The story of flight N844AA reads like a script from a Hollywood thriller, yet it’s a real-life mystery that has puzzled aviation experts and law enforcement agencies for years. On the evening of May 25, 2003, a decommissioned Boeing 727-200, registration N844AA, took off from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola, and simply disappeared into the sunset. What makes this case even more intriguing is that the two men on board, Ben Padilla and John Mutantu, were not qualified to pilot such an aircraft.
The Boeing 727, formerly owned by American Airlines and at the time by Aerospace Sales & Leasing, was used to transport fuel. With 53,000 tons of fuel on board, the aircraft’s unauthorized takeoff sparked a frantic search and raised fears of a potential flying bomb, especially in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Despite the efforts of several law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including the FBI and CIA, the whereabouts of the plane and the fate of the two men remain unknown.
Benita Padilla-Kirkland, sister of Ben Padilla, has been tirelessly working to persuade the FBI to reopen the case, armed with what she believes is new information. Her brother, a certified flight engineer, aircraft mechanic, and private pilot, had been working to get the 727 flight-ready after a business deal went sour. Alongside him was Mutantu, a hired helper from the Republic of the Congo. The aircraft’s erratic taxiing and unauthorized takeoff without communication or clearance led to widespread speculation. Was it a desperate act by Padilla, an inside job, or something more sinister?
Retired U.S. Marine General Mastin Robeson, involved in the initial response, outlined the three prevailing theories: an insurance scam, a theft by unsavory characters, or a deliberate terrorist act. The intense search that followed involved global security alerts, searches, bulletins, and interrogations. Yet, the trail went cold, and the FBI closed its case in 2005.
The backstory of N844AA is equally fraught with complications. Keith Irwin, a South African entrepreneur, had initially leased the aircraft to transport fuel to diamond mines in Angola. The deal fell through, leaving him with fuel tanks but no airplane. He then struck a new deal with Maury Joseph, president of Aerospace Sales & Leasing, Inc., which led to the aircraft’s journey to Angola. However, the venture defaulted on payments, and the terms of the contract became a point of contention.
The crew that flew N844AA to Angola faced harrowing conditions, from poor accommodations to safety concerns heightened by the presence of armed guards. The pilots and flight engineers, some of whom had not flown since the 9/11 attacks, were desperate for work. Their passports were confiscated, and only after intervention from the U.S. Embassy were they returned.
The narrative of N844AA is filled with tales of danger, desperation, and the dark allure of the unknown. It’s a story that continues to captivate and confound. As I continue to investigate, filing Freedom of Information Act requests and interviewing those who knew the aircraft, the question remains: How can a Boeing 727 just vanish?
The disappearance of N844AA is a cold case that refuses to be forgotten, a reminder of the vastness of our skies and the secrets they hold. It’s a story that continues to haunt the aviation community and the families of those involved. The mystery of flight N844AA remains unsolved, a chilling testament to the enigmas that still exist in our modern world.
Related posts:
The 727 That Vanished
2003 Angola Boeing 727 disappearance
The N844AA — The Boeing 727 That Vanished
