Two of the four U.S. swimmers involved in an alleged robbery in Brazil were pulled off their airplanes at the airport in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday night, according to a report.
NBC News’ Peter Alexander first reported that Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were pulled off their planes at the airport in Rio:
BREAKING: The other 2 USA swimmers who say they were w Lochte during robbery have just been pulled off their plane at Rio airport.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) August 18, 2016
More: Gunnar Bentz & Jack Conger were not named by Brazilian judge who wanted Lochte & Feigen's passports seized but now they are in limbo.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) August 18, 2016
According to local media both athletes were on the plane on tarmac when Federal Police boarded and detained them, per judges order.
— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) August 18, 2016
The USOC confirmed the news.
As Alexander notes, Lochte is already back in the U.S., while Jimmy Feigen, another swimmer who claims he was robbed, is still in Brazil.
To be clear, Ryan Lochte is back in US, Jimmy Feigen is still in Brazil. All this reporting confirmed by NBC Sports.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) August 18, 2016
News emerged Sunday that Lochte was held at gunpoint in Rio while on his way to a party he was invited to by a Brazilian swimmer. Lochte’s mother confirmed the story, while other officials denied it.
Rio police poked holes in the story and noted that Lochte and the other swimmers were drunk. A Brazilian judge reviewing the case had ordered the passports of Lochte and Feigen to be seized.
