Men Must Return To Brazil On Court's Request

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 12.05.06 1430 EST: Aero-News has confirmed a Brazilian court has released the passports of pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino. The two men have been held in Brazil since the September 29 midair collision between the Embraer Legacy 600 they were piloting, and a Gol Airlines 737.

The Federal Regional Court of the First Region of Brasilia said it unanimously agreed to return the passports. Lepore and Paladino may pick up their passports in 72 hours, and leave the country after being detained for over 70 days. The two must agree to return to Brazil at the request of the court, for activity in conjunction with the inquiry into the accident.

As Aero-News has reported, that inquiry appears to show the two pilots were following ATC instructions to fly at the same altitude as the 737 traveling in the opposite direction.

All 154 persons onboard the airliner died when it crashed into the Amazon rain forest; the Legacy was able to execute an emergency landing with damage to one of the plane's wings.

Several aviation organizations -- including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the National Business Aviation Association and the Allied Pilots Association -- had called on Brazil to release the pilots.

FMI: www.brasilemb.org/