26.07.2006 - KM103 Boeing 737-300 diverts to Orly
An Air Malta flight from Heathrow to Malta was forced to make an emergency landing in Paris last night after the aircraft developed problems regarding pressure. The aircraft, with 144 passengers on board, landed safely at Orly airport. The passengers were given accommodation in different hotels until a replacement aircraft is sent. (Times of Malta Breaking News)

737 due in this afternoon

Not exactly what Air Malta needs at the moment! I wonder, will CS-TEB make another appearance? Edit: this post coincided with previous.

Air Malta plane diverts to Paris Source: The Times, dated 28th July 2006 An Air Malta flight from Heathrow was forced to land in Paris early yesterday morning after it developed cabin pressure problems. Air Malta flight KM103, with 144 passengers on board, landed safely at Orly airport about an hour after it left London, the airline said. Although the captain decided to cut the trip short, he did not feel the need to set in motion the full emergency procedures at the French airport, the national carrier said. On landing, the passengers on board the Boeing 737 aircraft were assisted by Air Malta and Servisair staff at Orly who provided all the necessary assistance to minimise the discomfort. The passengers were provided with hotel accommodation overnight and returned to Malta on two separate flights in the afternoon. Air Malta's engineers were flown to Paris to analyse what had led to a sudden drop in the cabin's atmospheric pressure. Once the problem was sorted out a relief crew flew the aircraft back to Malta in the afternoon. Cabin pressurisation is required when an aircraft reaches high altitudes because the natural atmospheric pressure is too low to allow passengers to absorb sufficient oxygen, leading to altitude sickness and ultimately hypoxia. "Air Malta always gives utmost importance to the safety and well-being of its clients and staff and reassures its customers that everything possible was done to minimise any discomfort. Air Malta regrets any inconvenience caused to clients," the airline said. The last "incident" involving an Air Malta plane occurred last December 29 when smoke trailed from a B737 that had just landed in Luqa from Russia. The cause was not a malfunction but a result of the de-icing fluid used on planes which take off from airports at low temperatures to ensure a safe flight. Full emergency procedures at Malta International Airport were last set in motion last January when a cargo aircraft landed with one of its two engines switched off. Herman Grech