passengers were left stranded at Orly Paris airport on the day after an Air Malta flight was cancelled without any advanced warning.