The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles to Libya has said that the concern of possible fuel loss he raised did not bother Libyan authorities when they insisted he should divert to Al -Abraq instead on Benghazi.
The diversion would extend the flight by another 300kms, he said.
“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.
The abandonment and frustration the squad was subjected to led to the Nigerian government asking them to return home without playing the match now delisted by CAF.
The pilot added, “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.
The pilot described the diversion as potentially risky, citing the fuel calculations made for the initial destination.
The pilot noted that all relevant communications and authorisations were documented and could be provided as evidence if needed.
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.”
Describing the conditions at Al-Abraq, the pilot highlighted the challenges of landing at what he referred to as a poorly equipped domestic airport.
“There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), no air navigation approach, no VHR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). We had to make a visual landing, which is particularly difficult by night with marginal weather,” he said, adding that the airport’s lack of facilities left them with “no second chances” if the landing had gone wrong.
The pilot’s familiarity with the region, having worked there for two years with a Tunisian company, was crucial in managing the difficult landing.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to pull the Super Eagles out of qualifier match against Libya.
“Players have resolved not to play the match any longer, and NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home,” the statement said.
