South African pilots detained in Angola

[RUDAS]

I heard a very disturbing thing on the radio...apparently two South African pilots from NAC are being detained,seemingly for no reason, in Angola.It seems they were there flying four businessmen from India,and when one of them died in his hotel,The Angolan police let the three businessmen go but detained the pilots.

A very disturbing story,especially in the light of other recent incidents involving pilots and the fact that certain african countries have a penchant for detaining them on very sketchy grounds.

Anyone have any comments?

[Rhodie]

SA pilots angry at 'detention'
16/02/2004 16:32 - (SA)

Tisha Steyn

Cape Town - "We don't know why we are being kept here," says Graham Conlyn, one of two pilots who flew four Indian businessmen to Luanda, Angola, on Tuesday last week.

Ashwani Puri, an Indian banker who owns 75% of the Lord Krishna Bank in India, was murdered in his hotel room in the posh Presidente Meridien the following night.

Conlyn and co-pilot, Anthony van Geest, who work for United States aviation company National Airways Corporation, were taken in for questioning in the Angolan capital.

Although they are not in custody, they have been "requested" to remain in Luanda "until the investigation into Puri's murder has been finalised.

"We just don't understand why we are being kept here. NAC asked us to fly the four Indian businessmen to Luanda to show them the new Premier 1 executive jet."

The plane has also been held and may not leave the country.

"We didn't know these people from a bar of soap. We thought it would be a nice opportunity to do business, to show them the plane, and maybe make business contacts in Luanda.

"We were supposed to be out of here in two days' time, go to Morocco to sign documents, and fly home.

Could have shed light on murder

"We have been here for almost a week now, and we don't know why."

Conlyn said the three businessmen who accompanied Puri left Luanda immediately after they had given their statements to police after the murder.

"They are the ones who could have shed light on the murder.

"We have no argument with the government, and we just want to go home."

Conlyn said he was expecting a representative of the South African embassy in Luanda on Monday afternoon. "So far, they haven't really been helpful.

"In contrast, the Indian embassy has been doing everything in their power to help us."

The plane has also been held and is not allowed to be flown out of the country.

Meanwhile, Puri's body was flown to New Delhi via Johannesburg and Mumbai.

The Indian embassy said a post-mortem had shown he was strangled and "probably tortured".

They said police believed burglary was the motive for the murder, as some money and baggage had been removed from the banker's hotel room.


It makes no bl**dy sense to detain the pilots - but this is Africa, so expect anything.... :mad:

[Tiger Bob]

who work for United States aviation company National Airways CorporationNational Airways is a South African Company owned by the Imperial Group

[Sir Cumference]

I understand that the situation is close to being resolved. The guys should be back in SA very soon. The joys of Africa and especially Angola!

I remember two guys passing through Angola on a ferry in a King Air 200, a few years back, being threatened with arrest for "being improperly dressed for an International Flight!" This was resolved with an admission of guilt fine of $1,100 for both of them. Alternative, Angolan Jail. I understand that an 'official reciept' was issued for this cash.

One of the hazards of visiting Luanda. Glad to hear that Graeme and Anthony's stay is near an end.

[planetblu]

Many african countries are very friendly places but sometimes they become even friendlier if you have dollars available!!
I remember the day of the fine we got for the t-shirt uniform we were wearing. With the receipt of the fine the airport officials gave us we were supposed to get the money back later.....
Home sweet home!!!!:}

[fesmokie]

A couple of years ago in Luanda, six of us all dressed in uniform with a paid ticket on SAA had to pay cash in various amounts( what ever we had in our pockets) in order to pass through the last checkpoint ( customs ?) before boarding the aircraft. It was just minutes before departure and lucky for us we figured out they just wanted a little extra cash in there pockets. We would have otherwise missed our flight and who knows what would have happened. I didnt want to hang out to find out, if you know what I mean.;)

[RUDAS]

so if i'm captaining a private flight (in something like a c210 or baron) to,lets say,maputo or luanda,even if i'm the only person on board,is it recommended i wear full "Pilot uniform" (ie blue trousers,white epauletted shirt etc)?

[ANVAK]

Preferably four bars (or more if you can manage)on your epaulettes. Oh, and do remember to have the "missing" page in your passport replaced with a US$ bill or two....;)

[Sir Cumference]

RUDAS you are absolutely correct. A word of advice when travelling through Africa, the more professional looking the better. Even if you are a PPL, four stripes, white shirt and blue trousers seems to get some respect from the various locals.

On the original subject of this site, I understand that Graeme and Anthony are STILL relaxing in Luanda! LU FL280 and above is a very good option!

[Sir Cumference]

I understand that the guys returned to Lanseria last night. I do not think that either will be in a hurry to go back and visit sunny Luanda!!

[Islander Jock]

Regularly flying in and out of Luanda (SLF only) I often get rumbled by immigration or the police that stand between the carry-on x ray and the upstairs bar.

Last time the copper asked to see my passport then beckoned me with his finger to a small room off in the corner. As the sweat started to well in the palms of my hands he asked if I had any Kwanza. "Sorry mate, gave it all to the lovely lass on the immigration booth but I'm sure she'll share it with you".:p Next he asked if I had USD. So I showed him my wallet with a lonely $20 note inside and said "Only my lunch money". With that he shrugged, gave me my passport back and sent me on my way whilst he went back to the x ray awaiting the next poor unsuspecting gringo to walk through with a wallet full of Banjamin Franklins.

Thank god he didn't search my briefcase with the million and one pockets. :ok:

Do you guys really think the pilot shirt and bars is worth a try? Might throw one into my suitcase for my next arrival and departure.

[fesmokie]

We thought the uniform would be a good touch and, we also had local Airline ID plus Military (Angolan) ID but...we still paid the bribe anyway. I dont think it really matters who you are. Please, dont ask about the Military ID, it's a long story. Cheers;)

[RUDAS]

i wonder what the angolan authorities would say if one was to arrive on the apron in luanda dressed in a chicken suit?(with four stripes of course!)

:D :confused: :D

[fesmokie]

In a Chicken suit you would probably blow right through security with no problem until you got to the "Shoe shine boys " outside the terminal then you would most certainly end up on a BBQ.:E

[Rhodie]

Pilots home from Angola
28/02/2004 09:07 - (SA)


Erika Gibson


Pretoria - Two South African pilots have returned home after being kept in Angola for two weeks following the murder of an Indian businessman.

"We will probably never know why we were being kept there. But that doesn't mean that we won't be going back," Graeme Conlyn, marketing director of National Airways Corporation and co-pilot Anthony van der Geest said on Friday.

The two South Africans were kept in Angola after Indian businessman Ashwani Puri, a banker, was murdered in his hotel room in the Angolan capital.

Conlyn and Van der Geest flew Puri and three other Indian businessmen to Luanda more than two weeks ago. One day later, Puri was murdered in his hotel room. The rest of his entourage left a day later for India via South Africa, but the two South African citizens were forbidden to leave the country, and their plane was impounded.

"There was a lot of pressure on Angola to let us go the past few days. The South African embassy and our legal advisors insisted on answers.

"Eventually the biggest challenge was to find the right person to do the paperwork. We have business interests in Angola and we didn't want to rock the boat."

"We are going to try and resolve the matter at the Angolan embassy in South Africa to clear the air.

"I can't even tell anybody who wants to do business in Angola how to stay out of trouble. You won't get away with illegal stuff.

"With us, it was business as usual. We flew people in and expected to leave soon afterwards. But the next moment we were 'in custody'."

Graeme said they were interrogated by the criminal investigating directorate of the Angolan police, but released by the secret police for national safety.

"All we can think of is that there was a bureaucratic blunder. We are very thankful to be home."

Edited by Schalk Jonker

:ok: