Cleared for publication: Two Israeli civilian pilots were recently released from the custody of the Eritrean authorities, who were holding them on suspicion of arms smuggling, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
The two, Captain Yehuda Maoz and First Officer Vered Aharonson, were taken into custody two weeks ago and remanded to their Asmara hotel, were they were held under heavy guard.
Diplomatic sources told Ynet that there were concrete fears for the pilots' lives, prompting Foreign Ministry officials to mount frantic efforts for their release. They arrived back in Israel on Tuesday afternoon, unharmed.
According to the available details, both Maoz and Aharonson are former IDF officers employed as pilots by the Israel-based Aviation Bridge Company.
They arrived in the African country in early August as part of a routine flight, and were set to transport a mechanical part – held in a sealed envelope – to a security company which had hired their company's services.
The part was discovered during a routine security check at the Asmara airport, but while the two declared it to be a mechanical part, local authorities suspected it was actually meant for weapons construction.
It is believed that the fact that the part was meant to be delivered to a private security company, was what triggered the Eritreans' suspicion.
Aharonson was the pilot who rescued Yedioth Ahronoth reporter Zadok Yehezkeli in 2008, after he was severely injured while on a mission in Georgia.
According to its website, Aviation Bridge is a private flight operator "specializing in executive, ambulance, and special-needs air transportation."
Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report
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