Multiple passengers escaped from a Turkish Airlines (TK) aircraft after an emergency landing at Malta Luqa International Airport (MLA) on Wednesday afternoon (January 1, 2025).
The unscheduled landing occurred when the captain requested clearance due to an ill Moroccan passenger.
According to FlightRadar24 data, Turkish Airlines flight TK619 bound for Marrakesh (RAK) took off from Istanbul (IST) at 8:56 AM UTC.
After being airborne for around two hours, the flight diverted to Malta and landed at 11:02 AM UTC.
The flight was operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as TC-LCI.
Photo: Nabil Molinari | Flickr
The escape happened while the aircraft remained on the runway, prompting an immediate security response.
Police received notification at 1:45 pm, initiating a comprehensive search operation with Armed Forces of Malta personnel across the airport grounds and surrounding areas.
The Moroccan passenger, whose medical condition triggered the emergency landing, remains under police custody at Mater Dei Hospital.
Authorities continue to search ⁹for the escaped passengers across the airport perimeter.
The incident activated Malta’s airport security protocols, mobilizing law enforcement resources for a coordinated manhunt.
Police maintained an active presence in the vicinity while investigating the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized passenger departure.
● Similar Incidents
In May 2024, seventeen Moroccan passengers attempted to flee Rome’s Fiumicino airport following an emergency landing of a flight from Istanbul to Tangier.
The diversion occurred due to a passenger experiencing a heart attack. After landing, Italian security forces intercepted the group, conducting comprehensive passenger verification before clearing the flight’s continuation to Tangier.
This incident mirrors previous escape attempts by Moroccan passengers during emergency landings across European airports. In July 2022, twenty-eight Moroccan passengers attempted to flee after an emergency landing in Barcelona.
A successful escape occurred in November 2021 at Palma de Mallorca airport when passengers fled from a Casablanca-Istanbul flight.
December 2022 marked another incident at Barcelona’s Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. A Pegasus Airlines (PC) flight from Casablanca to Istanbul requested an emergency landing for a passenger allegedly simulating labor.
During the medical evacuation, twenty-seven passengers attempted unauthorized exit. Police apprehended thirteen individuals, while fourteen successfully evaded capture and remained unlocated.
The recurring nature of these incidents has prompted enhanced security measures at European airports handling emergency landings. Law enforcement agencies maintain heightened vigilance during medical diversions, particularly on routes connecting North Africa and Turkey.