Plane, money, dead body
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Plane, money, dead body
Sounds like something from a fiction novel...
http://www.herald.co.zw/caaz-impound...ound-on-board/
http://www.herald.co.zw/caaz-impound...ound-on-board/
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Curious how WGA allowed to operate out of the EU? Rumour has it that it was using a Bambi callsign "AJK", from Nigeria. Also sounds like it couldn't reach South Africa in one hop. Did they miscalculate the fuel required.
Can't wait to read more, if it ever gets published!
Can't wait to read more, if it ever gets published!
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From the article linked above:
Here's a PPRuNe discussion of that seizure and the politics involved:
http://www.pprune.org/african-aviati...rcenaries.html
And a follow up thread about a pardon for some involved:
http://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/3945...e-outcome.html
The last time Zimbabwean civil aviation authorities impounded a foreign plane was in 2004 when the authorities arrested a planeload of 64 mercenaries who wanted to take part in a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
http://www.pprune.org/african-aviati...rcenaries.html
And a follow up thread about a pardon for some involved:
http://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/3945...e-outcome.html
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Banknotes: In transit from printer to central bank?
also being reported as a dead stowaway in a wheel well...makes more sense
Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority said the matter had been handed over to the police to investigate.
Its chief, David Chawota, said the cargo on the US-owned plane belonged to the South African Reserve Bank.
A senior official at the bank, Pradeep Maharaj, said: "The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of an aircraft carrying a SARB consignment that stopped in Harare and was detained following the discovery of an unidentified body that is presumed to be a stowaway on the aircraft."
The bank was working with authorities to ensure that the cargo was released and transported to South Africa, he told the BBC.
Its chief, David Chawota, said the cargo on the US-owned plane belonged to the South African Reserve Bank.
A senior official at the bank, Pradeep Maharaj, said: "The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of an aircraft carrying a SARB consignment that stopped in Harare and was detained following the discovery of an unidentified body that is presumed to be a stowaway on the aircraft."
The bank was working with authorities to ensure that the cargo was released and transported to South Africa, he told the BBC.
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SA Rand fresh off the press in Munich for the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Seems legit.
Flight MUC-DUR, Crew from US and Pakistan plus 2 South Africans.
The poor soul discovered in Zim seems to have been a stowaway who had nothing to do with the nature of the flight.
Flight MUC-DUR, Crew from US and Pakistan plus 2 South Africans.
The poor soul discovered in Zim seems to have been a stowaway who had nothing to do with the nature of the flight.
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Stowaway?
Where would the stowaway have 'boarded'? Munich? To go where?
This wasn't a scheduled flight after all. I imagine there wasn't too much security around, while loading all that money.
This wasn't a scheduled flight after all. I imagine there wasn't too much security around, while loading all that money.
Last edited by Slow and curious; 15th Feb 2016 at 18:07.
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Where would the stowaway have 'boarded'? Munich? To go where?
Could it be that the stowaway boarded in Africa on the way to Munich and was never discovered in Munich on the ground?
https://www.facebook.com/mongezi1/po...83735368314604
The aircraft was N545JN from pictures posted in news articles:
Zimbabwe impounds US-registered jet after body and cash found on board | World news | The Guardian
Some recent flight history appears to be here:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/n545jn/
and here:
https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/N545JN
Looks like February 13 was a busy day for the Mad Dog, did they go CAI-OST-MUC-HRE perhaps?
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It would be interesting to know just how much it's costing the SA Central Bank to have its money released from "Zimbabwe security" - after this aircraft "illegally entered Zimbabwe airspace and used Zimbabwe aviation facilities without prior arrangements". 
No doubt there will be "fees" for the carrier to negotiate for the "release" of its aircraft as well - coupled with "hospitality charges for the crew". All backed up and enforced by "war veterans" as well, no doubt.
I'd be surprised if the MD-11 didn't lift off at least 10% lighter on the cargo manifest, than when it landed. Talk about manna from Heaven for Mugabe.
No doubt there will be "fees" for the carrier to negotiate for the "release" of its aircraft as well - coupled with "hospitality charges for the crew". All backed up and enforced by "war veterans" as well, no doubt.
I'd be surprised if the MD-11 didn't lift off at least 10% lighter on the cargo manifest, than when it landed. Talk about manna from Heaven for Mugabe.
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If the "stowaway" hid himself in the #3 air conditioning compartment as the social media pictures suggest, then he either had an accomplice or sneaked in there during a maintenance event someplace. Those doors cannot be closed from the inside.
If however he hid in the nose gear and got crushed which is much more likely, then there is ample opportunity for the blood to get in there. Nasty.
If however he hid in the nose gear and got crushed which is much more likely, then there is ample opportunity for the blood to get in there. Nasty.
Last edited by Flightmech; 16th Feb 2016 at 09:13.
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As always, expect a lot of twaddle reported in the press. The decision to divert to Zimbabwe for a tech stop was an odd one, as the crew must have been aware for some time that they were unlikely to make their destination.
I'm still curious, because the media has now announced that it was a UK outfit, Network Aviation Group, that leased the plane. How does that work that an N reg aircraft leased by a UK cargo outfit using a Nigerian callsign flies happily in and out of EU? Whose AOC was the aircraft operating on? Where was the security in Germany?
More answers to come, methinks.
I'm still curious, because the media has now announced that it was a UK outfit, Network Aviation Group, that leased the plane. How does that work that an N reg aircraft leased by a UK cargo outfit using a Nigerian callsign flies happily in and out of EU? Whose AOC was the aircraft operating on? Where was the security in Germany?
More answers to come, methinks.
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If the "stowaway" hid himself in the #3 air conditioning compartment as the social media pictures suggest, then he either had an accomplice or sneaked in there during a maintenance event someplace. Those doors cannot be closed from the inside.
If however he hid in the nose gear and got crushed which is much more likely, then there is ample opportunity for the blood to get in there. Nasty.
If however he hid in the nose gear and got crushed which is much more likely, then there is ample opportunity for the blood to get in there. Nasty.
Or, is there a door on the avionics bay that allows entry? Seems like the A306 had a door and maybe a little ladder where you could climb up from the ramp into the avionics bay and even go through a net to some pax baggage.
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The Žol Douglas has the air conditioning packs in the forward fuselage, and a very small wing to body fairing (where most modern aircraft have it installed now).
So this is an A/C compartment, not avionics. Probably a better hideaway than the landing gear bay, if you know somebody who lets you out at your destination... No Idea what could kill you in there, there are no massive items moved by hydraulics like in the LDG bay.
Is this compartment pressurized?
Looks like some of the blood stains were already visible in MUC...
So this is an A/C compartment, not avionics. Probably a better hideaway than the landing gear bay, if you know somebody who lets you out at your destination... No Idea what could kill you in there, there are no massive items moved by hydraulics like in the LDG bay.
Is this compartment pressurized?
Looks like some of the blood stains were already visible in MUC...
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The Žol Douglas has the air conditioning packs in the forward fuselage, and a very small wing to body fairing (where most modern aircraft have it installed now).
So this is an A/C compartment, not avionics.
So this is an A/C compartment, not avionics.
Looks like some of the blood stains were already visible in MUC...
An update on the death investigation from today's Zimbabwe Herald:
Police have also engaged the services of Interpol to establish the nationality of the deceased person. Further, the investigations seek to establish whether the body is not carrying viruses that may cause the spread of diseases here. It is understood that the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. Again, it is believed that what had been initially suspected to be blood dripping on the plane could actually be a combination of human fluids associated with a decomposing body.
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I imagine for a decomposing body to start leaking that much it was probably there for weeks. I'm guessing the poor unfortunate snuck on at some point and couldn't get out. Although pressurized and possibly warmer than a wheel well, it would still be pretty cold there.
How often would that bay be inspected?
How often would that bay be inspected?
