Passports Released
Two American pilots who had their passports seized by the Brazilian courts have had them returned. The two men were the two flying a private jet that collided with a Brazilian airliner, causing it to crash. TC over at Leather Penguin has been following this story, I have not. But it does sound as if there is some very serious doubt as to their culpability in the accident.
The Federal Regional Court of the First Region of Brasilia said that it unanimously agreed to return the passports of Joseph Lepore, 42, of Bay Shore, N.Y., and Jan Paladino, 34, of Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
They can pick up their passports in 72 hours and leave Brazil, but must agree to return to Brazil for further inquiry and judicial action, the court said on its Web site.
The Americans were piloting a Brazilian-made Legacy executive jet when it collided Sept. 29 with a Gol Airlines Boeing 737-800. All 154 people on board the Gol flight were killed, while the none of the seven people on board the Legacy were injured.
According to the information TC has rounded up, the air-traffic controller was inexperienced and directed the private jet to the same altitude as the airliner.
World news | Gaius Tuesday, 5 December , 2006
By Ricardo, Wednesday, 6 December , 2006 @ 9:10 am
Here is my latest note on this.
http://p6.hostingprod.com/@ricardosblog.com/blog/2006/12/american_pilots_joe_lepore_and.html