Zimbabwe 'seizes US cargo plane'
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Zimbabwe 'seizes US cargo plane'
A US-registered cargo plane with 64 suspected mercenaries on board has been impounded in Harare, Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi has said.
He said the Boeing 727-100 was held on Sunday after its owners "made a false declaration of its cargo and crew".
He said the plane was carrying dozens of suspected mercenaries of differing nationalities and "military material".
Mr Mohadi said an inquiry was under way to establish the men's identities and their "ultimate mission".
Source: BBC
He said the Boeing 727-100 was held on Sunday after its owners "made a false declaration of its cargo and crew".
He said the plane was carrying dozens of suspected mercenaries of differing nationalities and "military material".
Mr Mohadi said an inquiry was under way to establish the men's identities and their "ultimate mission".
Source: BBC
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Apparently, someone told Uncle Bob that 727s run on dieso and they've run out of A1 for his latest bizjet at HRE so he's bagged the 727 as a back up.
PS. You might have more luck with this one on the Africa Forum
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PS. You might have more luck with this one on the Africa Forum
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Hmmm, something odd about the registration mentioned in the article below.
N4610 ( http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/NNum...Numbertxt=4610 ) is shown on some sources as converted to military C-22B configuration and flown under the USAF registration of 83-4610. It was later sold to Dodson Aviation ( http://www.dodson.com/ ) to be "scrapped for parts". There is a report that the plane was registered as N4620 when transferred to Dodson (see: http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1983.html ).
The aircraft was a B-727-35 originally flown by National Airlines (photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/028855/M/ ).
Dodson does seem to do some DC-3 dealings in Africa, perhaps they sold the plane to someone there. Or maybe the plane was scrapped on paper to become one of several "unattributable" civilian "air assets" operated by military "special operations" units.
_____________________________________________
Zimbabwe Seizes U.S. - Registered Plane
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 8, 2004
Filed at 2:54 p.m. ET
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwean authorities have seized a U.S.-registered cargo plane carrying 64 ``suspected mercenaries'' and military equipment, the Home Affairs minister said Monday.
The Boeing 727-100 was detained at Harare's main airport late Sunday after its owners allegedly made ``a false declaration of its cargo and crew,'' Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said at a briefing.
``The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities,'' he said. ``Further investigations also revealed that on board was military material.''
Mohadi said more details would be released once officials have established ``the true identities of the men and their ultimate mission.''
The plane was moved to the nearby Manyame military base for further investigation, he said.
In Washington, a State Department official, asking not to be identified, said the Zimbabwean government has not raised the issue with the United States. The official added that the United States has no indication that it is an American plane or that any American citizens are involved.
U.S. Embassy officials said they had not been informed and were trying to obtain details from Zimbabwe authorities.
State-run TV broadcast footage of a white plane with the tail number N4610. Inside the aircraft, the station showed two satellite telephones, radios, blue backpacks, sleeping bags, hiking boots, an inflatable raft, paddles, bolt cutters and what appeared to be a can of mace.
No weapons were shown, but the station said officials were still going through the cargo section.
Passengers and crew, all of them ``heavily built males'' and most of them white, were also taken to the base, where a detention barracks is located, state television reported.
Journalists were not shown the plane and the government's claims could not be independently verified.
President Robert Mugabe repeatedly has accused the United States and Britain of plotting to overthrow him.
In 1999, three American missionaries were arrested at Harare International Airport trying to board a homeward Swissair flight with a stockpile of more than 20 rifles and handguns in their baggage.
Accused of plotting to assassinate Mugabe, they were jailed for eight months. They said the arms were for self-defense during three years of work among converts in war-torn Congo.
Zimbabwe faces its worst political and economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. The government's often-violent seizure of thousands of white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks has plunged the country into turmoil.
_____________________________________
From the local media:
The State Department official here said the mystery aircraft was not US-registered and had not been carrying any US nationals. "It is not a US government or a US commercial aircraft as far as we know. I understand that at one point back in the 1970's someone may have owned it in the US but it hasn't been a US aircraft since the early 80's," the official explained. "I have no idea who owns it.
http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=8811
N4610 ( http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/NNum...Numbertxt=4610 ) is shown on some sources as converted to military C-22B configuration and flown under the USAF registration of 83-4610. It was later sold to Dodson Aviation ( http://www.dodson.com/ ) to be "scrapped for parts". There is a report that the plane was registered as N4620 when transferred to Dodson (see: http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1983.html ).
The aircraft was a B-727-35 originally flown by National Airlines (photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/028855/M/ ).
Dodson does seem to do some DC-3 dealings in Africa, perhaps they sold the plane to someone there. Or maybe the plane was scrapped on paper to become one of several "unattributable" civilian "air assets" operated by military "special operations" units.
_____________________________________________
Zimbabwe Seizes U.S. - Registered Plane
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 8, 2004
Filed at 2:54 p.m. ET
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Zimbabwean authorities have seized a U.S.-registered cargo plane carrying 64 ``suspected mercenaries'' and military equipment, the Home Affairs minister said Monday.
The Boeing 727-100 was detained at Harare's main airport late Sunday after its owners allegedly made ``a false declaration of its cargo and crew,'' Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said at a briefing.
``The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities,'' he said. ``Further investigations also revealed that on board was military material.''
Mohadi said more details would be released once officials have established ``the true identities of the men and their ultimate mission.''
The plane was moved to the nearby Manyame military base for further investigation, he said.
In Washington, a State Department official, asking not to be identified, said the Zimbabwean government has not raised the issue with the United States. The official added that the United States has no indication that it is an American plane or that any American citizens are involved.
U.S. Embassy officials said they had not been informed and were trying to obtain details from Zimbabwe authorities.
State-run TV broadcast footage of a white plane with the tail number N4610. Inside the aircraft, the station showed two satellite telephones, radios, blue backpacks, sleeping bags, hiking boots, an inflatable raft, paddles, bolt cutters and what appeared to be a can of mace.
No weapons were shown, but the station said officials were still going through the cargo section.
Passengers and crew, all of them ``heavily built males'' and most of them white, were also taken to the base, where a detention barracks is located, state television reported.
Journalists were not shown the plane and the government's claims could not be independently verified.
President Robert Mugabe repeatedly has accused the United States and Britain of plotting to overthrow him.
In 1999, three American missionaries were arrested at Harare International Airport trying to board a homeward Swissair flight with a stockpile of more than 20 rifles and handguns in their baggage.
Accused of plotting to assassinate Mugabe, they were jailed for eight months. They said the arms were for self-defense during three years of work among converts in war-torn Congo.
Zimbabwe faces its worst political and economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. The government's often-violent seizure of thousands of white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks has plunged the country into turmoil.
_____________________________________
From the local media:
The State Department official here said the mystery aircraft was not US-registered and had not been carrying any US nationals. "It is not a US government or a US commercial aircraft as far as we know. I understand that at one point back in the 1970's someone may have owned it in the US but it hasn't been a US aircraft since the early 80's," the official explained. "I have no idea who owns it.
http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=8811
Last edited by Airbubba; 9th Mar 2004 at 05:44.
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N4610 was indeed a C-22B, operated by the 201st Airlift Sqdn of the DC Air National Guard at Andrews AFB. It was a well-travelled airplane although some (most ?) of its missions were um... undisclosed.
Even been to the UK: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/251562/M/
I believe all the C-22Bs are out of the ANG inventory now, but here's some blurb about them while they were in service.
http://www.aog-usafa.org/Fact_Sheets/C_22B.htm
In addition to its time with National Airlines, this aircraft was the one time Clipper Challenger of PanAm. Sic transit blah blah...
N4620 is/was a totally different aircraft and never with either the US military or Dodson as far as I can tell, last seen with Avensa.
Even been to the UK: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/251562/M/
I believe all the C-22Bs are out of the ANG inventory now, but here's some blurb about them while they were in service.
http://www.aog-usafa.org/Fact_Sheets/C_22B.htm
In addition to its time with National Airlines, this aircraft was the one time Clipper Challenger of PanAm. Sic transit blah blah...
N4620 is/was a totally different aircraft and never with either the US military or Dodson as far as I can tell, last seen with Avensa.
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What is a US Air Force aircraft doing carring a "N" registration which is for civilian aircraft registered in the United States. This is the first US Military aircraft I've seen that has a “N” registration number. Hummmmmm
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It hasn't been in the US military since 2002. The USAF / ANG disposed of their C-22Bs / 727-100s in 2001 and 2002. This is the official story anyway, but who knows...? The ship in question (s/n 18811, if that's indeed the one, 727-035, N4610, ex National Airlines, later 83-4610 with the ANG) was disposed of to an outfit called Dodson Aviation in January 2002, who may have re-registered it as N4620, or may have scrapped it, depending on who you believe. Then again, maybe none of these stories is correct,
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>>Well, we won't talk about Southern Air Transport then....<<
I knew there was something different about that outfit when I walked across 36th Street in MIA years ago to drop off a resume. All the doors had cipherlocks and the roof had a better antenna farm than the Russian Embassy.
Commerical pax carriers have been used on occasion to move "operators" internationally. Pan Am was known to fly mysterious night charters south of the border in MIA and have extra antennas on the planes that flew in the IGS out of Berlin.
BA lost a 747, G-AWND, destroyed on the ground in Kuwait in 1990. Supposedly the plane made a questionable "tech stop" in the early hours of the Iraqi invasion. The crew and pax were captured and some were held and mistreated. Others were smuggled out by the Kuwaiti underground. Years later news reports claimed that a Special Air Service team was onboard to secure an evacuation route for UK embassy staff. If true, in this case they did not "beat the clock" and misjudged the Iraqi advance on the airport.
I knew there was something different about that outfit when I walked across 36th Street in MIA years ago to drop off a resume. All the doors had cipherlocks and the roof had a better antenna farm than the Russian Embassy.
Commerical pax carriers have been used on occasion to move "operators" internationally. Pan Am was known to fly mysterious night charters south of the border in MIA and have extra antennas on the planes that flew in the IGS out of Berlin.
BA lost a 747, G-AWND, destroyed on the ground in Kuwait in 1990. Supposedly the plane made a questionable "tech stop" in the early hours of the Iraqi invasion. The crew and pax were captured and some were held and mistreated. Others were smuggled out by the Kuwaiti underground. Years later news reports claimed that a Special Air Service team was onboard to secure an evacuation route for UK embassy staff. If true, in this case they did not "beat the clock" and misjudged the Iraqi advance on the airport.
What sort of range would a 727-100 have anyway?
How far could it fly if refueled in Harare. And how much tarmac would you need to land and take off again. Although given the lack of weapons etc maybe they had finished whatever they were up to and were going home again.
How far could it fly if refueled in Harare. And how much tarmac would you need to land and take off again. Although given the lack of weapons etc maybe they had finished whatever they were up to and were going home again.
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For anyone who is interested.... www.dodson.com
Southern Air Transport went Chap 11 years ago and ceased operations. It is mentioned a few times in the book "Air America" (Christopher Robbins, Avon Books: 1979; Library of Congress: 78-9861. ISBN: 0-380-89909-4). Look up "the Double-Check Corporation", CARAMAR (por que, cuando?) and "the "Delaware Corporation"...Continental Air Services, Bird Air, Civil Air Transport, Air Asia, Evergreen, Intermountain at Marana, AZ. UNIVAC-Sperry Rand Corp., Arizona Helicopters.
Project Eagle was supposedly in Africa-any connection with the Constellations flown from Portugal?
Project Eagle was supposedly in Africa-any connection with the Constellations flown from Portugal?
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understand that at one point back in the 1970's someone may have owned it in the US but it hasn't been a US aircraft since the early 80's," the official explained. "I have no idea who owns it.
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A South African company bought the aircraft
According to this article just found, Dodson Aviation claims to have recently sold the aircraft to a "reputable South African company"
Who knows? I cant find anything on Logo Ltd...
According to this article just found, Dodson Aviation claims to have recently sold the aircraft to a "reputable South African company"
Who knows? I cant find anything on Logo Ltd...
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Ah yes, the plot thickens. Here is some info from the FAA's registration search.
N-number Database Search Result
Last Database Update: Tue Feb 10 15:24:57 2004
To print registration information, check the checkbox for each registration to be printed and click on "Retrieve Selected Entries" at the bottom of the list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check for printing
N-number : N4610
Aircraft Serial Number : 18811
Aircraft Manufacturer : BOEING
Model : 727-35
Aircraft Year :
Owner Name : DODSON AVIATION INC
Owner Address : 2110 MONTANA RD
OTTAWA, KS, 66067-8518
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 22-May-2002
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Not Specified
____________________________________________________
N-number Database Search Result
Last Database Update: Tue Feb 10 15:24:57 2004
To print registration information, check the checkbox for each registration to be printed and click on "Retrieve Selected Entries" at the bottom of the list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check for printing
N-number : N4610
Aircraft Serial Number : 18811
Aircraft Manufacturer : BOEING
Model : 727-35
Aircraft Year :
Owner Name : DODSON AVIATION INC
Owner Address : 2110 MONTANA RD
OTTAWA, KS, 66067-8518
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 22-May-2002
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Not Specified
____________________________________________________
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Looks like they may have traced that bag of crisps back to the source...
__________________________________________
Zim plane mystery continues
March 09 2004 at 08:57AM
The impounding of an aircraft, allegedly carrying weapons and mercenaries, by Zimbabwean authorities in Harare was still shrouded in mystery on Tuesday.
South African High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Jerry Ndou is to meet Zimbabwean officials on Tuesday regarding the incident, and allegations that among the 64 men on board are South Africans, foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Tuesday morning.
South Africa's Foreign Military Assistance Act prohibits the involvement of South Africans in military activities outside South Africa without authorisation from National Conventional Arms Control Committee.
The Beeld reported on Tuesday that intelligence sources said the plane could have been on its way to West Africa, perhaps headed for a threatening coup in Equatorial Guinea. Its capital, Malabo, is on an island offshore Cameroon's coast. Oil was recently discovered in its waters.
Its owners made a false declaration of its cargo and crew
The newspaper also indicated that the elderly cargo plane originated in South Africa and may have been forced to land in Harare because of a technical problem.
The plane's origins continued to perplex.
SABC radio reported it was registered to a South African company, Zimbabwe claimed it was registered in America. This was denied by the United States state department, but a South African aviation expert said the aircraft's registration number, N4610, was definitely American...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...8B261&set_id=1
__________________________________________
Zim plane mystery continues
March 09 2004 at 08:57AM
The impounding of an aircraft, allegedly carrying weapons and mercenaries, by Zimbabwean authorities in Harare was still shrouded in mystery on Tuesday.
South African High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Jerry Ndou is to meet Zimbabwean officials on Tuesday regarding the incident, and allegations that among the 64 men on board are South Africans, foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Tuesday morning.
South Africa's Foreign Military Assistance Act prohibits the involvement of South Africans in military activities outside South Africa without authorisation from National Conventional Arms Control Committee.
The Beeld reported on Tuesday that intelligence sources said the plane could have been on its way to West Africa, perhaps headed for a threatening coup in Equatorial Guinea. Its capital, Malabo, is on an island offshore Cameroon's coast. Oil was recently discovered in its waters.
Its owners made a false declaration of its cargo and crew
The newspaper also indicated that the elderly cargo plane originated in South Africa and may have been forced to land in Harare because of a technical problem.
The plane's origins continued to perplex.
SABC radio reported it was registered to a South African company, Zimbabwe claimed it was registered in America. This was denied by the United States state department, but a South African aviation expert said the aircraft's registration number, N4610, was definitely American...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...8B261&set_id=1
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I wonder what the mandatory aircraft documents state about the ownership? Surely these documents must be up to date before the aircraft was allowed to get airborne, especially if it is to fly for in foreign territory. Also, if the aircraft departed South Africa, what did the gen dec state and howcome the aircraft didn't have it's documents confirmed by SA authorities. It sounds like a bit of a mess to be polite.