Mystery Boeing keeps US spooks guessing

[UpInArms]

http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/jul/07us2.htm

A Boeing 727 cargo plane, which has triggered panic among US intelligence agencies after mysteriously disappearing from Angola's main airport, reappeared last week in Guinea before vanishing again.

The plane, which was feared to be in the hands of international terrorists, was spotted on June 28 in Conakry, Guinea's capital, by Bob Strother, a Canadian pilot, The Guardian reported on Monday.

"There's absolutely no doubt it's the same aircraft, the old registration is clearly visible" said Strother by phone from Conakry.

"Whoever owns it must have some important friends to get it re-registered in two days: going by the book, the whole process usually takes a couple of months," he said. "We only saw it that one time, now its gone."

...more...

[Mal]

1. :-)

Now THIS is funny.

[Greyskye]

2. huh?

OK, I don't get what the funny part is...

[BrotherBuzz]

6. Here's another link and the humor..

http://www.news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=737812003

<snip>
THE mystery of a missing Boeing 727 cargo plane that caused panic in United States intelligence circles appears to have been solved. The aircraft, which vanished without trace from Angola's main airport, turned up last week in Guinea.

The plane was feared to be in the hands of international terrorists. It was spotted late last month in Conakry, Guinea's capital, by Bob Strother, Canadian pilot.

<snip>
Immediately after its disappearance, American intelligence operators said "the plane most likely was taken for criminal endeavour such as drugs or weapons smuggling". But, they did not rule out the possibility it was stolen for use in a terrorist attack and were making every effort to get to the bottom of the mystery.

A Western diplomat in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, said it was more likely the plane had simply been snatched from Luanda because its owner was reluctant to pay year-long airport taxes, totalling $50,000 (£30,000). "There's always a shady side to business around here," he said. "But as for the terrorism stuff, that sounds like a complete load of rubbish."
<snip>

[LivingInTheBubble]

3. spooky....

A plane that keeps phasing in and out of existence as it travels across the world.

That reminds me of mystery ships that were allegedly hiding by sailing round the world.

What ever happened to those?

[Flubadubya]

5. It's a ghost ship...

Spooky indeed! :scared:

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

9. It's a flying dutchman

that actually flies!

[blackcat77]

8. 727 Mystery Solved!

A plane that keeps phasing in and out of existence as it travels across the world.

OMG, it's the ROMULANS! Quick, call a Code Sepia!

[toolfan]

4. Missing plane turns up in Guinea

"THE mystery of a missing Boeing 727 cargo plane that caused panic in United States intelligence circles appears to have been solved. The aircraft, which vanished without trace from Angola’s main airport, turned up last week in Guinea.

The plane was feared to be in the hands of international terrorists. It was spotted late last month in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, by Bob Strother, a Canadian pilot.

It had been re-sprayed and given the Guinean registration, 3XGOM. But, at least the last two letters of its former tail-number, N844AA, were still visible.

The plane was being used to shuttle goods between Beirut and Conakry, according to Mr Strother.

"There’s no absolutely doubt it’s the same aircraft. The old registration is clearly visible," said Mr Strother."

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=737812003

[Karenina]

7. But it vanished AGAIN????

Obviously under cover of the same "cloaking device" that hides the WMDs in Iraq!!!! Meine Fresse!!!!

[BrotherBuzz]

10. The game is still on...

Repo man may have a chance yet. Cloak and daggers!