Remarks: My first attempt at night photography. I always knew it was going to be something really special to get me out there in the cold, at night ! And how much more special than this can it get ?? .... 2 defecting Libyan pilots, disobeying orders to attack anti-government protestors, with underwing mounted rocket (pods).
Remarks: One of the two Mirages that arrived in Malta unexpectedly on Monday 21 February 2011. The pilots were ordered to bomb the protesters in Libya. They refused to obey the orders and escaped to Malta.
Remarks: 1600 pxls - A HISTORIC MOMENT ! 2 Libyan Air Force jet fighters defected from Libya to Malta this afternoon, during the uprising in Libya. The pilots reported that they re-routed and defected to Malta after having been ordered to bomb protesters in the City of Benghazi. The pilots informed the Authorities that they left from a base near Tripoli. The aircraft can easily be observed to be armed with underwing air to ground rockets (pods). Upon landing the pilots sought political asylum.
Remarks: Just got the news 2 mins before landing in Malta that 2 Dassault Mirage pilots saying that they are low on fuel and need to do an emergency landing
Remarks: Just got the news 2 mins before landing in Malta that 2 Dassault Mirage pilots saying that they are low on fuel and need to do an emergency landing
Remarks: A historic time for Malta as 2 Libyan Mirages escape from Libya and coming here instead of bombing their own country. Isn't it a marvelous piece of machine?
Remarks: 1600 px - One of the two Libyan Air Force Mirages F1 that flew to Malta unexpectedly from Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. They were ordered to bomb protesters that took control of Benghazi, but instead the pilots made their way to Malta stating that they were low on fuel. Also my 1,700th picture on jp..thanks to everyone so far.
Remarks: Two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters unexpectedly flew to Malta this afternoon with their pilots claiming they escaped to Malta after having been ordered to bomb protesters who have taken control of the second city of Benghazi.
The pilots told the Maltese authorities that they left from a base near Tripoli. Their aircraft were armed with air to ground rockets.
The pilots initially asked for emergency clearance to land and for refuelling. Upon landing they were questioned by the police and sought political asylum.
