In a plot twist straight out of an aviation soap opera, Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the 50-year-old son of Equatorial Guinea’s President, has been sentenced to six years behind bars for allegedly turning a state-owned airplane into his personal business jet — or at least trying to sell it that way.

The plane in question? An ATR 72-500, once proudly flying the skies with the national carrier Ceiba Intercontinental, reportedly sold to a Spanish company in what prosecutors call an “unauthorized joyride of greed.” Obiang Nsue, who once called the shots as Director of Ceiba Intercontinental, is accused of cashing in on the deal like a frequent flyer cashing in miles — except with cold hard cash.

The catch? He might dodge the jail time if he coughs up about $255,000 to reimburse the airline, plus some extra fees and fines slapped on by the government. It’s like a bizarre “buy one, get out of jail free” card — if he can pay up.

Geopolitical analyst Aaron Ng’ambi weighed in on the drama, calling it a “clear message” that no one, not even presidential offspring, can just wing it when it comes to state assets. Whether this marks a new era of transparency or just a turbulent layover in Equatorial Guinea’s governance saga remains to be seen.

For now, it seems the country’s most high-profile plane sale ended not with a smooth landing, but a crash course in accountability.

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