The two Syrians started their journey from Damascus to Cairo and then to Malta, an Air Malta statement said yesterday. From Malta they boarded the Air Malta flight to Vienna. Their ticket itinerary showed they had an onward connection to Armenia. The passengers were regularly and properly documented throughout their entire journey.

On arrival at Vienna all other passengers on the aircraft disembarked normally but the two Syrians were requested to remain on board by Austrian immigration officials, the statement added.

The same officials directed Air Malta to transport the two passengers back to Malta on the return flight. For safety and security reasons, the operating Captain refused to carry the passengers back to Malta unless they were accompanied by security officers.

Following consultations between the airline and the immigration authorities, the two Syrian passengers were allowed to disembark and were handed over to the Austrian authorities.

As a result, Air Malta’s return flight KM 513 to Malta was delayed for two hours. Every effort was made by Air Malta to minimise the inconvenience to passengers and to reduce the extent of the delay.