Libya hijack: Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight seized by hijackers in Malta – as it happened

See The Independent's live updates as the situation unfolded

People exit hijacked plane in Malta

Two hijackers who diverted a Libyan passenger plane to Malta claiming to have a grenade have surrendered peacefully following hours of tense negotiations.

There were 118 people, including seven crew members, on board the hijacked Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, which was travelling from Sabha in south east Libya to the capital Tripoli.

These were The Independent's live updates as the situation unfolded:

:: Libyan plane lands in Malta in 'potential hijack situation'

[23 December 2016 11:26 · Kashmira.Gander]

A plane has landed in Libya in what appears to be hijack situation. The Afriqiyah Airways flight has 118 passengers on board.

[23 December 2016 11:27 · Kashmira.Gander]

Malta’s Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, effectively broke the news, tweeting: “Informed of potential hijack situation of a Libya internal flight diverted to Malta. Security and emergency operations standing by."

[23 December 2016 11:42 · Jack de Menezes]

Reports suggested one hijacker was on board the plane claiming to be in possession of a hand grenade, according to Maltese media.

The hijacker has reportedly claimed he is pro-Gaddafi and said he was willing to let passengers go apart from the crew if his demands were met.

Earlier reports suggested two hijackers had threatened to bomb the plane.

[23 December 2016 11:42 · Jack de Menezes]

The plane is an Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320, believed to have been on its way from Sebha in south west Libya to the capital Tripoli.

[23 December 2016 11:42 · Jack de Menezes]

"We think there's been an unlawful interference at our airport. All emergency police in the have been dispatched to the site [where the plane has landed], a spokesperson for Malta International Airport told The Independent

[23 December 2016 11:43 · Jack de Menezes]

According to the Times of Malta, the plane's engines are still running and it was surrounded by soldiers, but no one is yet believed to have approached the plane.

[23 December 2016 11:44 · Jack de Menezes]

The Deputy Mayor for Lija, Malta has said "two people on board have been threatening to blow up the plane"

[23 December 2016 11:49 · Jack de Menezes]

A security official at Tripoli Airport has said the pilot tried to land in Tripoli but the hijackers refused, according to Reuters. The official said the pilot was in contact with Tripoli Airport Control but communications were then lost.

[23 December 2016 11:53 · Jack de Menezes]

Malta's president has said the flight has 111 passengers on board, of whom 82 are men, 28 are women and one a child.

[23 December 2016 11:56 · Jack de Menezes]

All flights to and from Malta International Airport have been cancelled or diverted until further notice