Lebanese plane makes emergency landing in Athens

A plane belonging to Middle East Airlines -- Lebanon’s national carrier -- made an emergency landing overnight in Athens due to an engine malfunction.

The plane took off from Beirut and was headed for the Heathrow Airport in London.

“All of the plane’s passengers were evacuated and they are all doing well,” Al-Arabiya TV reported.

In a phone call with al-Jadeed TV, Civil Aviation Director General Fadi al-Hassan said the plane returned to Beirut on Saturday with no passengers on board.

“The passengers who were on board were transferred to another plane and they have now become in London,” al-Hassan added.