Feb. 21, 2011, 11:50AM
Lino Arrigo Azzopardi AP
One of two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters to land in Malta, is surrounded by Maltese police after it landed in Malta's International airport, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Lino Azzopardi)
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EmailVALLETTA, Malta — "Two Libyan air force jets landed in Malta on Monday and their pilots asked for political asylum amid a bloody crackdown onanti-government protesters in Libya, a military source said.
The two Mirage jets landed at Malta International Airport shortly after two civilian helicopters landed carrying seven people who said they were French. A military source familiar with the situation said the passengers had left in such a hurry that only one had a passport.
The source, who insisted he not be identified further, said the jet pilots — both Libyan air force colonels — had communicated from the air that they wanted political asylum. They had left from a base near Tripoli and had flown low over Libyan airspace to avoid detection, the source said.
The aircraft remained at Malta's airport, away from the commercial area, while the pilots and helicopter passengers were being questioned by airport immigration officials, the source said..."
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