SAWYER -- The Russian cargo jet that's been sitting at Sawyer International Airport has moved for the first time in two and a half years.
The plane landed at Sawyer in July of 2009 to refuel for a flight to Pakistan. The crew was then arrested on immigration violations and the plane was reported stolen.
Headlands Limited was awarded possession of the plane by the Marquette County Circuit Court in January. They moved the plane into hanger 663 at the airport last Friday.
Now a crew is conducting preliminary repairs on the jet.
"Biggest challenge is we don't have a Russian speaking interpreter with us - one is on the way. Right now we don't have one, so we're fumbling our way through, having to do a lot of research and make sure we know what we're doing," said Repair Project Manager, Charles Searock.
They say it appears the plane received little damage from its time spent out in the elements. The company is hoping to keep the repair project costs below half a million dollars. They anticipate having the plane back in the air in a month.
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