By John Chukwu
The pilot of a ValueJet aircraft that flew the Super Eagles players back to Nigeria has shared how his knowledge of Libya’s airspace, along with a bit of luck, helped ensure their safe passage through the troubled North African country.
‘’I worked there (Libya) for two years I know the area very well,’’ said he, adding that he complained to Libyan Aviation authorities at least eight times, that he might run out of fuel.
The Tunisian-born pilot thanked God for enabling him to land ‘’visually’’ in the Al-Abraq Airport which lacks ‘’Instrument Landing System (ILS), air navigation approach, and VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range).’’
This scary narrative is contained in a viral video watched by our Sports correspondent, who interviewed the pilot that posted the video on his X handle.
The pilot told the pinpointnews that the flight, originally scheduled to land at Benghazi’s Benina Airport was forced to immediately divert to Al Abraq Airport, located approximately Kilometres miles away.
“The flight plan was to land at destination Benghazi, Benina, and we got the approval from the Libyan civil aviation authority that we are approved to land in Benghazi. But unfortunately, when we started descent, they asked us to divert to Al Abraq which is almost 300 kilometres..
“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 cause a breach of air safety. When I asked to land in Benghazi according to my flight plan and according to my authorisation, they said no, it’s from the highest authority, you have to land in Al Abraq Al Bayda.
“I asked them several times, at least eight times. And I warned them that I would probably be in trouble for fuel. They said it is from highest authority, you cannot land in Benghazi, you have to divert immediately to Al Abraq. Thank God, we made it safely.
“Al Abraq is like a domestic airport, not well-equipped. There is no Instrument Landing System (ILS), no air navigation approach, and no VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). We had to land visually, which is dangerous under such circumstances, especially at night and with marginal weather conditions,” he said, emphasising that there was no option for a second attempt at landing, making it a “first and last chance situation.
“I worked there for two years with a Tunisian company, so I know the area very well, and it was not an easy matter at all. When a pilot hears me, he will understand that it was not an easy thing to land by night with marginal weather, without ILS, no air navigation approach, no VHR.” He said.
