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Redding Flight School Workers Kidnap Student Pilot To Force Him Back To China

REDDING (AP) -- Police arrested two employees at a Redding flight school on suspicion of kidnapping a student pilot and trying to send him back to his native China.

Redding police say instructor Jonathan McConkey and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, were taken into custody May 25 at the city's airport. It wasn't known Monday if they have attorneys.

Tianshu Shi, a trainee in the US on a student visa, sustained minor injuries.

Sgt. Gary Meadows says the pair assaulted Shi at his apartment and brought him forcibly to the airport.

Shi tells the Record Searchlight newspaper he recorded the confrontation. On the recording a male voice says: "The United States government needs you out of this country." A female voice says: "If you don't go with us, you go to jail."

© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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