Flights From Paris to U.S. Cancelled

MSNBC | December 24, 2003

[cyncooper]

MSNBC just announced that three flights from Paris to the U.S. have been suddenly cancelled due to "security concerns". The first flight was scheduled to depart Paris heading for Los Angeles.

I could not find an article yet.

[mombonn]

Will be praying for you. Have a good trip.

[Freedom4US]

We have better intel sources now, and we're probably paying more attention to certain things now that we've been burned.

There's no need for intel to realize that planes departing from foreign countries pose a tremendous security risk, but I guess I see the point.

[blam]

"Checking the AF website, in addition to the non stop flights, there are flights going through Cincinnati and Atlanta; most of which appear to be delayed "due to technical concerns" FWIW..."

Can you elaborate on the Atlanta situation. My son is on his way from LA to Atlanta presently...he will fly out of Atlanta to Mobile.

[alrea]

Fox just said 3 of the 6 canceled flights are for tomorrow.

lot's of folks at home tomorrow.

[Sunsong]

"It is more than France "opposing" the war. They actively tried to undermine America's efforts in regards to Iraq. Me thinks that France has some "behind the scenes" dealings with Iraq that were illegal. More than opposition is why most of us are not that keen on the French right now."

Exactly.

[fourhorsemen]

It looks like some (many? all?) of these flights were scheduled to stop, refuel and continue on. Perhaps the plan was to smuggle weapons on board through the lax security of Paris—remember, French police escorted Richard Reid and his plastique-packed sneakers onto that plane—wait for the planes to be refueled in the US and then hijack them right after the second takeoff. That's the only way this really makes sense.

Keep in mind that while the flight numbers may continue on, they are usually on a different plane after landing in the U.S. For example, a British Airways flight from London to San Fran via Chicago will likely transfer to an American Airlines plane in Chicago.

Foreign flagged airlines are not permitted to fly between U.S. cities.

[Semper911]

Can't the passengers just get on other flights through Europe and still make it to their destination? Seems as though other airlines might accomodate them since there are so many.

And if the bad guys are passengers (rather than pilots) then it seems they could just do the same.

[Revolting cat!]

Use guys forgot to PING the cat! I luv nothing better than a good pissing match with a Frog loving troll. Unforgiveable!

[squarebarb]

Just read your about page. Have a great trip and Merry Christmas!

[Steve_Seattle]

I believe the U.S. Capital Dome was the target of the fourth 9/11 plane, and I think they'd still love to get it. Even a plane with a depleted fuel load would wreak havoc on the dome. But I don't think any of these flights could have gotten anywhere near DC without being intercepted. I think Brit targets (or Vatican) are real possibilities for these flights.

[mhking]

Can you elaborate on the Atlanta situation.

Everything appears to be normal in Atlanta; they aren't reporting any outbound delays presently.

[CindyDawg]

lot's of folks at home tomorrow

Yeah, you would think that if they were going to do anything it would be today or the 26th.

[aristeides]

Fox News just had on their 'crawler' that Thursday flights from France had been cancelled. I assume it meant all flights tomorrow.

Sounds like the intel indicates there is to be an attack in LA on Christmas Day.

[aristeides]

There have been F-16's in the air over D.C. all the time the past couple of days. I don't see how a diverted plane gets anywhere near a target in D.C.

[MEG33]

"Are you tying from a padded cell?" Best line to aquawhatever!

[Sunsong]

Yeah "we". "We" don't like the behaviour of France. Do you?

[fatima]

mhking,Does it say anything about a flight coming in to Maryland,my granddaughter is coming home today on leave.

[Polybius]

Deep thinkin', from people who poured good wine onto the sidewalk and called the land of Lafayette "the enemy".

It's not particularly deep thinking to assume that France is our friend simply because Lafayette was our friend.

The first war that the United States had to fight after Independence was the Quasi-War with France: 1798 to 1801

USS Constellation capturing the French 36-gun frigate L'Insurgente, February 5, 1799

[Dont Mention the War]

So lighten up and lay off and be nice to French people!

Looks like you're the one getting a chance to lighten up and lay off, due to your suspension for trolling! Or was it a permanent ban? Oh well, not like we care.

[Steve_Seattle]

Sounds like the intel indicates there is to be an attack in LA on Christmas Day.

But L.A. doesn't have any high-profile, symbolic targets. Of course, they might just want to kill the people on the plane.