BA flight diverts following bomb threat

[Sobelena]

Not too many details yet, but apparently a BA flight from Berlin to London diverted into Amsterdam following a bomb threat received by a Berlin Newspaper.

[itchy kitchin]

nothing on BBC as yet...
but there does seem to be a lot of it about at the moment, especially in Greece.

[ajamieson]

British Airways flight diverted to Amsterdam, escorted for landing by jet fighters
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) – A British Airways passenger plane, escorted by two Dutch F-16 jet fighters, made an unscheduled landing at Schiphol International Airport Thursday, officials said.
“BA983 from Berlin to London Heathrow was diverted to Amsterdam as a precaution because of security reasons,” a BA spokeswoman in London said.
“There was a specific threat to the aircraft but we’re not releasing details,” she added. “The aircraft landed at 13:56 local time and the passengers have disembarked. The passengers have been taken to a part of the airport where they will undergo security screening.”
The plane landed safely, and all passengers were taken off the aircraft, Dutch military police spokesman Rob Stenakker said.
He said it was a routine procedure to send warplanes to escort civilian aircraft in apparent distress.
Officers of the military police, which is in charge of airport security, were investigating the incident, he said. 301307 sep 04GMT

[CATIIIBnoDH]

According local papers the BA A320 made an unplanned landing at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. The A320 was escorted by two F16's into Amsterdam and was enroute to London from Berlin. The Military Police won't comment at this moment. At SPL the a/c was seached.

The escorted a/c caused some unrest in the surrounding villages where the planes were seen
on the approach.

[AV8R-77]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3704262.stm

British Airways flight A983 has made an emergency landing at Schipol airport in Amsterdam as a result of a "specific threat", the airline has said.
The crew on the aircraft carrying 118 passengers, which was travelling from Berlin to London, asked ground staff in the Netherlands for a military escort.

Two Royal Dutch air force jets were immediately scrambled.

"There was a specific threat to the airline but we are not releasing details," a BA spokesman has said.

All the passengers have been taken off the aircraft while the police carry out checks.

http://www.nos.nl/nieuws/Images/intercept_tcm4-96179.jpg http://www.telegraaf.nl/multimedia/archive/00536/schiphol_jpg_536941c.jpg

[FlapsOne]

"According to local papers...." They were quick to publish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BRISTOLRE]

twas an A319, BA983.

[ukeng]

Seems to be a pattern developing here....
Cry wolf then catch us with our guard down maybe?? I certainly hope it is just a hoaxer and not something more sinister.

[CATIIIBnoDH]

Dear FlapsOne, In some contries the local papers use internet to publish.....

[f40]

Like this (http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/14337341/Vliegtuig_landt_na_bommelding_op_Schiphol.html) ................... ;)

As an aside, somewhat pleased to hear about inhabitants of surrounding villages having been shaken up a bit. They live off the money provided by employment in connection with Schiphol airport, but whinge endlessly about aircraft noise. Thereby causing a lot of hassle for the operation of the airport and the execution of the flights. :yuk:

[Powerjet1]

BBC reporting that the aircraft has been cleared by the Dutch authorities & will leave for LHR within the next couple of hours.

[srs what?]

Seems to be a pattern developing here....
Cry wolf then catch us with our guard down maybe?? I certainly hope it is just a hoaxer and not something more sinister.

I was thinking very much along the same lines. :sad:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<As an aside, somewhat pleased to hear about inhabitants of surrounding villages having been shaken up a bit. They live off the money provided by employment in connection with Schiphol airport, but whinge endlessly about aircraft noise. Thereby causing a lot of hassle for the operation of the airport and the execution of the flights>>

Precisely what happens at Heathrow.. but back to the situation.. One report I read said the fighters were provided following a request from the crew. Is this standard practice because I'd be interested to know why. (It's also being discussed on another thread).

[FlapsOne]

Dear CATIIIBnoDH.

Well it's got precious little to do with paper then.................screens perhaps:D :D :D :D

[tightcircuit]

Can't imagine the crew would have asked for fighters to assist Director. What could they do to help?

[Avman]

I think it's all down to nutters. Since when have the extremists given "warnings"? It doesn't serve their purpose. If they're going to blow an aircraft up (as in Russia recently) they'll just do it - without any warning whatsoever. I think the Olympic bomb threats may originate from someone who has a beef with them and the BA might be some jilted boyfriend/girlfriend type of thing.

[Daysleeper]

I'm sure I was told once that the most common type of bomb threat in the Uk is from someone who thinks they are going to miss the flight and it would help to hold it up for a few minutes. :hmm:

[Bally Heck]

As a little aside and snipe at journos, and not to detract from the seriousness of these incidents,

The escort is invariably "Jet Fighters"

Now to me the real news would be if they were escorted in by a Spit and two Hurricanes.:O

How I love the cliches :yuk:

[Radar]

Heathrow Director,

The scramble was initiated as a matter of course, not as a result of a request from the crew. These days any airborne situation which might posibly be a security threat involves the respective air defence unit/s.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

OK Radar - I just saw this on the BBC News...

<<The crew on the aircraft had asked ground staff in the Netherlands for a military escort. >>

[Lon More]

Heathrow Director so who do you believe, someone working the traffic (i.e. Radar), or a journo?
The Mil are informed directly and Air Defence make the decision to intercept.

[Radar]

Hey Lon,

Howzit goin' ??????

Rest assured you're missing nothing this end!

[davina]

Standard proceedure or not - i guess in this case dutch F16's would reach the scene somewhat quicker than those old Tornado's ....

[16 blades]

Oooh, careful there Davina!

....although you're right!

The F3 was designed for low-level interception - and it's good at it (second fastest aircraft in the world at low level) - it's just that we use it for something it wasn't really designed for because we have nothing else. Nothing to do with its age....

16B

[millerman]

Also Davina they can't go supersonic over land (not allowed) so they aren't that quick!!!

[radeng]

>Now to me the real news would be if they were escorted in by a Spit and two Hurricanes

If that could happen, you'd get these scares all the time from all those wanting to see it.

[Human Factor]

Also Davina they can't go supersonic over land (not allowed) so they aren't that quick!!!

I'd like to think if there was any security concern about an airliner, not going supersonic in case it scares a few NIMBYs wouldn't be the first thing on their minds....