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Freed Africa vintage air rally pilots land Kenya | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A group of international pilots taking part in a vintage plane rally have landed in Kenya after being freed from detention in Ethiopia, organisers say. | |
About 20 aircraft had been impounded at the airport in Gambela, western Ethiopia, after crossing "illegally" into the country from Sudan. | About 20 aircraft had been impounded at the airport in Gambela, western Ethiopia, after crossing "illegally" into the country from Sudan. |
But the aviators, on a mission to travel the length of Africa, resumed their journey on Thursday. | |
One of the released pilots failed to arrive at the destination. | |
Africa Live: More on this and other stories | Africa Live: More on this and other stories |
British pilot Maurice Kirk, 72, had already been reported missing once but was later found to be among the pilots detained in Ethiopia. | |
In a Facebook post, Vintage Air Rally said: "For the second time in two flights, Maurice is a no show. We have launched (again) an overdue aircraft process (now Kenyan rather than Ethiopian)." | |
Vintage Air Rally spokesman Jeremy Martin told the BBC that Mr Kirk was "officially off the rally but since we know he's out there we can't leave him". | |
Diplomatic efforts | |
The head of Ethiopia's civil aviation authority, Wosenyele Hungnall, told the BBC that the aircraft had crossed illegally into Ethiopian airspace from Sudan. | |
Ethiopia is currently under a state of emergency following a recent upsurge in violent attacks, and there is a military presence in Gambela because of tensions with neighbouring South Sudan. | |
The rally was suspended while diplomats tried to secure the release of the pilots and crews. | |
On Thursday, Vintage Air Rally said the pilots were free to continue their journey to South Africa. | |
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. | 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. | The planes took off for Cape Town from the Greek island of Crete on 12 November. |
The aviators aim to cross 10 countries while making 37 stops in the month-long journey. | The aviators aim to cross 10 countries while making 37 stops in the month-long journey. |