Cyprus unshackles mystery plane after FBI checks

A mystery plane parked in Cyprus after being suspected of being used in violation of UN sanctions over Libya has been cleared to fly, with reports saying the Legal Department told police that the aircraft can be released after it was inspected by FBI experts.

According to Philenews, Cyprus Police Chief Stelios Papatheodorou said he had sought instructions from the Legal Services Department following a close inspection of the mystery plane by FBI agents and local experts.

“The Legal Department said since the inspections have been concluded and the experts are not requesting the plane be kept in custody, then there is no need to keep it grounded any further,” the reports said.

Previous reports said experts from the United Nations were scheduled to arrive in the Republic of Cyprus in November to open a sealed hangar at Paphos International Airport and inspect the modified crop duster to determine whether there is or was any military equipment or capabilities to transport weapons.

The plane, a converted Thrush 510G, was suspected of violating UN Security Council resolutions with the alleged transfer of military equipment to Libya. Previous reports said the aircraft, which was registered with Serbian authorities as a non-commercial aircraft, traveled to Jordan in June 2019.

Despite having filed a flight plan to Libya, reports said Annan ordered parts to be removed and the plane ended up flying to Larnaca on or around July 22. It was then flown to Paphos where it was stored in a private hangar.

Philenews also reported that local law enforcement agents and experts obtained a number of items from the plane, including flight plans, the navigation system, and gunpowder residue to determine whether the aircraft was used in the transfer of weapons.

Cypriot experts are expected to write a report on their findings and then send it to the FBI, which in turn is expected to file its own report to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee.