American Pilots Trapped in Guinea Nightmare

Two American Airlines airplanes at an airport with one taxiing in the background

Two American pilots languish in a West African jail after what should have been a routine fuel stop, raising urgent questions about whether our government will abandon citizens detained by unstable foreign regimes operating under military rule.

Story Highlights

American pilots Fabio Espinal Nunez and Brad Schlenker detained in Guinea since December 30, 2025, despite receiving air traffic control clearance multiple times to land for fuel
Nearly 100 armed military personnel surrounded their aircraft with machine guns and search dogs at Conakry airport, detaining the pilots on disputed airspace charges
Guinean military allegedly interfered with court-approved bail in February 2026, keeping pilots jailed despite Supreme Court appeals
Families plead for President Trump’s intervention as pilots endure harsh conditions in a nation plagued by arbitrary detentions following its 2021 military coup

Detained After Following Proper Procedures

Fabio Espinal Nunez of New Jersey and Brad Schlenker of Illinois landed their Gulfstream IV business jet at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry, Guinea, on December 30, 2025, for what should have been a straightforward refueling stop. The experienced pilots—Schlenker has over 40 years of aviation experience—were transporting a Brazilian family from Suriname to Dubai when they requested and received air traffic control clearance to land multiple times while airborne. Within moments of landing, approximately 100 armed Guinean security forces surrounded their aircraft with search dogs, detaining both Americans on charges of unauthorized landing or airspace entry.

Military Regime Overrides Legal System

The pilots’ families report that Guinean authorities charged the Americans with violations despite the documented air traffic control clearances. On February 10, 2026, their lawyers appealed to Guinea’s Supreme Court, and an appellate court reportedly approved bail for the detained aviators. However, according to family members, the military regime allegedly interfered with the court’s decision, keeping the pilots imprisoned. This interference exemplifies the judicial opacity and arbitrary enforcement that has plagued Guinea since its 2021 military coup. The U.S. State Department has previously warned travelers about Guinea’s unpredictable enforcement environment and the weak oversight of security forces under military rule.

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Families Describe Harsh Detention Conditions

Brad Schlenker’s brother Jon described his sibling’s account of the initial detention: “Multiple machine guns, 80 armed individuals” confronted the pilots upon landing. The families maintain that audio recordings prove the pilots received proper clearance, stating there is “no justification” for the continued imprisonment. While the pilots are permitted daily phone calls home and families report treatment has improved somewhat—describing conditions as “better than others” due to their American citizenship—they face limited access to adequate food and medical care. Families have been forced to provide necessities while desperately seeking intervention from U.S. officials and pressing Congress and the White House for action to secure their loved ones’ release.

Weak U.S. Response Frustrates Advocates

The U.S. Department of State and Embassy officials have provided consular visits and facilitated communication with attorneys, citing Vienna Convention obligations. However, nearly seven weeks into the detention, families express profound frustration with what they perceive as an inadequate response from American officials. The case underscores the limited leverage the United States wields when citizens are detained by sovereign nations, particularly unstable regimes with a documented history of arbitrary enforcement. Guinea’s military government holds all the cards, while U.S. diplomacy crawls forward at a bureaucratic pace that does nothing to relieve the suffering of two innocent Americans who followed proper aviation procedures and received official clearance to land.

Two American pilots remain jailed in Guinea after a disputed fuel stop despite claims of landing clearance. https://t.co/xSZ76E9DEn

— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) February 17, 2026

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Aviation Industry Faces Broader Implications

This detention sends shockwaves through the business aviation community, where international operations depend on the reliability of air traffic control approvals and filed flight plans. The case highlights a dangerous precedent: sovereign governments in unstable regions can retroactively invalidate clearances, leaving pilots vulnerable to criminal charges despite following established protocols. Aviation industry analysts warn that this incident demonstrates the risks of layered approval requirements and the reality that some nations maintain the authority to override their own air traffic controllers’ decisions after landing. The economic impact extends beyond the immediate human toll, as business aviation firms now face increased insurance costs, more complex permit verification processes, and reputational risks when operating in regions with unpredictable governance.

Americans Deserve Presidential Action

As of mid-February 2026, both pilots remain jailed with charges pending and legal proceedings grinding slowly through Guinea’s compromised judicial system. Their case represents not just a bureaucratic dispute over permits, but a fundamental test of whether the Trump administration will prioritize protecting American citizens from the arbitrary actions of military regimes. These pilots committed no espionage, violated no legitimate laws, and received proper clearance from Guinea’s own air traffic control authorities. Their continued imprisonment reflects Guinea’s post-coup culture of arbitrary detention and judicial manipulation, where even court-approved bail can be blocked by military interference. American families should not have to beg for their government’s help when citizens are unjustly detained abroad after following all proper procedures and receiving official authorization.