[JustPiper]

FYI Update!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

I don't know...I still harbor an uneasy belief that we will discover just what exactly happened to this 727 a few minutes too late.

Hey there Piper! How've ya' been?

[xrp]

Isn't a 727's maximum range around 2500 miles? If this is so, it is doubtful that one could galvant around Africa in the plane and fly it across the Atlantic Ocean destined for America intended to hit a building. Even if it were outfitted with extra fuel tanks, that'd have to be in the cargo hold or the passenger section and very risky. They probably would blow themselves up.

[shaggy eel]

"It seems to be that the European countries seem to be a little bit more concerned about this plane's disappearance than our government seems to be concerned."

,,, that's because a thirsty old hack like this would have to fuel in Europe before it crossed the Atlantic. The luxury of certainty.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Silly me; I forgot to include this link regarding the stolen jet. I don't remember if this was something I had come across here on FR or elsewhere.

It was dated September 11, 2003

An international hunt is on to find a flying bomb – a stolen Boeing 727 – which led to British Airways canceling all flights to Saudi Arabia last week. The plane is a fuel tanker that MI6 and other spy agencies fear is in the hands of al-Qaeda.

[blam]

I think everyone is assuming that they would put gasoline in the tanks....

[eabinga]

Pictures!
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/217065/L/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/174719/L/

[greasepaint]

attn: Police
ww.ebay.com / aircraft-for-sale / 727

[CyberAnt]

Thanks! This airplane still worries me.

A month or so ago when the media started talking about an attack on London - and it mentioned by airplane - this was the first thing I thought of. I sure hope we find it before thousands of people get killed.

[whipitgood]

This story reminds me of the A-10 Warthog that disappeared/was stolen/got lost or whatever a few years ago. Supposedly it crashed in the mountains of Colorado. A HUGE big deal was made about how the crash site was located, parts were hauled out, etc. Call me paranoid, but I think there is a very good possibility that the thing is still out there-intact-and airworthy. I suppose somebody will have a lot of splainin' to do if it ever shows up again.

[Marie]

Art Bell... call your office.

[Cindy]

LINKS Of Interest:

BUSH COUNTRY.org: "STOLEN BOEING 727 FEARED IN HANDS OF AL-QAEDA" by Gordon Thomas (September 11, 2003) (Read More...)

WorldNetDaily.com: "MIDEAST-LOOKING MEN STEAL AIRPORT COMPUTERS Australia Fears Terrorists Might Have Gained Access to Intelligence" (September 5, 2003) (Read More...)