To PW2040's question:
First of all sorry for not having checked the news forum for quite a while (been strolling around in Jet Blast recently).
Coming from Düsseldorf and being kinda at home on its observation deck, of course I followed the regional news. Unfortunately I don't have a written source on hand right now and have to rely on what I remember from TV.
Afaik the stand about one and half a week ago was that the jet is going to be scrapped. It has never belonged to EDDL as far as I know, but until short time ago to Atlas Air, which has paid 900 Dollars (or Euros I dunno) a day for the parking position.
Why people care about it... not many 747 land at Düsseldorf, for the first one. Secondly... at German airports the practice of having wrecked / not used aircrafts on parking positions is unlike to the US not at all common. The 747 has become one of the silent attractions of the airport, and I remember my autumn holidays when I was home that we shot on an airport visit some pics of it aswell. Everybody knew it would not stand there forever. The attention rate was probably because of that higher than normal and because there are not many 747 at Dus at all. This one is at its current position visible from almost everywhere. Even and especially from the Sky Train. And the incident of course made headlines, which were being kept up by the local and regional (state North-Rhine-Westfalia) media. Not many jets overrun runways in Germany and remain at our airports, you know. This case is quite unique so far.
Additionally the airport has been struggling to achieve some kind of movement in this matter, although they are not unhappy about the money either. This has been kept up by the local news too.
Atlas Air has paid the money always the day it was due, but a few days ago the media (as far as I recall) told the jet wreckage has been sold to a company (name I forgot), which is specialised on wrecking down old jets. It won't take off anymore. The engines have indeed been taken already and so will the rest of the parts, which can still be used. You guys probably know the regulations concerning the further use of those spare parts better than I do. It was mentioned that the time is pressing.
As far as I know the 747 won't be leaving again and also won't remain as public attention. No one apart from the airport spokesman commented on this matter.
Maybe a bit of clarification in this matter and again my apologies for not having seen this earlier.