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Arrested pilot was fugitive from South Africa

Titusville flight school in North Carolina.

APEX, North Carolina (CNN) -- New details of a troubled past emerged Thursday about the Tanzanian man arrested in North Carolina this week on immigration charges as part of the government's terrorism probe.

But an FBI agent said nothing has emerged to connect the man, Issaya Nombo, to any terrorist plot against the United States.

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Chris Swecker told CNN he does not think there is much to a possible connection between al Qaeda and Nombo. "No links have been found," he said.

"There's no reason to link him with anything sinister," said Frank Perry with the FBI's office in Raleigh. Still, Perry said the FBI would take a "robust look" at the man's past, including his time spent at an aviation school in Florida and examining why his name appeared on a piece of paper found in an al Qaeda cave or safe house in Afghanistan.

Nombo, was convicted February 6, 2001, in South Africa on charges related to buying pilot's license examination papers. He fled, however, before he could be sentenced, according to Trevor Davis, supervisor with the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

After fleeing South Africa, Nombo obtained a U.S. airlines pilot's license from a Florida flight school. U.S. investigators have not found any immediate link between Nombo and terrorist groups, but say Nombo may have been targeted as a possible recruit by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

ISSAYA NOMBO • Arrested April 15, 2002 on immigration charges   • Name was found on congratulatory letter in an Afghan cave   • Entered U.S. in May 2001 on valid visa that expired in August 2001   • No link established between Nombo and al Qaeda   • Not known where letter was found   • Authorities holding Nombo in undisclosed location       LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic Bankruptcy Discrimination Divorce Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Personal Injury Taxes

Nombo's name was found on a piece of paper in an al Qaeda cave or safe house in Afghanistan. The paper was a printout of a Web page from the Florida flight school -- Voyager Aviation -- congratulating him on his certification.

The arrest marks the first time someone has been arrested based on material found in U.S. searches of Afghanistan caves.

Nombo, who worked at a chain restaurant in North Carolina, was arrested Monday, along with two other people. All three were arrested on immigration charges.

One of the two was identified as Chikele Gideon, another Tanzanian national. He allegedly overstayed his visa, which was granted in July 2001 and expired in October.

Nombo -- described as being in his early 40s and a Roman Catholic -- also allegedly overstayed his student visa. Nombo entered the United States in May 2001 and the visa expired in August of that year, the sources said.

In addition to the alleged visa violations, Nombo and Gideon allegedly had counterfeit Social Security cards on them, the sources said.

No other information was immediately available on the third person.

Nombo attended Voyager Aviation last year, owner Gary Evans said. At the time, Voyager Aviation was located in Titusville, Florida, just miles from Kennedy Space Center. It has since relocated to Merritt Island.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Nombo achieved the highest level of training, qualifying him to "fly anything."

In an interview with CNN, Evans remembered Nombo as "very nice, well dressed, police and well spoken."

"He was a super guy," Evans said.

Nombo, according to Evans, arrived at the flight school in May 2001 with the appropriate documentation. He presented his log book, showing he had extensive flight training and experience on cargo aircraft, including 747s in South Africa.

Evans said Nombo sought what is called an ATP certificate, which is the highest grade for a commercial pilot's license.

Nombo paid $2,156 to take both a written and flight tests, as well as what is called training checkout.

Evans said Nombo passed the flight test on June 1.

A month later, Evans said he received an e-mail from Nombo, saying that he had relocated to Apex and that he wished to extend his immigration status

Evans said he replied, telling him he couldn't do that because Nombo was no longer enrolled in the school.

Apex is a town of about 20,000 people in central North Carolina, just southwest of the state capital of Raleigh.

-- CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti, Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena and Producer Rich Phillips contributed to this report.