Dripping blood leads airport staff to dead body on plane
US cargo plane impounded at Harare airport after body and millions of rand discovered
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
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.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Political cartoons for February 14Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include a Valentine's grift, Hillary on the hook, and more
-
Tourangelle-style pork with prunes recipeThe Week Recommends This traditional, rustic dish is a French classic
-
The Epstein files: glimpses of a deeply disturbing worldIn the Spotlight Trove of released documents paint a picture of depravity and privilege in which men hold the cards, and women are powerless or peripheral
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
-
Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military