James Robinson wrote:

Matt Whiting wrote:


James Robinson wrote:


First, they are not being detained. The government is holding their
passports so they can't leave the country. The US would probably do
the same if a foreign national was involved in an such a major
incident under suspicious circumstances.

They aren't being detained, but they can't leave. Do you know what
detain means?


Slight legal distinction. Michael Jackson wasn't considered as detained
when he was awaiting trial, but he did have to surrender his passport.

In this case, the pilots aren't in the slammer in Sao Paulo, and are free
to travel around Brazil, but cannot leave the country. I consider detained
as being in the custody of the police.

I didn't see "custody of the police" in the dictionary definition.

Matt