Libyan plane hijacked, standoff at Malta airport

A Libyan plane carrying 118 people landed at Malta International Airport Friday after being redirected there by hijackers threatening to blow the plane up with hand grenades, according to the BBC.

As of 8 am ET Friday morning, the passengers had begun to leave the plane, but the standoff was still underway according to news reports.

The BBC reported that there are likely two hijackers, and their intent and demands are unknown at this time:

The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted.

At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by.

It is unclear what the demands are being made by the hijacker. Some media say there is more than one hijacker.

Early rumors on Twitter indicated the hijackers were seeking the release of the son of late Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi from prison:

The passengers included 82 men, 28 women and one baby.