Following the article on the two Libyan Mirage F1s defecting to Malta below you can find new pictures of the two aircraft currently parked at Malta International Airport along with the two Heli Union Super Pumas.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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4 Comments
just now from BBC: “An update on the two Libyan air force pilots who defected to Malta in their jets. Police are still interrogating them, local journalist Keith Demicoli tells the BBC World Service. They have asked for political asylum but it is far from clear they will be given it, in view of Malta’s strong political and commercial ties with Libya, he says.”
Thank you.
Yesterday, ANSA news agency reported they didn’t come here in Italy since they feared to be repatriated because of the Italy-Libya bilateral treaty. Looks like they could face the same problem in Malta. BTW I think they headed to Malta and not to Italy, simply because Luqa was nearer…..
Hi David, another “aeronautical” defection.
Just after taking off from Tripoli airport a Su-22 intentionally crashed near the city of Adjabiya after refusing bombing the protesters.
Both pilots safely eject from the plane.
just now from BBC: “An update on the two Libyan air force pilots who defected to Malta in their jets. Police are still interrogating them, local journalist Keith Demicoli tells the BBC World Service. They have asked for political asylum but it is far from clear they will be given it, in view of Malta’s strong political and commercial ties with Libya, he says.”
Thank you.
Yesterday, ANSA news agency reported they didn’t come here in Italy since they feared to be repatriated because of the Italy-Libya bilateral treaty. Looks like they could face the same problem in Malta. BTW I think they headed to Malta and not to Italy, simply because Luqa was nearer…..
Hi David, another “aeronautical” defection.
Just after taking off from Tripoli airport a Su-22 intentionally crashed near the city of Adjabiya after refusing bombing the protesters.
Both pilots safely eject from the plane.
Nice! It is indeed a beautiful aircraft.