Released After Being Held For Eight Days In A Village In Benin

A JetBlue pilot was recently abducted in Africa and held for eight days in a village in Benin before being released, according to authorities from the West African nation.

K. Shawn Bischoff of Fort Lauderdale, FL, who JetBlue confirms works for the airline, had traveled to Africa to "conclude a commercial transaction for gold" with individuals who had solicited him on the Internet. When he arrived in Africa, he was abducted and held until being recognized at a border crossing eight days later.

Bischoff's captors demanded ransom payments from his parents, making unspecified threats against him, according to Benin police spokesman Florent Djimasse. The South Florida Sun Sentinal reports that as authorities got closer to the kidnappers, they apparently panicked, an put him in a cab to be taken to Lome`, where he had first arrived in Africa. Police recognized Bischoff at the border. He was freed, and the four kidnappers with him were arrested.

Police in Benin say the investigation is continuing, but Djimasse reportedly had harsh words for the people living in the village where Bischoff was being held. He chastised them for not reporting a white person being held hostage there, saying it could not have gone unnoticed by everyone.

U.S. and African authorities are not releasing further details of the incident, though the State Department and the FBI are both reportedly involved in the investigation.

FMI: www.state.gov, www.fbi.gov