
The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian team to Libya has provided light on the circumstances surrounding their surprise diversion to a remote airport, Al-Abraq, rather than their original destination, Benghazi.
The diversion has been a source of contention since Sunday, when the Nigerian delegation en route to Benghazi for the critical Tuesday 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya was left stranded for more than 16 hours after their flight was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.
In a video interview seen by our journalist and released on X by Sports Journalist Pooja Media, the pilot stated that the decision was not taken at his discretion but by Libyan authorities.
“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had the approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so,” the pilot said.
“However, when we began our descent, they instructed us to divert to Al-Abraq, which is almost 150 miles away, around 300 kilometres east. It wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport, something which is not good,” he added.
The pilot described the diversion as potentially risky, citing the fuel calculations made for the initial destination.
“In aviation, we have our flight plan; we calculate the fuel to our destination, so we have to avoid this kind of thing because it may make a breach to safety,” he stated, adding that he repeatedly questioned the directive.
“When I asked to land in Benghazi according to my flight plan and according to my authorisation, they said no, it’s from the highest authority; you have to land in Al-Abraq.”
Refuting media claims that the diversion was his decision, he said, “Everything is registered in aviation; we cannot hide anything, so I asked them several times, at least eight times, and I warned them, probably I will be in trouble for fuel; they said it’s from the highest authority; you cannot land in Benghazi; you have to divert immediately to Al-Abraq,” he added.
The pilot stated that all relevant communications and authorisations are documented and can be used as proof if necessary.
He said, “The truth was we were going to Benghazi, and I can show you the evidence of the approval; I have it. But at the last minute, they changed their mind and changed the airport.”
The pilot described the situation at Al-Abraq, emphasising the difficulties of landing at what he called a poorly equipped domestic airport.
The pilot’s knowledge of the location, having worked there for two years with a Tunisian company, was critical in navigating the challenging landing.
“It was not an easy matter at all. When a pilot hears this, he will understand that it was not an easy thing to land under such conditions. Thank God we made it safely,” he said.
Vodina Sam
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