Security fears ground BA flights
Three British Airways flights to the United States have been cancelled for security reasons, the company says.
Flights BA 223 from London to Washington on Sunday and Monday and flight BA 207 to Miami on Sunday were grounded on government advice.
The move comes after US officials said fresh intelligence showed BA and Air France flights to the US could be targeted by terrorists.
A BA spokeswoman said safety was the airline’s top priority
Terrorist targets
“The safety and security of our operations is our absolute priority and will not be compromised,” she said.
The first priority is always the safety of the traveling public
Department for Transport
BA’s Flight 223 had been the subject of concern early in January, when it was cancelled twice because of security fears and then delayed for hours several more times.
US officials said on Friday new intelligence indicated BA Flight 223 and Air France flights from Paris to an unspecified US city could be terrorist targets.
A British Department for Transport spokesman said the decision to cancel the flights was made “in the light of information received”.
He said: “Aviation security measures are adjusted from time to time, and occasional cancellations may be necessary.
“The first priority is always the safety of the travelling public.”
The US Homeland Security Department has said it has no plans to raise its current alert level.
By: steve rowell - 2nd February 2004 at 11:30
Originally posted by duxfordhawk
Its good that inteligence is able to discover these threats and safety is the most inportant thing no matter what,we all know there is much going on behind the scenes and is makes me feel safer that our security services are doing such things.
Well said my friend, i totally agree with your remarks
By: robc - 1st February 2004 at 18:42
By the way resolution 223 has something to do with Israel i believe.
By: robc - 1st February 2004 at 18:40
Why doesnt BA just change the flight number! They know that it is a UN resolution or something, so change the flightnumber! For a start!
By: HURRICANE 477 - 1st February 2004 at 18:38
Originally posted by duxfordhawk
Its good that inteligence is able to discover these threats and safety is the most inportant thing no matter what,we all know there is much going on behind the scenes and is makes me feel safer that our security services are doing such things.
Yes, but it was the same intelligence services that told us that there were weapons of mass destruction in iraq, but safety is paramount and its good that these guys are doing their jobs. I also feel safer with the idea of marshalls onboard the plane, is there anybody who does disagree with having them on board passenger flights, and why?
By: LBARULES - 1st February 2004 at 14:08
If they think theirs a risk then they are going to ground the flights. Would you think it was stupid if the flights went ahead and 100s of people were killed? I think not.
By: A380!! - 1st February 2004 at 09:28
:rolleyes: this is getting very stupid and could damage BA’s reputation
By: Airline owner - 1st February 2004 at 07:57
for god sack…here we go again
By: EAL_KING - 1st February 2004 at 01:08
Third airline grounds US flight
BA also cancelled several flights in January over security fears
A third airline has grounded a flight to the US for security reasons.
Continental Airlines has cancelled Sunday’s 1215 GMT Flight 17 from Glasgow to Los Angeles via New York.
It comes after British Airways and Air France called off eight US-bound flights on Sunday and Monday, amid fears al-Qaeda may be targeting them.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it remained “concerned about al-Qaeda’s desire to target aviation, especially international aviation”.
Flights BA 223 from London Heathrow to Washington on Sunday and Monday are hit as well as return flights BA 222.
A BA flight to Miami on Sunday was also grounded on security advice, as were four Air France flights.
“The US intelligence community continues to gather specific credible threat information on international flights,” it added.
US officials said they had received reports of “al-Qaeda’s desire to target” five or six specific flights from Europe, Reuters news agency reported.
Terror fears
A BA spokeswoman said safety was the airline’s top priority.
“The safety and security of our operations is our absolute priority and will not be compromised,” she said.
The first priority is always the safety of the travelling public
Department for Transport
Air France flights AF026 were cancelled Sunday and Monday “for reasons of security,” spokeswoman Veronique Brachet said.
The return flights on Sunday and Monday from Washington to Paris – AF027 – were also cancelled, the AFP news agency reported.
Paul Wilkinson, professor of international relations at the University of St Andrews, said security agencies must have had evidence of a specific threat to cancel the flights.
He said: “Flight cancellations are exceptional measures. America is convinced there was a threat to flights bound for the US in early January – that threat has not been eradicated.”
Mustafa Alani, from the Royal United Services Institute, said the information could come from two sources.
“We have the human intelligence, basically an informer or a group that passes on such information, or we have electronic intelligence, the chatter and internet exchange between al-Qaeda groups and network.”
CANCELLATIONS
BA flight 203 London-Miami 1 Feb
BA flight 223 London-Washington 1 Feb & 2 Feb
BA flight 222 Washington-London 1 Feb & 2 Feb
Air France AF026 Paris-Washington 1 Feb & 2 Feb
Air France AF207 Washington-Paris 1 Feb & 2 Feb
BA’s Flight 223 was the subject of concern early in January, when it was cancelled twice because of security fears and then delayed for hours several more times.
US officials said on Friday new intelligence indicated BA Flight 223 and Air France flights from Paris to an unspecified US city could be terror targets.
A British Department for Transport spokesman said the decision to cancel the flights was made “in the light of information received”.
He said: “Aviation security measures are adjusted from time to time, and occasional cancellations may be necessary.
“The first priority is always the safety of the travelling public.”
The US Homeland Security Department has said it has no plans to raise its current alert level.
By: duxfordhawk - 31st January 2004 at 17:19
Its good that inteligence is able to discover these threats and safety is the most inportant thing no matter what,we all know there is much going on behind the scenes and is makes me feel safer that our security services are doing such things.
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January 31, 2004 at 2:21 pm