N900SA
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The DC-9 aircraft with the former tail number N900SA (S/N 45775) was involved in drug smuggling and was caught with 5.5 tons of cocaine onboard after landing in Mexico on April 10, 2006. On April 13, 2006, the aircraft was deregistered and sold to an unknown customer in Venezuela.
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[edit] Background
Originally manufactured in 1966 for Trans-World Airlines as N1061T, the aircraft has had a long career flying for various individuals and companies, including Tracinda Investment (N241TC), Kenny Rogers (N9KR), Southmark Corporation (N89SM), the Seattle Seahawks (N40SH), Aircraft 45775, Inc, and HW Aviation.
The DC-9 was traded to SkyWay Communications Holding by duPont Investment Fund 57289, Inc in exchange for 28,000,000 shares of stock[1] in December, 2004, though photographs show the SkyWay logo to have been painted on the aircraft at least eight months before. [2] The FAA records, however, show the aircraft as registered to Royal Sons LLC. SkyWay Communications had previously announced the purchase of another DC-9, tail number N120NE (S/N 45731), to act as an "airborne test environment for new SWYC products and services".[3] This aircraft is now listed for sale on the website of United Flite,[4] a company with the same address as several aviation companies, including Royal Sons.
[edit] Drug seizure
The aircraft departed Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela on the afternoon of April 10, 2006. Approximately 1.5 hours into the flight, it reportedly returned to the airport and refueled before resuming its flight to Toluca, Mexico. However, some time into the flight they made an emergency landing at the Ciudad del Carmen airport, claiming hydraulic problems with the landing gear. The flight crew told the ground crew to keep people away from the aircraft, claiming leaking oil could be hazardous and that a tire could explode. The pilot reportedly left the area at this time and was never caught or identified.
The Mexican police approached the aircraft with drug-sniffing dogs and the ground crew attempted to keep them away, but to no avail. The dogs identified the presence of drugs and the police entered the aircraft, arresting the co-pilot, Miguel Vicente Vázquez Guerra. An Falcon business jet of Mexican registry (XB-IYK) was reportedly making a rendezvous with the DC-9 and its crew was also arrested.
There are some reports that say Mexican soldiers patrolling the airport observed a Falcon arriving several days before the DC-9's arrival. The two Mexican pilots were seen in the area throughout the next few days and reportedly attempted to pay for the DC-9 to make an emergency landing after the airport closed. It is unknown if this is the same aircraft and crew that was arrested.
