Gaddafi's private pilot has fled Libya

57-year-old Odd Birger Johansen for the last year has been the pilot of the private jet of Colonel Gaddafi. Until yesterday, he was in Tripoli, together with his wife and daughter that had chosen this unhappy moment to visit him for a holiday in Libya.

Yesterday, he spoke to the private Norwegian broadcaster 'TV2', saying he wanted to evacuate Libya as soon as possible. "Right now, the way I feel it, is that things are burning around me ... and I don't want to ... I am not a hero, I will go home," Mr Johansen told the broadcaster.

The interview was picked up by international media, including afrol News, causing even greater fears for the Norwegian family.

The pilot's wife, Kristin Haftorn Johansen, today told the Norwegian daily 'VG' that she feared Libyan security police could want to pick up the family after the world press reported over her husband's desire to desert the Libyan dictator.

Johansen had originally emphasised he was "under contract, so I have to follow up on that if there should be a need for my services." But his wife soon convinced him that the international media coverage forced them to flee the country as soon as possible.

Today, the family managed to buy the last available tickets for a flight from Tripoli to Vienna, Austria. Arriving safely in Europe, the Johansen family again dared to contact Norwegian media.

Gaddafi's private pilot therefore has joined a growing stream of key foreign workers fleeing the country. Not only the dictator's private jet is now grounded; most of the economy is at a stand-still as it has depended completely on foreigners.

Also a large number of Libyans have defected over the last few days; including top diplomats, two ministers, large parts of the army, major tribe leaders - and of course, the Libyan people.