This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/us-jet-impounded-in-zimbabwe-body-and-cash-found-on-board/2016/02/15/7aee6a80-d3d7-11e5-a65b-587e721fb231_story.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
US plane impounded in Zimbabwe; body and cash found on board US plane impounded in Zimbabwe; body and cash found on board
(about 2 hours later)
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe aviation authorities impounded a U.S.-registered cargo jet, a senior official said Monday, with a dead body and millions of South African rand reportedly on board. HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean aviation authorities impounded a U.S.-registered cargo jet, a senior official said Monday, after a dead body later believed to be a stowaway and millions of South African rand were found on board.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager David Chawota confirmed a plane registered with Western Global Airlines was impounded at Harare International Airport on Sunday. A web site says Western Global Airlines is based in Estero, Florida. The Herald, a state-run newspaper, reported that the MD-11 trijet was traveling from Germany to South Africa “with millions of rands.” At today’s exchange rate, 1 million rand is worth $62,500.
“The case is now in the hands of the state. It involves nationals and property of other countries so I am no longer qualified to give much detail but yes we impounded the plane on Sunday,” Chawota told The Associated Press. Authorities here learned the money belonged to the South Africa Reserve Bank. Police planned to issue a statement later Monday.
“The crew requested to land for refueling but our ground-handling personnel discovered blood leaks and became suspicious. Talk to the police for more details,” he said by telephone, refusing to give details about the crew or the cargo. Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager David Chawota said the plane had landed in Harare for refueling. He said the jet, registered with Western Global Airlines, was impounded at Harare International Airport on Sunday. A web site says Western Global Airlines is based in Estero, Florida.
Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she did not have the facts of the case yet. The crew did not know there was someone else on the plane, according to a police officer, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press. It appears from photos on social media that the dead person had sneaked into the plane’s landing gear which severed his arm when it contracted, causing blood to splatter onto the fuselage and arousing suspicion of the ground crew when the flight landed here.
State-run Herald newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, reported on Monday that the MD-11 trijet was traveling from Germany to South Africa “stashed with millions of rands.” At today’s exchange rate, 1 million rand is worth $62,500. The crew, according to the Herald, includes two Americans, a South African and a Pakistani.
The crew, according to the Herald, includes two Americans, a South African and a Pakistani. The U.S. Embassy said it does not yet have a comment on the matter. Several U.S. embassy vehicles were seen at the airport Monday morning.
In 2004, Harare airport authorities impounded a plane with 64 people on board, who were arrested on accusations that they had been on their way to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.