DRC Presidential Aircraft Attached at FALA
Happened to be down on the maintenance apron today and saw the Sheriff attaching the B707 9Q-CLK in terms of an outstanding warrant to attach the assets of the DRC in a longstanding fight between a South African businessman and the government of the DRC. Remember the Falcon 50 that stood at Lanseria for so many years?
Seems the aircraft is at Lanseria for an interior makeover. The attorney of the plaintiff had been keeping a watch for any assets of the government, having missed a B727 at Cape Town recently.
Guard placed on the aircraft and the tower informed it cannot be moved.
I must say, that after all the rampant bribery and corruption that we encounter in Kinshasa and other DRC destinations, a certain schadenfreude exists.
Had a look through the engines - bloody hell! - I cannot believe that anyone would fly an aircraft with first stage blades that look like those do. It would be very interesting to see if the SACAA actually allows this aircraft to leave the country with engines in that condition.