UK and French flights 'targets' [again] - BBC and CNN
 

Here we go again...

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UK and French flights 'targets'

New intelligence shows British Airways and Air France flights to the US could be terrorist targets, say US officials.
The intelligence is said to specifically mention BA flight 223, which was cancelled twice in early January amid heightened attack fears.

The US Homeland Security Department said all flights remained unchanged at present, and there were no plans to raise the current alert level.

US officials are talking to British and French authorities on the next steps.

The BBC's Michael Buchanan in Washington said US intelligence agencies reported receiving a "specific and credible threat" in the last couple of days.

It is feared al-Qaeda may be attempting to hijack a plane from either London or Paris and fly it into a target in the United States, added our correspondent.

"We remain concerned about al-Qaeda's desire to target aviation, especially international aviation," said Brian Roehrkasse of the Homeland Security department.

'Appropriate measures'

"The US intelligence community continues to gather specific credible threat information on international flights, as we have done in an ongoing basis in the past few weeks.

"We have shared this information with our international partners, and will work with them to put in place the appropriate security measures".

The intelligence is said to specifically mention British Airways 223 from London to Washington DC. Two such flights were cancelled and others delayed in early January.
In December, six Air France flights to Los Angeles were cancelled.

It came as the United States raised its national terror threat level to orange following a "substantial increase" in intelligence suggesting attacks using hijacked planes.

An Air France spokeswoman in New York said there was good cooperation between the airline and US and French government officials over the latest intelligence.

"We have been complying with all security measures," said Diane Cornman.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3446763.stm

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Officials: Intelligence warns of aircraft attacks
Air France, British Airways flights mentioned

From Kelli Arena

CNN Washington Bureau
Friday, January 30, 2004 Posted: 10:28 PM EST (0328 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the past 48 hours, the United States has received new intelligence that suggests a threat of possible terrorist attacks against the United States using aircraft, government officials told CNN on Friday.

The intelligence also mentioned Air France and British Airways flights to the United States. British Airways Flight 223 was mentioned specifically. That flight was canceled twice in early January based on previous intelligence from an informant and other sources.

In December, six Air France flights to Los Angeles, California, were canceled because of similar information.

At the time, the national terror threat level was at orange, or high. The threat level has since been lowered to yellow, or elevated, and has not changed in response to the new intelligence.

A representative for Air France in New York told CNN that the airline has been in close contact with French and U.S. government officials in the past several weeks, and has complied with all government requests for additional security.

The representative could not confirm whether the airline had been contacted by U.S. officials about the latest intelligence but said no scheduled flights have been changed.

Government officials said the intelligence mentioned flight paths between London and Washington-Dulles International Airport, and mentioned multiple dates, all within the next few weeks.

Security has been increased in Houston, Texas, ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday, though that event was not mentioned in the intelligence.

The officials said all agencies and officials concerned -- including those overseas -- have been notified of the intelligence, which is believed to be credible.

Pentagon sources confirmed to CNN that during such time of heightened alert, incoming flights that are the subject of concern are "routinely" escorted by U.S. military fighter jets.

When the Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level December 21 from yellow to orange, it warned that al Qaeda may use international flights to launch attacks on the United States.

The move followed a "substantial increase" in intelligence pointing to possible al Qaeda attacks, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said at the time.

Within days, the agency ordered international air carriers to place armed government officers on some flights to, from and over the United States. Fourteen international flights were canceled during the elevated alert.

Authorities also delayed some international flights and provided air support over some cities.

The threat level was returned to yellow January 9.

Before December, the United States last raised the domestic terrorism threat level to orange May 20, 2003, after suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco that were blamed on al Qaeda. That alert lasted 10 days.

Other orange alerts were raised in 2002 around the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and in February 2003, on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

And yet i'd still be allowed to go on an Air France flight deck in flight if i asked. :rolleyes:

WARNING – CREDIBILITY GAP AHEAD !

The above mentioned threat information emanates from the same United States intelligence service(s) which foretold of all Weapons of Mass Destruction that would be found in Iraq – where WMD’s, if one cares to remember, were the key argument used for the invasion of Iraq ( it being apparently nothing to do with oil & gas – albeit that it is a stated aim of the Bush government - aka 'The Oil & Gas Administration' - to ‘secure the energy supply of the USA’ ).

Of course it’s now being said ( and I kid you not ) - using the words of a Whitehouse spokesperson – “the intelligence on the WMD's was flawed” and where this intelligence is often based on no more than “sophisticated guesswork” !

Blimey, that’s some flaw and all seemingly about as sophisticated as pin the tail on the donkey.

Better yet, the POTUS ( Bush ) has now stated that he “wants to know the facts about Iraq’s alleged WMD’s”.

Now is it me, or doesn’t that seem a bit late in the day ?

Must go........ got to check my Haliburton shares <-- click the link ;)

Odd that American intelligence never issues warnings about USA carriers or am I being too cynical?

Here we go again... BBC reporting 3 BA flights to USA cancelled 'for security reasons'...

R1

BA Flights Grounded
 

From Sky News:

BA FLIGHTS GROUNDED

British Airways has cancelled three flights to Washington and Miami over fears of a terrorist attack.

BA 223 - the same flight that was cancelled over the Christmas period - will remain grounded on Sunday and Monday, along with Sunday's Miami flight.


A Department of Transport spokesman said: "Aviation security is kept under surveillance at all times and in the light of information received a decision was made that flights should be cancelled."

It did not say what the nature of threat was or when the flights would resume.

American intelligence officials warned on Saturday that there was flight renewed terrorist threat to the route.

They also said France flights to the US could also be the target of a terror strike.

Brian Roehrkasse, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said: "We remain concerned about al Qaeda's desire to target aviation, especially international aviation.

"The US intelligence community continues to gather specific credible threat information on international flights, as we have done in an ongoing basis in the past few weeks."

He added: "We have shared this information with our international partners, and will work with them to put in place the appropriate security measures."

It is reported that British Airways Flight 223 to Dulles airport was mentioned specifically.

That flight was cancelled twice in early January based on previous intelligence from an informant and other sources.

In December, six Air France flights to Los Angeles, California, were cancelled because of similar information.

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There's nothing yet on the BA website.

Security fears ground BA flights


Three British Airways flights to the United States have been cancelled for security reasons, the company says.
Flights BA 223 from London to Washington on Sunday and Monday and flight BA 207 to Miami on Sunday were grounded on government advice.

The move comes after US officials said fresh intelligence showed BA and Air France flights to the US could be targeted by terrorists.

A BA spokeswoman said safety was the airline's top priority

Terrorist targets

"The safety and security of our operations is our absolute priority and will not be compromised," she said.

The first priority is always the safety of the traveling public

Department for Transport
BA's Flight 223 had been the subject of concern early in January, when it was cancelled twice because of security fears and then delayed for hours several more times.

US officials said on Friday new intelligence indicated BA Flight 223 and Air France flights from Paris to an unspecified US city could be terrorist targets.

A British Department for Transport spokesman said the decision to cancel the flights was made "in the light of information received".

He said: "Aviation security measures are adjusted from time to time, and occasional cancellations may be necessary.

"The first priority is always the safety of the travelling public."

The US Homeland Security Department has said it has no plans to raise its current alert level.




BBC

Why don't they just change the number of the flight? :O

Timothy

From BAA LHR Flight departures


15.05 BA223 WASHINGTON TAXIED 1540

Devil's Advocate says:
WARNING – CREDIBILITY GAP AHEAD !

And no doubt it was just some Hollywood film magic that produced all the pictures of the planes slamming into the World Trade Center, and their subsequent collapse.

Fine, the US may be over-reacting, but if you are a pilot or a passenger do you really want someone to cut your throat and fly your plane into oblivion?

ZFT you took the words out of my mouth!

Can we credit these terrorists that we are being protected from with a bit more intelligence than to keep trying to get a suicide bomber on a particular flight again and again and again.

Maybe the terrorist organisations are using slight of hand so to speak and are really targeting another flight.

The intelligence (?) services are playing a great game because when nothing happens nobody can ever corroborate their evidence, whether it was their advice which was correct and timely or that they just didn't guess right and nothing was going to happen anyway.

I think it's about time we stopped some of these dodgy characters and also maybe that we started catching a few of 'em. Mind you then we'd have absolute proof one way or another and that wouldn't add to the fear culture which seems to be breeding now.

Er... Rick...

Today is Saturday. Its Sunday's and Monday's cancelled...

NoD

What's so special with BA223 flight, especially considering there are also BA217, BA225 flying same day same route?

Or there was a huge cheap sale for this particular flight and all terrorists around decided to save some money by taking special offer?

It is my firm belief that there will be no more attacks on aircraft. They would have to be the most stupid terrorists ever to attempt it again especially with the "heightened security" right now. Why not just walk on to a subway at rushhour in New York or some other major centre and release a nerve agent. No risk and maximum impact.

I think the airlines have never been safer. They made their point on September 11 and no matter what else they do with aircraft in the future......it will never get close to what that was.


It is really a shame that we are reduced to this situation by politicians who are destroying any hope of relative world harmony. Hopefully Bush gets his in this years election and we then may have someone that can begin to repair some of the damage done. There is only one person in politics right now that can be trusted unfortunately and that is Kofi.

What a shame he isn't in a more influential position...........................

Wolf! Wolf! Woooolllfff!

From ABCnews:

"A [US] government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said based on threat reporting there are a handful of specific flights on three airlines Air France, British Airways and a U.S.-based carrier that flies internationally that are of concern. The official declined to identify the third airline or provide information about its flights."

Target : A380
 

Are they targeting the A380 ?
If this bizarre procedure continues beyond 2006 you can be sure that nobody wants to operate any 500 pax airplane to US. The consequence of a last minute cancelation of a A380 US bound flight from Paris or London is simply catastrophic.

Hmm every professional pilot that I know is fully aware that the U.S. home security is running amuck. They have a policeman’s mentality, which outside aviation is probably a good thing.

However in the aviation context it's a disaster…

BA223
 

I think that by now BA223 is so well know around the world that a terrorist would be a hard pressed idiot to try to hijack that perticular flight.

That said, I wonder if the NSA boys at Ft. Meade are running the numbers through their Cray or whatever computers because some message intercept mentioned 223. It could be Feb. 23, or it could be March 22, but I'm not a cryptographer.

On the other hand, it also could be that someone is coming in from a foreign country to Heathrow and his/her best connection to Washington is BA223, so BA naturally books the person on that flight.

Incidentally, my wife is coming back Feb 6 on BA222. I hope you all give her a thumbs up on an A-OK return so she won't have to spend a night on the IAD floor or in a Motel 6 nearby, if BA 223 is nixed again.


:confused: