Body found on plane after ground crews spot BLOOD dripping from aircraft
A JET has been impounded after a body was discovered onboard along with millions in cash when crews noticed blood dripping from the aircraft.
Ground crews spotted the blood and checked the plane
The US registered cargo plane had stopped to refuel when ground crews noticed blood coming from the fuselage at Zimbabwe's Harare International Airport on Sunday.
The plane, registered with Western Global Airlines, based in Estero, Florida, was impounded by aviation authorities after the grim discovery was made.
Zimbabwean police initially arrested the six crew including two Americans, a South African and a Pakistani who were aboard the flight going from Germany to South Africa.
It is now believed the body was a stowaway and that the crew were unaware of the person hiding on the plane, according to a police officer.
Reports on social media suggest the person snuck aboard, but accidentally severed his arm in the plane’s landing gear, causing blood to splatter onto the fuselage.
The plane had asked to land for refuelling when the discovery was made and six were arrested
Ground crews spotted the blood and six were arersted
The Herald, a state-run newspaper, reported that the MD-11 trijet was travelling from Germany to South Africa “with millions of rands.”
At today’s exchange rate, one million rand is worth $87,400, or £60,500.
Authorities here learned the money belonged to the South Africa Reserve Bank, the country’s central bank.
South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Vusi Mavimbela confirmed that the cargo belonged to the South African Reserve Bank but refused to divulge further details, saying he was still liaising with the Zimbabwe government to resolve the matter.
He refused to divulge the nature of the cargo or the amount of money that was in the plane.
.
Thousands of pounds worth of Zimbabwian Rand was found aboard the plane
The case is now in the hands of the state. It involves nationals and property of other countries, but yes we impounded the plane on Sunday
David Chawota, general manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, said: "The case is now in the hands of the state. It involves nationals and property of other countries, but yes we impounded the plane on Sunday."
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