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Flying Bomb / Scare / Stolen plane found .....
Saw this reporter and though he was just a drunk ... talking sh!t ... so he was actually a reporter ... mmhhh ..:E
Well here goes ..: James Astill in Freetown Monday July 7, 2003 The Guardian A Boeing 727 cargo plane which caused panic among US intelligence agencies after mysteriously disappearing from Angola's main airport turned up last week in Guinea, the Guardian can reveal. The plane, which was feared to be in the hands of international terrorists, was spotted on June 28 in Conakry, Guinea's capital, by Bob Strother, a Canadian pilot. It had been resprayed and given the Guinean registration 3XGOM. But at least the last two letters of its former tail-number, N844AA, were still showing. The plane, which was recently converted into a fuel tanker, was said to be owned by a member of West Africa's Lebanese business community, and was being used to shuttle goods between Beirut and Conakry, according to Mr Strother. "There's absolutely no doubt it's the same aircraft, the old registration is clearly visible," said Mr Strother by phone from Conakry. "Whoever owns it must have some important friends to get it re-registered in two days: going by the book, the whole process usually takes a couple of months." Western intelligence agencies were said to be scouring Africa's clear skies and mouldering runways for the missing tanker, fearing that it could easily be aimed at an American or British embassy on the continent. Yet an American official in the region said this was the first he had heard of the plane since its disappearance from Angola's capital, Luanda, on May 25. "People have been looking for this thing everywhere," the official said. "We've had reports that it crashed, that it was in South Africa or Nigeria, but nothing for sure, not like what you've just told me." The Guardian was able to furnish the American official with a photograph of the mystery plane, taken by Mr Strother. Immediately after the plane's disappearance, unnamed US intelligence sources told the Associated Press that it "mostly likely was taken for a criminal endeavour such as drug or weapons smuggling". But they had "not ruled out the possibility it was stolen for use in a terrorist attack". A US state department spokesman, Philip Reeker, said at the time: "There is no particular information suggesting that the disappearance of the aircraft is linked to terrorists or terrorism, but it's still something that obviously we would like to get to the bottom of." A western diplomat in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, said it was more likely the plane had simply been snatched from Luanda be cause its owner was reluctant to pay year-long airport taxes, totalling around £30,000. "There's always a shady side to business around here," he said. "But as for the terrorism stuff, that sounds like a complete load of rubbish." Since being sighted last week, the plane has again taken off into obscurity. "We only saw it that one time, now it's gone," said Mr Strother. "Maybe whoever owns it just wanted to drop by and pick up a Guinean registration for convenience. Maybe it won't be back." |
Sitting in Beirut and has been for about 10 days.
Quite a lot of activity aqround it over the weekend - full US reg and flag still in view as well as the 3X reg. |
Why did they go through so much trouble with the new paint job and re-registration and still leave the old REG on the aircraft?
:confused: |
This aircraft isn't resprayed.
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Correct Aircraft ?
Hi PPRUNE TOWERS, I think you are describing my friend's aircraft. He has a 727 described like yours with an American flag on. We contacted the owner in Lebanon and he went to the authorities. The Angolan "flying bomb" is not his aircraft. Please keep me updated about your rumour / fact please PT ! Cheers, Gunns:confused: :confused: :confused: |
Yeah, this story seems pretty thin. The only thing that the AA proves is that this 727 was once operated by American Airlines. Surely there's more than one of those in Africa.
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anyone got a picture of this ?
Hi all
If this has really been found does anyone have a image of it or landing times etc i've been following this story since it started and would like to know if it can be put to bed ? many thanks UFO B :cool: |
TROLL ALERT !!!
Alert Alert .. we have trolls .. a ONE poster and a 3 Poster ... 3 posts in 8 months mate and you ask
... like to know if it can be put to bed ? The Answer : NO it can not ... :} Now ... jump back on your UFO mate ... this is a serious thread :E |
was only asking for your help
on arrival times and a pic of the aircraft at conakry if it was available interesting welcome gunship ? thanks UFO B:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: |
Go for him guns........I'll cover, switching to Missles.......
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:confused: :confused: :confused: What does your "put to bed mean then " ?
I will appologise if you can answer that one. The pics and so on can be arranged. You a journo ? Lo Bert ... when u leave for SA ? |
Guns......Hopefuly just after the 15th...... Im gonna make it to the Cape and hit Francois up, for some time in the slick.
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Hi gunship
let me explain i work at the atc college in the uk when this was stolen i followed the story hoping that it would be found i just wanted extra clarification (a picture)to make sure IRS or Aerospace leasing are an interesting company and N844AA in the press was billed as a possible threat (IRS also owned N334AA, a sad coincidence) and i was interested by the the phrase 'put it to bed' i meant stop thinking of this as a possible threat sorry for any confusion but this is the african forum and i'm in the uk you guys seemed to know what was really happening UFO B |
Aircraft Impounded
The "new owner" did everything right. He was told everything except that it was the "stolen aircraft" from Angola and was "missing" for a month.
Crews was arrested before flight yesterday. Aircraft was apparently "flown out back to where it came from". Owner says all was done through Miami. Somebody did not play the game with the old man that has a heart condition :\ !! I am not a happy man. Greeting to you all. I might "see" you while on leave in SA. To those that got jobs - GREAT ! :ok: Love it when a plan works ! Cheers, Gunsss UFO Sorry mate only see your post now. I was on the mobile when I started posting and did not see your post. Sorry for the confusion .. sorry you understand what I also tried to do ? SOrry. All I can tell you know is above. There was photo's supposed to be taken - sorry the "authorities" had other ideas :( Cheers - maybe post last one before I leave. Gunnss |
Can not wait to get back to West Africa.
Apparantly there is much more to this story. To those interested also read on rumours and news ... the pilot's brother made an attempt on PPRune to get hold of his brother ... sjees the plot thickens like quick - sand bru :E |
Intrigue?
Seems like there is a lot of intrigue in Africa at the moment, more than normal! 727 coming and going, Senecca missing with two crew in dubious circumstances etc etc.
Lovely continent to live on, always something to keep us interested! Guns, your update when you get back to WA would be interesting, this certainly has kept the world on its toes and the Yanks extremely nervous. It would be good to find out what DEFINITELY happened to this aircraft. |
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