US investigators foiled a sophisticated plot to funnel three jumbo jets originally owned by Qantas to Iran, in defiance of strict trade sanctions. Qantas sold the passenger jets to a company in the Middle East, which hatched the plan to send the jumbos to Iran. The planes were shifted between related companies in the United Arab Emirates and the West African country of Gambia over 16 months. One of the jets — previously named the City of Tamworth — ended up in Iran in March last year, before US authorities intervened to prevent the other two 747s joining it there. The revelations include details of how the firm to which Qantas had sold the three jumbos had created a front company in Gambia to help it get the planes to Iran without raising suspicions. An aircraft leasing company in California has lodged a formal complaint against Qantas with the US State Department. CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing alerted US investigators about Qantas selling the jumbos to
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