POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Forums Gatherings => Topic started by: Cliff on August 14, 2006, 05:02:40 am
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Somehow despite a ban on bringing anything aboard an aircraft, a mobile phone managed to go off as a British Airways flight was taking off from London to NYC. The pilot made the decision, (1.5 hours later mind you), to turn the plane around and land back in London for a security check! >:( If it was a bomb, it would have blown up by the time they made the decision to turn back around.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6013877,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6013877,00.html)
About a 1/3 of the flights out of London are still being cancelled and those that aren't cancelled are leaving hours behind schedule. But today the country lowered the terror alert and I believe they will start allowing some carry-on items tomorrow! Just in time...cause I can't imagine what I would do if I couldn't bring my ipod, laptop nor a book with me. Plus that should help improve the flight cancellation mess (which I believe is related to not enough passengers and crew making it to their flights because of the security delays).
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Hi Cliff,
Today they're saying "Terror Threat Downgraded"
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain scaled down its security alert overnight and eased a ban on airline cabin baggage imposed last week after police said they had foiled a plot to blow up airliners using liquid explosives disguised as drinks.
Home Secretary John Reid said the downgrading of the threat of a terrorist attack from Critical, the highest level, to Severe, did not mean the danger of an attack had passed.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said passengers could now take one piece of hand luggage onto planes but would still be banned from taking liquids aboard, except medicines that could be verified and baby food that would have to be tasted by accompanying adults.
Electrical devices like laptop computers would have to be individually checked by security staff.
"There has now been time to assess the intelligence picture following the police operation," Reid told reporters. "The police believe that the main suspects in the alleged plot were arrested last week."
"There is still a very serious threat of an attack," he added. "The threat level is at Severe, indicating a high likelihood of an attempted terrorist attack at some stage."
The United States said it had also scaled back its threat level for flights from Britain but would remain vigilant.
On Sunday a British Airways flight to New York was turned back to Heathrow because of a security scare over a ringing mobile phone that did not belong to any of the 217 passengers. The phone was later found to be safe.
Mobile phones were banned from hand luggage as part of the stringent security measures rushed in on Thursday after police arrested 24 people suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10 airliners over the Atlantic Ocean.
One detainee was released last week, but police are still holding the others, all British citizens, under anti-terrorism legislation that allows police to detain suspects without charge for up to 28 days.
Reid said at least four plots had been thwarted since July last year when four Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people on three underground trains and a bus in London.
STRINGENT SECURITY CAUSES CHAOS
The ban on all hand luggage in aircraft and stringent security searches forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights and caused chaos at British airports, crammed with travellers at the height of the holiday season.
British Airways cancelled 30 percent of its flights from Heathrow on Sunday and, like low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, complained to the British Airports Authority (BAA) about long delays caused by security measures, especially the body searches of all passengers.
British Airways said it was cancelling 39 short-haul and five long-haul flights from Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, on Monday and expected to cancel 20 percent of Heathrow flights on Tuesday despite easier security.
Airlines said the cancellations and disruption which stranded thousands of travellers over the weekend showed no sign of easing on Monday.
The BAA, which runs the country's major airports, said it would take time to implement the tough new security measures.
Confusion persisted over when hand luggage would be allowed on aircraft. Alexander said passengers could take one bag on board with immediate effect, but the BAA Web site said the ban would not be lifted until 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
link (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14082006/325/terror-threat-downgraded.html)
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The pilot made the decision, (1.5 hours later mind you), to turn the plane around and land back in London for a security check! If it was a bomb, it would have blown up by the time they made the decision to turn back around.
Yes Cliff, sometimes they are really dumb and it has to be a perfect example. I hope you won't have to wait too long for going through security, and neither your flight to be cancelled.
See ya soon..
The Canuck
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Hope everybody makes it OK........ Glad to hear they have downgraded the alert. Let's hope the lines won't be so long now. I'm not really worried about Mobile airport but Atlanta and Chicago.... ::)
Cliff... I fear you guys in the UK might still have it a bit tough...(Incidentally...if you will ...send me your mobile number by PM) I think you have mine. Hope nobody puts a wand up your %$#&% :o
Montreal ......here we come. Ready or NOT! :P