DoomsdaysCW#Blackwater founder and 4 others on trial in #Austria over export of modified crop-spraying planes
By The Associated Press
November 16, 2023
BERLIN — "Five people including the founder of the Blackwater security firm went on trial in Austria on Thursday, accused of exporting two #cropspraying aircraft that were allegedly refitted for #military purposes without required permits.
"The trial in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, stems from an investigation into a local company, #AirborneTechnologies GmbH, which fits out aircraft with sensors and other equipment.
"Prosecutors say that two Ayres Thrush agricultural aircraft were equipped with armor, extra tanks and a special camera that could be used for marking and illuminating targets. They say one was sent to #Malta in 2014 with #Kenya as its declared destination and landed in troubled #SouthSudan, while the other was sent to #Bulgaria in 2015.
"The defendants are accused of violating Austria's law on war material by exporting such equipment without permission. One of the defendants, an Australian pilot, is accused of flying the two planes across Austria's borders, while the four other defendants allegedly participated in the deal. They are Blackwater founder Erik Prince, two managers at Airborne Technologies and a trained pilot who allegedly was an adviser.
"All pleaded not guilty as the trial started, the Austria Press Agency reported.
"The next court session is scheduled for Dec. 14 [2023]."
https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/austria-aircraft-export-trial-prince-blackwater-w27391
Blackwater founder and 4 others on trial in Austria over export of modified crop-spraying planes
Five people including the founder of the Blackwater security firm have gone on trial in Austria, accused of exporting two crop-spraying aircraft that were allegedly refitted for military purposes without required permits.