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.

[japaneseghost]

At least one of the Air France flights was supposed to land in Cincy - I remember that the Islamists have said for years they plan to take out the Federal prison near Lexington, KY where the blind cleric is held.

I would be weary of a diversionary tactic to close an airport, like Cincy/N.KY, which would give a terrorist plausible reason to divert to another city (Louisville) and ram into the prison instead.

[Teri0811]

I don't see why not. From what I'm reading and hearing from Fox News, it appears that 3 of the 6 flights were scheduled for tomorrow and the other flights were still on the ground so it doesn't appear that anyone had boarded. I imagine there could be other possibilities such as the planes themselves being targets or buying time so that the passenger lists can be checked out.

[cherry]

I'm late to this thread, but does anybody know the names of the flight crew flying the cancelled flights?

the price of freedom is eternal vigilance....

[Steel Wolf]

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

Shh!! No basic analysis allowed. Oh, wait, I thought this was a TV network.

Yes, you're entirely right. It's amazing that no one has mentioned what would appear to be very obvious, as well as the obvious symbolism behind such an attack. The location and the date are both very significant, and yet seem to have been ignored by the media.

[Publius]

The movie sutdios are targets. The downtown bank towers are targets. The new St. Vibiana Cathedral is a target, especially if Rome is the primary target.

[phasma proeliator]

"I don't see how a diverted plane gets anywhere near a target in D.C. "

If it were a pilot willing to crash the plane - and the flight was already scheduled to land/take off from JFK, National, (wherever) they would be on the ground burning before the fighters could even try to intercept.

however none of these flights (apparently) were scheduled to land in DC (or near by). And - I agree - a DIVERTED plane would not have a chance. Unfortunately - as the Egyptian proved - it's not only diverted planes that we must worry about.

[Poohbah]

Wow. The Viking Kittens are using their Navy SEAL "silent ZOT! technique" again. I didn't hear a thing. Spooky, ain't it?

[Steve_Seattle]

"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."

The only way I could see it happening is if it were a direct flight into DC that was highjacked late in the flight, before we could respond. We might be able to shoot it down before it hit the Capitol, but it might come down in a populated area.

[Lurking in Kansas]

The movie sutdios are targets....

There you go getting my hopes up.

[doug from upland]

I've not seen any news stories on this but have been told that our government stopped the flights because of certain intel. Also, I don't know if it ever made the press, but London press a few weeks ago arrested a friend of Richard Reid who was making a shoe bomb.

...Doug from Upland, via Whidbey Island, Washington

[RandallFlagg]

Sorry, Cat, I came to the struggle late. Otherwise I woulda called.

[Maigrey]

Think about it. Gold Futures coupled with mass buying of it. How would that be an indicator?

[mhking]

Air France? You got a flight number?

[Grampa Dave]

Any successful attack on Christmas Day on any symbolic target in America by the Islamokazis would be seen as a victory for their side.

They desperately need a symbolic victory as their tactics after 9/11 against America have been a big zero.

[aristeides]

Isn't it also plausible that if Al Quida was mentioning specific flights that it was just a red herring, and that the attack will be coming from somewhere else?

I wonder if there has been unusual trading in put options for Air France.

[Steve_Seattle]

"The only way I could see it happening is if it were a direct flight into DC that was highjacked late in the flight"

Or, as another poster suggested, if the plane were piloted by a terrorist mole who had infiltrated the airlines. In that case, he could probably fly it right into the Capitol, no problem.

[Grampa Dave]

Any symbolic feature in DC would be a possible target for the Islamokazis. In fact any symbolic feature in America could be a target.

[Semper911]

Sorry, Cat, I came to the struggle late. Otherwise I woulda called.

But he fought a good fight!

Hi Boats, Merry Christmas.

[alrea]

There have been F-16's in the air over D.C. all the time the past couple of days

and if a hijack attempt starts there's probably going to be all kinds of hardware coming out