Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
America on Alert: Securing Flights
Aired January 03, 2004 - 14:06 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Security concerns have mostly centered around a British Airways flight between London and Washington. Flight 223 was delayed today after being canceled the past two days. We've been reporting to you now it's finally in the air.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, where flight 223 is expected to land -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka.
First we want bring you up to date. Some good news, at least a welcome site for British Airways and its passengers, some of them, anyway. Just about 10 minutes ago, another British Airways flight, flight No. 217, en route from London to here, actually landed about half an hour early.
Now this was the scene just about 10 minutes ago as that flight pulled in. It landed safely. And as I mentioned, it was early.
Now, yesterday this particular flight was actually delayed for more than two hours back in London because of security concerns. And as you mentioned, security concerns also affecting flight 223 today for the fourth day in a row, affecting that flight. The flight from London to Washington delayed a couple of hours today before it took off. We understand, as you mentioned it is on its way now.
But that delay follows a fighter jet escort for flight 223 on New Year's Eve, and two days of cancellations after that. Now, U.S. officials say that intelligence from an informant and other sources recording that flight is what led to the cancellations. Sources say that the information focused on a flight number and did not have anything to do with a passenger list. And even though it's not clear how credible the information is, authorities say officials cannot take any chances.
Meantime, here at Dulles International, passengers here still have had to make other arrangements because of the domino affect of previous day's cancellations. Now one flight supposed to go out to London this morning actually went out overnight instead. And that meant passengers who tried to check in today were out of luck. And their reactions, a mix of frustration and resignation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: if they really feel they've got to cancel it, that's fine. But if they're going to change arrangements, then they need to let people know as widely as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And, again, the news here -- the latest, flight number 217, British Airways flight number 217, landing here about half an hour early. Still expecting, however, the flight 223 that has been the source of so much concern. That flight delayed a couple of hours. We're expecting that to come here to Dulles this evening -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano, thanks very much for that update from 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
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 January 3, 2004 - 14:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Security concerns have mostly centered around a British Airways flight between London and Washington. Flight 223 was delayed today after being canceled the past two days. We've been reporting to you now it's finally in the air.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, where flight 223 is expected to land -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka.
First we want bring you up to date. Some good news, at least a welcome site for British Airways and its passengers, some of them, anyway. Just about 10 minutes ago, another British Airways flight, flight No. 217, en route from London to here, actually landed about half an hour early.
Now this was the scene just about 10 minutes ago as that flight pulled in. It landed safely. And as I mentioned, it was early.
Now, yesterday this particular flight was actually delayed for more than two hours back in London because of security concerns. And as you mentioned, security concerns also affecting flight 223 today for the fourth day in a row, affecting that flight. The flight from London to Washington delayed a couple of hours today before it took off. We understand, as you mentioned it is on its way now.
But that delay follows a fighter jet escort for flight 223 on New Year's Eve, and two days of cancellations after that. Now, U.S. officials say that intelligence from an informant and other sources recording that flight is what led to the cancellations. Sources say that the information focused on a flight number and did not have anything to do with a passenger list. And even though it's not clear how credible the information is, authorities say officials cannot take any chances.
Meantime, here at Dulles International, passengers here still have had to make other arrangements because of the domino affect of previous day's cancellations. Now one flight supposed to go out to London this morning actually went out overnight instead. And that meant passengers who tried to check in today were out of luck. And their reactions, a mix of frustration and resignation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: if they really feel they've got to cancel it, that's fine. But if they're going to change arrangements, then they need to let people know as widely as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And, again, the news here -- the latest, flight number 217, British Airways flight number 217, landing here about half an hour early. Still expecting, however, the flight 223 that has been the source of so much concern. That flight delayed a couple of hours. We're expecting that to come here to Dulles this evening -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano, thanks very much for that update from 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
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
