The Tunisian pilot who flew the chartered ValueJet aircraft that took Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, to Libya on Sunday, has come forward with shocking revelations. In a video seen on X by SaharaReporters, the pilot shared documents indicating that the Libyan government had initially approved the team’s trip from Kano to Benghazi.
However, in a stunning last-minute move, the Libyan authorities changed their minds, diverting the flight to Al-Abraq International Airport, approximately 150 miles (300 kilometers) farther east. The pilot emphasized that this airport is not well-equipped and poses significant safety risks.
The pilot recounted warning the Libyan authorities at least eight times about the diversion, citing fuel shortage concerns and potential breaches of safety protocols. Despite these warnings, the Libyan authorities refused to listen, citing orders from the highest authorities.
“In aviation, we cannot hide anything,” the pilot stressed. “We have documentary evidence of the approval, and I can show it. The truth is, we were supposed to land in Benghazi, but they changed their minds at the last minute.”
This dramatic turn of events led to the Super Eagles team returning to Nigeria on Monday evening, following alleged maltreatment and hostilities from their host. In response, the players, with the approval of the Nigerian Football Federation, have withdrawn from the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.
The Confederation of African Football has launched a thorough investigation into the Nigerian team’s allegations of maltreatment.
ValueJet, the airline operating the chartered flight, is a Nigerian carrier that began commercial operations in October 2022. The airline’s fleet includes CRJ900 aircraft, which are well-suited for regional flights.
