The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian national team to Libya has provided insight into the circumstances surrounding the unexpected diversion of their flight to a remote airport, Al-Abraq, instead of their planned destination, Benghazi.....Read Full Article>>
The diversion has sparked controversy since Sunday when the Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, was left stranded for over 16 hours after their plane was redirected mid-flight to Al-Abraq, a small airport typically used for hajj operations.
In a video interview shared by Sports Journalist Pooja Media on X, the pilot clarified that the decision to divert was made by Libyan authorities, not him.
“The original flight plan was to land at Benghazi’s Benina Airport, 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, located about 150 miles away, roughly 300 kilometers east. This wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport, which poses a serious safety concern.”
The pilot emphasized that the sudden diversion was risky due to the fuel calculations made for their original destination. “In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination, so unplanned diversions like this can compromise safety,” he noted. He repeatedly questioned the directive but was told, “This order comes from the highest authority; you must land at Al-Abraq.”
Refuting media claims that the diversion was his choice, the pilot said all communications and authorizations were documented and could be provided as evidence. “I asked to land at Benghazi eight times according to my flight plan and authorization, but they insisted it was from the highest authority,” he said.
Describing the challenges of landing at Al-Abraq, the pilot pointed out that the small domestic airport lacked key navigation aids such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), making the nighttime landing particularly difficult under marginal weather conditions. “There were no second chances if something went wrong with the landing,” he said, adding that his prior experience in the region helped him manage the situation safely.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced its decision to pull the Super Eagles out of the AFCON qualifier against Libya. “The players have resolved not to participate in the match, and NFF officials are arranging to fly the team back home,” the statement concluded. Exposed Celebrities Video
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