Gaston Azcarraga Andrade, former president and owner of now bankrupt Mexicana Airlines has applied for asylum in the US following expiry of his visa, according to the Mexican Attorney General’s Office.
In 2005, Azcarraga Andrade and a team of investors acquired the airline for $165 million but stopped flying in 2010 because of financial problems.
In April the airline was officially declared bankrupt.
Azcarraga Andrade was recently charged with fraudulent use of the airline’s funds.
Mariana Benitez, Attorney General assistant prosecutor said Azcarraga Andrade’s case will be assessed by a US immigration judge, who will decide "whether or not to proceed with the asylum request."
Benitez said Mexico had requested the detaining of Azcarraga Andrade in order to move forward with his extradition, which will now be on hold until the asylum request is heard.
She said it may be "several months" before an extradition could take place.
Founded in 1921, Mexicana was the world’s third oldest privately run airline and had around 8,500 employees when it ceased operating.
It flew 65 domestic routes and international flights to the US, Canada, South America and Europe.
