As Netflix dives into the story of 4 apprehended drug smugglers in Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30000 Ft, right here is the reality in regards to the outstanding case and what occurred to these concerned within the aftermath. Created by Oliver Bouchara and directed by Maxime Bonnet and Jerome Pierrat, the French three-episode restricted collection interviewed the automobile’s two pilots, lawmakers, and politicians to really unpack the occasions of the case from all views to unveil the reality. The complete Netflix documentary collection was launched on the streaming service on June 11, 2025.

Whereas the arrests occurred in 2013, the whole saga of the topics of the documentary lasted for eight years, throughout which two previously-convicted suspects have been acquitted in 2021 and had their names cleared of intentional wrongdoing. The case of Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30000 Ft entails supposed wrongful arrests, a staggering quantity of medication, and an advanced extraction of the suspects from the Dominican Republic to France. As such, regardless of being a highly-reported case, a lot of the documentary can seem to be a high-stakes plot that might simply match at house in a Hollywood blockbuster.

Pilots Pascal Fauret & Bruno Odos Had been Arrested In March 2013 After 26 Suitcases Of Cocaine Had been Found On Their Aircraft

The Pair Had A Extremely Prestigious Profession Earlier than Their Arrests

Having met throughout their service within the French navy, concerned in main roles equivalent to nuclear weapon supply, and with no prior felony exercise, pilots Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos’ careers didn’t depart the impression that they could possibly be criminals. Having moved into enterprise aviation piloting as they neared retirement age, the pair have been recruited by S.N.T.H.S. to function pilots on a non-public Dassault Falcon 50 plane owned by French businessman Alain Afflelou. Throughout this profession, Fauret acknowledged that few questions have been raised about whom or what they’d be flying.

Finally, this lack of discretion would result in the pair being apprehended by authorities on the Punta Cana Airport within the Dominican Republic on March 20, 2013, as 1,500 kilos of cocaine have been found unfold amongst 26 suitcases on board their vessel. With a cargo of unlawful substances price $20 million, it didn’t take lengthy for the authorities to take these concerned into custody. As such, Fauret, Odos, and their two passengers, Alain Castany and Nicolas Pisapia, have been taken in to be positioned on trial.

Why Investigators Believed The Pilots Knew About The Actual Cargo On Board

The Flight’s Crew Prevented Following Anticipated Procedures

As investigators dived additional into the case, a number of questioned whether or not the 2 pilots have been extra concerned than they claimed to not be, based on analyzing Justice of the Peace Christine Saunier-Ruellan. Alongside Fauret and Odod, Castany and Pisapia claimed to have been unaware of the cargo, refuting claims of possession of the weird suitcases. Moreover, whereas she had seen her fair proportion of unusual flights by her time within the non-public flying sector, air stewardess Elise Faitout had acknowledged that she had been dismissed from servicing the flight simply the day previous to take-off, a rarity for a journey of its size.

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When Saunier-Ruellan made the flight to interview each pilots throughout a 12-hour session, Fauret states that he instantly suspected that she doubted their tales. Each pilots acknowledged that that they had no inclination to query or examine the cargo themselves out of worry of authorized repercussions, however Saunier-Ruellan additionally questioned why neither grew suspicious of the burden of the baggage or the odor they carried. When paired with Pisapia’s alibi of getting actual property enterprise dealings within the Dominican Republic not holding up, and Castany’s declare of being an extra pilot failing to stay as much as scrutiny, all claims of innocence have been doubted.

Lawyer Eric le Francois tried to clear Fauret and Odos’ names, although casting suspicion on the intentions of the Dominican Nationwide Drug Council and whether or not they had arrange the case to both elevate their fame as efficient crime-stoppers or clear reviews on their very own corruption. As their hopes of a good trial diminished beneath the Dominican Authorities throughout their trial, the 4 suspects have been declared responsible and sentenced to twenty years in jail. Although the pilots assumed they have been sentenced to life in jail, they have been quickly positioned on parole and home arrest, required to attend month-to-month conferences.

Fauret & Odos’ Escape To France, Trial & Acquittal Defined

The Pair’s Escape Concerned Help From Former Allies, Politicians, and Ex-Troopers

Efforts have been made by French residents to marketing campaign to deliver them house, and prompted a lot debate amongst French politicians and media voices. As they appealed their sentence, their story caught the eye of Christophe Naudin, aviation security professional and acquaintance of Fauret, who doubted their potential involvement, working with former MEP (Member of European Parliament) Aymeric Chauprade to make use of his familiarity with the nation to assist. When diplomatic dialogue failed, the 2 met the pilots throughout their parole within the Dominican Republic, the place they shared their very own concepts for an escape plan.

As they felt their choices have been dwindling, Fauret and Odos agreed to be extracted from the island. After plans for a helicopter extraction have been shortly scrapped, the pair selected to help the pair by an extraction by sea. Recruiting former soldier and parliamentary assistant Pierre Malinowski to assist organise the mission, whereas Chauprade and Naudin dealt with the quilt story and alibis. The 2 pilots departed from the port of Bayahibe on a employed fishing boat beneath the quilt of a vacationer outing that may take them to worldwide waters, the place they’d be transferred to Naudin’s vessel.

After evading Dominican naval patrols, threatening their progressively suspicious boat driver to proceed with the vessel, and seaweed bringing their speedboat to a detailed and forcing Naudin to enter Dominican worldwide waters, the pair have been transferred over to the sailboat. After making their option to French territories, the group boarded an undisclosed flight to France, and arrived again within the nation. Although that they had escaped the Dominican authorities and had caught media consideration throughout the globe, the pilots nonetheless needed to stand trial for not solely their preliminary costs and their escape.

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Positioned into preventive detention and confronted with additional questioning by Saunier-Ruellan, the pair have been confronted with additional proof that solid doubt on their innocence. The Justice of the Peace disclosed that Fauret, Odos, and Pisapia had not solely been witnessed on earlier suspicious flights the place uncommon cargo had been witnessed, however had been collectively on two prior flights that underwent the identical journey because the one they have been arrested for. This prior exercise had already initiated its personal investigation by San Tropez authorities, who have been ready to arrest the suspects earlier than they have been taken into Dominican custody.

Because the investigation continued, S.N.T.H.S. co-owners Fabrice Alcoud and Pierre-Marc Dreyfus have been drawn into the investigation, as their enterprise dealings raised questions on their involvement. This additionally revealed that former president Nicholas Sarkozy might even have been concerned within the potential drug trafficking operations. In 2019, because the French trial started, Fauret’s unawareness of the cargo was additional referred to as into query, as his search historical past and texting historical past hinted he was conscious of what he was transporting.

Finally, the French trial concluded with Fauret and Odos being sentenced to 6 years in jail alongside Alcoud and Dreyfus for his or her involvement in transporting the medication, whereas logistics coordinator and alleged drug kingpin Frank Colin was sentenced to 12 years in jail, and backer Ali Bouchareb acquired an 18-year sentence. Nonetheless, two years into their sentence, Fauret and Odos have been acquitted throughout an enchantment in 2021, as their authorized representatives offered the courtroom with 19 questions highlighting flaws within the opposing arguments.

Did The Pilots Know About The Cargo?

The Case Is Left As A Topic Of Additional Dialogue

As soon as the documentary concludes, Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30000 Ft leaves it to audiences to find out whether or not Fauret and Odos are actually harmless. Saunier-Ruellan stands by her proof implicating the pair, whereas Dominican authorities proceed to carry out worldwide arrest warrants for these concerned within the case and escape, which led to Naudin’s two-year jail sentence in 2024. As such, the story of “Cocaine Air” is probably not over.

For viewers, nevertheless, it’s clear that the Netflix documentary doesn’t want to take a aspect. Those that participated within the occasions who have been prepared to participate got the prospect to make their arguments, whereas every episode begins with a disclaimer that not all events are being truthful. By bringing additional worldwide consideration to the case, Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30000 Ft could immediate additional discussions about whether or not Fauret and Odos have been careless or clued in on the flight’s objective.