Cyprus forced a Libyan airplane to return midway and refused to allow it to overfly its airspace, Libyan state-owned airline Afriqiyah Airways said on Friday.
Afriqiyah flight number 972, took off from Labrak airport in Al Beida and destined for Istanbul, was forced to overflow Cypriot airspace, spokesman for the airline said.
The Cypriot authorities made the decision to implement the EU-wide flight ban on Libyan registered aircraft, the spokesman added.