Stolen Boeing 727 Feared In Hands of al-Qaeda

Bush Country ^ | 091103 | Gordon Thomas

[July 4th]

Something like this is what I had figured, but I'd like to see it from a better source.

[xzins]

Is this true?

[mrmeyer]

I remember when this story first broke, and the media whores were all over it. As the days went by, interest died down more and more, ah so goes the flavor of the week.

[SpyGuy]

Suspected al-Qaeda terrorists spotted outside the airport last week...escaped before Saudi police could arrest them.

Wink, wink. Nod, nod.

[meg70]

Cripes, and this goes public in the hours leading up to 9/12?

[GOP_Proud]

I agree.

[prairiebreeze]

It sounds like Padilla is at minimum a liar and passes fraudulant checks. Not much of a stretch to believe he's in on it. I think his brother is either gravely mistaken or blowing smoke. This story is worrisome....

Prairie

[Brian S]

Last I knew this is a legit story and the plane, rumored spotted a couple of times, has not been found.

[GOP_Proud]

Don't we have another Padilla in custody for something?

[Husker24]

I just dont see terrorists using a "jewel" like their own 727 fuel tanker on a measly British jetliner, they will crash it into a building, like the White House if they can fly it low over the Ocean an not be detected.

[meg70]

What is more worrysome is that a 727 flying fuel tanker was seen heading to the Middle East...

[newgeezer]

Google News doesn't appear to have any related story.

[Husker24]

Is this the same plane that went missing in Africa that they were talking about a month or so ago?, I dont remember that one being a tanker.

[Mo1]

is this the missing plane from awhile back??

[Brian S]

Plug "727" into your FR search engine to learn what we know...

Into thin air (Where on earth is Angola's missing 727? Is it now a bomb?)
			Posted by dead On 08/15/2003 9:55 AM EDT with 41 comments The Telegraph, London via SMH ^ | August 15, 2003 | William Langley
`A perfect flying bomb' disappears; Aged Boeing 727 last seen in June (missing again?)
			Posted by Brian S On 07/11/2003 10:56 AM EDT with 27 comments Toronto Star ^ | 07-11-03
Missing 727 Located?
			Posted by adam_az On 07/09/2003 7:33 PM EDT with 13 comments Professional Pilots Rumor Network ^ | 7/9/2003 | PPRuN
Africa: Mystery Boeing 727 briefly resurfaces in Guinea then disappearance again.
			Posted by yankeedame On 07/07/2003 7:10 PM EDT with 33 comments The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | July 8 2003 | staff writer
Plane in terrorism scare turns up sporting a respray (Missing 727 UPDATE)
			Posted by LdSentinal On 07/07/2003 2:25 AM EDT with 30 comments The Guardian ^ | 7/7/03 | James Astill
Missing 727 Inspires Fear
			Posted by freeperfromnj On 06/27/2003 12:44 PM EDT with 45 comments ABC News ^ | June 27, 2003 | By the ABCNEWS Legal-Investigative Unit
Family of Possible 727 Pilot: He Is Not A Terrorist
			Posted by ewing On 06/19/2003 12:05 PM EDT with 92 comments ABC News Exclusive ^ | June 19, 2003 | Invesigative Team staff report
Hide in Plane Sight (Authorities fear Boeing 727 stolen in Angola may be used in terrorism)
			Posted by HAL9000 On 06/18/2003 10:45 PM EDT with 69 comments ABC News ^ | June 18, 2003 | Pierre Thomas
Report: Fears vanished Boeing 727 to be used for terror
			Posted by yonif On 06/13/2003 6:10 AM EDT with 10 comments Jerusalem Post ^ | Jun. 13, 2003 | THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF
Intensive Search Under Way for Airliner Missing for Nearly a Month (Boeing 727 over Angola!)
			Posted by Int On 06/12/2003 10:06 AM EDT with 29 comments ABC News ^ | Pierre Thomas | Pierre Thomas
Govt. Demands Quick Conclusion of Air Inquiry-Stolen Angolan 727 Aircraft Has US Plates (ID-N844AA)
			Posted by ewing On 05/31/2003 12:19 PM EDT with 38 comments Angola Press ^ | May 31, 2003 5:02 PM | Andre Luis Brandao
Missing Boeing 727 Aircraft - Angola Africa
			Posted by Calpernia On 05/31/2003 12:54 AM EDT with 16 comments WASHINGTON (CNN) | May 31, 2003 | unknown senior U.S. official

[happygrl]

Sadly, I agree. He's dead.

For the plan to go forward, some suicide-inclined pilot must have been lined up.

Or not, perhaps. This time they won't get away with a pilot who only has to steer, but will need a pilot that can take off.

[GOP_Proud]

Same plane. Same pilot story.

[Ronin]

This is just plain silly. As stated on previous threads, the idea that you could "hide" a 727 in the dessert is impossible. Airliners need runways. Long, flat, hard-surfaced and clear.

You could no more take a 727 off from dessert sand then you could from water. The Western Sahara may be the size of Europe, but the number of runways that could handle a 727 are few.

I think this writer is just trying to take advantage of the 9-11 anniversary to sell some fearmongering copy.

[meg70]

Nothing showing on DEBKA radar either..I would suspect that they would have gotten a sniff of this through Mossad by now