White House Version of Mid-Air Exchange Disputed

Reuters ^ | 12/01/03

[TexKat]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British Airways said on Monday that none of its pilots made contact with President Bush's plane during its secret flight to Baghdad, contradicting White House reports of a mid-air exchange that nearly prompted Bush to call off his trip.

Honor Verrier, a spokeswoman for British Airways in North America, said two BA aircraft were in the area at the time and neither radioed the president's plane to ask if it was Air Force One.

"We have spoken to the British Airways captains who were in the area at the time and neither made comments to Air Force One nor did they hear any other aircraft make the statement over the radio," Verrier said in response to a question from Reuters.

The White House had no immediate comment on the discrepancy.

Bush aides recounted with excitement last week the moment during the flight to Baghdad when they said a BA pilot thought he spotted the president's blue and white Boeing 747 from his cockpit.

"Did I just see Air Force One?" the pilot radioed, according to the White House.

There was a pause. Then came the response from Air Force One: "Gulfstream 5" -- a much smaller aircraft.

As one of Bush's aides recounted, the BA pilot seemed to sense that he was in on a secret, and replied: "Oh."

The exchange was one of the most suspenseful moments during Bush's secret flight to Baghdad, according to the White House.

With three hours to go, Bush had the Secret Service check if his mission was still secret.

"They assured me that there was still a tight hold on the information, that conditions on the ground were as positive as positive could be," he said afterward.

[TexKat]

I know it was aliens in their flying saucers.

[adam_az]

"BUSH LIED!"

giggle.

[jbstrick]

The Libs and Media are sooooo peeved that this. They are trying their best to tear it apart

[MediaMole]

When did British Airways start waiving the vision requirement for pilots?

[drc43]

Better that Bush should have tied up a major airport for 3 hours getting his hair cut.

[Dog]

What the hell is wrong with the media....

[exit82]

What pilot wants to be known for almost blowing the Prez's visit? Of course the pilots are keeping a lid on it. They are professionals.

Unlike the media that is desperately trying to tear apart the courage of our President.

[been_lurking]

How did they know what "area" the incident occurred in?

They didn't. They just asked two BA pilots at random. But you already knew that, you just forgot your rhetorical question tag. :)

[xrp]

I could've sworn that Oliver North, sitting in for Suck Hannity, said he saw AF1 and that he [North] was on one of the British Airways flights.

[Wheee The People]

Those black hilocopters often look and sound like British Airway planes.

[MizSterious]

It's Reuters. That says it all.

[desertcry]

Reuters, the well known chirac and leftist propaganda machine.

[stationkeeper]

I don't know of many B.A. pilots who would mistake a Boeing 747-200 for a Gulfstream 5......................

[Cobra64]

I don't know of many B.A. pilots who would mistake a Boeing 747-200 for a Gulfstream 5......................

I think you missed the point. The Air Force One pilot responded that way in order to discourage the BA pilot from chatting with AF1 and giving away position.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Good Question

[johnb838]

Ollie didn't say he saw it. He said based on the timing of the flight and when he was on BA, he may have flown right by it.

[Ann Archy]

Can ONLY the Captain radio? The article said they asked Two Captains.

[Kirkwood]

If I were the BA pilot, I wouldn't fess up to it either. I simply wouldn't want my name splattered all over the place and then contend with the subsequent hassles of phone calls, etc.

[hellinahandcart]

"Oh."