Dripping blood leads airport staff to dead body on plane

A US cargo plane has been impounded in Zimbabwe after dripping blood led airport attendants to a dead body and millions of South African rand, local media reported.

Ground crew at Harare International Airport were said to have spotted the blood when the plane was refuelling en route from Germany to South Africa.

"Upon refuelling, the airport attendants discovered that there was blood dripping from the plane," a source told the country's state-run Herald newspaper.

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"When they checked to try and ascertain where the blood was coming from, that is when they discovered a suspended dead body in the plane."

The body was taken to pathologists and the plane was impounded, added the source. The whereabouts of the crew have not been revealed.

David Chawota, the general manager of Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that a plane registered with Western Global Airlines – based in Florida – was impounded in Harare yesterday.

"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," he said.

Chawota said staff had become "suspicious" when they discovered "blood leaks".

According to Bloomberg, the money was a consignment for the South African Reserve Bank, which is working with authorities in Harare to ensure it is released and transported to South Africa. At today's exchange rate, one million rand is worth around £43,800.

A spokesman for the bank said the body, which is yet to be identified, is presumed to be a stowaway.