[steve86]

Presumably this 727 has an Airworthiness Type Certificate for the fuel tanker capability and, if maintained properly, would be considered safe (as long as its trajectory remains between airports, not into buildings). However, I am not an expert on the certification process beyond what an ordinary private pilot has encountered. I believe the 727 was originally a cargo jet, not a passenger plane.

I heard speculation that the most likely course for an attack on North America would involve an unfiled flight to South America from Africa, followed by a perfectly normal appearing transport-type flight plan to North America. This sequence is easily achievable given the fuel capacity and refueling in South America, where few questions would be asked. The North American leg would leave a ample amount of fuel on board for the final destination. Another possibility, forget if it was mentioned above, would utilize some of the fuel storage tanks as chemical or biological weapon containers.

[demnomo]

It's baaack! The story, that is...

[Wilhelm Tell]

I heard speculation that the most likely course for an attack on North America would involve an unfiled flight to South America from Africa, followed by a perfectly normal appearing transport-type flight plan to North America.

That is the first thing I thought of when I heard the news of the vanishing 727 a few months ago. My father was a flight engineer during the DC-4 days (four-engine propeller airliner), and one of his routes was from South America to western Africa. I don't know the range of a 727, but I imagine a trip from Africa to South America is quite possible. The idea that terrorists could steal a jet in Africa and cross over to South America seems plausible (and frightening) to me.