Case of Missing Jetliner Unsolved

The Washington Post ^ | Saturday, August 23, 2003 | John Mintz

[Pan_Yans Wife]

After months of scouring Africa, U.S. investigators have all but concluded that the 727 jetliner that mysteriously disappeared after departing from an Angolan airport in May crashed or was taken to a remote hangar to be stripped for parts.

U.S. intelligence officials had expressed fears that the 153-foot, 200,000-pound aircraft might have been stolen by terrorists for use as a weapon against Western targets in Africa. But an examination of satellite photographs and visits to dozens of African airfields failed to yield any evidence that it is on the continent, leading U.S. officials to largely discount the terrorism scenario.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

crashed or was taken to a remote hangar to be stripped for parts

I think I saw it at a chop shop in Newark, between a 1998 Toyota 4Runner and a 2001 Honda Accord.

[VRWCmember]

What were you doing in that chop shop, and how did you know where it was?

[HiJinx]

What?

Wasn't it reported on FR 2 months ago that this jetliner was found in South America with a new paint job and new registration numbers?

What's going on?

[Wright is right!]

No one has ever 'splained how the jet got fully fueled and started before departing. That takes ground crews and equipment. If the airport didn't want the plane to leave, they probably wouldn't have allowed it to fuel. And don't the older 27's require an air truck to spin up the engines for starting?

Michael

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I hadn't heard that.

But, I was surprised that this wasn't posted earlier.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

There was speculation on FR that the plane could have been modified to carry a large amount of fuel for transport. I don't know if it was ever decided if it was feasible, however.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

What were you doing in that chop shop, and how did you know where it was?

Umm, umm, delivering pizza? Yeah, that's the ticket.

[El Laton Caliente]

"How we'll ever really know what happened to it," one U.S. official said, "I can't imagine."

The title is a little misleading. The bottom line is they have no idea where the plane went or who has it.

Being outfitted with a spay equipment by Al-Q?

[jriemer]

I think I saw it at a chop shop in Newark, between a 1998 Toyota 4Runner and a 2001 Honda Accord.

Now that the 727 is decked out with some bling-bling, some new rims and the neon package, it's ready to fly with the new generation of pilots.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Now that the 727 is decked out with some bling-bling, some new rims and the neon package, it's ready to fly with the new generation of pilots.

True 'dat.

[Sender]

Naw, it was sold on eBay by airplanehomes.com and set up near Dollywood.

[Prof Engineer]

After months of scouring Africa, U.S. investigators have all but concluded that the 727 jetliner that mysteriously disappeared after departing from an Angolan airport in May crashed or was taken to a remote hangar to be stripped for parts.

Where'd you hide it Hair? Sauron knows your plans.LOL

[Wright is right!]

It's in the story that the plane WAS modified as a fueler and supposedly was leased for that function.

Michael

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"After months of scouring Africa,..."

Hmmm- I don't know. Africa is a really BIG place, and if one of the terrorist-friendly governments were cooperating, it would be a simple thing to hide this aircraft, change the markings, and bring it out when they are ready to use it.

The tone of this article is optimistic, but it sounds like a "move along, folks, nothing to see here" from the usual idiots.

[HairOfTheDog]

HairOfTheDog does ~not~ have it... I just cleaned out the whole house.... would've spotted it!

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I don't know- I couldn't absolutely SWEAR that it wasn't in my garage, under the layer of debris that has accumulated there since the last time I cleaned it out!