American pilots on hops for Libya, US paper says

October 23, 1981

American pilots and mechanics recruited by a former CIA agent are flying and maintaining Libyan Air Force planes, the New York Times reports. The story, the latest in an investigative series on extensive activities on behalf of Libya by a former CIA agent and fugitive, Edwin P. Wilson, quotes associates of Mr. Wilson as saying dozens of American flight personnel have taken part in his operations for Libya. One pilot told the Times that Americans flew in support of the Libyan invasion of Chad this year.

Meanwhile, Israeli radio reported Thursday that pilots with American accents had been been monitored flying Libyan airliners in an arms airlift from Syria to Libya.