Seven Flights To, From U.S. Are Canceled

My Way/ AP ^ | Jan. 31, 2004 | BETH GARDINER

[FairOpinion]

LONDON (AP) - British Airways (BAB) and Air France on Saturday announced the cancellation of seven flights to and from the United States because of security concerns.

BA canceled four flights between Heathrow Airport and Washington on Sunday and Monday and one from Heathrow to Miami on Sunday. Air France canceled two Paris-to-Washington flights. There are no plans to raise the terror alert in the United States because of the latest threats, Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said.

"We remain concerned about al-Qaida's desire to target aviation, especially international aviation," said Roehrkasse said.

"The U.S. intelligence community continues to gather specific credible threat information on international flights, as we have done in an ongoing basis in the past few weeks. We have shared this information with our international partners, and will work with them to put in place the appropriate security measures."

BA Flight 223 to Washington's Dulles airport will not fly on Sunday or Monday, but was to have departed Saturday afternoon, said an airline spokeswoman. Flight 222 from Washington Dulles to London also was canceled Sunday and Monday, the airline said.

The Saturday flight from London to Washington appeared to be running behind schedule, but no extra security was seen around the jet.

Dennis Lopez, 48, a lawyer from Tampa, Fla., boarding the plane, said the cancelations were unnerving.

"I'm a little worried and if I had another flight arrangement right now that could take me there I would definitely take advantage of that," he said.

He added that he had just arrived from Kuwait, and "I breathed a sigh of relief when I landed in London, thinking I was out of the area of most concern. ... It hadn't occurred to me that this flight could be a possible target."

BA Flight 207 to Miami will not fly on Sunday, the airline said, but had departed Saturday morning.

Air France canceled its Flight 026 from Paris to Washington on both Sunday and Monday "for reasons of security," spokeswoman Veronique Brachet said.

The BA spokeswoman, who declined to be identified, said BA had made its decision on the advice of the British government. She cited security fears but gave no further details.

"The safety and security of our operations is our absolute priority and will not be compromised," the airline said.

BA's Flight 223 had been the subject of concern early in January, when it was canceled twice because of security fears and then delayed for hours several more times.

Six Air France flights were canceled between Paris and Los Angeles on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day after security talks between U.S. and French officials.

U.S. officials said Friday that new intelligence indicated Flight 223 and Air France flights from Paris to an unspecified U.S. city could be terrorist targets.

"We remain concerned about al-Qaida's desire to target aviation, especially international aviation," U.S. Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. "The U.S. intelligence community continues to gather specific credible threat information on international flights, as we have done in an ongoing basis in the past few weeks."

The department said it could not immediately say why the flights were canceled, or specify the source of the intelligence - U.S., British or another government's - that led to BA's decision.

A British Department for Transport spokesman said only that the decision to cancel the flights was made "in the light of information received."

"Aviation security measures are adjusted from time to time, and occasional cancellations may be necessary," he said on condition of anonymity. "The first priority is always the safety of the traveling public."

[mylife]

I'll be glad when the Super Bowl is over. I always get the creeps about the Super Bowl

Yes, and the fact that the superbowl falls on the same day as "the feast of the sacrifice" which commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God.

It would be highly symbolic to conduct a jihadi sacrifice on that day.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I see that. I can always learn here on this forum, thanks.

P.S. see my tag ;)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Did they let the suspect go like the French did?

[Eala]

Odd. It seems to always be British Airways and Air France, but not other carriers to/from Europe. Wonder why?

[FairOpinion]

I think that just because the Muslim holidays will be over, doesn't mean the threat is.

9-11 was not any Muslim or US holiday, it was "just another day", until the attacks made it significant.

Also:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1068666/posts

FBI and DHS Warns of National Rail System Vulnerabilities (to terror attacks, mentions sarin gas)


WASHINGTON, DC: According to reports from law enforcement sources, a FBI and Department of Homeland Security Bulletin warned that there was a continuing terrorist threat against U.S. subways and railways. The bulletin released on Wednesday said that although no specific information pertaining to an attack existed, "such an attack could not be ruled out."

Mentioned in the bulletin was Usama bin Laden's long-term fascination with the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.

"An attack on a subway or rail system could cause substantial loss of life, and would have an adverse impact on public confidence, resulting in massive economic loss," the bulletin said, according to a report of it by FoxNews.

[OXENinFLA]

Arabic Daily: Al-Qa'ida Preparing Big Operation to Coincide with Eid Al-Adha [Feast of the Sacrifice] on Feb. 2, 2004 -New Bin Laden Tape will Explain Details

[mylife]

I think that just because the Muslim holidays will be over, doesn't mean the threat is.

Yes I agree, I just think that the muslim holidays are likely to inspire jihadi activity.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

This is what I don't get -- why did they PREANNOUNCE the flight cancellations?

[Dog]

What new Bin Laden tape?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I'll be glad when the muslim holidays are over

I donno. I'll miss it. Muslim holidays bring such good will and cheer to the world.

[FairOpinion]

More on Foxnews just now:

More flights may be canceled, all would be flights originating in Europe (could also include a US airline, which flies internationally, they didn't name it) and headed for the following US cities:

Newark, Washington, Miami, Los Angeles -- I think they mentioned a couple of other cities, I should have listened, instead of starting to type and missed it.

They also said, there is concern that the terrorists may plant a radiological bomb on one of the planes.

[OXENinFLA]

I'm not sure.

That was from Dec. last year.

I think there have(purportedly) been some since then.

[OXENinFLA]

New Bin Laden Tape 1-4-04

[OXENinFLA]

MEMRI Special Report: Contemporary Islamist Ideology Permitting Genocidal Murder

[Lijahsbubbe]

I donno. I'll miss it. Muslim holidays bring such good will and cheer to the world

Yah, isn't that when their charitable giving to the underpriveleged really increases?

Don't they give out holiday meal baskets, feed people at homeless shelters, donate toys, hats and coats?

The religion is such an asset to our country, you know, really, it is.

[river rat]

I wonder if our country is issuing threats to those countries that STILL brain wash their children to hate America, Jews, Christians, etc.....and to aspire to MURDER in order to win Allah's love and enternal life screwing virgins.

Perhaps a major city or two - vanishing in a high temperature cloud would be taken as a sign from Allah that his is not pleased with their murderous behavior...

I guess it's thought like that, make me unfit to be president.......

Semper Fi

[FairOpinion]

More flights may be canceled, all would be flights originating in Europe (could also include a US airline, which flies internationally, they didn't name it) and headed for the following US cities:

Newark, Washington, Miami, Los Angeles --

===

The other two mentioned were Houston and Las Vegas.

[KQQL]

Monsieur Jean Kerry

"I think there has been an exaggeration," Mr. Kerry said when asked whether President Bush has overstated the threat of terrorism.
SC Dem Debate 01/29/04:

[b4its2late]

Must be the female that hides the explosive in the um, um, um, private area that they are worried about again.....

[Future Snake Eater]

I guess it's thought like that, make me unfit to be president.......

I'd vote for you with that platform.