MIAMI: Eight American missionaries charged with child kidnapping in Haiti were back in the US on Thursday, even as two others remained in a Haitian jail in an ordeal sparked by the group’s attempt to take 33 children out of the earthquake-stricken country.

The missionaries arrived on a US Air Force C-130 just after midnight at Miami International Airport, about 12 hours after a Haitian judge approved their release. Silas Thompson, 19, said it was “great” to be back on US soil. Asked to name the first thing he’ll do when he gets home to Idaho, Thompson replied: “Hug my mom.” He spoke to reporters as he walked to the Delta terminal on Thursday after emerging from the hotel with three other men, who all declined to identify themselves.