JOHOR BARU: Three Boeing 747 aircraft – once worth tens of millions of ringgit – have been sold at a public auction for only RM800,000 after being abandoned at the Senai International Airport for many years.
The successful foreign bidder, believed to be an aerospace scrap recycling company, has since started demolishing the aircraft.
It has to clear the three superjumbo jets over the next few weeks.
It is learnt that several companies bid for the planes during the auction a few weeks ago.
A visit by The Star to the airport showed that all salvageable items, including engines and electrical systems, had been removed.
At least three excavators were used to tear down the bodies of the planes. One of the planes had been completely torn down as only its landing gear was visible.
Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said he was aware that the planes had been sold.
However, he was not sure what the company intended to do with the aircraft.
The Star reported that the three planes belonged to a US-based company, which brought them in as part of its aviation venture in the region.
However, the two cargo planes and a commercial one never took off and were left idle at the airport for about 10 years.
The aircraft, which used to be worth about US$30mil (RM125mil) each, are now covered in dirt and soot.
It is learnt that the planes’ previous owner owed the Senai airport over RM1mil in parking charges. Aviation officials said the case had even gone to court and was won by the airport.
An old Facebook post claimed that the planes were being offered for sale at RM5.3mil each, and that they were over 30 years old and only good for scrap.
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