2 Nicaragua Officers Steal Army Plane, Flee to Costa Rica
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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Two officers of Nicaragua’s army stole a Soviet-made airplane Saturday and flew to Costa Rica, where they sought political asylum, Costa Rican officials said.
Carlos Gadea Arostenos and Jacinto Ramirez Mendez landed the 16-seat army aircraft with Russian markings in Las Piedras, in the province of Guanacaste, the Department of Public Security officials reported.
Public security authorities said the two deserters, whose rank and other details are not immediately available, said they “just wanted to leave their country” and get political asylum in Costa Rica.
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