Argentinian prosecutors and the Dutch authorities have been investigating the Dutch-Argentinian pilot Julio Alberto Poch for about one year. The 57-year-old pilot was arrested on Tuesday in Valencia in Spain shortly before the Transavia plane he was flying was due to take off for the Netherlands.

He is suspected of carrying out what are known as death flights under the Argentinian junta between 1976 and 1983. During the flights, thousands of the regime's opponents were drugged and then thrown out of aeroplanes into the sea. At the time, Mr Poch was a navy pilot stationed at the ESMA mechanics school in Buenos Aires. The institution was infamous as an illicit detention and torture centre.

Mr Poch is reported to have spoken openly to colleague pilots in the past about being involved in the death flights, saying he had no regrets. His confessions most likely led to tips being given to the Argentinian authorities and his eventual arrest.

see also: www.rnw.nl/english/article/arrested-pilot-accused-death-flights-argentina

Photo: Transavia plane (Flickr / Dr. Jaus)