Owners of mystery jumbo jets at KLIA sought

SEPANG: Airport authorities are puzzled as to why the owners of three Boeing 747-200F aircraft that landed at the KL International Airport (KLIA) more than a year ago have abandoned the multi-million ringgit-worth planes.
The jumbo jets, two in passenger-load configuration and the other in cargo role, are parked at the "remote bay" area of the KLIA.
Checks by theSun showed that the aircraft were registered in Iceland under the registration of TF-ARN, TF-ARM and TF-ARH.
The last known company that utilised the aircraft is said to be Air Atlanta Icelandic, an air charter and cargo company based in Iceland.
Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd (KLIA) general manager Zainol Mohd Isa said it is still a mystery as to who the owners are and the reasons behind the planes being abandoned.
He said several attempts made by Malaysia Airports to contact an airline and other parties it believed could shed light into the aircraft owners proved futile.
"We have records of the arrival of the aircraft but nothing more. All three jets landed on separate occasions over a span of a year. To date we are yet to hear from any party laying claim to the aircraft." he said when contacted.
Zainol said after failed attempts of contacting the owners, Malaysia Airports placed an advertisement in Chinese and English newspapers on Monday urging them to come forward to claim the aircraft.
He said if the owners fail to claim on the 747s within 14 days then Malaysia Airports will initiate the sale of the aircraft in accordance to the law to recover debts and dues owed to it.
Zainol declined to disclose the sum owed by the owners to Malaysia Airport but it is believed that it could go up to several hundred thousand in landing and parking fees.
The Boeing 747-200 model, the second generation of jumbo jets with seating capacity of 450 passengers. was built almost 30 years old and was sold at the time for about RM100 million.
As for the three aircraft at the KLIA, considering their physical deterioration, if any, after a year of laying parked in open air, Malaysia Airports may possibly stand to dispose it at the least to an aircraft parts salvage company for a collective value of about RM50 million.