Third Operational Boeing 727 used for transport of weapons Identified at N’Djamena Airport
An investigation by Reuters has identified the third operational Boeing 727 based at N’Djamena International Airport in Chad as the former PR-TTW (MSN 22438), previously operated by Total Cargo in Brazil. The aircraft arrived in Chad at November 1, 2024.
According to Reuters, satellite imagery shows that the Boeing 727 (MSN 22438) made at least three flights between N’Djamena and Kufrah Airport in Libya between March 2025 and January 2026. The aircraft was reportedly operated by operator name Occidental Suporting Services and transported weapons for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese paramilitary group accused of committing atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan.
The two other Boeing 727s identified at N’Djamena, N725CK and N726CK, are both former Kalitta Air aircraft. This website published multiple stories about these aircraft.
Photo above taken from Google Earth. Image date May 31, 2026.
Reuters conducted an extensive investigation into how these aircraft ended up in Chad. The investigation is an impressive piece of investigative journalism. Because the aircraft did not transmit ADS-B signals, tracking their flights through conventional flight-tracking websites was virtually impossible. It remains unknown whether the aircraft now carry new registrations or whether they display any registration markings at all.
The first 727, registration N726CK, was bought on May 29, 2025, by South African company Contractor Airways Proprietary Limited, according to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration documents. Shaulis is listed as a director of the company in South Africa’s business registry, as is a longtime business partner of his in Africa, Craig Munro, who is also CEO of Contractor Airways.
It appears that a decision has recently been made to stop operating the aircraft. Reuters reports that satellite imagery shows all three Boeing 727s were moved from the military section of N’Djamena Airport between 9 July and 12 July this year and parked elsewhere on the airfield.
What Reuters does not mention is that a third former Kalitta Air Boeing 727 was also ferried to Africa. This aircraft, N729CK, was still present there in April 2026 and was missing its No. 2 engine. Photographs of the aircraft can be found on the AVcom website.
For additional background on the former Kalitta B727 aircraft, also read:
