VIDEO: Tunisian Pilot Reveals Libyan Authorities Diverted Super Eagles’ Flight

 

The Tunisian pilot who flew the ValueJet chartered plane carrying the Nigerian Super Eagles to Libya has disclosed that Libyan authorities directed him to divert the aircraft to a different location at the last minute. The flight, originally approved to land in Benghazi, was rerouted to Mitiga, about 150 miles (300 km) away, just as the team neared their destination.

"The flight plan was set to land in Benghazi, and we had the necessary approval from the Libyan civil aviation authorities," the pilot explained. "However, as we started our descent, we were suddenly instructed to divert to Mitiga, which was not even listed as our alternate airport."

The pilot expressed concerns about the safety of the diversion due to fuel limitations. He repeatedly warned Libyan officials, highlighting the potential risk to the flight. "I asked them at least eight times and explained that this diversion would put us in a difficult fuel situation," he said. "They told me the order came from the highest authority and that we must divert immediately."

Despite his concerns, the pilot complied with the directive, safely landing the plane in Mitiga. He noted that the airport lacked basic landing equipment, such as an Instrument Landing System (ILS), making the landing more challenging. "We had to land visually. It wasn’t an easy task, but thankfully, we managed without any incidents."

The pilot defended his actions, stating that all flight records are transparent and cross-checked in aviation, leaving no room for false claims. "There’s a lot of redundancy in aviation. All information is recorded and cannot be hidden."

This development follows reports of the Super Eagles being stranded at the airport in Libya for over 20 hours ahead of their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match. Team captain William Troost-Ekong expressed his frustration in a series of tweets, calling the situation "disgraceful" and accusing the hosts of playing "mind games." He revealed that the team was left in an abandoned airport without access to food, water, or phone services.

The Super Eagles had earlier defeated Libya 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11. The return match, initially scheduled for October 15 in Libya, was boycotted by the Nigerian team, who returned home following their ordeal.

VIDEO: