Flight from London to Malta diverted to Sicily due to thunderstorm

A flight from London to Malta was diverted to Catania on Thursday due to the thunderstorm that hit the country in the morning. 

Flight TOM4482 from London Gatwick was scheduled to land at Malta International Airport at 11.30am. However, the adverse weather conditions forced the diversion of TUI Airways plane to Catania–Fontanarossa Airport. After refuelling, the flight arrived in Malta at 3.10pm

As a result of the diversion, return flight TOM4483 from Malta back to London, which was meant to depart at 12.30pm, was delayed, and was scheduled to depart at 4.10pm instead.  

A spokesperson for Malta International Airport said the flight was the only one that had to be diverted due to the weather.  

The Malta Meteorological Office issued a yellow weather warning on Thursday as an area of low pressure over Tunisia and Libya resulted in strong South-South East winds up to force 6, which it said would last till 3pm, before gradually decreasing to light to moderate East Northeast winds.