The Tunisian pilot who flew the chartered ValueJet plane carrying Nigeria’s Super Eagles to Libya has claimed that Libyan authorities instructed him to divert the plane to an alternate location.
The pilot explained that the original flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Libya, as per approval from the Libyan civil aviation authority. However, just as the plane was approaching its destination, officials ordered a sudden diversion.
“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, and we had approval from the Libyan civil aviation authority,” the pilot said. “But unfortunately, as we began our descent, we were told to divert to Mitiga, which is about 150 miles (300 km) away. This was not our designated alternate airport.”
The pilot raised concerns about the potential impact on fuel reserves and the overall safety of the flight.
“I warned them repeatedly, at least eight times, that the fuel situation would be a serious issue,” he said. “They insisted it was from the highest authority, and we had to divert to Mitiga immediately.”
Despite his concerns, the pilot followed the directive. Fortunately, the plane landed safely in Mitiga, although the airport was not well-equipped for such an emergency.
“Mitiga airport didn’t have proper equipment. There was no ILS or other navigational aids, so we had to land visually,” the pilot noted. “It was our first and last chance with this changing company. I know the area well, but it was still a difficult situation.”
He emphasized that the flight plan was clear and accurate, stating that in aviation, there is a lot of cross-checking, and such information cannot be hidden or misrepresented.
This disclosure comes after the Super Eagles players reported mistreatment by Libyan authorities ahead of their scheduled match on Tuesday, which they later boycotted. The team was stranded at the airport for 20 hours without food, water, or communication, leading to the cancellation of the return leg and their eventual flight back home.
Captain William Troost-Ekong criticized the situation as “disgraceful” on social media, accusing the Libyan hosts of playing “mind games.”
Nigeria won their match against Libya 1-0 on Friday, October 11, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The return match was scheduled for October 15 in Libya.
