Manhunt Ensues After Passengers Flee Turkish Airlines Flight During Medical Diversion

A manhunt was launched after several passengers fled a Turkish Airlines flight after it made an emergency landing in Malta on Wednesday.

On January 1st, 2025, Turkish Airlines Flight TK619 was en route from Istanbul (IST) to Marrakech, Morocco (RAK). The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (TC-LCI).

A passenger fell ill while the flight was airborne prompting the crew to make an unscheduled diversion to Malta (MLA). The aircraft parked at a remote stand in Malta. Given this was an unscheduled stop, no busses met the aircraft to transport passengers to the terminal; the passengers were left onboard the aircraft.

While crews were working to retrieve the sick passenger's suitcase, four passengers jumped out the rear door of the aircraft onto the ramp and escaped out of sight. These passengers were believed to have escaped the airport altogether.

The Maltese police were eventually alerted and launched a search operation. This operation also involved the Armed Forces of Malta.

The Moroccan passenger who prompted the emergency landing is under arrest at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, Malta, raising questions about whether this may have been an inside job. However, such a claim has not been supported.

This bizarre incident has brought to light serious security concerns. Authorities are investigating the reasons why multiple passengers have escaped the flight. 

Two of the four passengers have been arrested, per an update released by local media outlet Malta Today. The status of the other two passengers is currently unknown at the time of writing.

As for the flight itself, TK619 remained grounded in Malta for approximately two hours. The aircraft eventually departed at 2:45 pm local time and landed in Marrakech at 5:45 pm local time.