2010-2019

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
07.01.10	B.757-200	First Choice	G-OOBI	Night flight. Departure delay caused by severe weather conditions in the UK at the time. Left Malta at around 15.30 local time.
21.01.10	MD-11	Saudi	HZ-AND	Night-landing. Aircraft got stuck in soil after wandering off taxi-way Echo on vacating runway 31, effectively blocking entry into/departure from Park 9 via taxiways Echo & Foxtrot. Cargo off loaded onto two Saudi B.747s, HZ-AIU (Saudi 936) and HZ-AIP (Saudi 9040) which arrived on the 22nd. MD-11 departed on the 23rd.
16.02.10	Bombardier CRJ-900ER	L.A.A.	5A-LAC	Flight LAA107, diverted to Malta at around 17.45 local, cause unknown. Departed 90 minutes later.

Icelandic volcanic eruption.

On 14 April 2010, volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland erupted, sending a seemingly never-ending cloud of ash into the atmosphere. The cloud, which slowly travelled towards Europe, effectively brought both civil and military flying to a halt in a large part of the continent.

As a result, a number of Evergreen International flights diverted to Malta, as listed below.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
17.04.10	B.747-2	Evergreen International	N487EV	Departed on the 18th.
18.04.10	B.747-2	Evergreen International	N486EV	Departed on the 19th.
19.04.10	B.747-2	Evergreen International	N486EV	Departed on the 20th.
20.04.10	B.747-2	Evergreen International	N482EV	Departed on the 23rd.
20.04.10	B.747-2	Evergreen International	N490EV	Departed on the 23rd.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
12.05.10	A320-214	Afriqiyah	5A-ONJ	Afrqiyah 913. Diverted due to bad weather over Tripoli. This was on the same day that an Afriqiyah A.330 crashed short of Tripoli airport, with just one child surviving.
30.07.10	?	Air Malta	?	Vehicle carrying mobile steps hit an aircraft that had just arrived from Budapest, denting the aircraft slightly. Flights to Vienna, Gatwick, Kiev and Paris Charles De Gaulle were subsequently delayed.
14.08.10	B.737	Rynair	EI-EKB	Aircraft damaged after being hit by an ambu-lift vehicle, used to help disabled people onto aircraft. Aircraft grounded, but damage believed to be “very light”.
08.09.10	B.737-800	Rynair	EI-DAD	Aircraft was on a Malta Venice-Traviso flight (RYR3875), when it encountered severe turbulence, 120 nm SSW of Bologna, resulting in injuries to two flight attendants and one passenger. Captain diverted to Bologna.
12.09.10	B.747	Corsair	F-HKIS	Aircraft diverted to Malta due to a medical emergency on board.
28.09.10	Israel IAI-1126 Galaxy		LZ-FIB	BGH9005. Diversion due to bad weather over Libya.
09.10.10	A.320	Easyjet	G-EZFS	Departure delayed by up to 25 minutes due to heavy rains.
09.10.10	?	Easyjet	?	Inbound to Malta. Diverted to Catania due to severe weather over Malta.
09.10.10	?	Ryanair	?	Inbound to Malta. Diverted to Trapani due to severe weather over Malta.
09.10.10	A.321	Lufthansa	D-AISK	Inbound to Malta. Diverted to Sicily due to severe weather over Malta.
13.10.10	A320	Lufthansa	D-AIQL	Diversion due to bad weather over Tripoli, Libya.
13.10.10	A319	Alitalia	I-BIML	Diversion due to bad weather over Tripoli, Libya.
13.10.10	A340-500	Emirates	A6-ERC	Callsign EK745. Divertion due to bad weather over Tripoli, Libya.
23.10.10	A.320-211	SmartLynx A/Ls	YL-LCD	Aircraft on flight ART245 (from Tenerife, Spain to Antalaya, Turkey). Captain diverted to Malta after experiencing a loss of cabin pressure at around 00.35 local. Exact departure date/time unknown, but gone by morning of the 24th.
09.11.10	BAe ATP	Westlax	LX-WAT	Aircraft blew a tyre after landing, departed on the following day.
02.12.10	Gulfstream V	Algerian Govt.	7T-VPS	Aircraft departed with Algerian Defence Minister after attending the 5 + 5 meeting in Malta. Starboard wheel retracted, with the nose/port wheels remaining down. Pilot decided to return to MIA, departing later in the evening.
04.12.10	B.737-800	Sky	TC-SKH	Diversion due to Spanish air traffic controller strike.
17.12.10	Ga. Learjet		D-____	Aircraft on flight JTI171, diverted to Malta due to a sick passenger. Also developed technical fault when starting up, and stayed for repairs. Departed late evening of the 22nd.
21.12.10	A.320	Afriqiyah	5A-ONB	Aircraft on an Amsterdam-Tripoli flight (AAW953). Diverted to Malta due to engine problems. A second A.320, 5A-ONA, flew in on flight AAW1953, possibly to pick up stranded passengers. Spare engine brought on board Libyan Air Cargo L-100-300 Hercules, 5A-DOM, on 29.12.10, (the Hercules) departing the following day. Performed engine runs on 02.03.11. Aircraft remained in Malta due to Libyan civil unrest crisis. Eventually departed on 01.11.11 at approx 21.30hrs.
26.01.11	Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy		CN-MBP	Diversion because of situation in Tunis. c/n 14501117, ex-PT-TKU.
31.01.11	Embraer E135		A6-VVV	Arrived as GSH705, cause of diversion unknown.

The Libyan Uprising

The uprising by Arab people against their governments started off in Tunis on 17th December 2010, quickly spreading to other Arab/North African countries.

The civil unrest in Libya started on 15 February 2011, and with that country being located just 200 miles south of Malta, it was inevitable that the island would become reluctantly involved. The first hint of trouble came in the early afternoon of 21st February, when two Heli Union helicopters made an unexpected appearance, landing at park 4. They were joined a few hours later by two Libyan AF Mirage F1 jets, still carrying rocket pods. Over the next few days, as a result of the conflict, a number of flights diverted to, or landed to refuel in Malta, instead of using Libyan airports.

As a result of the conflict, an exodus of people working in Libya sought every means possible to escape, towards the Egyptian and Tunisian borders, or by sea/air towards Malta. Foreign governments ferried their nationals either by sending naval units or aircraft (both civil & military), made use of the catamaran usually used on the Malta-Sicily trips, or by Air Malta. Flights were then organized to take them to their home country. Airlines such as Emirates and Egyptair Express laid on extra flights to cope with the demand.

When SR Technic announced the setting up an aircraft repair centre in Malta, Park 4 was offered as the site to build its new hangar, and as a result, around 60% of the park was fenced off. But with two helicopters and two fighters practically occupying what remained of the park, the chain link fence was removed on 24th February.

A page dealing with the military aspects of this operation is to be found in the Military Accidents page.

Gaddafi was killed on 20 October by rebel fighters. A NATO aircraft fired on a convoy of vehicles that was deemed to be a danger to civilians. Gaddafi managed to escape, and hide in a drain pipe, but was dragged out and shot. Meanwhile, Libya’s interim leaders asked that NATO patrols continue until the end of 2011.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
21.02.11	A. Puma	Heli Union	F-GHOY	Arrived from an off-shore oil rig in Libyan waters with F-GYSH. Helicopters carried a total of eight people between them, only one passenger carrying a passport. Hover-taxied to Med-Avia facility at Safi, late afternoon of the 24th. Left Safi in the evening of 15.04.11, departing Malta on the 16th.
21.02.11	A. Puma	Heli Union	F-GYSH	As above.
23.02.11	ATR 42	Libyan Arab A/Ls	5A-LAF	Aircraft denied permission to land and returned to Libya. It is thought to have had personnel who wanted to fly the Mirage F.1s back to Libya. (See military accidents page.)
24.02.11	ATR 42		F-HBSO	Aircraft arrived from Sirte, Libya, again departing for Sirte. Returned to Malta later that night.
24.02.11				Malta ATC advised that Tripoli airport is full, and no parking space is available.
24.02.11	B. 737 BBJ		A6-RJY	Arrived from Abu Dhabi.
24.02.11	A. 320	Afriqiyah	5A-ONM	Diversion. Departed the following day.
24.02.11	A. 320	Afriqiyah	5A-ONK	Diversion. Departed the following day.
26.02.11	E. 170	Egyptair Express	SU-GDH	Egyptair 2906.
26.02.11	B. 747	Imperial	SX-TIE	at Park 9.
26.02.11	B. 747	Imperial	SX-TIB	arr as Imperial 1001.
26.02.11	A. 330-3	China East	B-6127
26.02.11	A. 340	China	B-2380	CES267
26.02.11	A. 340	China	B-____
26.02.11	A. 320	Air Memphis	SU-PBG	MHS3328/3500, departed on the 27th.
27.02.11	A. 330-300	China East	B-6083	Arrived as CES299.
27.02.11	A. 340-300	China East	B-2383	Arrived as CES700.
26/27.02.11	B. 767		ZS-SOF	All white, night arrival. Departed on the 27th.
27.02.11	Gu. V	Kuwait Government	9K-GFA	Same day arrival/departure.
27.02.11	B. 737-300	Air Italy	EI-IGR	c/s AEY27, same day arrival/departure.
27.02.11	A. 320	Astreaus		Arrived as AEU743P.
27.02.11	E. 170	Egyptair Express	SU-GDI	3101. Extra flight.
28.02.11	A. 340	Emirates	A6-ERM
28.02.11	A. 340	China East	B-2380	c/s CES 265.
28.02.11	A. 330-300	China East	B-6126	c/s CES267.
28.02.11	A. 340-300	China East	B-2384	c/s CES161.
28.02.11	B. 747	Cargolux		c/s CV175, same day arrival/departure.
28.02.11	B. 737-400	Airways.com *	A6-ESE	Departed. * Titles on aircraft.
28.02.11	B. 757	Jet2	G-LSAG	c/s EXS041P.
01.03.11	E. 170	Egyptiar Express	SU-GDK	c/s 443.
01.03.11	A. 330-300	China East	B-6127	c/s CES700.
01.03.11	A. 330-300	China East	B-6127	c/s CES165/6.
01.03.11	A. 340-300	China East		c/s CES229.
01.03.11	B. 747	Air Pullmantur	EC-KXN	Late night arrival as c/s PLM200P. Departed a few hours later as PLM2500.
01.03.11	IL 62	Mchs Rossii	RA-86570	c/s SUM9715. Aircraft belongs to Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations. Departed the following morning.
02.03.11	B. 744-400	Orient Thai Airlines	HS-STC	c/s OEA8928, night departure.
02.03.11	A. 340	Emirates	A6-EAQ	c/s 3045.
02.03.11	A. 340-300	China East	B-2383	c/s CES261, arrival.
02.03.11	A. 340	China East	B-2381	Arrived/departed as CES263/4.
02.03.11	B. 767	Shangai	B-2500	c/s CSH601B.
02.03.11	B. 737-400	RAK Airways	A6-ESE	Departed.
02.03.11	B. 777-200	Egyptair	SU-GBX	c/s MS3000.
02.03.11	Beech 200	Civil Protection	F-ZBFJ
02.03.11	DHC-8	Civil Protection	F-ZBMD	Departed the following day.
03.03.11	A. 330	China East	B-6100	Arrival.
03.03.11	A. 340-300	China East	B-2382	Arrived as CES165.
03.03.11	B. 767-300	Shangai A/Ls	B-5018	CSH603
03.03.11	B. 747-400	Pullmantur	EC-KXN	PLM400P
03.03.11	A. 319	EasyJet Swiss		arr
03.03.11	MD-82	Bulgaria	LZ-LDW
04.03.11	B. 747	Cargolux		CV719
05.03.11	A.321	Kingfisher	VT-KFS	KFR9003, departed on the 6th.
06.03.11	B.737-800	Jet Airways India	VT-JBP	JAI8061
06.03.11	A. 330	Air India	VT-IWB	Aircraft diverted late night as Air India 161, departing on the 8th using the same callsign.
07.03.11	B. 747-400	Air India	VT-ESN	Aircraft was on a one day visit as “Air India 171”.
07.03.11	B. 747-2	Cargolux	TF-AAA	CV715
07.03.11	DA 50X	R. Maroc AF	CN-ANO	RMAF11. Same day arrival/departure.
09.03.11	B. 747	Southern	N760SA
09.03.11	B. 737	Air India	VT-JBP	JAI 8065
09.03.11	Bo. BD-700		5A-UAC	Brought Libyan Government representative for talks with the Maltese government.
11.03.11	B. 777-3	Air India	VT-ALU	AI141/140
11.03.11	B. 747	Cargolux	TF-AAA	CV719
28.04.11	Beech 1900	I.C.R.C.	9H-AFH	Medavia aircraft. It has now been sprayed white, large red cross on the rear fuselage, and ICRC titles on nose. First noted in these colours on this date. Flies frequently as Red 730, on humanitarian missions to Libya.
17.04.11	Embraer 120	United Nations Humanitarian Air Service	I-SKYB	First noted at MIA by webmaster on this date, but may have arrived earlier. Titles added later. Flies frequently on humanitarian missions to Libya.
30.07.11	Dash 8	United Nations Humanitarian Air Service	9H-AFD	Medavia aircraft, sprayed all white with blue titles, first noted at MIA on this date. Operates as UN97W.
__.09.11	Beech 1900	U.N.	ZS-SNJ	All white, with black ‘UN’ letters. First seen by web master on 24th September.
06.09.11	DC-3 (Basler BT-67)	US Dept. of State	N707BA	Made a number of flights to Libya.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
12.05.11	B. Baron		N55AE	Aircraft made a normal landing, but veered onto the grass area after port undercarriage leg collapsed. No injuries.
25.05.11	P. PA-28-161 Warrior II		9H-AEZ	Emergency landing due to a “rough running” engine. No injuries. (see video below.)

DATE	AIRCRAFT	OPERATOR	REG.	NOTES
11.07.11	Tecnam P92	European Flight Academy	9H-ADU	Crashed over Gozo, two injured. According to newspaper reports, cause of the crash may have been turbulence due to high temperatures.
22.07.11	Tecnam P92-JS		9H-EPA	Blew a tyre on r/w 23-05.
12.08.11	Piper Schafer Comanchero	Maps Geosystems Inc	N900TB	The pilot shutdown the engines on the runway and waited for the fire engines to arrive. Newspaper reports gave the cause of accident as a possible bird strike, as part of a propeller blade was missing. This aircraft is the last surviving type of a total of six converted in the early eighties, and is now used for aerial survey work in the Middle East and Africa.
07.09.11	B. 747-4		TF-AMX	Forced to divert due to medical emergency on board aircraft, when doing flight Saudia 2335. Full Saudi colours.
10.09.11		Air Malta	9H-___	Flight KM560 to Domodedovo had to return to Malta following hydraulic problems. Flight performed using another aircraft but incident affected 12 other flights, delays ranging from 15 minutes to 5.5hrs.
11.09.11		Air Malta	9H-___	KM437 from Marseille delayed by an hour after airport cleaner reported an aerosol cleaning can had gone missing from his trolley. Passengers were taken off the plane for another security check.
16.09.11				Biz-jet aborted take-off, forcing Air Malta flight KM479, from Paris, to go around.
28.09.11	B. 737-400	British Airways	G-DOCG	Late night diversion, probably from CTA, departed on the 29th.
09.11.11	A. 320	Royal Jordanian	JY-AYR	c/s Royal Jordanian 552. Diversion due to medical emergency on board.
10.11.11	Casa 212		N4399T	Aircraft made an overnight stop. Departed, but had to return due to an avionics problem. Left on the 15th.
20.11.11	DC-3 (Basler BT-67)	US Dept. of State	N707BA	Aircraft blew s/board tire during a touch & go, blocking r/w 13/31 for a couple hours.
09.11.11	A. 320	Royal Jordanian	JY-AYR	c/s Royal Jordanian 552. Diversion due to medical emergency on board.
10.11.11	Casa 212		N4399T	Aircraft had arrived the previous day. Departed, but had to return due to an avionics problem. Left on the 15th.
20.11.11	DC-3 (Basler BT-67)	US Dept. of State	N707BA	Aircraft blew s/board tire during a touch & go, blocking r/w 13/31 for a couple hours.
25.11.11	A.321	Royal Air Maroc	CN-RNY	Diversion for unknown reasons, possibly medical. Left later in the morning. c/s RAM1651.
25.11.11	Socata TB-20 Trinidad		N123XX	Ditched in the sea, five miles off Malta’s west coast. Pilot rescued by AFM Alouette AS9315, c/s Rescue 15. This is the second incident for this aircraft, see date 17.11.08.