5 O'CLOCK UPDATE.............(check the noon update also)
The only real tidbit of news at 5 is that the Stinson plane was forced down by a Homeland Security JET! Which again raises my question. How and why was Homeland Security so in the middle of this from the very beginning??
Some reports are saying the plane left from Eagle Pass while others are saying the plane crossed our borders. I'd be satisfied with that for now and I'd be really interested if anyone knows if you can check out flight plans from Eagle Pass, TX. for that night.
Well that's all for now.
Great first post, and a Breaking News Keeper !
NEWS AT 10PM UPDATE-
There seems to be a pattern going on here in Texas and in the courts too.
The #2 plane that left Laredo and got forced down at Bergstrom Airport in Austin is tonight being reported as being Quote: "being owned by the same company that owns the plane at Stinson"
Now I don't know if they were implying that it's also owned by our weasel buddy Afzal Hameed and Alpha Tango Flying Services, Inc. here in San Antonio or if it's owned by all of those dummy company's up in Delaware but I'm checking on it.
For those that missed it, the #2 plane was forced down the same night the Stinson plane was and had three Mexican Nationals on board, including the pilot, and a later search turned up over 100lbs. of pot.
Well just like the Chinese illegals earlier today, the three Mexican Nationals went before the Judge in Austin and also will NOT be deported but are being held WITH NO CHARGES BEING HELD AGAINST THEM! They are being held as witnesses against the pilot.
I don't know if this is par for the course, but one station reported that they may be trying to build a case against the "ringleader" whoever that might be.
Well the Elephant still has His Boots on the Ground if anybody stills cares....lol
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/
Feds Official Report: "China Immigrants Had No Terror Link"
However...
# Aircraft Owner Operates Flight School That Trained One or More Arab Terrorists
# Mexican Pilot Expected to be Charged with Smuggling Illegal Aliens
25 January 2005; 8:15 PM EDT: While the FBI publicly asserts that the possible terrorist plot involving Chinese nationals against Boston last week was a false alarm, a small plane carrying four illegal Chinese immigrants and a pilot identified as a Mexican national landed at Stinson Municipal Airport in San Antonio Monday night. After landing, the airfield was surrounded by FBI and DHS officials. The four passengers - two women and two men carrying Chinese passports were taken into custody along with the Mexican pilot. The single-engine plane was intercepted after flying 125 miles from Eagle Pass, Texas to Stinson Airfield. The Mexican pilot is expected to be charged with smuggling illegal aliens, according to Alonzo Pena, special agent in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Antonio.
The 1985 single engine Cessna is owned by Hameed Afzal, 48 and his wife, Alyce S. Taylor, 70 of San Antonio, Texas. Both Afzal and Taylor operate the ALPHA-TANGO Flying School, 9623 W. Terminal, San Antonio, Texas 78126. The 2003 San Antonio Municipal Directory lists Hameed Afzal as the President and Alyce S. Taylor as the Co-owner and instructor of the flight school. Their website advertises special consideration for potential Saudi pilots, and instructions on obtaining student visas.
Interesting Circumstances
News reports indicated that the plane that was carrying the Chinese passengers was last registered in 1999, carrying a three-year registration; no further registration records were found according to the FAA, despite renewal notices sent to Afzal. FAA records identify the plane as a 180 Horse Power, 1985 Lycoming/0-320 SERIES with the of N98873. Research by Northeast Intelligence Network analysts found an accident report associated with that plane dated August 21, 2000 that caused structural damage to the tail and horizontal stabilizer. According to the FAA report, the pilot held a valid Mexican private pilot certificate at the time of the accident.
Further research found that one notable flight student of the ALPHA-TANGO Flying School was none other than Abdul Hakim Murad, who was convicted several years ago of a plot to crash a suicide plane into CIA headquarters. Murad was also named as a co-conspirator of 1993 World Trade Center bombing with Ramzi Yousef. A report in the San Antonio Express-News following the 9/11 attacks states that flight school owner Afzal Hameed contacted the FBI as he believed that some of the 9/11 hijackers might have received flight training at his school.
By Douglas J. Hagmann
Afzal Hameed and FR mention 'ping'
But the Chinese are our friends.. I mean we get cheap VCRs from them and everything.
Our government encourages the transport of American $$ and technology there with our tax dollars... Surely this MUST be an error.
"This is my first post so I hope I got it right."
As a rule, "posts" are planted much deeper in south Texas, the dirt is tamped firmer and the staples are hammered in until the barbed wire is tight enough that the wind hums, "On the road again" blowing over it,. But all in all it isn't a bad first post.
Oops-wrong thread- I just came over from Friday Silliness.