727 stolen from Angola
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If the closet anorak epithet was aimed at me, then I freely admit to being guilty as charged. Mind you I wouldn't go so far as to use a reggie for my userid 
Of course 99% of what the media reported was nonsense, but then we're not allowed to discuss the media on this forum. Obviously something untoward happened and despite unsubstantiated claims on PPRuNe, I'm not convinced the plane has been found. If the crew still has not resurfaced, then the possibility of a worst-case scenario exists - it's at the bottom of the ocean near the Seychelles.
I'm waiting for the full story. If anybody has it then post it for heavens sake and we can all move on
Of course 99% of what the media reported was nonsense, but then we're not allowed to discuss the media on this forum. Obviously something untoward happened and despite unsubstantiated claims on PPRuNe, I'm not convinced the plane has been found. If the crew still has not resurfaced, then the possibility of a worst-case scenario exists - it's at the bottom of the ocean near the Seychelles.
I'm waiting for the full story. If anybody has it then post it for heavens sake and we can all move on
A few bits of information along with a generous dollop of the usual journo angle :A perfect flying bomb disappears
Nice piccie in the paper (no reggie as the photog wanted to keep a low profile) sadly unavailable on-line
Nice piccie in the paper (no reggie as the photog wanted to keep a low profile) sadly unavailable on-line
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Here's a somewhat different spin from CNN:
Missing jetliner spurs terrorism concerns
U.S. adds to military forces in Horn of Africa
Saturday, July 12, 2003 Posted: 12:46 AM EDT (0446 GMT)
Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin Robeson on the missing 727: The U.S. military "would not hesitate to shoot it down."
(CNN) -- The recent disappearance of a Boeing 727 along with a resurgence of terror activities near the Horn of Africa have spurred the United States to add new combat power to the region, the senior U.S. commander based in the area has said.
"We've been in a more aggressive posture for over a month," Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin Robeson, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Djibouti on Friday.
The Horn of Africa sits across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, which is the homeland of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Robeson told CNN he had identified an "operational need" for Air Force F-16 and F-15E aircraft along with Navy F/A-18s, when a Boeing 727 vanished after leaving Angola's Luanda airport in May.
He has asked the Pentagon to reassign the aircraft to the French military base in Djibouti. It is unclear when the Pentagon might act on his request.
U.S. officials are not sure what happened to the 727, but they say the possibility exists that the aircraft is in the hands of terrorists. Other reports have suggested the plane's owner took it from the airport in a financial dispute.
"We have the ability to identify it from other airplanes in the air," Robeson said. He added that if it appears, the U.S. military "would not hesitate to shoot it down."
Robeson noted that all 727s in the region fly on approved commercial air routes, so if this plane were to appear suddenly, it would be deemed a threat. He noted the continuing threat of an attack from aircraft in the region.
Robeson said the U.S. fighter aircraft are being requested in order to pursue a "more aggressive campaign" against terrorists in the region now that the situation in Iraq no longer requires large numbers of aircraft to conduct missions.
The Horn of Africa sits across from Yemen, Osama bin Laden's homeland.
There have been intermittent deployments of fighters to the Horn of Africa in the past, but mainly on long missions that originate and then return to bases in the Persian Gulf.
By deploying from Djibouti, the planes could fly over the area for longer periods of time than planes that must refuel elsewhere.
Robeson said his request is for four to six aircraft to be deployed from Camp Lemonier on an intermittent basis. They would supplement French Mirage jets and radars providing air-defense coverage for the base.
But, he said, the planes could potentially be used to protect U.S. ground forces involved in any future military counterterrorism missions.
The request to put planes in Djibouti "signals an increased emphasis on the counterterrorism war in the Horn of Africa," Robeson said. According to the AP, Robeson referred directly to al Qaeda as a target of "selective actions."
Robeson told the AP that in the past four months, he's noticed "a pretty active flow" of terrorists into or through the Horn of Africa.
"We've definitely seen an increase not just in presence but in active transnational terrorist planning" he told the AP.
This week, a U.S. military assessment team has been at Camp Lemonier to try to determine what it would take to have the Air Force and Navy aircraft operate out of the base on a routine, temporary basis, according to a statement released by the Pentagon on Thursday.
The Combined Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa, formed in late 2002, is charged with conducting any operations that might be needed to counter terrorist activities in the region, including in Yemen.
Between 1,300 and 1,600 U.S. ground forces are stationed at Camp Lemonier, according to the AP. They include infantry and special operations forces from all the services. Helicopters and refueling aircraft are based there, but no fighters or bombers, the AP reported.
Missing jetliner spurs terrorism concerns
U.S. adds to military forces in Horn of Africa
Saturday, July 12, 2003 Posted: 12:46 AM EDT (0446 GMT)
Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin Robeson on the missing 727: The U.S. military "would not hesitate to shoot it down."
(CNN) -- The recent disappearance of a Boeing 727 along with a resurgence of terror activities near the Horn of Africa have spurred the United States to add new combat power to the region, the senior U.S. commander based in the area has said.
"We've been in a more aggressive posture for over a month," Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin Robeson, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Djibouti on Friday.
The Horn of Africa sits across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, which is the homeland of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Robeson told CNN he had identified an "operational need" for Air Force F-16 and F-15E aircraft along with Navy F/A-18s, when a Boeing 727 vanished after leaving Angola's Luanda airport in May.
He has asked the Pentagon to reassign the aircraft to the French military base in Djibouti. It is unclear when the Pentagon might act on his request.
U.S. officials are not sure what happened to the 727, but they say the possibility exists that the aircraft is in the hands of terrorists. Other reports have suggested the plane's owner took it from the airport in a financial dispute.
"We have the ability to identify it from other airplanes in the air," Robeson said. He added that if it appears, the U.S. military "would not hesitate to shoot it down."
Robeson noted that all 727s in the region fly on approved commercial air routes, so if this plane were to appear suddenly, it would be deemed a threat. He noted the continuing threat of an attack from aircraft in the region.
Robeson said the U.S. fighter aircraft are being requested in order to pursue a "more aggressive campaign" against terrorists in the region now that the situation in Iraq no longer requires large numbers of aircraft to conduct missions.
The Horn of Africa sits across from Yemen, Osama bin Laden's homeland.
There have been intermittent deployments of fighters to the Horn of Africa in the past, but mainly on long missions that originate and then return to bases in the Persian Gulf.
By deploying from Djibouti, the planes could fly over the area for longer periods of time than planes that must refuel elsewhere.
Robeson said his request is for four to six aircraft to be deployed from Camp Lemonier on an intermittent basis. They would supplement French Mirage jets and radars providing air-defense coverage for the base.
But, he said, the planes could potentially be used to protect U.S. ground forces involved in any future military counterterrorism missions.
The request to put planes in Djibouti "signals an increased emphasis on the counterterrorism war in the Horn of Africa," Robeson said. According to the AP, Robeson referred directly to al Qaeda as a target of "selective actions."
Robeson told the AP that in the past four months, he's noticed "a pretty active flow" of terrorists into or through the Horn of Africa.
"We've definitely seen an increase not just in presence but in active transnational terrorist planning" he told the AP.
This week, a U.S. military assessment team has been at Camp Lemonier to try to determine what it would take to have the Air Force and Navy aircraft operate out of the base on a routine, temporary basis, according to a statement released by the Pentagon on Thursday.
The Combined Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa, formed in late 2002, is charged with conducting any operations that might be needed to counter terrorist activities in the region, including in Yemen.
Between 1,300 and 1,600 U.S. ground forces are stationed at Camp Lemonier, according to the AP. They include infantry and special operations forces from all the services. Helicopters and refueling aircraft are based there, but no fighters or bombers, the AP reported.
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Yes, I am Joseph B. Padilla, SR.
I am the brother of the suspected pilot of the missing Boeing 727 from Angola on May 25 2003.
If anyone has any new information on the where-abouts of my brother, please e-mail me at, [email protected]
I found your site today and I am hoping someone will know if the plane has been found or not.
Thank you,
Joseph B. Padilla, SR.
Phone - 850-944-9688
Pensacola, FL.
I am the brother of the suspected pilot of the missing Boeing 727 from Angola on May 25 2003.
If anyone has any new information on the where-abouts of my brother, please e-mail me at, [email protected]
I found your site today and I am hoping someone will know if the plane has been found or not.
Thank you,
Joseph B. Padilla, SR.
Phone - 850-944-9688
Pensacola, FL.
GunsssR4ever
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Joseph,
I wish you can get your brother, Joseph.
My wish is that I can get my friend's reputation back.
I have not seen my friend yet (only 8 Aug as I am on leave) but as far as I know he leased the aircraft from Lebanon via a legitimate broker in Miami ???
In the mean time he just had B I E G 5h!t !~! (As far as I hear)
I wish you can get your brother, Joseph.
My wish is that I can get my friend's reputation back.
I have not seen my friend yet (only 8 Aug as I am on leave) but as far as I know he leased the aircraft from Lebanon via a legitimate broker in Miami ???
In the mean time he just had B I E G 5h!t !~! (As far as I hear)
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Interesting piece last night on NBC. Wish it had been longer. If the terrorists did get it they are a little smarter than average choosing the fastest readily available commercial aircraft flying. 
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From NBC(12/8):
Play video - http://www.msnbc.com/news/951689.asp
Investigators still do not what happened to a Boeing 727 cargo jet that vanished from an Angolan airport in May, but they have now concluded that the jet likely ended up being given a new appearance and put to use in Africa’s thriving illegal market for planes, possibly in gun-running or narcotics smuggling, U.S. officials and aviation experts told NBC News. Click “Play Video” for Lisa Myers’ report for “NBC Nightly News.”
A mindless rehash of old news.
The barrage of Lacy Peterson, Kobe Bryant and mindless celebrity news must periodically have an aviation hysteria story thrown in. It is written policy in all the 25 year old news producers handbooks.
The barrage of Lacy Peterson, Kobe Bryant and mindless celebrity news must periodically have an aviation hysteria story thrown in. It is written policy in all the 25 year old news producers handbooks.
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The latest theory:
Stolen Boeing 727 Feared In Hands of al-Qaeda
http://www.bushcountry.org/news/sep_...7_al-qaeda.htm
Ten retirement points for the first to find a geographical error.
Stolen Boeing 727 Feared In Hands of al-Qaeda
http://www.bushcountry.org/news/sep_...7_al-qaeda.htm
Ten retirement points for the first to find a geographical error.
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A week or two ago there was a story about the plane hidden away on an inner page of the Washington Post. It quoted "authorities" as saying:
1) The plane seen in Bierut was not the missing plane.
2) They didn't know where the plane was, but assumed that it had crashed or was being parted out.
In my best conspiracy theory mode, I wondered if it was a planted story since it was just a summary after a long idle period and not written by their main aviation writer.
SC
1) The plane seen in Bierut was not the missing plane.
2) They didn't know where the plane was, but assumed that it had crashed or was being parted out.
In my best conspiracy theory mode, I wondered if it was a planted story since it was just a summary after a long idle period and not written by their main aviation writer.
SC