CIA searching for missing B727 (N844AA)

[JimNtexas]

Via instapundit.com :

June 13, 2003: The media has figured out that the US government launched an intensive intelligence campaign to find a Boeing 727-200 passenger jet that mysteriously disappeared from Angola's Luanda airport three weeks ago. Since then, the plane's status has discussed every morning in meetings at various intelligence agencies and congressional intelligence committees...

The plane took off without communicating with the airport's air traffic control tower... US government officials last heard the Boeing requesting permission to land in the Seychelles, but it never arrived. ..

While the South Africans said it hadn't entered their airspace, perhaps most troubling was that their police and aviation officials thought that the 727 appeared to have been converted into a fuel tanker.

http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=htintel

Keep your eyes peeled.

 

[ShawnC]

Maybe I am the only one thinking this...

How exactly do you lose a Boeing 727?

 

[nosewheel]

How to loose a Boeing You Ask?

Just spend some time in Africa and you will see how easy it is.

N844AA was converted into a fuel tanker last year after we delivered it to Angola. The aircraft left Opolaka Fl. with the ten 500 gallon tanks strapped to the floor of the aircraft and then ferried to Angola via Cape Verde, The Ivory Coast, Namibia (where the tanks were installed)and then on to Luanda. The aircraft was leased or perhaps stolen by a South African buisiness man/Theif by the name of Keith Irwin who had a deal with top military officials and diamond companys in Angola to haul deisel fuel to the diamond mines with the aircraft. The military officials had interest's in the diamond buisiness. They named the company Air Angols. The crew of six American pilots were never paid by Irwin for the two or more months they spent preparing and flying the aircraft. They all left Angola Broke.

 

[ShawnC]

Read a little about this else where. Apprently he requested to do a MX taxi to test the engine. Made it to the runway and took off. No lights no nothing.

 

[Whirlwind]

Maybe I am the only one thinking this...

How exactly do you lose a Boeing 727?

Very carefully?

Jason

 

[DaveGriffin]

A Delta furloughee?

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/727family030619.html

 

[JimNtexas]

It's been sighted with a new paint job and number:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/07/1057430142952.html