Saddam's Jets: Two Iraqi Boeing 747s

These two Iraqi 747s have been baking in the Tunisian desert for over 35 years and they still look wild from above.

YI-AGP (747-200C) and YI-ALM (747SP) were flown to Tozeur-Nefta Airport right before the 1991 Gulf War to keep them safe from bombing. Saddam’s government parked them there, painted them plain white, and basically left them. The paint is peeling now, showing the old green Iraqi livery underneath.

YI-ALM was Saddam’s personal VIP jet, the smaller SP version. YI-AGP was a regular passenger bird with 45 first class and 285 economy seats. Both have been sitting there ever since, caught up in legal and money disputes involving Iraq, Tunisia, Kuwait, and the UN.

There were auction attempts a few years ago, but they’re still there rotting away. Crazy to think these massive jets have been abandoned in the sand for decades.