Libya seizes Gaddafi’s plane after eight years in custody

(agencies)
Libya has received the Airbus A340-213 presidential plane used by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after eight years of detention in France over financial and administrative procedures. The plane arrived at Maitika International Airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday evening. He was received by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabaiba of the National Unity Government and several Libyan ministers and officials.
“This plane belongs to the Libyan people and returns to the country after an absence of 8 years in France since 2012,” Dabiba told reporters at Mitiga airport, noting that its return is very important for Libyan sovereignty, because it Was detained due to financial and administrative processes in France.
Al-Dabaa confirmed that the Libyan government had paid the necessary installments for the maintenance of the aircraft, noting that the return of the aircraft is an important positive step for Libya, its security and the return of its funds.
Before returning to Tripoli, the private presidential plane used by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi took off from Perpignan-Rivalsalte Airport in France, landed in Turkey for maintenance as a final step before returning to public service in Libya, where It was halted since August 2012. Earlier in 2011, former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi (1969–2011) was on his flights aboard the A340, a presidential aircraft equipped with the latest technology and facilities.