The pilot of Libyan L-39 Albatross jet who landed on a rural road in Tunisia on July 22 had refused orders from Haftar’s forces to hit targets in Tripoli, Radio France Internationale RFI reported on Tuesday, citing a senior Tunisian source.
The Tunisian source denied the narrative of Haftar’s forces and Tunisian government that the Libyan pilot conducted an emergency landing in Tunisia due to a technical glitch in the navigation system of the aircraft.
The pilot defected from Haftar’s forces, the source confirmed to RFI.
The Tunisian Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the defection claims.
Several aviation experts told RFI that an experienced pilot like Faraj Al-Gharyani, who managed to land with his aircraft on a road, does not lose his direction, even though the navigation system has failed.
