The Tunisian pilot who transported Nigeria’s Super Eagles to Libya for an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match in Benghazi has reported being ordered by the Libyan government to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, located 150 miles from the intended destination.
As a result, the Super Eagles were forced to land at an airport in Al-Abraq and then undertake a nearly four-hour road trip to Benina, where the match was scheduled to take place.
In a now-viral video, the pilot recounted that the original plan was to land in Benina with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA). However, during the descent, he received instructions to divert to Al-Abraq, which was not listed as an alternate airport.
The pilot indicated that this order for diversion came from “Libya’s highest authorities.” He expressed concern over the unexpected diversion due to fuel limitations but was reportedly ignored by the Libyan aviation authorities.
“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority,” the pilot explained. “However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport. This decision came from the highest authorities, not me. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.”
The pilot emphasized that everything is documented, stating, “I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately.”
This incident has drawn criticism from both the Senate and House of Representatives in Nigeria, who condemned the Libyan government for subjecting the Nigerian team to such dehumanizing treatment. They are now seeking strict penalties for the Libyan authorities and have called on the Federal Government to summon the country’s ambassador