The Gulfstream III aircraft, registered N50BH, has been alleged to have been used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and carried passengers to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and military prisons. For the first time on Sept. 6, 2005, President George W. Bush officially acknowledged the existence of a secret worldwide network of CIA-run prisons. But were the prisoners ferried by this aircraft?
The History of the Gulfstream III N50BH
This aircraft originally entered into service in 1982 and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Spey Mark 511-8 turbofan engines.
This aircraft model is known for its distinctive oval windows, a range of approximately 4,000 nautical miles, and a typical cabin configuration for 14 to 19 passengers.
This specific Gulfstream III aircraft was originally owned by Prewitt Leasing from July 28, 2000, up until Nov. 9, 2000, when it was reregistered under a different registration number.
On Dec. 12, 2000, Aviation Enterprises took ownership of the aircraft; then, later in 2001, Crystal Jet Aviation owned it and registered it under N50BH.
This aircraft was reportedly used by the CIA during 2001-2005 for prisoner transports and flights to Guantanamo and other locations.
Flight Path
The ‘CIA Gulfstream III’ flew to numerous locations:
- Europe & The Middle East: Regular flights to countries suspected or known for detaining prisoners, including Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, and Libya.
- Afghanistan: Multiple stops in Kabul.
- Guantanamo Bay: Made several stops.
- North America: Flew to the U.S. (including Teterboro near NYC) and Canada.
- Scandinavia: Flew from Sweden to Iceland in 2002 and was investigated for presence in Norwegian airspace.
- France: Landed at Le Bourget Airport in Paris in 2005, prompting an investigation by French authorities.
Speculations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that over 300 flights landed in Europe between November 2001 and August 2005.
The Norwegian government had spoken to the U.S. ambassador in Oslo, who had denied allegations that U.S. aircraft that had landed in Norway were carrying prisoners. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg stated:
Oslo has been assured by the Americans that no prisoner transport planes have landed in Norway.
French authorities opened up a formal investigation in 2006 to determine whether N50BH had been used to transport CIA prisoners (particularly relating to a landing at Le Bourget Airport, Paris, July 20, 2005). The aim was to verify the aircraft’s role in these allegations, but this inquiry did not issue a definitive public finding of prisoner transport.
Many reports are linking this aircraft with CIA operations; however, investigations by European authorities have determined that there has been no definitive evidence (such as confirmation from U.S. authorities or classified flight manifests) that confirms these allegations.
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