Again.
BBC; 18:09; 5.1.03
Washington flight delayed again
About 200 passengers have been waiting two hours so far
BA's flight 223 to Washington has been delayed again amid security fears.
The flight, which was cancelled twice last week and delayed on Saturday and Sunday, had been due to take off from Heathrow at 1505 GMT.
But it was not cleared by US officials until almost three hours later, and finally took off just after 1800 GMT.
However, BA flight 263 to Riyadh, which was also cancelled twice last week because of security fears, left more or less as scheduled, at about 1345 GMT.
Flight 223 was delayed for the third day as US officials reportedly went through the names of the 200 or so passengers on board.
The delay came as a row continued about US demands that undercover armed sky marshals be put on some flights.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw defended the decision to ground some passenger flights, saying safety must come first.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the flights were grounded only as a last resort.
However, neither minister would be drawn on the specific nature of any potential threat.
The pilots' union Balpa claimed the repeated grounding of 223 was a "political decision" linked to BA's reluctance to fly with sky marshals on board.
'Own judgements'
The flight was accompanied by US fighter jets last Wednesday (New Year's Eve), cancelled on Thursday and Friday and subject to delays on Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Straw said the cancellations had been based on specific intelligence.
He denied that UK air security - including the decision to introduce air marshals on some planes - was being driven by the US.
"We make our own judgements on the basis of expert analysis by our brilliant security and intelligence services," Mr Straw said.
"There have been many hundreds of transatlantic flights taking place without any cancellation or delay, and thousands around the world," he added.
'Marshals row'
On Monday UK holiday company Thomas Cook Airlines joined the row over air marshals, saying it would refuse to operate flights if they were put on board because of safety concerns.
"For the time being, if a sky marshal presents himself, we will cancel the flight," said a spokesman.
"Like Balpa, we want to see captains remain in full control of the aircraft at all times."
A spokesman for BA said that "in principle, where appropriate, with agreed procedures in place, we'd be comfortable" with marshals on its aircraft.
Balpa officials were meeting BA to discuss the issue on Monday, and were due to meet Mr Darling on Tuesday.
The union has already reached agreement with one transatlantic carrier - Virgin Atlantic - on rules for working with the marshals.
It is calling for an "over-arching" agreement with the government, covering the use of marshals across all airlines.