You may recall AVweb’s recent coverage of a missing African airliner believed to be in the hands of criminals or terrorists. Well, the Boeing 727 has reportedly been located — with a new paint job. The Guardian reports the jet turned up last week in Guinea after disappearing from Angola’s main airport more than a month ago. The missing plane had been the subject of an international search since it vanished from Angola on May 25. The last known flight of the jet was recorded shortly after it had been repossessed from Angola Air. Bob Strother, a Canadian pilot, reported finding the aircraft, which had been re-sprayed and now sports the Guinean registration of 3XGOM. However, the last two letters of its former tail number, N844AA, were still showing. While the plane is said to be owned by a member of West Africa’s Lebanese business community, Strother finds the registration change a bit too expeditious. “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 told the Guardian.
Missing Jet Found In New Colors
Key Takeaways:
- A missing African Boeing 727, previously subject to an international search and feared to be with criminals, has been located in Guinea.
- The discovered aircraft had been repainted and re-registered with a new Guinean tail number, though traces of its former registration were still visible.
- A Canadian pilot expressed suspicion regarding the unusually quick two-day re-registration process, suggesting the new owner has "important friends."
See a mistake? Contact us.
