A Libyan passenger plane with 118 people on board has been hijacked and forced to land in Malta, the airline Afriqiyah Airways has confirmed.

Quoting local media report, BBC reports the Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted.

There were two hijackers involved, who threatened to bomb the plane, according to initial reports.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said security forces were standing by.

Malta International Airport confirmed on Twitter that there had been an “unlawful interference” at the airport.

It said emergency teams had been dispatched.

Some flights to Malta are being diverted to the Italian island of Sicily.

BDST: 1855 HRS, DEC 23, 2016
SR