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Freed Africa vintage air rally pilots fly to Kenya | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A group of international pilots taking part in a vintage plane rally are now back in the air after being freed from detention in Ethiopia, officials say. | |
The aviators are bound for Kenya as their mission to fly the length of Africa is now back on course. | |
About 20 aircraft had been impounded at the airport in Gambela, western Ethiopia, after crossing "illegally" into the country from Sudan. | |
Organisers say the group is now free to continue their journey to South Africa. | Organisers say the group is now free to continue their journey to South Africa. |
The group announced on its Facebook page that: "VintageAirRally crew are allowed to fly on from Ethiopia!" | The group announced on its Facebook page that: "VintageAirRally crew are allowed to fly on from Ethiopia!" |
Africa Live: More on this and other stories | |
Authorities in Ethiopia, which is currently in a state of emergency, said the planes had landed without permission. | |
The rally was suspended while diplomats tried to secure the release of least 47 crew members. | |
Participants, from 13 different countries, are attempting to cover 13,000km (8,000 miles) using biplanes built between the 1920s and 1940s, and support aircraft. | |
The planes took off for Cape Town from the Greek island of Crete on 12 November. | |
However, the head of Ethiopia's civil aviation authority, Wosenyele Hungnall, told the BBC that the aircraft had crossed illegally into Ethiopian airspace from Sudan. | However, the head of Ethiopia's civil aviation authority, Wosenyele Hungnall, told the BBC that the aircraft had crossed illegally into Ethiopian airspace from Sudan. |
A British pilot who had been reported missing was found to be among those detained. | A British pilot who had been reported missing was found to be among those detained. |
On its Facebook page, Vintage Air Rally said that Maurice Kirk, 72, was with other pilots in Gambela who were all "safe and accounted for". | On its Facebook page, Vintage Air Rally said that Maurice Kirk, 72, was with other pilots in Gambela who were all "safe and accounted for". |
The aviators aim to cross 10 countries while making 37 stops in the month-long journey. |