U.S. defense giant Northrop Grumman said Thursday the company is "ecstatic" about the safe return of its three employees from Colombia after being held as hostages for five years.
"For more than five years, we prayed for the release and well-being of these heroic men and supported their brave families," said Northrop Chief Executive Ronald Sugar in a statement. "We shared in the anguish while they were captives, and today we can share in the joy of knowing that they are free men and safe."
The three employees of the Los Angeles-based defense contractor were taken to a U.S. Army hospital in San Antonio, Texas, overnight for medical evaluation after being rescued by Colombian soldiers along with 12 other hostages including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.
The three Americans were on a counter narcotics operation in 2003 when their plane crashed in the Colombian jungle, where they were held as hostages by their captors. A fourth Northrop employee on the mission was killed by guerrillas shortly after the crash.
In an event that made international media headlines Wednesday, the hostages were rescued after Colombian soldiers posed as aid workers and convinced the captors to hand over their prisoners.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article