Video | Maltese caught up in Tripoli protest as crowd storms plane bound for Tunis

The Maltese - on board a Tunisair flight - were among some 100 passengers, including senior Libyan officials who were stopped from leaving Tripoli as the plane prepared to taxi on the runway.

More than 100 people, some waving Libyan flags, stormed the runway and blocked the aircraft's path, and demanded immediate justice for an incident last week in which many civilians were killed in Bani Walid.

A car was parked in front of the aircraft to stop it from moving, while the crowd moved the stairs and some men boarded the plane.

No shots were fired as the crowd chanted slogans and demanded justice and representation on the newly formed interim goverment led by Abdulrahim El-Keib.

Libya's deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur, together with the police chief from Soug Al Jouma sped to the airport and mediated with the crowd to let the plane go.

Plane captain Zied Ghidaoui insisted that the plane could not depart unless all non-passengers left the plane.

An emergency unit was set up in Tunis at the Tunisair headquarters to convince the protesters to evacuate the plane. Zied Ghidaoui refused to take off with armed Libyans inside the plane.

According to Mofdi Messedi, spokesman of the Tunisian minister of transportation, stressed that it was not a hijacking, but a protest action.