http://www.apfn.net/dcia/scandal.html
Excerpt:
I found the America West Airline drug trafficking trial fascinating. Patrick Thurston, Vice President of Operations, America West, Bob Russell, Chief of Pilots, and Carl Wobser, a captain, all pleaded guilty to multiple counts of narcotics trafficking. They had purchased a DC 6 and embarked upon a career in the drug trade. Unfortunately for them their plane, which they maxed out electronically, had chronic engine problems which required them to touch down unexpectedly in several countries. This was more than embarrassing, since they had not filed flight plans.
On one such emergency stop in Aruba, on the way back from Columbia, their plane was found packed with marijuana. There is reason to believe that their intended cargo was cocaine and that after a mix-up they did not wish to fly back empty. Despite the lofty positions these men held with America West, they seemed to have no difficulty getting time off for their drug flights, and America West wanted to rehire Russell after his six months in the Federal country club at Safford.
Twenty percent of the stock of America West was owned by Ansett Airlines of Australia and 55% of Ansett was held by Sir Peter Ables and Rupert Murdock. We know from Jonathan Kwitny 's book, the Crimes of Patriots, that Burny Houghton, perhaps the key figure in the founding of the CIA drug money laundering bank Nugan-Hand in Australia, had coffee with Sir Peter Ables the night of his first day in Australia.
http://www.skolnicksreport.com/mrichsa.html
Excerpt:
Another rogue bank was Nugan Hand Bank, the principals of which either disappeared or were murdered in 1980; taken over by successor and alter ego, Household Bank and Household International. Former Director of Central Intelligence, William Colby, was general counsel of both Nugan Hand Bank and Household International, and was murdered in 1996, as he started to go public with certain misgivings of his past.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Ansett
Excerpt:
In late 1979, mainly due to the collapse of ASL, Ansett lost control of the company to Sir Peter Abeles of TNT and Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation who became joint managing directors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_West_Airlines
Excerpt:
In August 1987 a unit of Ansett Transport Industries Ltd.,[4] an Australian airline company and at the time 50% owned by News Corporation, purchased a 21.6 percent stake in America West. Twenty one percent of the stock of AMERICA WEST AIRLINES was owned by ANSETT AIRLINES of Australia and 55% of ANSETT AIRLINES was held by Sir Peter Ables and Rupert Murdock.
1988, Patrick Thurston, Vice President of Operations, America West, Bob Russell, Chief of Pilots, and Carl Wobser, a captain, all pleaded guilty to multiple counts of narcotics trafficking. THE PHOENIX-BANGKOK HEROIN CONNECTION
1989, Ansett Transport LTD used their influence and investment money in America West Airlines, to try to break a pilots strike in Australia. 1989 Australian pilots' dispute. The following article is from an America West pilot that crossed the Australian pilots picket line. The Down UnderWare Chronicles America West Pilot article.
http://www.takver.com/history/pilotsdispute1989.htm
Excerpt:
