Al-Qaeda 'shot down' plane (3 generations of American family killed July 19th)

South African Press Assoc. ^ | 7/27/03

[truthandlife]

An Islamic website on Sunday carried a statement attributed to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network claiming responsibility for a plane crash in Kenya that left 12 Americans and two South Africans dead.

The statement, the authenticity of which could not be verified, said the plane was hit "head on" with a ground-to-air SAM-7 missile.

It was apparently fired by followers of Mohammed Atef, the Egyptian national suspected of being Bin Laden's number two.

The statement said three CIA agents were on board the plane searching for Mujahedeen positions on the Kenyan border.

It also promised the Iraqi people the "arrival, very soon, of a present from Osama bin Laden to (US President George W) Bush and his band".

Kenyan officials said the light aircraft crashed into Mount Kenya amid thick clouds on July 19, and that the 12 Americans killed in the crash were members of the same extended family, including two grandparents.

[freeperfromnj]

This is a very important story. Why is this the first we are hearing of it?

[RightField]

The crash itself has been covered. The story in the press here in San Diego was that the plane crashed while on a sighteeing/safari tour. I think bad weather was mentioned. Certainly no mention of an Al Quaeda connection.

[truthandlife]

I don't know but I hope it is being investigated.

[TomGuy]

First I've heard this, too.

Reports on the alphabetsoupmedia and print was that the plane "went down." None reported that a missile attack was the cause. They (media) implied accident/mechanical.

If it were shot down with a missile, the media should have been all over this story.

[Dog]

It was apparently fired by followers of Mohammed Atef, the Egyptian national suspected of being Bin Laden's number two.

Just one problem with this story .....Atef was never the number #2 in AQ......and he was killed in a Predator drone missile attack in the fall of 2001..

[Dog]

fyi..

[mhking]

The family killed in the crash was a prominent (and extremely philanthropic) Atlanta family. At least as of this point, there has been no mention of any AQ connection to the tragedy.

I'll make a few calls...

[TBall]

It also promised the Iraqi people the "arrival, very soon, of a present from Osama bin Laden to (US President George W) Bush and his band".

[myprecious]

I don't know but I hope it is being investigated.

There are probably many "plane accidents" that should be investigated - starting with TWA 800 and the one that went down in Queens.

[TomGuy]

from News24.com

Kenya denies al-Qaeda claim

27/07/2003 22:56 - (SA)

Nairobi - A Kenyan investigator on Sunday denied a claim attributed to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network that the group was responsible for a plane crash that left 12 Americans and two South Africans dead.

"Those claims are fanciful and incredible," Bongo Woodley, a senior warden with Kenya Wildlife Service, who is a member of a team investigating the accident, said.

"It seems some people are using this painful tragedy to be heard," said Woodley.

The website statement, the authenticity of which could not be verified, said the plane was hit "head on" with a ground-to-air SAM-7 missile fired by followers of Mohammed Atef, the Egyptian national suspected of being bin Laden's number two.

The statement said three CIA agents were on board the plane searching for Mujahedeen positions on the Kenyan border.

Woodley said the plane crash was "a very straight forward and unfortunate accident that happened on a cloudy evening."

"There is no point in starting to spin tales that do not match the facts," he said.

"There are even witnesses who heard and saw the plane ploughing into one of Mount Kenya's peaks," he added.

The website statement also promised the Iraqi people the "arrival, very soon, of a present from Osama bin Laden to (US President George W) Bush and his band".

Kenyan officials said the light aircraft crashed into Mount Kenya amid thick clouds on July 19, and that the 12 Americans killed in the crash were members of the same extended family, including two grandparents.

[Hatteras]

This crash was covered extensively here in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area where the family was from. They even had a large 'Group' obituary in the Raleigh News & Observer. I'll see if I can locate it.

[Hatteras]

This crash was covered extensively here in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area where the family was from. They even had a large 'Group' obituary in the Raleigh News & Observer. I'll see if I can locate it.

[freeperfromnj]

Certainly no mention of an Al Quaeda connection.

I knew about the crash but never heard of an AQ connection either. If it's true that the CIA boarded the plane in Kenya there may be a lot more to this.

[pabianice]

Bullshit. The SA-7 is an IR seeker. It does not hit an aircraft "head-on."

[TomGuy]

from News24.com

Kenya denies al-Qaeda claim

27/07/2003 22:56 - (SA)

Nairobi - A Kenyan investigator on Sunday denied a claim attributed to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network that the group was responsible for a plane crash that left 12 Americans and two South Africans dead.

"Those claims are fanciful and incredible," Bongo Woodley, a senior warden with Kenya Wildlife Service, who is a member of a team investigating the accident, said.

"It seems some people are using this painful tragedy to be heard," said Woodley.

The website statement, the authenticity of which could not be verified, said the plane was hit "head on" with a ground-to-air SAM-7 missile fired by followers of Mohammed Atef, the Egyptian national suspected of being bin Laden's number two.

The statement said three CIA agents were on board the plane searching for Mujahedeen positions on the Kenyan border.

Woodley said the plane crash was "a very straight forward and unfortunate accident that happened on a cloudy evening."

"There is no point in starting to spin tales that do not match the facts," he said.

"There are even witnesses who heard and saw the plane ploughing into one of Mount Kenya's peaks," he added.

The website statement also promised the Iraqi people the "arrival, very soon, of a present from Osama bin Laden to (US President George W) Bush and his band".

Kenyan officials said the light aircraft crashed into Mount Kenya amid thick clouds on July 19, and that the 12 Americans killed in the crash were members of the same extended family, including two grandparents.

[Hatteras]

This crash was covered extensively here in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area where the family was from. They even had a large 'Group' obituary in the Raleigh News & Observer. I'll see if I can locate it.

[dansangel]

Please keep us posted as to what you find out. Thank you.

[WhiskeyPapa]

The statement, the authenticity of which could not be verified, said the plane was hit "head on" with a ground-to-air SAM-7 missile.

Well, now. There's an SA-7 SAM. But it's a shoulder fired heat seeker. It wouldn't hit a plane head on.

Walt

[Al B.]

FYI -- apparently a prominent family with Atlanta and Research Triangle ties.  Dr. George Brumley was former Chief of Pediatrics at Duke Medical Center.  His wife was Liddy Dole's college roommate.  NO MENTION in the articles I've read of terrorism.

From the Durham, NC Morning Herald:  Africa crash kills 12 with area ties