A Boeing 747-300M aircraft at the center of a tug of war between the United States (US), Argentina and Venezuela has been scrapped, according to reports.
The Boeing 747, once owned by Iranian carrier Mahan Air, arrived in the US from Argentina after the District of Colombia court issued a final order of forfeiture giving all right, title and interest in the aircraft to the US.
On February 11, 2024, physical custody of the aircraft was transferred to the US and the Boeing 747 landed in southern Florida the same day.
Lo que en algún momento fue el B747 de Emtrasur (🇻🇪) que estuvo incautado en Buenos Aires (🇦🇷).
— Vicente Valdebenito | SCL Aviation Photography. (@vicho_zs) February 28, 2024
Lamentable (pero esperado) final. pic.twitter.com/gSUbXmHhoY
The US had alleged that the aircraft’s transfer from Mahan Air to the Venezuelan cargo carrier Emtrasur, a subsidiary of Conviasa, violated US export control laws.
On February 12, 2024, the US Department of Justice stated that Mahan Air was a sanctioned Iranian airline affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Photos and video footage of the jet, registered YV3531, were taken on February 28, 2024, at Dade-Collier Transition and Training Airport (TNT).
The pictures show the Boeing 747 broken up in two large parts, with heavy construction machinery scattered around the aircraft.
Seized Emtrasur Boeing 747-300M filmed being dismantled at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Florida. pic.twitter.com/p4f3z8HXmt
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) February 29, 2024
A large gash can also be seen down the fuselage, probably used by demolition teams to gut the inside of the plane.
Following the arrival of the Boeing 747 in the US, Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida said: “Bad actors — both near and far — are on alert that the United States will use all its tools to hold those who violate our laws to account. The successful seizure of the Boeing 747 underscores our commitment to prevent the illegal exportation of U.S. technologies and enforce U.S. export control laws.”