Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
More Flights Canceled From London
Aired February 12, 2004 - 09:05 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two upcoming flights from London have been canceled for security reasons. British Airways made the announcement earlier today saying it was acting on advice of the government. One of the cancellations is that Heathrow to Washington flight previously canceled or delayed several times.
From London now, Walter Rodgers standing by now live with more. Walter, What are we learning?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well we're learning that there are some 300 British Airlines passengers on two separate flights who are scrambling to make new connections.
The two flights are British Airways 223, this coming Sunday it leaves Heathrow Airport here in London at 1505 in the afternoon. And it's scheduled to land in Dulles Airport at about 1800 hours. That's 6:00 in the evening.
The British government has recommended to British Airways that this flight be canceled. What's interesting about this is this is a much troubled flight. That is to say since New Year's Eve, eight times BA 223 to Dulles has been either canceled or seriously delayed.
The other flight which is being canceled upon the recommendation of the British government and British Airways accepts that is Flight 263. That's London Heathrow Airport to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Of course Saudi Arabia has been the target of more than a few terrorist bombs over the course of the last year. British Airways suspended its flights to Saudi Arabia last summer.
So again, both those flights canceled. A total of more than 300 passengers on the two flights looking for new reservations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walter, let me ask you the intriguing question to all this, and I'm not certain you answer for it. It's Thursday. It's my understanding these are daily flights. Why three days in advance do you scratch it?
RODGERS: Well, what the government has here is what it believes to be specific and credible evidence.
Now, I, too, find it very interesting that we're not talking about a today flight or a tomorrow flight. We're talking about a flight coming Sunday and a subsequent flight Monday. But the link here, the intelligence link seems to be that there is a connection between the cancellation of the Washington flight this coming Sunday and a previous cancellation, same intelligence link with that same Flight 223 was canceled on February 2.
So they have something in the works which suggests that is a flight which has more than a few problems, that it's being targeted by terrorists. But, you know, the exact timing on it, I can't answer -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walter Rodgers, thanks from London. Still a developing story. We'll be back to London throughout the day here. Thanks.
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 12, 2004 - 09:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two upcoming flights from London have been canceled for security reasons. British Airways made the announcement earlier today saying it was acting on advice of the government. One of the cancellations is that Heathrow to Washington flight previously canceled or delayed several times.
From London now, Walter Rodgers standing by now live with more. Walter, What are we learning?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well we're learning that there are some 300 British Airlines passengers on two separate flights who are scrambling to make new connections.
The two flights are British Airways 223, this coming Sunday it leaves Heathrow Airport here in London at 1505 in the afternoon. And it's scheduled to land in Dulles Airport at about 1800 hours. That's 6:00 in the evening.
The British government has recommended to British Airways that this flight be canceled. What's interesting about this is this is a much troubled flight. That is to say since New Year's Eve, eight times BA 223 to Dulles has been either canceled or seriously delayed.
The other flight which is being canceled upon the recommendation of the British government and British Airways accepts that is Flight 263. That's London Heathrow Airport to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Of course Saudi Arabia has been the target of more than a few terrorist bombs over the course of the last year. British Airways suspended its flights to Saudi Arabia last summer.
So again, both those flights canceled. A total of more than 300 passengers on the two flights looking for new reservations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walter, let me ask you the intriguing question to all this, and I'm not certain you answer for it. It's Thursday. It's my understanding these are daily flights. Why three days in advance do you scratch it?
RODGERS: Well, what the government has here is what it believes to be specific and credible evidence.
Now, I, too, find it very interesting that we're not talking about a today flight or a tomorrow flight. We're talking about a flight coming Sunday and a subsequent flight Monday. But the link here, the intelligence link seems to be that there is a connection between the cancellation of the Washington flight this coming Sunday and a previous cancellation, same intelligence link with that same Flight 223 was canceled on February 2.
So they have something in the works which suggests that is a flight which has more than a few problems, that it's being targeted by terrorists. But, you know, the exact timing on it, I can't answer -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walter Rodgers, thanks from London. Still a developing story. We'll be back to London throughout the day here. Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
