BA cancels flights over security fears (London to U.S., Saudi Arabia routes)

MSNBC ^ | Feb 12, 2004 | AP

[The Raven]

LONDON - A much-disrupted British Airways flight to Washington, D.C. has been canceled again over security fears, the airline said Thursday.

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BA said flight 223 from Heathrow to Washington's Dulles Airport would not fly on Sunday. Monday's Flight 263 from London to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia also was scrapped.

The airline said the decision "follows government advice to cancel those flights for security reasons."

Flight 223 has been delayed or canceled eight times this year because of U.S. security alerts. Saudi flights also have been canceled several times.

[KantianBurke]

who in their right mind would want to visit Saudi Arabia? "Come to the land that has made teddy bears illegal" a winning touristic slogan?

My sympathies to any business or oil folks who have to travel to that land of the nuts.

[Dog]

They are still out lurking in the shadows.....waiting for that one chance to kill thousands of us......they think we are distracted by the race for the White House. We can't for a moment allow our guard to be lowered.

[leadpenny]

AP-Europe via Yahoo!

British Airways Cancels 2 London Flights
25 minutes ago

LONDON - A much-disrupted British Airways flight from London to Washington, D.C. has been canceled again over security fears, the airline said Thursday.

British Airways said flight 223 from Heathrow to Washington's Dulles Airport would not fly this coming Sunday. Monday's Flight 263 from London to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia also was scrapped.

The airline said the decision "follows government advice to cancel those flights for security reasons."

Flight 223 has been delayed or canceled eight previous times this year because of U.S. security alerts. Saudi flights also have been canceled several times.

Officials in Britain have refused to say what intelligence prompted them to advise cancellation of the BA flights, but U.S. authorities have in the past spoken of a "specific and credible" terrorist threat to international flights.

Disruption to flight 223 began Dec. 31, when the plane was kept on the tarmac at Dulles for several hours after landing, while U.S. authorities questioned passengers and crew.

BA scratched the same service the following two days and several times after that, most recently on Feb 2. When the flight has gone ahead, it has sometimes been delayed for hours for stringent checks on passengers. The carrier's two other daily flights to Washington have not been affected.

Last August, BA suspended service to Saudi Arabia, where the British government warns of "a continuing threat of terrorism," after local authorities broke up a cell that reportedly was plotting an attack on a British plane. Service was restored in September.

Several Paris-based Air France flights to the United States and a Continental Airlines Glasgow-to-Los Angeles flight also have been canceled in the past few weeks.

Air France said Thursday that its flights were running normally and there had been no cancelations for security reasons.

Some European officials have questioned the need for the flight disruptions, and Britain's pilots' union has expressed concern over the "erratic" nature of the intelligence leading to the cancelations.

[Prodigal Son]

Actually, a lot of Brits travel to SA. They get good deals on computer parts. Apparently, it isn't so bad, depending upon where you go. There are enclaves- from what I've heard- where there are lots of Brits. For a short stay, it isn't so awkward or bad.

[endthematrix]

"We can't for a moment allow our guard to be lowered."

That has caused THOUSANDS of lives. It infuriates me to the core that there are those that would rather appease our enemies, than confront those who desire nothing less than total destruction of the US and the West.

[weegie]

Far more Americans in KSA than Brits. Brits mainly in UAE, Oman and Bahrain.

No one is allowed into KSA for a casual visit, which is as well. Its a complete toilet of a country

[Prodigal Son]

I know Brits who have gone there on vacation. Perhaps my perspective is clouded by the fact that I do not live in the US but I do know Brits who go to SA.

[Prodigal Son]

There are far more Americans than Brits in any case.

[weegie]

Not in the countries mentioned theres not.

The visitors may have been visiting relatives working there. They wouldn't be granted a visa otherwise

[Prodigal Son]

Ok, pretend Americans don't exist. That wasn't my point. I have definitely met British cab drivers who spefically went to SA on vacation for computer parts. This isn't an area I want to fight my last stand over. I know Brits who consider SA a vacation spot. This is my knowledge.

[Diogenesis]

#6. Yes. And then some.

[Dallas59]

We certainly don't want this to happen...do we?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

The only way to get a "tourist visa" into Saudi is to apply as a member of a group tour. These tours are carefully controlled by the Saudis, there is little time to go on un-supervised shopping expeditions. I've been in Saudi for 4 years, you just don't fly into Riyadh without intense Visa (and medical!) prerequisites.

[Prodigal Son]

Look, I talked to a taxi driver not too long ago who just got back from vacation in SA. That's a fact. I don't know what his situation was, but he was a taxi driver. His biggest motivation was cheap computer parts.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

OK, it's time to give you some slack. If you know "connected" Saudis, anything is possible. I will assume that your Taxi driver knows the right person; someone who can get him into and out of the Magic Kingdom.

[Peach]

FNC in the 9:00 hour:

Mike Emanuel from DC just reported that suspicious activity was taking place in bathrooms on planes, attempts to reach the cockpit, and other suspicious behavior has been related to officials and it was decided to cancel these flights. It was obvious, Mike said, that AQ is still exploring ways to use planes as weapons.

[mewzilla]

I wonder why announce the cancellations now and not right before the flights, when they might be able to bag anyone who shows up?

[DooDahhhh]

On another thread, the subject was brought up that the terrorists are trying to bring bomb parts aboard in shampoo bottles, etc. And to esemble the bombs aboard. On a recent trip from Santiago, Chile, to Dallas, the carry on luggage was enough to gag a maggott. Personally, I think they should ban carry on until we can get a handle on these terrorists plots.

[unixfox]

I wonder why announce they cancellations now and not right before the flights...

I wonder why they don't just wait for them to show up at the airport and nab them right there. I mean hell, if they KNOW it's a credible threat (and that's what they say) then let's start nabbing these bastards and put em away.