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.

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, aircraft (both civil & military), made use of the catamaran usually used on the Malta-Sicily trips, or by Air Malta.

For a number of days, a number of Royal AF Chinooks and C-130 transports were stationed at the MIA, these being used for flights into Libya, usually to rescue people caught stranded in oil fields in the desert.

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% 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.

Politically speaking, the Republic of Malta is a neutral and non-aligned country, prohibiting the country from being used as a military base. The constitution provides for two exceptions, either Malta is facing a threat of aggression form a military power, or for UN-mandated military action.

Although the attacks on Libya fell squarely under the latter exception, there was a consensus by both government and opposition that only military aircraft involved in humanitarian operations could be based on the island.

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

The Mirages arrive.

Causing both interest and concern, these two aircraft were flown to Malta by their pilots on 21st February 2011 to avoid bombing Libyan civilians. They came in below 500ft, only contacting Malta Radar for the last 20 miles. Each aircraft carried rocket pods, and was finished in a two-tone brown camouflage, with green disk and flag on fin.

After some confusion as to where to taxy, the aircraft were guided to Park 4. French engineers removed the weaponry by 3rd March, and aircraft towed to Park 5 on the 4th. Both aircraft were towed to Med Avia on 10.01.12.

Sometime later, both aircraft were taxying on their own power, although both appeared to have suffered from technical problems on the 19.02.12 but were seen at Park 7 on the 20th.

The aircraft departed back to Libya on 22.02.12, a year and a day from their defection the previous year. c/s Eagle Formation.