US agents search BA jet at Washington airport (about 1 hour ago)

Reuters ^ | 1/1/04

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S. security officials detained a British Airways Boeing 747 on arrival at a Washington, D.C., airport on Wednesday and spent several hours searching it and questioning some passengers, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Department spokeswoman Rachael Sunbarger told Reuters that BA Flight 223 to Dulles Airport from London was "detained and remains on the tarmac for further screening." She gave no further details.

An FBI spokeswoman said agents were "on scene" at Dulles International Airport outside Washington questioning some passengers, adding that it was "routine" questioning and that no arrests had been made.

"There are a number of passengers on that British Airways flight that law enforcement officials wanted to speak with and those interviews are being conducted," said the spokeswoman who asked not to be named.

Local media reported the plane, carrying 247 passengers and 17 crew, landed at 7:06 p.m. EST/0006 GMT. The reports said those on board were ferried to the terminal building about three hours later.

The United States raised its terror alert to its second highest level 10 days ago, citing the possibility of terror attacks over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

U.S. officials say they believe al Qaeda, blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon using hijacked planes, is plotting further hijackings.

Last week six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were canceled when U.S. intelligence warned French authorities that the passenger lists included suspicious names.

[myprecious]

This thread is a duplicate, but the original has dwindled to Caddy Shack chat. Is there an update on the situation?

[Semper911]

Thanks for posting this, a duplicate was needed for updates.

[Amelia]

New thread sounds like a good idea.

The Caddyshackers will never miss us.

[arasina]

ahhhhhh No Caddyshack! Now...any updates on the British Airways flight?

[relee]

AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - FBI and Homeland Security Department officials boarded a British Airways jet shortly after it landed at Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday night and detained 247 passengers for about three hours, officials said.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Rachel Sunbarger said intelligence led the agencies to detain the flight, but an FBI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident did not involve terrorism....

Right!

[arasina]

What kind of fools do they think we are? What else could it be if not a terrorism threat?

[bcoffey]

What else could it be if not a terrorism threat?

Exactly. It is obvious from their actions that the FEDS thought this was related to terrorism, despite what they're saying.

[CindyDawg]

the incident did not involve terrorism

Well, not yet.

[null and void]

What kind of fools do they think we are?

Does that need an answer?

[Amelia]

They delayed the landing of the plane, detained the passengers more than 3 hours, rescreened the luggage, and kept the plane away from the terminal as a precaution....

but it doesn't involve terrorism??

[kcvl]

Thanks...

[abner]

What kind of fools do they think we are? What else could it be if not a terrorism threat?

That is obvious. It must be the fuzzy bunny threat... We would NEVER expect the fuzzy bunnies in January. April, yes. But NOT January....

[relee]

WTOP radio said the FBI spokesman told them it was routine questioning. TV channel 7 reporter Rebecca something said it looked anything but routine. It may have been a false alarm; lets's hope so.

[stlnative]

Travelers Questioned After Dulles Landing


20 minutes ago - AP



WASHINGTON - FBI (news - web sites) and Homeland Security Department officials boarded a British Airways jet shortly after it landed at Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday night and detained 247 passengers for about three hours, officials said.



Homeland Security spokeswoman Rachel Sunbarger said intelligence led the agencies to detain the flight, but an FBI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident did not involve terrorism.


Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Jennifer Marty said passengers aboard Flight 223 from London's Heathrow Airport to Dulles were questioned aboard the plane, which landed at 7:06 p.m. EST. Officials began allowing passengers off the plane around 10:30 p.m.


Sunbarger said the baggage on board the flight underwent additional screening.


The plane was kept several hundred feet from the terminal just as a precaution until questioning was finished, another official said on condition of anonymity.


Earlier this week, a U.S.-bound flight from Mexico reversed course in midair because of concerns about improper screening of passengers.


A Homeland Security official, asking not to be identified, said Mexican authorities made the decision to turn the plane around after the United States informed them it did not feel the airline had taken adequate security measures.


The New York Times reported Wednesday that the United States had reached an agreement with a French delegation to impose stricter security requirements on flights thought to be suspicious. The French agreed to turn over passenger lists for any at-risk flight at least one hour before takeoff, rather than waiting until the flight is in the air, as is now done, the Times reported.


Several Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were canceled Dec. 24 because of terrorism concerns.

[abner]

On CNN they were saying this happens a 1/2 dozen times a week.....

Yea, right.

[arasina]

Okay...let's tinfoil hat this one then and assume they are being truthful (thus the tinfoil hat). What ELSE could cause such an investigation? I'm at a loss for ideas. A defection maybe?

[Semper911]

This obligatory "it's not terrorism related" statement is getting real old.

Goodnight freepers. Let's just hope they are catching bad guys, even if they can't tell us about it.

[jennyp]

Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Jennifer Marty said passengers aboard Flight 223 from London's Heathrow Airport to Dulles were questioned aboard the plane, which landed at 7:06 p.m. EST. Officials began allowing passengers off the plane around 10:30 p.m.

Gawd, even if it took them 3 1/2 hours to finish their investigation, you'd think they'd let the first interviewees off, then the next batch, etc., and not keep everybody on the plane for 3 1/2 hours!

[arasina]

Goodnight, Semper911. Hope you are feeling better soon.