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CNN Live Sunday
Airlines Ground Flights to U.S. for Security Reasons
Aired February 01, 2004 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The war on terror is still being waged. Three airlines are grounding flights to the U.S. for security reasons. The move comes in the wake of Al Qaeda terror threats. CNN's Elaine Quijano is at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. Elaine?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Martin.
Well, two international airlines, one U.S.-based carrier, and two specific dates, today and tomorrow, all part of the intelligence that U.S. officials say they have gathered over the past few days. Intelligence that they say indicates Al Qaeda may somehow once again be targeting international flights into the U.S.
Now, government officials say that this latest information is specific and credible. They say it mentions British Airways, Air France and Continental Airlines, prompting the cancellation of several flights. Those flights include BA Flight 223, London to Washington, BA Flight 207, London to Miami, Air France Flight 26, Paris to Washington and a domestic-based carrier, a U.S.-based carrier, Continental Airlines Flight 17 from Glasgow, Scotland, to Los Angeles via Newark, also canceled.
Now, U.S. government sources say officials are combing flight manifests. Despite the concerns, however, U.S. officials say there are no plans at the time, at this moment to raise the nation's terror threat level from its current level of yellow, or elevated. Now, part of the reason, according to one official, because of the very specific nature of the threat information involved this time around.
Now, as for air travelers, people traveling to and from Europe that we have talked to here at Dulles International this weekend, many of them say that they are not too concerned. Others say they are glad to see that security precautions are in place. Still others saying this is just part of the reality that they have come to accept in this post-September 11 world. Martin?
SAVIDGE: That is, indeed, true. Elaine Quijano, thank you very much. Live in Dulles.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 1, 2004 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The war on terror is still being waged. Three airlines are grounding flights to the U.S. for security reasons. The move comes in the wake of Al Qaeda terror threats. CNN's Elaine Quijano is at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. Elaine?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Martin.
Well, two international airlines, one U.S.-based carrier, and two specific dates, today and tomorrow, all part of the intelligence that U.S. officials say they have gathered over the past few days. Intelligence that they say indicates Al Qaeda may somehow once again be targeting international flights into the U.S.
Now, government officials say that this latest information is specific and credible. They say it mentions British Airways, Air France and Continental Airlines, prompting the cancellation of several flights. Those flights include BA Flight 223, London to Washington, BA Flight 207, London to Miami, Air France Flight 26, Paris to Washington and a domestic-based carrier, a U.S.-based carrier, Continental Airlines Flight 17 from Glasgow, Scotland, to Los Angeles via Newark, also canceled.
Now, U.S. government sources say officials are combing flight manifests. Despite the concerns, however, U.S. officials say there are no plans at the time, at this moment to raise the nation's terror threat level from its current level of yellow, or elevated. Now, part of the reason, according to one official, because of the very specific nature of the threat information involved this time around.
Now, as for air travelers, people traveling to and from Europe that we have talked to here at Dulles International this weekend, many of them say that they are not too concerned. Others say they are glad to see that security precautions are in place. Still others saying this is just part of the reality that they have come to accept in this post-September 11 world. Martin?
SAVIDGE: That is, indeed, true. Elaine Quijano, thank you very much. Live in Dulles.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
