International Pilots Taking Part In Vintage Plane Rally Are Back In The Air
The aviators are bound for Kenya as their mission to fly the length of Africa is now back on course.
About 20 aircraft had been impounded at the airport in Gambela, western Ethiopia, after crossing "illegally" into the country from Sudan.
Organizers say the group is now free to continue their journey to South Africa.
The group announced on its Facebook page that: "VintageAirRally crew are allowed to fly on from Ethiopia!"
Authorities in Ethiopia, which is currently in a state of emergency, said the planes had landed without permission.
The rally was suspended while diplomats tried to secure the release of least 47 crew members.
Participants, from 13 different countries, are attempting to cover 13,000km (8,000 miles) using biplanes built between the 1920s and 1940s, and support aircraft.
The planes took off for Cape Town from the Greek island of Crete on 12 November.
However, the head of Ethiopia's civil aviation authority, Wosenyele Hungnall, told the BBC that the aircraft had crossed illegally into Ethiopian airspace from Sudan.
A British pilot who had been reported missing was found to be among those detained.
On its Facebook page, Vintage Air Rally said that Maurice Kirk, 72, was with other pilots in Gambela who were all "safe and accounted for".
The aviators aim to cross 10 countries while making 37 stops in the month-long journey.
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