Dutch pilot held over Argentina 'Death Flights'

[Pieter C. 5]

Dutch Pilot Held Over Argentina 'Death Flights'

 

September 23, 2009

 

Spanish authorities have arrested a pilot for Dutch airline Transavia on charges he flew "death flights" for Argentina's former military rulers, a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

 

The pilot, who holds Dutch and Argentine passports, was arrested on Tuesday night in Spain at the request of Argentina's government and is currently being detained, the spokesman said.

 

A spokesperson for Transavia owner Air France-KLM was not available to comment. Spanish authorities were also not available to comment on the arrest.

 

An Argentine government report says more than 11,000 people died or disappeared during the so-called "Dirty War," a crackdown on leftists and other opponents of the military regime that ruled the South American country from 1976 to 1983.

 

Rights groups claim the number is closer to 30,000.

 

In 2005, Argentina's Supreme Court, at the urging of then-President Nestor Kirchner, struck down two amnesty laws that shielded hundreds of former officers from charges of human rights abuses during the dictatorship.

 

Courts have since issued a handful of severe prison sentences for members of the security forces -- many now elderly -- who were convicted of kidnapping, torturing and killing dissidents.

 

Human rights groups have alleged that one of the regime's tactics was the use of so-called "death flights," where people were pushed out of planes or helicopters into rivers or the Atlantic Ocean to drown.

 

(Reuters)

 

He was arrested at VLC just before leaving on his last flight back to AMS before retiring from the airline with his wife onboard (as a passenger) and his son flying as co-pilot

His own stories (to other HV pilots) finally 'killed' him, as they reported him to the Argentinian prosecutor...he didn't show any remoarse and even told his HV-colleagues : "we were at a war at the time, and should have killed all of these terrorists"...

The 57 year old captain was arrested by the Spanish police, on request of the Argentinian justice dept.

A previous Argentinian pilot was conficted to 640 years in prison of his actions, so this doesn't look too good for this captain..

[Ken M. 0]

Pieter,

 

I know the Dutch are famous for their tolerance however this guy should have been arrested ages ago.

UK media are saying AF/KL knew of his dodgy past. If so, it doesn't show AF/KL in a very good light.

 

Regards,

Ken

[Pieter C. 5]

Pieter,

 

I know the Dutch are famous for their tolerance however this guy should have been arrested ages ago.

UK media are saying AF/KL knew of his dodgy past. If so, it doesn't show AF/KL in a very good light.

 

Regards,

Ken

 

AF/KL knew nothing about this guy's past, however, HV did; when 'they' confronted him about the flights in 1998, he denied them...

in any case, he will not enjoy his pensioned life