Western Global Airlines N545JN

 Western Global Airlines N545JN

A view of the dead body that was found in Harare, along with 67 tonnes of banknotes, in an apparently CIA-owned plane making what was later claimed to be a "Diplomatic Shipment".
Date	13 February 2016 - Present
Perpetrators	Western Global Airlines
Exposed by	Daniel Hopsicker
Description	67 tons of cash and a body found on the CIA plane.

Western Global Airlines Flight N545JN is a remarkable tale with a somewhat eyebrow raising official narrative, explaining why 67 tonnes of banknotes and a dead body were the only cargo of a plane which made an emergency landing at the Zimbabwean capital Harare. However, as with the 2006 bust of a DC-9 carrying 5.6 tonnes of cocaine no prosecutions were forthcoming.

Official narrative

On February 13th 2016 a Western Global Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N545JN (leased to Network Airline Management) performed a flight AJK-4425 from Entebbe (Uganda) to Liege (Belgium), before flying on to Munich, still as flight AJK-4425 the same day. It took on a cargo of 67 tonnes of freshly printed banknotes. As the South African Reserve Bank clarified: "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."

Ground staff in Munich noticed the blood stains, but believed the crew's explanation that the blood was because the plane had struck a bird.

On Feb 13th 2016, N545JN taxiing in Munich, with the blood stains enlarged (Photo: Markus Schwab, a planespotter whose photograph of the aircraft in Munich showed blood stains on the right hand side of the fuselage - courtesy of the Aviation Herald)

The (emergency) landing

After being denied landing in Maputo (Mozambique), the plane made what was initially referred to as an emergency landing at the Zimbabwean capital Harare but which was later described as "a routine fuel stop in Zimbabwe".

The occupants

The crew of three pilots ("led by two Americans") and a mechanic as well as two passengers who were travelling as couriers for the diplomatic shipment.

The body

The Zimbabwe Herald reported that "the ground crew refueling the plane alerted local authorities" after noticing that blood dripping from the plane. The authorities were also interested to note that not only did the plane contain the body of a dead black man, it also had 67 tonnes of South African cash in the hold. The airline later explained that "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." Another report suggested that he "could be a vagrant who sneaked into the aeroplane when it landed at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda."

Impounded

The plane and contents were impounded but later released, together with the crew.

Released without charge

The Zimbabwean police reportedly stated that the autopsy of the body revealed no internal or external injuries, the death was result of lack of oxygen, and so finding nothing suspicious, they let the crew continue on their way.

Ground staff gingerly approach the dead body in the hold.

Concerns

This story may already have raised a number of concerns in the mind of the alert reader. Many of those questioned refused to comment or changed their stories. The "emergency landing" for example was later being described as a "routine fuel stop". The Aviation Herald published a report on 16 February 2016 which remarked that they "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." Their report contains little interpretation but plenty of useful details.

Bloodstains

Markus Schwab's photo appears to support the claim that Munich ground staff noticed blood stains. Daniel Hopsicker reported the blood stains were reported as coming from the severed arm of a dead man. Various sources report the body in an advanced state of decay - so much so that fingerprints could not be taken and that his age could not be estimated. This all seems a little unexpected if the Zimbabwean police narrative about a stowaway dying from a simple lack of oxygen is to be believed. If they are not to be believed, why not? Do central banks move cash around like this often? Do any controls or records exist?

CIA involvement

Daniel Hopsicker writes that "“Western Global Airlines” was once known as “Southern Air Transport.” The same management owns it today that brought Southern Air out of bankruptcy back in 2002. So the plane belongs to a CIA contractor. When Western Global started service, the airline announced, probably not tongue-in-cheek, that it would “serve the major cargo centers of South America, where they will be flying from Colombia to Miami carrying cut flowers.” But there’s another reason that’s the real clincher: The crisis PR firm the airline hires to release the press release did PR for the Minnesota dentist who killed “Cecil the Lion.”"

Other Unanswered Questions

As South African website, IOL summarised: "What is the identity of the dead man; why would anyone stow away on an Africa-bound aircraft in Germany; where did he come from; and how did he end up on the large cargo aircraft?"

Rating

19 August 2016 Robin  67 tons of cash and a body found on a CIA plane. Western media uninterested.
This is, particularly in light of other CIA plane events linked to the global illegal drug trade, not a story which should not be allowed to slip down the memory hole.

Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.