Accused Of Being A Mercenary Pilot In Libya's Civil War

U.S. officials say a U.S. Air Force veteran who had been accused of being a mercenary in Libya's civil war has been freed six months after the plane he was flying was shot down.

According to Stars and Stripes, Florida resident Jamie Sponaugle, 31 was piloting an airplane believed to be a Mirage F1 combat jet that was conducting a bombing raid against Libyan National Army (LNA) forces near Tripoli. The LNA said it shot down the plane. Sponaugle's captivity had not previously been reported at the request of U.S. officials who were working for his release, according to anonymous sources.

Sponaugle had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2006, and became a mechanic, according to Air Force officials. He was not a pilot. He left active duty in 2013, and earned a private pilot certificate, but had no military aviation experience or training.

U.S. officials do not have a clear understanding of what the former airman was doing in Libya. In a video posted to social media shortly after his capture, he identified himself as a Portugese national named Jimmy Rees, and said he was in Libya as a civilian pilot under a contract focused on "destroying bridges and roads."

It is also not known if Sponaugle violated U.S. law by working for or fighting in Libya.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report