Pilot captured by LNA is American, not Portuguese: US official

CAIRO- 25 June 2019: US President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, Robert O’Brien, said in press statements on Tuesday that the pilot captured last month by Libyan National Army is American and not Portuguese as news websites reported.

The American official said that the pilot who worked as a mercenary for Tripoli’s government is an American citizen and called “Jimmy”, the pilot was captured by LNA forces after his jet was downed on May 7.

O’Brien added that the US authorities are communicating with the LNA to discuss the fate of the captured pilot.

The pilot claimed to be Portuguese who goes under the name “Jimmy Reese” after he was captured on May 7, however, the Portuguese army denied having a pilot with such a name.