BUENOS AIRES – REUTERS
A plane dedicated to the memory of legend Diego Maradona has been unveiled ahead of the trip that will end in Qatar, which will host the FIFA World Cup finals later this year.
An Argentine company funded the 12-seater Tango D10S plane to be a flying museum in honor of the late player who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and died of a heart attack in November 2020.
A picture of Maradona kissing the World Cup appears on the fuselage, while a picture of his face is placed on the tail.
The wings include two images of the two goals Maradona scored in the 2-1 victory over England in the quarter-finals in 1986.
“I am in love with Maradona,” said Gaston Kolker, CEO of financial technology firm Jeff & Gate. I’m one of those people who still watches Diego’s videos before I go to sleep. This is the first World Cup without Maradona and maybe the last with (Lionel) Messi. I said, I want to make a Diego plane. That is why we called it Tango DS10.
“When Maradona’s colleagues saw this, they were amazed, they were impressed by the plane,” Kolker said at a ceremony to unveil the plane, in the presence of former players from the winning team.
The plan is to fly the plane around Argentina and eventually to Qatar, which will host the World Cup finals in November.
Fans will be able to board the plane and leave a message for Maradona in the cockpit, “interact” with the late player through artificial intelligence, and see memorabilia from him and the 1986 players.
The aircraft will also be available for private hire prior to being offered at a charity auction.
Maradona’s daughter, Dalma, said: “We can’t believe or understand this madness, the love that is involved. How far will the fans go? As far as the plane will go.
