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A Spanish court has convicted 17 Moroccans for their involvement in a daring plot to hijack a commercial flight and illegally enter Spain.
The incident took place in November 2021 when an Air Arabia flight from Casablanca to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing at Palma de Mallorca Airport.
According to court documents, the group had meticulously planned the hijacking on social media.
One of the passengers feigned a diabetic coma, triggering a medical emergency that compelled the pilot to divert the aircraft to Spain.
Once on the ground, nearly 20 individuals rushed off the plane and onto the tarmac, disrupting airport operations for several hours.
The Spanish National Police apprehended 12 suspects shortly after the incident, but they were later released following a legislative change.
However, a subsequent investigation revealed a more elaborate conspiracy involving a Facebook group where the individuals had coordinated their efforts.
Following an agreement with the court, the seventeen accepted convictions for air sedition, coercion and mistreatment.
The crime of air sedition was specifically defined after Spain abolished its general sedition law.
Previously, under the broader sedition law, they could have faced up to five years in prison.
The sentences ranged from 13 to 14 months in prison, although all the convicted individuals have already served their time. They were also fined for misconduct.
The passenger who feigned the medical emergency was also convicted of violating the rights of foreign citizens.
Two residents of Sencelles have been fined 969 euros for having hidden individuals who fled from the plane.
The Moroccan nationals were released from custody in January of last year while their trial was ongoing, preventing their immediate expulsion from Spain.
Having completed their prison sentences, they will not face expulsion through the criminal justice system.
However, authorities may initiate administrative proceedings for their removal from the country. Their passports have been returned to them.
The remaining seven individuals involved in the incident are still at large, with international arrest warrants issued for their apprehension.
The incident impacted air travel, disrupting over eighty flights. Airspace remained closed for three hours on the night of November 5th, causing widespread travel delays and disruptions.
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