Air Corps aircraft leaves Tripoli with no passengers on board

Air Corps aircraft leaves Tripoli with no passengers on board - The Irish Times - Thu, Feb 24, 2011: "AN AIR Corps aircraft that arrived at Tripoli airport late yesterday afternoon to evacuate Irish citizens left last night for Malta with no passengers on board. It is understood there were difficulties at Tripoli airport which resulted in the aircraft returning to Malta.

The Irish plane, a Casa aircraft which can accommodate 21 passengers, landed at 5pm. On board was a Department of Foreign Affairs official who was to co-ordinate evacuation procedures for Irish citizens at the airport and in the city of Tripoli.

A department spokesman confirmed yesterday there were about 70 Irish citizens in Libya, including 45 in the Tripoli area. The remainder are in the eastern city of Benghazi. That group includes six employees of the Dublin-based firm Mercury Engineering. Four women who hold Irish passports are long-term residents in the city and married to Libyan men."