Haitian rescue

 So two Knights of Columbus who were helicopter pilots rescued over 100 Americans from violence in Haiti.

It was the first call for Marinello since he started a helicopter air medical service, Tropic Air Rescue, just a little over a week before. After armed gangs had united in their opposition to the prime minister, who was away on a foreign trip, they shut down the international airport, stranding hundreds of foreigners. Among them were Mitch Albom, a bestselling author based in Michigan, and nine other Americans visiting an orphanage that he established in Port-au-Prince. A member of the group contacted a congresswoman in Michigan for assistance in getting them out of the country. She in turn contacted a congressional colleague from Florida, Cory Mills, a US Army veteran who had rescued Americans from dangerous situations before. Mills' staff in turn began looking for help with the Haiti mission. Twelve pilots indicated that they were unable or unwilling to take on the job.,,

they rescued a few people and then did multiple flights to bring more aidworkers home. And yes in corrupt countries the bureaucrats worry more about proper paperwork than human lives. I could be wrong and will apologize if I am, but I have lived and worked in several chaotic countries on four continents, and I suspect the reason for the barriers were because the pilots were too honest to give them a small gift to expedite matters. 

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beadsup SarahHoyt at Instapundit