Two U.S. Pilots ILLEGALLY ARRESTED in West Africa During Routine Fuel Stop Beg President Trump for Immediate Help
Two American pilots have been trapped in harsh conditions at a West African prison for nearly two months after being ambushed by a heavily armed military unit during a routine fuel stop.
Veteran pilot Brad Schlenker, 63, of Illinois, and fellow pilot Fabio Espinal Nunez, 33, of New Jersey, were operating a Gulfstream IV charter flight carrying a Brazilian family from Suriname to Dubai when they landed in Conakry, Guinea, in late December 2025 for refueling.
According to reports, the pilots followed proper procedures, communicating with air traffic control and receiving clearance to land at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport. Yet as soon as their plane touched down, nearly 100 armed Guinean soldiers surrounded the aircraft, pointing rifles at the pilots and forcing them off the runway. The men were immediately detained.
Guinean authorities later accused Schlenker and Espinal Nunez of violating national sovereignty, illegally entering airspace, making an unauthorized landing, and endangering national defense.
🚨MAJOR BREAKING: The two U.S. pilots ILLEGALLY ARRESTED in West Africa as they made a simple fuel stop are begging President Trump for help.
“Mr. Trump, can you please come down here & get us out of here?”
Since the media is ignoring this, share this post to make it GO VIRAL! pic.twitter.com/IMzPg6HFmL
— Carter Hughes (@itscarterhughes) February 18, 2026
A family source told AeroTime that the pilots believed all required permits for the refueling stop had been arranged, raising questions about whether the detention was a bureaucratic error or more intentional. Initially held at a police station for about 10 days, the pilots were then transferred to Conakry’s prison system, where they face threats of sentences up to 20 years.
Relatives describe dire conditions inside the prison, including dirt floors, limited sanitation, severe overcrowding, and prisoners taking turns sleeping. Detainees reportedly rely on outside support for food.
The families are now urging President Donald Trump to intervene. In an interview with CBS News, Schlenker made a direct appeal for assistance. The U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy in Guinea released a joint statement emphasizing that:
“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens.
Whenever a U.S. citizen is detained abroad, the Department works to provide consular assistance in accordance with our authorities under U.S. and international law.
The Department of State is actively providing consular assistance and remains engaged on this case, staying in contact with the families of these detained Americans. Since their detention on December 30, consular officers have visited them four times. Due to privacy and other considerations, we have no further comment.”
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