Libyan aircraft movements (was: LIBYAN MIRAGE F1s AT MALTA)

[Malcolm Bezzina]

2 MIRGES F1 LANDED MALTA ESCAPED
MALCLM

[aviodromefriend]

excaped from what? Khadaffi or the anti-Khadaffi demonstrations?

[pjotrtje]

No matter what, those are friggin' hot visitors!!

[Niek]

Just reported by Reuters:

Two Libyan fighter jets land unexpectedly in Malta, witness say - Reuters

[Basman]

excaped from what? Khadaffi or the anti-Khadaffi demonstrations?

In times of civil war it is not unusual that fighter pilots defect because they refuse to fight against their own people. This could as well be the case here (just speculating of course). To anyone interested in the subject I can recommend the book 'Mig's op de Vlucht' by Dick van der Aart (no, I am no way related to the author or the editor).

Bas

[The DJ]

Monday, 21st February 2011 - 16:34CET

Two Libyan fighter jets arrive in Malta
Two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters have arrived in Malta and landed at MIA.

Their arrival was totally unexpected and it is not known if the pilots are defecting. Sources said that the pilots had initially asked for emergency clearance to land and for refuelling.

Their arrival followed shortly after the arrival of two civilian helicopters which flew in and landed at Malta International Airport this afternoon carrying seven people.

Informed sources said the helicopters 'escaped from Libya with no official clearance' but arrived in Malta regularly.

Such was the haste of their departure from Libya, that only one of the passengers was carrying a passport. The passengers claimed they are French.

Immigration police are checking the identities of the passengers while holding them at the airport.


www.timesofmalta.com

[Niek]

This would be an excellent opportunity for Malta to "acquire" it's first jet fighters

[Malcolm Bezzina]

JUST RETURNED FROM THE AIRPORT SERIAL 502 AND 508 SINGLE SEATERS

[Wildpicture]

JUST RETURNED FROM THE AIRPORT

Now that is real news coverage !!!

Who knows if more air force personnel are going to risk the move. I guess troops loyal to Kadhaffi will start blocking runways in Libya. Lets just hope the bloodshed will be limited.

[Paul]

BREAKING NEWS | Libyan fighter jets, helicopters land in Malta

At least two Libyan air force fighter jets have landed in Malta after reportedly fleeing Libya.

The planes landed at MIA without authorisation and the pilots have surrendered to the Maltese authorities. The planes have reportedly escaped from Benghazi where the air base has been looted and destroyed by demonstrators.

Meanwhile, two civilian helicopters with seven passengers has also landed at MIA. Only one passenger had a passport and is said to be French.

The fact that only one passenger had a passport is evidence of the haste of the civilians escape from Libya that is now in chaos.

More soon

[Koen L]

Reports from Libya are saying soldiers are being burned alive for treason if they refuse to shoot at civilians. Understandable that these pilots opted to leave the country.

[Rockville]

The situation there is becoming more and more grave.
The NL-MFA just said that pending permission the RNLAF will deploy an aircraft to pick-up/evacuate more than 100 NL citizens.
The British PM said that Gadafi has fled Lybia and is on his way to Venezuela.

[Wildpicture]

On Al Jazeera it is reported that military aircraft have opened fire on protestors in Tripoli.

That might be a reason for pilots to desert.

[Koen L]

http://static.vg.no/uploaded/image/bild ... 18_842.jpg
Armed with rocketpods, guess we know why they left for Malta now.

[michel N]

Al Jazeera just showed photo's of both Mirages at the moment the pilots climbed out of the cockpit. Someone was at the right place at the right time.....