Former presidents’ pilot : we were landing with lights off to avoid terrorist attacks

Mohammed Sekri has accumulated 2000 flying hours over a professional carrier that spanned more than 32 years through which he had the privilege to transport four Algerian presidents namely; Chadli Ben Djedid, Mohammed Boudiaf, Ali Kafi and Lyamine Zeroual.

•  During the black decade, he had to cope with the precarious conditions which were prevailing in Algeria at that time and learnt how to land on a tarmac with lights off in order to fend off terrorist attacks.

• In a lengthy interview with Echourouk, he recollected his memories and dwelt on several periods of his rich and long career as the presidents’ pilot

• Echourouk: Captain Sekri, first of all tell us how did you get selected to become the presidents’ pilot and when?

• Sekri: I was one of the military pilots that received a thorough training in the major European academies starting with Netherlands in 1978 and was granted pilot license during the late president Houari Boumedienne era. In 1981 a returned to the country and resumed work at Tafraoui military base. My professional background and formation were key in my selection to become M Chadli Ben Djedid’s  pilot .

• Echourouk: What kind of relationships you had with the different presidents and who was travelling a lot among them?

• Sekri: I was travelling with the former president Chadli Ben Djedid in all his official travels, Lyamine Zeroual was keen on taking part in most of the international events in a move to replace Algeria on the international scene knowing that we were facing an embargo at that time, so we went to China, Abu Dhabi, Bamako , Egypt and south Africa. He was always greeting the crew at first.

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• Echourouk:: What about the late president Mohammed Boudiaf and how did you react to his assassination in Annaba?

• Sekri:I was deeply affected to the assassination of Mohammed Boudiaf, at that time I was on vacation in my hometown (Annaba) … I wasn’t only affected because he was the president but also he used to travel with me…  We went through very hard times and were always asking God to bless this country.

• Echourouk:In your quality as the president’s pilot can you give us reveal some secrets about them ?

• Sekri: Sorry, my job doesn’t allow me to do that, I was a pilot and I’m bound to the secret but I can tell you that all the presidents were greeting the crew at first.

• Echourouk: For sure you have been contacted by foreign companies; did you ever think of going overseas?

• Sekri: I received an offer from the Netherlands but I declined it and preferred to stay in my country and carry on training “ Tassili “ airlines pilots who can match the best pilots in the world and even pilot the Boeing.

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