Libya: Disruptions at Mitiga Airport June 22

Event

Flights into Mitiga International  Airport (MJI) were diverted to Misrata overnight on June 21-22 after a “security incident” at the site. The nature of the incident remains unclear but some unconfirmed reports state that armed men broke into the airport’s control tower. According to officials at the airport, the incident has been resolved and flights resumed on Thursday, June 22. However, residual flight delays are expected.

Context

Armed groups in Tripoli often try to force their agendas via armed takeovers of certain areas.  It is possible that this was the case, since reports do not indicate an armed attack on the site itself. However, news reporting is minimal, details are not forthcoming, and it appears that officials are trying to play down the incident at this time.

Advice

Travelers are advised to confirm flight statuses prior to departure for the airport. On a general note, the security environment in Libya remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.