Wed, May 16, 2007
727 Mysteriously Parked Facing Opposite Direction
Was it a
prank, a burglary, or something else entirely? Authorities in Lake
Township, OH are trying to figure out how a donated Boeing 727-100
changed parking spots at the airport... and what happened to some
of the plane's instruments.
The mystery started April 27, when airport officials noticed the
40-year-old, ex-FedEx jet was parked at Metcalf Airport facing 180
degrees from its original position. FedEx donated the retired plane
to Owens Community College, and had flown it to the airport nine
days earlier.
Bemusement turned to suspicion of foul play, however, when
authorities discovered some of the aircraft's flight instruments
were missing.
The Toledo Blade reports some of those instruments have been
recovered. Township police Chief Mark Hummer added a few "persons
of interest" were questioned, but no arrests were made.
As the plane was moved from its original parking space, the
township consulted with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force -- out
of concern someone may have tried to steal the aircraft. But that's
highly unlikely, Hummer said, and the agency deferred to local
authorities in handling the investigation.
There was no damage to the aircraft, Hummer added, apart from
the missing instruments.
The plane is slated for delivery to the Center for Emergency
Preparedness, on the campus of Owens' Perryburg Township campus.
The aircraft will be used for emergency and anti-terrorism
training, the Blade reports.
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