Two passengers on board a plane that made an emergency landing in Malta on Tuesday morning attempted to escape, running across the airport apron before being apprehended by security personnel, Times of Malta reports.

The Turkish Airlines plan on its way from Istanbul to Algiers landed in Malta just before 8.30am after a passenger reported feeling unwell.

While a medical team boarded the aircraft to give treatment, two other passengers ran down the mobile steps onto the apron, in what seemed as an attempt to enter Malta.

The Times reports that they were caught by security personnel and handed over to the police.

The passenger who was unwell was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment, and four other passengers refused to continue the journey without their colleague.

As authorities tried to persuade them to complete the flight to Algiers, the plane’s captain did not want to proceed with the four passengers who were agitated and posed a risk to others, Times reports.
Ultimately, none of them remained on the plane which left for Algiers at 11am.