Body found in S. Africa-bound cash plane held in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe authorities are investigating
after a US-registered plane carrying a cargo of cash to
South Africa made an unscheduled stopover in Harare
where a body was found in the landing gear, officials
said Monday.
The plane asked to land in Harare due to a technical
problem while en route from Germany, the South
African embassy said, adding that the corpse was
thought to be a stowaway.
The plane was impounded by Zimbabwe officials,
according to local media reports.
Airport attendants reportedly discovered the body after
noticing blood on the plane fuselage.
"This is an international cargo plane which was hired
by the South African Reserve Bank to transport cargo
from Germany," Vusi Mavimbela, South Africa's
ambassador to Zimbabwe, told AFP.
Mavimbela said the crew asked for permission to land
in Harare due to a technical hitch.
"When they landed, this stowaway was discovered by
airport staff," Mavimbela said. "The authorities are
looking into the matter."
Airport sources said the plane belonging to a Florida-
based cargo carrier was carrying millions of South
African rands from a printer in Germany.
Mavimbela confirmed the plane was hired by the South
Africa central bank to carry banknotes printed in
Germany but would not disclose the amount.
Police and aviation authorities were not available to
comment.