From NY Post: Two American pilots have been imprisoned in the Republic of Guinea for six weeks — after authorities said they violated the country’s airspace for a simple fuel stop, The Post has learned.
Fabio Nicolas Espinal Nunez, 33, of Ewing, New Jersey and Bradley Scott Schlenker, 63, of Chicago are now asking the Trump administration to step in to secure their release as they remain locked up since Dec. 29 in a prison in Conakry, Guinea’s capital city.
Their loved ones are hoping the US State Department is able to end their nightmare.
“It’s devastating. It’s very scary. Every day is a roller coaster,” said Lauren Stevenson, Nunez’s fiancée, in comments to The Post.
The contract pilots were flying a Brazilian family from Suriname to Dubai when they landed in Guinea for refueling. They had been in communication with air traffic controllers, the men said, and the family confirmed.
Guinean officials claimed Nunez and Scott lacked authorization to land. The pilots were charged with airspace violation, unauthorized landing, and national defense risk.
Pilots Nunez and Scott remain in jail despite an appellate court order for their release pending case resolution.
“The prosecutor refused to sign off on their release because of pressure from the military,” Stevenson said.
The appeal will now be taken up by Guinea’s Supreme Court.
“This seems so strange. The charges are bogus and three judges agreed the charges are bogus,” Stevenson said. “There seems to be something between the lines we don’t know about. It’s very unusual. I’m at a loss for words. It’s tough. It’s mentally draining.”
The US State Department, headed by Marco Rubio, has made no comment.
Guinea’s military authorities suppress media, opposition, and dissent. Its military junta, in power since 2022, has cracked down on dissent, banning protests and using excessive force, resulting in at least 59 deaths. The junta has also dissolved 107 political parties and placed 67 others under observation, including prominent opposition parties, aiming to exclude key political figures from elections.
Read more at NY Post
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