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Two Pilots Face Extradition in Dirty War Death Flights

Some 1,000 Argentines were hurled into sea

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 6, 2009 5:23 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Two Argentines charged with piloting notorious "death flights" during the country's brutal military dictatorship are facing extradition. The pilots, one arrested in Argentina and the other in Spain, are accused of flying the flights from which more than 1,000 drugged and blindfolded students, intellectuals, and trade unionists were hurled into the sea. More than 30,000 people "disappeared" during the 1976-1983 dictatorship.

Both men were seized after telling colleagues about their alleged participation, reports CNN. One of the pilots told a fellow aviator that chucking subversives out of planes was a humane way to kill people, since they were drugged before being thrown to their death. He also reportedly told another pilot that the dictatorship "should have killed them all." But he also admitted "some responsibility." When "you fly persons on board the responsibility lies with the pilot," he said.

Members of a human rights group carry a banner showing pictures of people who were disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship outside the government house in Buenos Aires last year.
Members of a human rights group carry a banner showing pictures of people who were disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship outside the government house in Buenos Aires last year.   (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Adelaida Molina protests outside the government house in Buenos Aires last year.
Adelaida Molina protests outside the government house in Buenos Aires last year.   (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Activists demonstrate outside a courthouse where eight former army officers faced trial last year for kidnapping, torturing and killing activists during Argentina's 1976-83 military dictatorship.
Activists demonstrate outside a courthouse where eight former army officers faced trial last year for kidnapping, torturing and killing activists during Argentina's 1976-83 military dictatorship.   (AP Photo/Osvaldo Ruiz)
Former Argentine navy lieutenant Julio Alberto Poch in an undated Argentine Navy identification photo, left, and a photo after his arrest in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.
Former Argentine navy lieutenant Julio Alberto Poch in an undated Argentine Navy identification photo, left, and a photo after his arrest in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Spanish Interior Ministry, HO)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
divetrader
Oct 6, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
It only took 25 years to get these killers to admit their involvement. The right wingers here in the US like for others to see their dirty work. Cheney openly admits he supported torturing people. He just couldn't hold it in. But he'll probably never see the inside of a jail cell.
Thinker
Oct 6, 2009 12:13 PM CDT
I could see U.S. right-wing Republicans thinking this is a humane way to get rid of liberals, too. In fact, I'm sure the right-wing is going to get some ideas now.
Kookey90
Oct 6, 2009 10:54 AM CDT
They were called "Chicken flights' - you ever see a chicken try to fly?

 
Latin America • human rights • war crimes • Argentina • disappearance • dictatorship • pilot • Dirty War

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