Dutch Lynx crew captured by Libyan forces.

[keesje]

Something went wrong obviously Sunday.

Landing a noisy helicopter with Libyan forces close by.

Launched from F803 Tromp that arrived shortly before.

Miscommunication no doubt..

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/world/africa/04netherlands.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.dutchplanespotters.nl/album/albums/userpics/10007/normal_DSCF3931g.jpg

embarrassing..

[RetiredSHRigger]

Embarrassing is the word! Not the brightest idea sending a lone crew in unsupported. Lets just hope release negotiations are successful and the poor bloody crew are not paraded on Libyan television :(

[Stratofreighter]

I'm not too sure whether this can be called "paraded", but yes, the Dutch crew and helicopter were filmed and broadcast by the Khadafi-loyalist official state TV stations... :ugh:
They seem to be treated well though (for now)...

Video at NOS Nieuws - Staatstelevisie toont beelden Nederlanders (http://nos.nl/artikel/222994-staatstelevisie-toont-beelden-nederlanders.html) , a page of the "Dutch BBC"...

Translation of the text? Use Google Translate (http://translate.google.com/) .

Clicking at NOS Nieuws - Libië verspreidt beelden Nederlandse militairen (http://nos.nl/l/tcm:5-912302/) starts the video


Yes, to protect the identities of the crewmembers (one of them a female blonde pilot) Dutch television has shielded/scrambled the faces of them.


And indeed, over here in Holland LOTS of questions are now rising on how or even why this mission was undertaken with this lack of preparation. :rolleyes:

[minigundiplomat]

I hope the crew are ok.

Of all the European nations, the Dutch are the ones that immediately spring to mind for pulling their weight. I would of hoped that if they needed support, we could have.......

oh yeah!