"The US government is working with governments in Africa trying to cooperate, to seek any information that is available on the potential location of this," said White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer.
"We don't have any reliable assessments about what this portends, what it could be, who may be behind it. But it is an issue that is being worked on in the federal government," the spokesperson said.
The Washington Post reported yesterday that the CIA and the State Department had joined in the continent-wide search for the aircraft, which US authorities said was likely stolen as part of a business dispute or financial scam.
A less likely, but far more chilling scenario, is that the plane was either stolen by terrorists or could end up in their hands for an attack like the 2001 strikes by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, US officials told the Post.
The 28-year-old jetliner was stolen from under the noses of Luanda airport's control tower on May 25 and has not been sighted since.
It had been parked at the airport for 14 months.
US spy satellites have taken pictures of remote airstrips throughout Africa, including those at a half-fuel-tank's distance from Luanda's "4 de Fevereiro" airport.
US diplomats have traveled across Africa seeking the aircraft.
Flown by American Airlines for decades, the 47-meter, 90 700-kilotram jetliner was later owned, leased or subleased by a number of people and companies, with the Miami-based Aerospace Sales and Leasing Company its current owner.
Angolan state radio said shortly after its disappearance that it had been chartered by the Angolan airline Airangol but was grounded after being banned from overflying Angolan territory on account of a series of irregularities. - Sapa-AFP.
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