Libya Ordeal: ‘Despite Warning We Were Running Out of Fuel, They Diverted Our Flight’ – Super Eagles Pilot

The Tunisian pilot of the chartered flight carrying Nigeria’s Super Eagles to Libya has revealed how Libyan authorities diverted the plane to a different airport, despite warnings that the aircraft was at risk of running out of fuel.

The Nigerian delegation, including the Super Eagles team, landed at Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano around 5:50 pm local time on Monday. The team had been directed to return home while the Confederation of African Football (CAF) investigates the travel disruptions that left the team stranded in Libya for over 16 hours.

The Nigerian national team had traveled to Libya for the second leg of their AFCON 2025 Qualifier against Libya, after winning the first match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The team was originally scheduled to land at Benghazi’s Benina International Airport but was unexpectedly diverted to Al Abraq International Airport, a facility typically used only for Hajj operations, about 300 kilometers away.

In an interview shared on social media by sports analyst Festus Dada, the Tunisian pilot detailed the alarming situation. He explained that despite obtaining approval from Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority to land in Benghazi, he was forced to divert to the distant Al Abraq airport.

“The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had the approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority to do so. However, when we began our descent, they instructed us to divert to Al Abraq, almost 150 miles away,” the pilot said.

The pilot warned the Libyan authorities several times that diverting the flight could cause fuel shortages and compromise the safety of the passengers. “I repeatedly questioned the directive. I asked them several times, at least eight times, and I warned them that I could run into trouble with fuel,” he explained. Despite these warnings, the Libyan authorities insisted on the diversion, citing orders from “the highest authority.”

He also highlighted the dangers of landing at Al Abraq under difficult conditions, noting that the airport lacked essential navigation systems such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and VHF Omnidirectional Range (VHR). The pilot described the visual landing in marginal weather and nighttime conditions as extremely challenging. “Thank God we made it safely,” he added.