US: 'Zim plane not one of ours'
2004-03-08 18:52
Washington - A Boeing 727-100 cargo plane seized by Zimbabwe at Harare international airport is not an American aircraft contrary to claims made by Zimbabwe's government, a US State Department official said on Monday.
"It's not a US plane. It is not a US registered aircraft right now," the official said on condition anonymity.
Zimbabwe Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said on Monday that a US-registered aircraft, carrying military equipment and 64 suspected mercenaries, had been impounded by the Zimbabwe authorities on Sunday.
The State Department official here said the mystery aircraft was not US-registered and had not been carrying any US nationals.
"It is not a US government or a US commercial aircraft as far as we know. I understand that at one point back in the 1970's someone may have owned it in the US but it hasn't been a US aircraft since the early 80's," the official explained.
"I have no idea who owns it. There is no US citizen on board," the official said as the mystery over the plane's ownership and crew continued to deepen.