Authorities searching for passengers that escaped from flight during emergency landing

Authorities are currently searching for a number of passengers who fled a Turkish Airlines flight shortly after it made an emergency landing in Malta on Wednesday afternoon.

The plane had requested an emergency landing after a Moroccan passenger reportedly fell unwell. Upon landing, and while the aircraft was still on the runway, several passengers ran away from the plane.  

Police were alerted at around 1:45pm, while the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) joined the search across the airport and surrounding areas.  

The Moroccan passenger who prompted the emergency landing has been taken into custody and is currently at Mater Dei Hospital.