2 UK pilots detained for smuggling 14 Albanian people

[luchtzak]

Dutch police officers and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee have prevented the smuggling of 11 Albanian adults and 3 young children between Belgium and England. According to a police statement its the first time in the Netherlands that an aircraft is used in an attempt to smuggle people.

Earlier that day an observation team at Teuge Airport witnessed how the two English pilots prepared the aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain registered G-OETV for a flight through Belgium (the Belgian airport has not been disclosed) and presumably England as destination. Both English pilots were arrested at Teuge Airport.

[Hotel Tango]

Hmm, 11 adults and 3 kids on a Navajo. Bit of a squeeze. G-OETV was/is registered to Atlantic Bridge Aviation. They may have no direct involvement in this other than it is (or was) their aircraft.

[Oro-o]

Originally Posted by luchtzak

According to a police statement its the first time in the Netherlands that an aircraft is used in an attempt to smuggle people.

Have they not heard of World War II?

[KelvinD]

Aircraft currently shown as "Private" based at Lydd.

[Hotel Tango]

Aircraft currently shown as "Private" based at Lydd.

I thought it might have moved on. My source can be a little slow in that area. I just couldn't see ABA being mixed up in this.

[Airbubba]

Originally Posted by KelvinD

Aircraft currently shown as "Private" based at Lydd.

Yep, looks like the plane departed Lydd earlier in the day on July 5:

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...-oetv/#df9feda

A sales brochure for the plane is here on the ABA site:

http://www.aba.aero/uploads/2/4/1/1/...ale_g-oetv.pdf

It lists the seating as seven pax plus one pilot. The price is listed as '£208,995 (outright)'.

[piperboy84]

2 pilots and a nice looking twin, must have been pretty upmarket asylum seekers.