Brazil urged to allow two American pilots to return to U.S.

[ianwood]

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and aviation groups are pressing for the release of two American pilots held in Brazil since their jet collided in midair with a jetliner over the Amazon jungle, killing 154 people in that nation's worst air disaster.

Advocates for the pilots say they have been unfairly caught up in the swirling controversy surrounding the crash. They charge that Brazil has mishandled the investigation into the Sept. 29 accident.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who sent a letter on behalf of the pilots to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Nov. 17, says U.S. officials have not paid sufficient attention to the case.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-12-04-brazil-crash_x.htm

[htuttle]

1. Sounds like those pilots have some 'juice'

Getting a Congressperson like King to deal with something on your behalf nowdays takes some connections.

Anyone know anything about them?

[bemildred]

2. Plenty of juice.

Ran into a commercial jet with their own jet. Killed over 100 people. Must just be rotten luck, we really ought to let them go ...

[hack89]

6. I think the claim is ...

that the air traffic controllers made a fatal error by directing the two aircraft to fly at the same altitude. There is no indication that the American pilots were any more at fault than the Brazilian pilots.

[pitohui]

9. travel writer joe sharkey was on the flight

he says that pilots did the impossible in saving his life and the life of the other passengers on their plane, in theory, all hands on both flights should have been killed

i haven't read a recent update by him but i'm pretty sure he supports the pilots' claim that they did no wrong, he seemed to feel they did a remarkable job in saving the folks on their own plane

a terrible tragedy if they are punished for the crime of surviving

wiki says sharkey more recently erased his older article and posted this:

But right now I also am deeply concerned about the fate of the two pilots of the Legacy — Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino. Joe and Jan are two stand-up guys, veteran pilots who saved my life and the lives of all who were with me, and who were stricken with profound sorrow when they learned that a 737 had hit us without warning, and with such a tragic loss of life. Joe and Jan remain detained in Brazil while an investigation continues into the cause of this horrible accident. Speculation and wild rumors are rife. But I was there. I implore those who are so quick to blame the Legacy pilots to let the investigation continue and wait until the facts have been determined in an honest and INDEPENDENT inquiry before rushing to judgment in a politically intense environment.

[bemildred]

11. That is why we have investigations of these things.

The "indications" seem to have been uncertain, and to still be unresolved. Fault is not assigned yet, from what one can tell. But there are a lot of dead people, and it is a serious matter. I don't blame the pilots for wanting to go home, I don't blame the Brazilian authorities for wanting to make sure they can be found when they are wanted, and I stand by the assertion that the pilots must have clout to get this sort of attention from the Congressperson.

[Psephos]

10. Lock 'em in stocks and put 'em in a dungeon. Surviving a mid-air crash is an evil crime.

Brazil should also imprison the passengers whose lives were saved by the evil pilots' extraordinary skills. Criminals, every one of them.

/sarcasm

You do realize that Brazilian ATC made a mistake, and had the two planes flying at the same altitude. Right?

Peace.

[Eugene]

7. Rep. King is apparently doing his job.

The air charter company's home town is partially within King's district
and at least one of the pilots is a constituent according to public
information.

U.S. citizens are caught up in a high profile international incident.
Their Congressman lobbys the State Dept. to make sure they are treated
fairly. That is a Congressperson's job.

[htuttle]

8. Indeed he is

...but how often do they actually do it? And who do you have to know to get them to do it?

[Blue_Tires]

3. welcome to the site!

i am reminded of some seemingly ordinary, bumbling watergate burglars that all of a sudden had a lot of unknown legal friends during their arraignment

[stillcool]

4. yeah, really!

it's bound to happen. Everything else has.

[Eugene]

5. Reuters: Brazil to let US pilots go home after crash probe

Brazil to let US pilots go home after crash probe
05 Dec 2006 19:53:36 GMT
Source: Reuters

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Two U.S. pilots should be allowed
to go home after being forced to stay in Brazil for more than two months
over their role in the country's worst air disaster, a Brazilian court ruled
on Tuesday.

A court statement said Joseph Lepore, 42, and Jan Paladino, 34, would get
their passports back after 72 hours, during which the police would take
further testimony. The two must promise to show up when needed for the
investigation and legal process.

"The measure of restricting the freedom of movement for foreigners is not
backed by the domestic legal system," the statement said after the court
ruled in favor of a writ seeking relief from unlawful detainment.

The pilots will likely return home, their lawyers said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05313562.htm