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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/29/california-flight-instructors-tried-kidnap-deport-trainee-pilot-china-say-police
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| US flight instructors kidnapped and tried to deport trainee to China, say police | US flight instructors kidnapped and tried to deport trainee to China, say police |
| (7 months later) | |
| Two employees of a northern California flight school have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a student pilot and trying to send him back to China, authorities said. | Two employees of a northern California flight school have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a student pilot and trying to send him back to China, authorities said. |
| Jonathan McConkey, general manager at IASCO Flight Training, and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, were taken into custody on Friday at the municipal airport in Redding, police said. | Jonathan McConkey, general manager at IASCO Flight Training, and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, were taken into custody on Friday at the municipal airport in Redding, police said. |
| Tianshu Shi, a trainee in the US on a student visa, sustained minor injuries during the alleged kidnapping, investigators said. | Tianshu Shi, a trainee in the US on a student visa, sustained minor injuries during the alleged kidnapping, investigators said. |
| McConkey and Hoser showed up at Shi’s apartment the evening of 24 May and told him he was going to be “shipped back” to China the following morning, said corporal Rob Peterson of Redding police. The next day the pair returned to Shi’s apartment and told him to pack his bags. | McConkey and Hoser showed up at Shi’s apartment the evening of 24 May and told him he was going to be “shipped back” to China the following morning, said corporal Rob Peterson of Redding police. The next day the pair returned to Shi’s apartment and told him to pack his bags. |
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| Shi told the Record Searchlight newspaper he recorded the confrontation. The profanity-filled audio clip was obtained by the newspaper. “I’ve got your [expletive] passport. You’re leaving now,” a male voice says in the recording. He later adds, “The United States government needs you out of this country right now, you understand?” | Shi told the Record Searchlight newspaper he recorded the confrontation. The profanity-filled audio clip was obtained by the newspaper. “I’ve got your [expletive] passport. You’re leaving now,” a male voice says in the recording. He later adds, “The United States government needs you out of this country right now, you understand?” |
| “You are here illegal, you know that,” a female voice says later. “If you don’t go with us, you go to jail.” | “You are here illegal, you know that,” a female voice says later. “If you don’t go with us, you go to jail.” |
| During the conversation, Peterson said, McConkey shoved Shi into a countertop, knocking him to the floor. Fearing for his safety, Shi got in their car, authorities said. | During the conversation, Peterson said, McConkey shoved Shi into a countertop, knocking him to the floor. Fearing for his safety, Shi got in their car, authorities said. |
| It wasn’t known Monday if McConkey or Hoser had attorneys who could comment on their behalf. | It wasn’t known Monday if McConkey or Hoser had attorneys who could comment on their behalf. |
| Shi had enrolled in the program through an organisation that has an agreement with the school to train Chinese nationals, Peterson told the Los Angeles Times. The Civil Aviation Authority of China sends up to 180 students to the program, according to the school’s website. | Shi had enrolled in the program through an organisation that has an agreement with the school to train Chinese nationals, Peterson told the Los Angeles Times. The Civil Aviation Authority of China sends up to 180 students to the program, according to the school’s website. |
| At some point during the alleged incident, Shi managed to alert his brother in Shanghai, who spoke to another flight school student who said Shi had been assaulted and kidnapped. Shi’s brother then called Redding police. | At some point during the alleged incident, Shi managed to alert his brother in Shanghai, who spoke to another flight school student who said Shi had been assaulted and kidnapped. Shi’s brother then called Redding police. |
| Officers found Shi, McConkey and Hoser at Redding municipal airport, about 11km (seven miles) from his apartment. Hoser told police they were sending Shi back to China because his English wasn’t strong enough to safely communicate with the air traffic control tower, Peterson said. | Officers found Shi, McConkey and Hoser at Redding municipal airport, about 11km (seven miles) from his apartment. Hoser told police they were sending Shi back to China because his English wasn’t strong enough to safely communicate with the air traffic control tower, Peterson said. |
| McConkey and Hoser could face charges including conspiracy and kidnapping, police said. Both were released from custody after posting bail, according to the Shasta county sheriff’s office. | McConkey and Hoser could face charges including conspiracy and kidnapping, police said. Both were released from custody after posting bail, according to the Shasta county sheriff’s office. |
| Shi told the Record Searchlight he had been in the country for about seven months on a one-year visa for students who enrol in vocational programs. He told the newspaper his university paid about $70,000 for him to train at the Redding flight school. For the past two months, he said he had been “grounded”. | Shi told the Record Searchlight he had been in the country for about seven months on a one-year visa for students who enrol in vocational programs. He told the newspaper his university paid about $70,000 for him to train at the Redding flight school. For the past two months, he said he had been “grounded”. |
| “I can’t speak English well in life, but I can speak English well with air traffic control,” he told the newspaper. | “I can’t speak English well in life, but I can speak English well with air traffic control,” he told the newspaper. |
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| China | China |
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