'Real and Definite Threat' Caused BA Flight Cancellation

The Scotsman ^ | Jan 02 2004 | By Caroline Gammell, PA News

[Dog]

'Real and Definite Threat' Caused BA Flight Cancellation

By Caroline Gammell, PA News

The cancellation of British Airways flight BA223 from Heathrow to Washington was caused by a “real and definite threat”, a defence expert warned today.

The plane had already started checking in passengers and was due to leave at 3.05pm.

But BA announced it had been cancelled at 1.15pm – less than two hours before take off – for security reasons.

Paul Beaver, a defence analyst, said: “This is certainly unusual. The intelligence is very, very precise which is why this one flight has been cancelled.

“We have got intelligence, I am told, that there was a plan to take the aircraft and destroy it over Washington or fly it into something.

“Washington is the definite target.”

Mr Beaver said the information passed on to BA via the Government was likely to have come from American intelligence.

“All I know is there is a real and definite threat.”

He went on: “There is good and precise intelligence that there is more than one al Qaida or al Qaida-like group operating against the US.

“One is based in central America and the other is based in Europe – in London or Paris.”

Mr Beaver said it was not known whether operatives in these potential terror cells are carrying legal British passports.

Yesterday’s flight BA223 was also cancelled several hours before it was scheduled to depart after BA received “security advice” from the Government.

On New Year’s Eve, the same flight had been kept on the runway for three hours after landing at Washington Dulles International Airport to allow security officials to board the plane and question passengers.

The Boeing 747 was escorted into Dulles by two F-16 fighter jets.

An Aeromexico flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles was also cancelled after US authorities refused to allow it to land.

Flight 490 was cancelled after Homeland Security officials said they were concerned it might be a safety risk, said a spokesman for Mexico’s President Vicente Fox.

[Dog]

This is the article longjack mentioned..

[Dog]

Here is that article longjack found..

[Dog]

fyi..

[Trust but Verify]

Thanks for posting this, Dog. I have a question though. It has been said "the problem is with the flight, not the passengers." What the heck does that mean?

[nwctwx]

I would love to hear some followup on these cancellations. Are we actually catching anyone? I suppose they would not announce the capture of a few if they are after an entire cell, it is disconcerting to hear all these reports with nothing to indicate we are getting anyone.

[Coop]

Okay. I could buy AQ destroying this flight over D.C. airspace, but them attempting to hijack the flight - just honestly can't see it happening. Hijacking a cargo plane, yes, but not another passenger plane.

[nwctwx]

Agreed, I still feel we are going down the wrong path.

[Dog]

Freepmail..

[Coop]

It has been said "the problem is with the flight, not the passengers." What the heck does that mean?

I took it to mean the flight number itself remains the same from day to day, whereas the passengers change. So they probably have a detailed threat on this particular flight, but not sure on which day. Just MHO.

[nwctwx]

I'd guess they intercepted flight numbers during intelligence gathering.

[nicmarlo]

Ping and BTTT

[Cap Huff]

My guess is that the no-shows for the Air France flights over Christmas hopped a ferry to England for a second try. Or maybe the Air France was a diversion.

[Flyer]

“One is based in central America and the other is based in Europe – in London or Paris.”

Not the most comforting information of the day.

[Dog]

That would make sense...we know this flight will be the plane used ....but the attack could come on any given day...

[Alas Babylon!]

Exactly. Supposed some cell phone they're monitoring (or even an informant--we should be so lucky!) mentioned the flight number. Noiw if they can just roll up the terrorists, and if this means being mum for now on the what and why about these flights, then we should all be proud & grateful.

[Coop]

I just hope and pray the authorities are not only able to prevent this attack but also nab some or all of the scumbags involved.

[Dog Gone]

That's my thought, too.

[Dog]

If they will not allow this Flight 223 to depart.....than .......the cell is here.

[Seeking the truth]

“One is based in central America and the other is based in Europe – in London or Paris.”

Central America = Mexico ??????

[Azzurri]

Okay. I could buy AQ destroying this flight over D.C. airspace, but them attempting to hijack the flight - just honestly can't see it happening. Hijacking a cargo plane, yes, but not another passenger plane.

Yes, something very puzzling about talk of hijacking or "taking over the plane". The passengers are not going to sit down and allow that to happen. There's something else going on, perhaps it really is the pilots of these aircraft who have been compromised.