Abandoned Boeing Aircraft Sold for the Price of Ten iPhones
A Boeing 727 from 1966 was sold at an auction for USD 10,132, which is roughly equal to the price of ten flagship iPhones. The 727 was a part of the “Con Air” programme of the U.S. Marshals and was used to transport prisoners. After gathering dust in the hangars of El Paso International Airport for nearly 20 years, the aircraft has found a new owner.
The old aircraft had seen every harsh weather condition that El Paso had to offer since the early 2000s, ranging from scorching sun to heavy rainstorms, and the occasional snowfall. It had seen about 56 bids on the government auction website before ending up in the hands of a local unidentified buyer.
Airport Director of El Paso International Airport Tony Nevarez commented that he is quite excited to see what the new owner has in mind for the plane. He also revealed that the buyers of previous such planes had put their purchases to creative uses, like making them into a bar, home or restaurant.
The plane’s metaphorical flight into abandonment reached a climax when its previous owner died in an aircraft accident in 2015. As the parking fees went unpaid and the bill stacked on, the city decided to start legal processes to take the ownership of the aircraft in 2021.
Despite a notable history of serving in the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPTS), also known as the Con Air programme of the U.S. Marshals, the plane was declared not airworthy during the auction and would require extensive repairs that would exceed the overall value of the aircraft. The years of exposure to the elements took a serious toll.
The proceeds of the sale will be added to the operational budget of the airport. The 727 was a popular aircraft of its time and highly valued for its ability to operate from shorter runways.
