THESE dramatic pictures show the moment two men who hijacked a passenger jet with hand grenades are detained after freeing 118 hostages and surrendering to soldiers.

The plane was commandeered by the pair earlier today while flying internally within Libya, and redirected to Malta International Airport.

23 One of the suspected hijackers is tackled while the other is pinned on the ground as the dramatic standoff comes to a close Credit: Reuters

23 The detention of the two men ended the tense standoff at Malta International Airport Credit: Reuters

23 The two men throw their hands up in the air after exiting the jet Credit: Reuters

23 Maltese soldiers storm the plane after detaining the two hijackers Credit: EPA

23 One of the men waves a Gaddafi-era flag while standing on the plane steps Credit: Reuters

23 A young boy is led off the plane after the agreement to free passengers was reached with the hijackers Credit: Reuters

23 Moments later a woman was filmed leaving the jet Credit: Reuters

23 All those on board the plane were allowed to leave safely Credit: Reuters

23 The hijackers earlier agreed to let all passengers go if their demands were met Credit: AP:Associated Press

23 A woman is helped down the plane's stairs by a man in uniform Credit: Getty Images

23 The passengers and crew have all been released, according to Malta's Prime Minister Credit: AP:Associated Press

23 This image purportedly showed the scene from inside the plane Credit: Twitter / @News_Executive

Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the men had a hand grenade and a pistol on them and a second pistol was found on the plane during search by Maltese soldiers.

Libyan media reported they had demanded political asylum in Europe where they wanted to create a pro-Gaddafi party.

Muscat said the hijackers eventually surrendered peacefully without making any conditions after the Maltese government insisted that all passengers had to be released.

Ali Milad, the pilot, told Libya Channel TV network that initially the hijackers - named as Moussa Shaha and Ahmed Ali - had asked him to head to Rome.

The flight had contained seven crew members and 111 passengers - including a baby and Libyan lawmaker Abdel-Salam al-Marabet.

A spokesman for the UN-brokered government in Libya said the hijackers are two men in their twenties who are seeking political asylum in Europe.

A colleague of al-Marabet, Youssef Kalikori, said he had been talking by phone to al-Marabet, who said the hijackers had demanded "asylum in a European country where they can establish a political party named al-Fateh that represents the old (Libyan) regime".

Footage of the standoff showed one man waving an old-style green Libyan flag on the plane's steps.

The jet was flying from Sebha in southwest Libya to Tripoli for state-owned Afriqiyah Airways, a route that would usually take a little over two hours, when the hijacking occurred.

The pilot had tried to land in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, but was stopped by the hijackers.

23 Earlier a man - possibly one of the hijackers - was seen gesturing in the cockpit window of the aircraft Credit: Reuters

23 The man is seen sitting in the cockpit while the aircraft idles on the airport runway Credit: Reuters

23 Troops surround the plane on the runway amid claims the hijackers were armed with grenades Credit: Reuters

23 Malta's Prime Minister said he was carefully monitoring the situation Credit: Reuters

23 This image reveals an explosive disposal team was kept on site Credit: Reuters

23 Soldiers are seen monitoring the hostage situation Credit: Twitter

23 The two hijackers had demanded asylum in a European country Credit: Reuters

A senior Libyan security official said when the plane was still in flight the pilot told the control tower at Tripoli's Mitiga airport it had been hijacked.

"The pilot reported to the control tower in Tripoli that they were being hijacked, then they lost communication with him. The pilot tried very hard to have them land at the correct destination but they refused."

Earlier the two hijackers said they were willing to let the passengers go free if their demands were met.

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Photographs of the standoff showed the jet surrounded by troops on the runway. All flights in and out of Malta International Airport were diverted.

The last major hijacking in Malta was in 1985, when Palestinians took over an Egyptair plane. Egyptian commandos stormed the aircraft and dozens of people were killed.

Today's incident also comes just months after harrowing footage emerged of a plane crashing at Malta airport, killing all five officials on board.

23 Negotiating teams made contact with the hijackers and bartered for the release of the hostages Credit: Reuters

23 Cops guard a surrounding street which was cordoned off while the hostage situation was dealt with Credit: AP:Associated Press

Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi left warring militias battling for control of different parts of the country.

Forces loyal to a fledgling national unity government recently took control of the coastal city of Sirte, which had been a bastion for ISIS since June 2015.

Western powers have pinned their hopes of containing jihadism in the energy-rich North African state on the government but it has failed to establish its authority over all of the country.

A rival authority rules the country's far east, backed by the forces under military strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who have been battling jihadists in second city Benghazi.

23 Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed the hijacking via his official Twitter account Credit: Twitter