Two American pilots are currently living a nightmare after being arrested during a simple fuel stop in the Republic of Guinea. They've been jailed for six weeks now. Authorities accused them of violating the country's airspace.
Both Fabio Nicolas Espinal Nunez and Bradley Scott Schlenker have been behind bars since December. They've asked the Trump administration to intervene and get them out of prison.
"It's devastating. It's very scary. Every day is a roller coaster," Lauren Stevenson, Nunez's fiancée, told The New York Post. The two American pilots had been flying a private plane for a family of five from Suriname to Dubai. They stopped at the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport for refueling. According to the pilots, they had been communicating with air traffic control the entire time.
American Pilots Arrested In Guinea
But upon landing, they were arrested because officials claim the pilots didn't get authorization. Despite an emergency appeal that was supposed to release them from jail, the two are still behind bars.
"The prosecutor refused to sign off on their release because of pressure from the military," she said. "This seems so strange. The charges are bogus and three judges agreed the charges are bogus. 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."
Stevenson is trying to keep her hope alive for the two American pilots. "We're praying for their release and that they come home safely and unharmed. Fabio is worried that this ordeal has dragged on way too long," Stevenson said.
The Republic of Guinea has been known for its human rights issues such as using excessive force against protesters in the country. "Human Rights Watch documented the killing by security forces of at least eight people, including three children, during protests in Conakry since January, with protesters assaulting the police and gendarmes," the report said.
