In 2003, a Boeing plane was stolen from an airport in Angola and has never been found.
The mysterious disappearance of the aircraft has puzzled investigators for over 20 years, leaving them with no clues about its location.
Boeing plane mysteriously stolen but no one has known its whereabouts for over 20 years
The incident happened in 2003 when two individuals, Ben C. Padilla, a US citizen and private pilot, and John M. Mutantu from Angola, boarded the parked Boeing 727 at Angola airport.
The plane that was stolen had the number 844AA and had been used for a long time, flying many hours and completing numerous cycles during its 26.5-year existence.
However, during that time, planes didn't have the advanced tracking technology that is now available.
Shortly after takeoff, the plane's lights and transponder were intentionally switched off, and it vanished without a trace.
The last reported sighting indicated that it was flying southwest toward the Atlantic Ocean.
The Boeing 72 belonged to Aerospace Sales & Leasing and had been parked at the airport since March 2002.
It was being modified at that time to be used by IRS Airlines, a Nigerian company.
The disappearance of the plane has sparked numerous theories among people.
Benita Padilla-Kirkland, who is Ben C. Padilla's sister, shared her concerns that the plane might have crashed somewhere in Africa or that her brother was being kept captive without his permission.
Similarly, Ben Padilla's brother, Joe, believed that someone was waiting onboard the aircraft for Padilla and Mutantu and forced them into stealing the plane before meting out fatal consequences.
There are other theories about the stolen plane.
Some believe it may have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, while others think it was stolen for insurance fraud or taken apart for parts near the Tanzania border.
However, there is no solid evidence or any wreckage found from the plane to prove these theories.
The reasons behind the theft remain secret, and they could range from insurance scams to involvement in illegal activities or even terrorism.
Despite initial reports of a sighting in Guinea, subsequent investigations dismissed this lead.
Even a thorough investigation by Smithsonian Magazine in 2010 couldn't give definite answers or reveal where the plane had gone on that important day in 2003.
The questions about the missing Boeing 727 still leave investigators puzzled by its mysterious disappearance.
The stolen Boeing plane is proof of one of the most enigmatic disappearances in aviation history.
