No Buyers for Smuggled Aircraft in Auction

No Buyers for Smuggled Aircraft in Auction

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Two smuggled passenger aircraft, which were seized by customs, failed to find a new owner at a local auction Tuesday, November 28.

It is the first auction of this kind ever held in China, but the aircraft, two Russian-made Tu-154M, attracted no bidders for their poor conditions and comparatively expensive prices, according to sources with a local auction house.

One of the aircraft, with an opening price of 1.2 million yuan, is in very bad conditions and needs to be overhauled by its Russian manufacturer, while the other, initially priced at 400,000 yuan, is very worn out and can no longer be put into service, the sources said.

The planes were smuggled in by Du Dinghuan, former general manager of the Sichuan Airlines.

The auction drew nationwide attention and a large number of reporters flocked to the Sichuan Provincial Commodities Auction Center in Chengdu, the provincial capital.

Li Chungui, president of the auction house, said they would hold another auction for the two aircraft.