Thomas Howes

Thomas Howes is an American pilot who was held hostage by Colombian guerrillas for over five years. In February 2003, while working on a CIA counter-narcotics mission for Northrop Grumman, he and two associates crash-landed in a Colombian mountain range. They were subsequently captured by the Marxist pseudo-military group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).

Fast Facts

1. Captured February 13, 2003
2. 50-years-old at time of capture¹
3. Taken hostage with 2 other Americans: Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves
4. All 3 rescued July 2, 2008
5. Born: July 4, 1953²

Homecoming

The three former hostages, Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Howes, returned to the U.S. on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas where they underwent medical tests. The men reunited with their families at the medical center over the Fourth of July weekend, 2008. Howes' wife and son came to meet him there. He also has a sister, Sally, and an older brother, Stephen Howes.^{3 2}

Rescue

Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves were among 15 captives reportedly rescued by Colombian spies on July 2, 2008. Two "proof of life" videos showing the Northrop employees were released during their detainment—one in 2003, the other in November 2007.⁴ The most celebrated of their co-captives was Columbian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was also among those rescued.¹

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