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).
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.Associated Press: 3 Hostages Rescued in Colombia Return to US(July 3, 2008) ABC News: Mass. Son Reborn on Fourth of July(July 7, 2008)
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.St. Petersburg Times: American interest lags for hostages (December 24, 2007) The most celebrated of their co-captives was Columbian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was also among those rescued.CNN.com: Betancourt, U.S. contractors rescued from FARC (July 2, 2008)
