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MARQUETTE COUNTY -- For the last 12 months it's made a cozy nest for birds, and that's about it.  The Ilyushin IL-78 is still sitting idle at Sawyer International Airport. 

The close to 230 ton Russian-made military plane came from Texas and was bound for Pakistan.  Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary the plane has been sitting at Sawyer International Airport.

The plane stopped to refuel before its planned flight to Pakistan, but during their stop, five crew members were arrested for expired Visas.  Also during the stop, a Texas lawyer called the county Sherriff’s office, claiming the plane had been stolen.  The owners of the plane allegedly owed $62,000 to a maintenance firm for fuel repairs and storage.  After an appearance in Circuit Court, the owners were forced to give the plane to the maintenance firm which in turn wanted to sell the plane to recoup their fees. 

Well, the plane has apparently now been sold to a third company, known as Temco Industries, Inc.

"It has been alleged that the plane was sold for $60,000, and the people that have filed the petition asking that the plane not go are alleging that the sale was unreasonable," said Cheryl Hill, Chief Civil Council for Marquette County.

Unreasonable because the original owners of the plane say the plane is worth much more than $60,000...maybe, more like five to ten million dollars. 

So the old Russian plane, along with its birds, just sits here until a judge decides it can finally take off again.

The next court hearing is scheduled for next Friday.