exclusive US pilots jailed in Guinea during fuel stop now asking Trump to step in: ‘Very scary’
Two American pilots have been held in the Republic of Guinea for six weeks after authorities accused them of violating the country’s airspace during a routine fuel stop, The Post has learned.
Fabio Nicolas Espinal Nunez, 33, of Ewing, New Jersey, and Bradley Scott Schlenker, 63, of Chicago, have been in a Conakry prison since December 29. The pair is now seeking help from President Trump’s administration to secure their release.
“It’s devastating. It’s very scary. Every day is a roller coaster,” Lauren Stevenson, Nunez’s fiancée, told The Post. She has been in contact with both Nunez and the U.S. Embassy in Guinea but says progress has been slow.
The pilots, working as contractors, were transporting a Brazilian family of five—including two children—from Suriname to Dubai on a Gulfstream GIV. They landed at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport for refueling and maintained communication with air traffic controllers throughout the stop.
However, Guinean government and military officials claimed the pilots lacked authorization to land, charging them with violating Guinean airspace, making an unauthorized landing, and endangering national defense.
An emergency appeal led to an appellate court ordering their release pending the case, under conditions requiring the pilots to remain in the country and report to a judicial office three times per week. Despite the ruling, the pair remains imprisoned.
“The prosecutor refused to sign off on their release because of pressure from the military,” Stevenson said. Their appeal will now be reviewed by Guinea’s Supreme Court.
Stevenson described the situation as bewildering. “The charges are bogus, and three judges agreed. There seems to be something behind the scenes we don’t know about. It’s mentally draining,” she said.
Nunez has been kept with former government officials imprisoned by Guinea’s current regime. He is allowed to order takeout and call Stevenson using a guard’s phone.
“We’re praying for their release and hope they come home safely and unharmed. Fabio is worried this ordeal has dragged on way too long,” Stevenson said.
The U.S. State Department, led by Marco Rubio, had no immediate comment.
Guinea has a history of political turmoil and military control. A 2024 Human Rights Watch report noted ongoing crackdowns on media, opposition parties, and dissent. Protests were banned in May 2022, and security forces have used excessive force—including tear gas and live ammunition—to enforce the ban, resulting in at least 59 deaths since 2022.
Authorities have also dissolved 107 political parties and placed 67 under observation, including three prominent opposition parties. The HRW report described arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of opposition leaders, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Human rights concerns extend to the LGBTQ+ community, with Guinea’s penal code criminalizing vaguely defined “indecent acts” or “acts against nature,” punishable by six months to three years in prison.
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