Nearly a thousand passengers were stranded on Tuesday after an extraordinary number of Air Malta pilots called in sick, forcing the carrier to cancel three flights and delay three others.

The airline said that 18 pilots failed to show up for work, prompting suspicions that an unofficial strike had been declared.

Flights from Valletta to Milan, Benghazi and Newcastle were called off.

“So far over 862 passengers have been impacted. It is likely that more flights will be delayed and some may be cancelled. The airline will do its utmost to provide transportation to passengers on alternative flights or on other airlines,” Air Malta said.

The rate of absence represents an extraordinary level of sickness among Air Malta’s community of 110 pilots – some nine times the normal average, a spokesman said.

The airline was scheduled to operate 30 flights on Tuesday. Unions last month registered an industrial dispute, accusing the company of shortening holidays to make up for a shortage of pilots.

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