Judge in Brazil denies release of crash pilots | Aviation International News

Judge in Brazil denies release of crash pilots

Nearly two months after the worst aviation accident in Brazil’s history, the midair between a Boeing 737-800 operated by Brazilian airline Gol and a Legacy

By Elizabeth Johnson

December 5, 2006

Nearly two months after the worst aviation accident in Brazil’s history, the midair between a Boeing 737-800 operated by Brazilian airline Gol and a Legacy operated by Long Island, N.Y.-based ExcelAire, a series of questions still remains about the cause of the accident. Furthermore, as we go to press, the two U.S. pilots of the Legacy are still being detained in Brazil.

In the days following the flight, Brazilian authorities and the local media blamed the U.S. pilots of the Legacy, Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino. After the accident, authorities confiscated their passports and prohibited them from leaving the country. The pilots’ lawyers countered with an unsuccessful attempt to allow them to return to the U.S.

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