Pilot, Assistant Kidnap Student To Send Him 'Back To China': Cops

REDDING, CA — A pilot and his assistant who worked at a northern California flight training school beat and kidnapped a foreign student, took him to a local airport and tried to send him to China, police said. Jonathan McConkey and his assistant Kelsi Hoser went to the 21-year-old student's residence Thursday night and told the student they were "sending him back to China," police said in a Facebook post.

The victim told the Record Searchlight that the duo demanded he pack his things and prepare to leave for the airport the following morning.

“I said I didn’t receive any documents from China, so I decided not to go back,” Tianshu Shi told the news outlet.

McConkey and Hoser returned Friday morning to carry out the action.

When the student — a pilot in training who was living in Redding — refused to go with them, McConkey beat and threatened him with "physical violence," police wrote. Both McConkey and Hoser reportedly worked at IASCO Flight Training in Redding. The school's students include dozens of Chinese nationals with student visas, The Washington Post reported, citing court records.

In an audio recording published by the Record Searchlight, a man tells the student he's going "home" and whether he cooperates or not.

“You’re going home, with or without your luggage,” a man’s voice tells the victim.

“Speak English. If you cannot speak English, you are not going to be able to stay here,” a woman later says.

The man's voice then loudly threatens the student.

“Listen to me. You are in my f---ing custody right now. Do you know what that means? I will forcibly remove your a-- from here,” the man says. “If you want the police to come with guns, I got you on that. Alright? Your ass is leaving right now. Let’s f---ing go.”

The man later says: "Your a-- is getting on a plane right now. I'll break your f---ing arm. You better believe I'm f---ing threatening you."

The student, fearing for his safety, ultimately left with the duo and was taken to Redding Municipal Airport to be flown to China.

Police were called Friday morning by the victim's brother, who lives in Shanghai, China. The victim had told his brother someone was at his apartment to take him away, police said. The brother called police and reported a kidnapping when he did not hear back from his brother. Another flight student also told the brother that the victim was attacked and taken away.

Officers found the victim and his attackers at the airport

McConkey and Hoser were arrested and booked on conspiracy and kidnapping charges, police said.

The victim suffered minor injuries and was released by police.

Photo credit: Redding Police