16 Apr Four freed hostages flown out of Iraq by Air Serv International

Japanese Hostages Flown to Dubai; French Hostage to Amman
DUBAI, April 16, 2004-Three Japanese hostages and a French hostage who were released by their captors this week were flown out of Iraq today by Air Serv

International, the humanitarian aviation service.

Japanese volunteer workers Noriaki Imai, 18, and Nahoko Takato, 34, and photojournalist Soichiro Koriyama, 32, released on Thursday, were flown from Baghdad to Dubai with five members of the Japanese embassy staff. They will fly by Japanese carrier from Dubai to Japan.

French journalist Alexandre Jordanov, 40, who was freed on Wednesday, was flown from Baghdad to Amman. Jordanov works for Capa Television in Paris.

Air Serv International, a Warrenton, Virginia-based non-profit humanitarian aid organization, has an ongoing Jordan-based flight program with three Beech 1900D aircraft that go into and out of Iraq daily. Air Serv has been flying into Iraq since May 1, 2003, and was the first humanitarian, non-governmental air service in Iraq following the major hostilities. It is the only civilian, non-commercial air service into Baghdad International Airport.

Air Serv International’s mission is to use aircraft and other appropriate technology for relief and development, restoring hope for the suffering. Air Serv provides safe, reliable, and cost effective air transport to humanitarian agencies involved in relief and development activities.

Jim Jewell
Rooftop Public Relations
44 Broad Street NW, Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30303
(678) 458-9837 phone (770) 904-0494 fax
www.RooftopPR.info