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CNN Saturday Morning News
Flights Canceled, Delayed for Fear of Terrorism
Aired January 03, 2004 - 08:01 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Canceled, delayed or diverted, that's what fear of terrorists has been doing to international airline flights since the U.S. went to code orange terror alert.
Our correspondents are standing by in London and Washington with the very latest information.
We are going
to begin with CNN's Elaine Quijano, who is live at Dulles International Airport -- good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Sean.
Well, so far, no delays or cancellations because of security concerns on British Airways flights between here and London. And this morning I talked to a spokesperson with B.A. He tells me that the British government has given the airline, British Airways, the OK to operate all of its flights between here, Dulles International Airport, and London's Heathrow Airport.
Now, that would include B.A. Flight Number 223. If you'll recall, that is the flight that for two days in a row was canceled, both yesterday and the day before because of security concerns; the same flight also in which passengers were detained on that plane on Wednesday night as authorities checked out names on that passenger list and to try to see if they matched up with any on a terror watch list. In the end, they determined that those people posed no threat.
Now, U.S. officials say that intelligence from an informant and other sources regarding BA-223 is what led to its cancellation two days in a row. Sources say the information had nothing to do with the passenger list, but instead focused on a flight number. And even though there are questions about the credibility of that information, authorities say officials cannot take any chances.
Now, according to the B.A. spokesman, as you heard a moment ago, I said Flight 223 is set to leave London today on schedule. And that's supposed to take off in about two hours.
Now, here at Dulles, meantime, there is one British Airways flight that has been canceled this morning. Now that was expected. We heard about this last night basically because of an equipment issue. That plane went out last night in order to accommodate some of the passengers who were affected by delays and cancellations yesterday. Now, some of those passengers that I talked to who were on that canceled flight or supposed to be on that canceled flight told me that they are frustrated by the inconvenience. But others said they understand the need for authorities to take precautions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happier that they're canceling the flight than letting us go onto the flights, yes. If that's what they've got to do to have safety, then that's what they've got to do, isn't it?
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 latest information from the British Airways spokesperson, no delays or cancellations so far because of security concerns on any British Airways flights between here, Dulles International, and London's Heathrow Airport -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Well, Elaine, it seems as though people are handling this pretty well. They understand the security concerns. We heard from a couple of people.
Do you think that's a pretty good indicator of the way people are?
QUIJANO: I think so. I mean between yesterday and today, I would say that's the overriding sentiment. People, especially in this particular area that are traveling in and out of the Washington, D.C. area, seem to understand. There's a very clear police presence at the airport and since September 11, since the attacks, people have been acutely aware that there have to be some precautions taken and people, quite frankly, are used to delays for other reasons -- weather, equipment problems. So they just sort of chalk it up to this being another instance.
But keep in mind, also, this is really the first such situation where people have had to endure these kinds of cancellations like this on a particular flight two days in a row. Whether or not people continue to be patient remains to be seen -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Elaine Quijano at Dulles Airport in Washington, thanks very much -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're now told that British Airways is resuming service to Washington.
CNN's Robyn Curnow joins us on the phone now from London's Heathrow Airport -- so, Robyn, I would imagine there would be quite a bit of relief among passengers who have been waiting for the last couple of days to get out of there. ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andrea, some of the passengers that I have spoken to have said mostly that they're very frightened. They're uncertain and theyve found this entire experience distressing and unnerving, actually. In fact, many of them are now waiting. They've checked in. They're waiting to board the plane in the next hour or two. And there really is a sense not just of the fact that this whole episode might soon be over, but they say they're going to be very nervous on that plane knowing that Flight 223 was specifically singled out by the British intelligence services as being an incredibly high risk flight, which is the reason it's been canceled the past few days. Many people saying this flight is just one they want to get over and done with.
KOPPEL: On a personal note, I actually was flying -- I actually flew out on Flight 223 on New Year's Eve. I think it was one of the last flights to get into Washington Dulles.
Where have the passengers been staying for the last couple of days? Have they been put up at the airport or have they been staying in hotels? What have they been doing?
CURNOW: British Airways has gone out of its way to make sure that these people are, A, informed, although not much information is being given to them; and, also, to help them to stay at hotels near the airport. Or what they've been doing is trying to get them on flights in the last few days. So there has been a bit of reshuffling with the other B.A. flights that have been flying to Washington in the past two days.
We do know that some passengers all -- have also been offered the chance to maybe transfer to another airline today and the one couple that we spoke to who live in Washington, D.C. this morning say that they were still thinking of perhaps not taking that flight even if it does fly, and transferring to another airline.
So all in all, I think British Airways has been very keen to try and give the impression that they're helping. But obviously they are having to deal with very top level, high security information and they're not really telling people very much, which has also caused a lot of uncertainty. People not sure just why this flight has been canceled twice and just what the risks they might be facing or might have been facing in the air on Flight 223 -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Obviously a lot of mixed emotions.
Robyn Curnow joining us from London's Heathrow on the phone there.
Thank you.
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 - 08:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Canceled, delayed or diverted, that's what fear of terrorists has been doing to international airline flights since the U.S. went to code orange terror alert.
Our correspondents are standing by in London and Washington with the very latest information.
We are going
to begin with CNN's Elaine Quijano, who is live at Dulles International Airport -- good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Sean.
Well, so far, no delays or cancellations because of security concerns on British Airways flights between here and London. And this morning I talked to a spokesperson with B.A. He tells me that the British government has given the airline, British Airways, the OK to operate all of its flights between here, Dulles International Airport, and London's Heathrow Airport.
Now, that would include B.A. Flight Number 223. If you'll recall, that is the flight that for two days in a row was canceled, both yesterday and the day before because of security concerns; the same flight also in which passengers were detained on that plane on Wednesday night as authorities checked out names on that passenger list and to try to see if they matched up with any on a terror watch list. In the end, they determined that those people posed no threat.
Now, U.S. officials say that intelligence from an informant and other sources regarding BA-223 is what led to its cancellation two days in a row. Sources say the information had nothing to do with the passenger list, but instead focused on a flight number. And even though there are questions about the credibility of that information, authorities say officials cannot take any chances.
Now, according to the B.A. spokesman, as you heard a moment ago, I said Flight 223 is set to leave London today on schedule. And that's supposed to take off in about two hours.
Now, here at Dulles, meantime, there is one British Airways flight that has been canceled this morning. Now that was expected. We heard about this last night basically because of an equipment issue. That plane went out last night in order to accommodate some of the passengers who were affected by delays and cancellations yesterday. Now, some of those passengers that I talked to who were on that canceled flight or supposed to be on that canceled flight told me that they are frustrated by the inconvenience. But others said they understand the need for authorities to take precautions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happier that they're canceling the flight than letting us go onto the flights, yes. If that's what they've got to do to have safety, then that's what they've got to do, isn't it?
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 latest information from the British Airways spokesperson, no delays or cancellations so far because of security concerns on any British Airways flights between here, Dulles International, and London's Heathrow Airport -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Well, Elaine, it seems as though people are handling this pretty well. They understand the security concerns. We heard from a couple of people.
Do you think that's a pretty good indicator of the way people are?
QUIJANO: I think so. I mean between yesterday and today, I would say that's the overriding sentiment. People, especially in this particular area that are traveling in and out of the Washington, D.C. area, seem to understand. There's a very clear police presence at the airport and since September 11, since the attacks, people have been acutely aware that there have to be some precautions taken and people, quite frankly, are used to delays for other reasons -- weather, equipment problems. So they just sort of chalk it up to this being another instance.
But keep in mind, also, this is really the first such situation where people have had to endure these kinds of cancellations like this on a particular flight two days in a row. Whether or not people continue to be patient remains to be seen -- Sean.
CALLEBS: Elaine Quijano at Dulles Airport in Washington, thanks very much -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're now told that British Airways is resuming service to Washington.
CNN's Robyn Curnow joins us on the phone now from London's Heathrow Airport -- so, Robyn, I would imagine there would be quite a bit of relief among passengers who have been waiting for the last couple of days to get out of there. ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andrea, some of the passengers that I have spoken to have said mostly that they're very frightened. They're uncertain and theyve found this entire experience distressing and unnerving, actually. In fact, many of them are now waiting. They've checked in. They're waiting to board the plane in the next hour or two. And there really is a sense not just of the fact that this whole episode might soon be over, but they say they're going to be very nervous on that plane knowing that Flight 223 was specifically singled out by the British intelligence services as being an incredibly high risk flight, which is the reason it's been canceled the past few days. Many people saying this flight is just one they want to get over and done with.
KOPPEL: On a personal note, I actually was flying -- I actually flew out on Flight 223 on New Year's Eve. I think it was one of the last flights to get into Washington Dulles.
Where have the passengers been staying for the last couple of days? Have they been put up at the airport or have they been staying in hotels? What have they been doing?
CURNOW: British Airways has gone out of its way to make sure that these people are, A, informed, although not much information is being given to them; and, also, to help them to stay at hotels near the airport. Or what they've been doing is trying to get them on flights in the last few days. So there has been a bit of reshuffling with the other B.A. flights that have been flying to Washington in the past two days.
We do know that some passengers all -- have also been offered the chance to maybe transfer to another airline today and the one couple that we spoke to who live in Washington, D.C. this morning say that they were still thinking of perhaps not taking that flight even if it does fly, and transferring to another airline.
So all in all, I think British Airways has been very keen to try and give the impression that they're helping. But obviously they are having to deal with very top level, high security information and they're not really telling people very much, which has also caused a lot of uncertainty. People not sure just why this flight has been canceled twice and just what the risks they might be facing or might have been facing in the air on Flight 223 -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: Obviously a lot of mixed emotions.
Robyn Curnow joining us from London's Heathrow on the phone there.
Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
