( CNN ) -- Lebanese authorities on Saturday arrested three people in connection with the kidnapping of two Turkish pilots , both of whom remain missing more than a week later . The Turkish Airlines pilots were riding a bus heading from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport to their hotel early August 9 when armed assailants stopped the bus , according to Turkey 's foreign ministry . Reports on the number of attackers -- who were riding in two vehicles -- varied from four to eight . Lebanon 's state-run National News Agency reported Saturday that three people had been arrested by the Internal Security Forces Information Branch `` in connection '' with the kidnapping . It was n't clear whether they were among the alleged kidnappers , or whether they were accused of being involved in some other fashion . Security agents questioned the driver as a witness , according to NNA . Other airline employees on the bus made it safely to the hotel , Turkey 's foreign ministry said . `` Our ministry and our embassy will exert intensive efforts in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities to ensure the liberation of our pilots and their return to Turkey , '' the ministry said last week . CNN 's Deanna Hackney and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report .
Arrests made in the kidnapping of Turkish Airlines pilots , state news says . Gunmen had halted a bus near Beirut , then took away pilots . Others safely got to a hotel .