US plane with a dead body and cash grounded in Zimbabwe

A plane carrying millions of South African rands was impounded on Monday in Zimbabwe by officials from the country’s aviation authority.

According to media reports, the MD-11 trijet was traveling from Germany to South Africa and had landed in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare for refueling.

Adding mystery to the incident, a dead body believed to be a stowaway was discovered in the aircraft.

Zimbabwe’s Civil Aviation Authority head, David Chawota, said the cargo on the plane belonged to the South African Reserve Bank.

The jet is registered with Western Global Airlines based in Estero, Florida, US.

“The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of an aircraft carrying a SARB consignment that stopped in Harare and was detained following the discovery of an unidentified body that is presumed to be a stowaway on the aircraft,” said Pradeep Maharaj, a senior official form the South African Reserve Bank.

He added that the bank was working with authorities to ensure that the cargo was released and transported to South Africa.