Flights diverted from Tripoli's Maitigua airport to Misrata
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Flights by the various Libyan airlines were diverted from Maitigua airport in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli on Wednesday, the target of near-daily shelling, to Misrata airport, 220 km east of Tripoli, the airport management has announced.
Two airlines - Afriqiyah Airways and Al Buraq - decided to divert their flights to Misrata airport after shelling at Maitigua airport on Tuesday, with their planes being hit on the ground by shrapnel.
On Tuesday, Maitigua, the only airport serving the Libyan capital, was again the target of shelling leading to the suspension of flights once again.
The management of Maitigua International Airport said late on Tuesday that several missile strikes on the airport had led to the evacuation of employees and passengers of the Al Buraq airline.
The military operation of the Government of National Accord (GNA), dubbed "Volcano of Wrath", accused forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar of targeting the airport with dozens of missiles.
Maitigua airport is regularly the target of shelling that led to a two-month closure, before a resumption of flights last September.
The shelling has intensified in recent days with more than 60 Grad missiles landing on Friday at the airport and surrounding areas.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 4March2020
