Kurt J. Jaeger grew up in Switzerland as a Liechtenstein citizen. After graduating district school he decided to go for an apprenticeship as a mechanic, followed by an internship in aircraft. Then he began a career as a bush-pilot in Liberia, which was replaced by the position as a captain on commercial aircraft. In his home country he later became director of a maintenance center for helicopters. Having spent much of his life in Africa, his novels deal especially with the recent history of Africa.