Posted on 11/09/2004 2:35:36 AM PST by Whataday
The Transportation Security Administration has issued an advisory that a Piper PA 25 Pawnee crop-dusting aircraft (similar in appearance to the aircraft shown above) was stolen from Ejido Queretaro, near Mexicali, Mexico, on November 1st, 2004.
"Although there is currently no indication that this has any connection to terrorist activity," the TSA said, "the theft is cause for concern. Past information indicates that members of al-Qaeda may have planned -- or may still be planning -- to disperse biological or chemical agents from cropdusting aircraft."
The stolen aircraft is registered in Mexico and bears the tail number XBCYP. If you see the aircraft, the TSA says you should immediately contact the TSA General Aviation Hotline at (866) 427-3287, or contact your nearest office of the FBI.
Interesting. From another site:
...operators and airport operators are encouraged to consider the following:
Store aircraft and crop protection products in locked hangars with electronic security systems when not in use.
Park and disable loader trucks, forklifts, or other equipment to block aircraft.
In cases where the aircraft must be left outdoors, use propeller locks, propeller chains or tiedowns on aircraft.
Remove batteries from planes and disassemble engines from unused aircraft.
Install hidden security switches to prevent unauthorized startup of the aircraft.
Outdoor security lighting around hangars and operations is encouraged.
Establish contact with Federal and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate responses to security breaches at agricultural aviation facilities.
Encourage operators to list the appropriate law enforcement agency telephone numbers in a prominent place within their operations.
http://www.aero-news.net/PlainPage.cfm
It's said place was a stopping off point for rogue CIA drug run operation - while the rapist was governor.
Florence Martin Accountant subcontractor for the CIA. Also related to the Mena Airport drug smuggling case. Died of three gunshot wounds. Two young boys, "witnesses" were found dead on the tracks. Danny Casolaro Investigative reporter, reporting on the Mena Airport case. Slit his wrists during the investigation. Ruled a suicide.
Kevin Ives & Don Henry Youngsters: rumored to have stumbled upon the smuggling operation at Mena Airport. Both bodies were found dead on railway track, near the airport. Coroner's verdict: Death due to falling asleep on track.
Paul Wilcher Investigating corruption at Mena Airport along with Danny Casolaro (above). Found dead on the toilet at his Washington DC apartment. 3 weeks earlier he produced an investigative report on the case.
All of the following were connected with the Mena Airport investigation:
Keith Conley Died in a motor cycle accident.
Keith McMaskie Stabbed 113 times in Nov 1988.
Gregory Collins Died from a gunshot wound in Jan 1989.
Jeff Rhodes Shot, mutilated, and found burned in trash dump.
James Milan Found decapitated. Coroner's verdict: Natural causes. Totally physically impossible, Milan was murdered then decapitated
Jordan Kettleson Found stabbed in his pick up truck June 1990.
Richard Winters Killed in a robbery in July 1989.
Story link?
"religion of peace alert"
This hysteria about crop duster security is driving me crazy. How many of you have actually been to a crop duster airfield?
Do you realize that most airfields only have a dirt or paved lane as a landing strip and only two or three employees at the location? How about all of that security mentioned? Now think about this:
You have this little airfield in the middle of nowhere (or in the middle of farming fields) with only one or two crop dusters parked there. You have someone in the office to answer the phone, maybe, a pilot or two and some help to load the chemicals. That's it! Maybe even less if one of the planes is busy crop dusting.
All that you would have to do is drive your car up to the office or hangar (usually nothing more than a metal building or pole barn) and stick a gun in an employee's face and viola! You have yourself a crop duster.
Now, here is an article in full panic about a crop duster stolen in MEXICO! Huh? This irrational hysteria is on par with the current irrational hysteria about guns. By the same token, if I wanted to steal a gun I would simply walk over to my neighbor's house, stick a knife to his throat when he opened the door and steal a gun from him.
I certainly would not drive to the interior of MEXICO to steal a gun when there are plenty right here.
Good points, but if we want to hype the potential conspiracy we could say that taking a cropduster from a little port in the USA is obvious and noticeable. Maybe they figure no one cares about the US in Mexico, and thought they could steal a plane under the radar. Except we noticed anyway.
You think the guy flew all the way to Alaska?
Thanks ! This doesn't seem to be on ANY news sites yet !!
This should be put on 'America's Most Wanted'. I'm serious. Anyone who notices a plane such as this which was never seen previously, either parked or in the air, should call the hotline.
It would be a long and bumpy uncomfortable trip from Mexico, with frequent stops for gas. I once ferried a Cessna 150 from Atlanta to New Jersey - a VERY long trip. Took me two days and change.
I think terrorists would steal something closer to their destination.
What if you were already in Mexico?
Arkansas' postal code is AR.
From the story: '...was stolen from Ejido Queretaro, near Mexicali, Mexico, on November 1st, 2004.'
Uh, dude: Check out a map; Mexicali is not in the interior of Mexico, but is rather part of the pair of towns straddling the CA/Mexico border east of San Diego - Calexico CA and Mexicali, Mex.
Having clarified that, I don't think personally that there's any 'terrorist' connection to any of this; more likely that it was stolen by another Mexican to be used elsewhere in Mexico for its intended purpose - spraying crops.
Aren't cropdusters very poor vehicles for any serious weapons distribution (chem/bio)?? Anybody who has been around one knows how low you have to fly.
Should we shoot it down, if we see it?
If, it was low enough over my house and was dusting, I'd blast it out of the sky.
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