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Old 5th Jun 2013, 09:22
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747Engineer
 
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On May 25, 2003 a ex American Airlines 727 was stolen from Luanda, Angola:
Boeing 727-223
Registraion: ???
S/N: 20985
Vanished on 25 May 2003 in Luanda, Angola
History: N844AA

According to an article at History of Flight, Aviation, Space Exploration | AirSpaceMag.com the 727 should have been ferried to South Africa on May 26, 2003.

On May 25, 2003 shortly before sunset, the 727 started to taxi, making some erratic movemens and finally took of

with no lights and the ATC transponder switched off. Witnesses reported that the aircraft flew a south west heading shortly after takeoff. That was the last time N844AA had been seen.
Some reports claim that the airplane had been shot down by the Angolian Air Force, or that it crashed into the ocean. Other sources claims that the airplane vanished near Kinshasa or that it has been seen in a hangar Bujumbura.
Could it be possible that the airplane technican who dissapeared together with the 727 tried to flew the airplane to South Africa?

Around June 2003 a 727 registrated 3X-GOM had been seen by Mr. Strother in Conakry. He reported that parts of the former US registration where visible. In fact he said that the last two letters (AA) where visible. But there are a lot of former American Airline 727 in Africa:

727 operated by UTA (Union des Transports Africains)
Boeing 727-223
Registration: 3X-GDO
S/N: 21370
Crashed on 25 December 2003 in Cotonou, Benin.
History: N865AA, YA-FAK, 3D-FAK, 3X-GDO

Boeing 727-223
Registration: 3X-GDM
S/N: 21089
Unknowen status.
History: N862AA, 3X-GDM, 3D-AAK

It turned out that the 727 he saw was not the missing 727.

Boeing 727 wreck in Mali Desert:
Thre are some pictures on the internet showing a buned out 727 wreck in the desert of Mali. According to press releases it has been used to carry drugs from South America to Africa. Well, it is possible to fly with a 727 from South America to Africa with a few stops for refueling. Cotonou airport could be used as a refueling stop for example.
What is intresting about this wreck is the fact that it is heavily destroyed and shows signs of an impact. For example the section 41 is ripped of the fuselage, the landing gear lies next to the fuselage and so on.

According to press releases the airplane was set on fire after the cargo has been unloaded, but it looks like that the airplane had crashed either during landing or during the following takeoff.
Nothing is knowen about the serial number or the current registration of this 727.
Is it possible that this airplane wreck was N844AA?

Now two questions:
- what is knowen about the 727 in the desert of Mali?
- could the 727 in the desert of Mali be the missing N844AA?
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