Un MD, un morto, tanti soldi (un'altra strana storia africana).


speedbird001

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Un'altra strana storia africana.
Un MD 11 della Western Global, una compagnia cargo americana , sta per decollare da Monaco destinazione Durban , con a bordo 15 miliardi di Rand Sudafricani freschi di stampa per le riserve monetarie sudafricane.
Lo staff di terra nota delle tracce di sangue sul lato destro dell'aereoplano, una lunga striscia rossa che viene liquidata come segni di un bird strike da parte dell'equipaggio, ( un americano, un pakistano, 2 sudafricani).
L'aereo decolla per il continente africano, a un certo punto sembra chieda di atterrare in emergenza a Maputo in Mozambico causa fuel shortage, rifiutato il permesso, l'aereo atterra ad Harare in Zimbawe , ove viene richiesto un rifornimento di carburante.
Durante le operazioni di rifornimento, viene notato altro sangue che cola copioso da un compartimento tecnico sulla destra del velivolo (ENA), ove alloggiano alcuni macchinari tecnici.
L'equipaggio prima nega, poi viene forzato ad aprire il compartimento, il copilota, infila dei guanti di lattice ed apre.
Li trovano un uomo di colore morto, coperto di sangue.
Qui si apre il giallo.
Secondo alcuni è un clandestino, ma entrare nel compartimento di cui sopra è molto difficile.
Alcuni rumors dicono che l'equipaggio abbia cercato di liberarsi dell'uomo durante il volo da Monaco, ma che sia stato impossibile aprire in volo il compartimento a causa della pressione esterna.
Secondo altri rumors l'equipaggio è attualmente in stato di arresto, secondo altri invece è in un hotel a 5 stelle di Harare.
Le ultime danno il corpo in forte stato di decomposizione ma allora come mai nessuno si è accorto di niente ?
l'MD 11 è sempre fermo ad Harare e visto il carico, c'è chi scommette che rimarrà fermo a lungo, i pretoriani di Mugabe già dichiarano che il velivolo è entrato "illegalmente" nel loro spazio aereo e presumibilmente parte del carico potrebbe rimanere nelle loro mani come risarcimento...
 
“We are saddened that a person has lost his life by stowing aboard one of our cargo aircraft. As compared to other forms of transportation, stowaways on airplanes are rare, but almost always result in fatality. In most cases airport security prevents this from happening but it should never be attempted for any reason.
“We have been working closely with the Zimbabwean authorities as they fully investigate this situation. We appreciate their professionalism and the care they have shown our crew, our cargo and our aircraft. Along with our customer, Network Airline Management, we express our condolences and support the efforts of the Zimbabwean government. We also appreciate the dedication of our crew, the patience of the South African government while awaiting its shipment and the engagement of the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe.
“We are in continuous contact with our crew; when cleared to do so, they will complete the last leg of this charter.”
Background
The Western Global Airlines aircraft in question is leased to Network Airline Management, a logistics provider, which was engaged to deliver a diplomatic shipment of South African currency from Munich, Germany to Durban, South Africa on behalf of the South African Reserve Bank. All necessary documentation for the flight and its cargo was in order and in compliance with international law. The aircraft departed Munich, Germany’s airport on February 13, 2016 with a crew of three pilots and a mechanic as well as two passengers traveling as couriers for the diplomatic shipment. The aircraft made a refueling stop at Zimbabwe’s Harare International Airport approximately nine hours later. During the refueling process, ground crew attending the aircraft noticed unusual streaking on the nose gear and upon further investigation, a deceased male was discovered in a compartment adjacent to the wheel well. At present, the identity or nationality of the deceased is not known.
It is not clear when or how the deceased accessed the aircraft and Western Global is working with authorities to back trace the aircraft’s route of travel. There has been no indication that his presence is related to the company or this specific cargo shipment. The company has confirmed that its normal service, safety and security inspections – which meet or exceed all security, maintenance and operational standards – were performed by its maintenance personnel prior to the flight and that cockpit crews conducted exterior walk-arounds prior to departure. The area where the body was found is an area not visible to these inspections and there is no indication the stowaway’s presence affected the operation of the aircraft.
Western Global Airlines is a provider of ACMI (“wet lease”) and charter services for the world’s premier airlines and logistics companies. It is an FAA-certificated Part 121 Boeing Tier One operator with a fleet of ten (10) MD-11 and two (2) B747-400 cargo aircraft and is headquartered in Estero, Florida. All Western Global aircraft are equipped with General Electric engines for maximum performance and reliability.
As an international carrier Western Global operates throughout the world. In the last year it has served 88 airports in 47 countries on 5 continents. Be it in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America or North America, Western Global Airlines is committed to excellence and customer satisfaction. Without exception, each of its customers has become a repeat customer. A primary focus of the company is to serve as an “air bridge” to and from Africa to help connect the continent it to the rest of the world. Western Global enables even remote locations in Africa, with little or no infrastructure or support, to obtain supplies, fight disease, and export their produce and flowers to Europe. The company has extensive experience operating throughout Africa, and has completed dozens of humanitarian missions into West Africa in support of the Ebola eradication effort.
Western Global is privately owned by James K. (Jim) Neff and Sunny Neff. The Neffs have strong corporate backgrounds and significant success in starting, building and running their own entrepreneurial aviation ventures.
 
A Western Global MD11 in Harare on Feb 14th 2016 and the results of the fuel stop
By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Feb 16th 2016 18:33Z, last updated Wednesday, Feb 17th 2016 12:23Z
On Feb 15th 2016 news coverages hit the global headlines from Zimbabwe stating, that a Western Global Airlines MD-11 enroute from Germany to South Africa performed an emergency landing in Harare (Zimbabwe) after being denied landing in Maputo (Mozambique). While refueling the refueler noticed blood dripping from the aircraft and called police. Police discovered huge amount of money, South African Rands, and the body of a dead male. All six crew were arrested.

The Aviation Herald met this story with disbelief. Blood dripping off the aircraft after so many hours of flight? This detail alone shot the story down at an instant.

However, background research now revealed following facts:

On Feb 13th 2016 a Western Global Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N545JN performing flight AJK-4425 from Entebbe (Uganda) to Liege (Belgium), performed a seemingly uneventful flight and landed safely in Liege.

The aircraft subsequently positioned to Munich (Germany) still as flight AJK-4425 the same day.

A planespotter took a photograph of the aircraft in Munich which showed blood stains at the right hand side of the fuselage.

Ground staff at Munich Airport noticed the blood stains as well and reported the blood stain. The blood stains were identified as result of a bird strike however and no further action was taken.

In Munich the aircraft received its cargo destined for Durban (South Africa), a load of bank notes printed in Europe for the Reserve Bank of South Africa, and in the evening of Feb 13th 2016 departed as flight AJK-4130 with the intermediate destination Harare (Zimbabwe) for a planned fuel stop arriving in Harare on Feb 14th 2016.

During refueling the refueler discovered the blood stains on the panel, reportedly an air conditioning panel, at the right hand side of the fuselage and called police. A stowaway was subsequently recovered from the aircraft.

The aircraft, crew and the circumstances of the death of the stowaway are still under investigation by police in Zimbabwe.

The airline confirmed that their aircraft was leased to Network Airline Management. The shipment picked up in Munich was destined for South African Reserve Bank. The aircraft operates to Africa for Network Airline Management several times a week on a regular basis with Western Global providing aircraft and crew and Network Airline Management providing security, ground handling and cargo. The airline wrote: "During a routine fuel stop in Zimbabwe, a body was found in the lower compartment. The body is presumed to be a stowaway who may have entered the airplane during a previous stop. The situation is currently under review."

South African Reserve Bank stated: "The bulk of the annual production of banknotes is done locally in South Africa and a small percentage is done offshore as part of the contingency plans of the SARB. The aircraft currently detained at Harare Airport is carrying a consignment of South African banknotes that was produced overseas as part of the SARB's annual production plan."

N545JN taxiing in Munich on Feb 13th 2016, blood stains enlarged (Photo: Markus Schwab):

western_global_md11_n545jn_harare_160214_1.jpg
 
?direi che abbiamo avuto tutti la stessa reazione. Più leggevo e più sembrava un libro giallo o un film americano. Direi proprio che è proprio una story board perfetta per Hollywood

Inviato dal mio KFFOWI utilizzando Tapatalk
 
Zimbabwean authorities release Western Global MD-11(F)

13 hours ago

Authorities in Zimbabwe have released an impounded Western Global Airlines (WGN, Sarasota/Bradenton) MD-11(F) after investigations into a corpse discovered onboard during a fuelling stop at Harare Int'l last week showed no evidence of foul play.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police said in a statement issued late last week that based on the advanced state of decomposition of the body, it is believed he was a stowaway that had managed to get on-board the aircraft while it was on the ground at any of Lagos, Abuja, and Entebbe/Kampala airports the week before.

A post-mortem determined the man, who was found in the aircraft's air conditioning pack bay, had died of oxygen deprivation.

N545JN (msn 48545) departed Harare for Waterkloof Air Force Base on Friday, February 19 replete with its consignment of banknotes for the South African Reserve Bank.

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/44172-zimbabwean-authorities-release-western-global-md-11f