Terror threat delays flight

Extra security checks today disrupted a transatlantic flight from London to Washington for the fourth day in succession, amid continuing concern over the threat of terrorism.

British Airways flight BA223 was held at Heathrow Airport as US officials scrutinised additional security information supplied by the airline, but eventually left three and a half hours late.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling today said that air travellers must get used to flight delays and cancellations during a “heightened state of alert” which could last for many years.

And Prime Minister Tony Blair warned that the threat from terrorists was “real right around the world at the present time” but urged the public to have faith in the authorities’ efforts to counter it.

Travelling home from a visit to Iraq, Mr Blair told reporters: “Decisions are taken on the basis of assessments that are made and you just have to judge each set of circumstances as it comes.

“You know the terrorist threat is real right around the world at the present time. Nobody is immune from it, you have to remain vigilant.”

But he went on: “People should have faith with the authorities, the airlines and all of us. We are doing the very best with the situation we have. In general terms, the terrorist threat is there, there’s no point denying that. It was there before September 11.”

Flight BA223 was cancelled on New Year’s Day and the following day following “very specific” intelligence received by US officials and passed on to the British Government.

On New Year’s Eve, the return flight was kept on the runway for three hours after landing at Washington Dulles International Airport to allow security officials to board the plane and question passengers.

And there were lengthy delays to the service both yesterday and today amid intense security with armed officers, sniffer dogs and Land Rovers parked outside Heathrow’s Terminal Four.

The disruption came as the US stepped up security, heightening its alert status to orange – the second highest possible.

Mr Darling today said the Government would seek to strike a balance between guarding against terrorism and allowing citizens the freedom to travel where they chose.

But he added: “I fear that for many years to come, we are going to be living in an age where there is going to be a heightened state of alert. Sometimes it will be quite severe, at other times perhaps less so.

“We are going to have to get used to increased security at airports. From time to time that will be noticeable and at other times maybe things will be going on behind the scenes.

“A decision to cancel a flight is comparatively rare. But where we have to cancel a flight, the grounds are very clear in our minds and we are justified in taking that decision.

“The first line of defence, and the best possible thing you can do is to stop somebody or stop something that you are concerned about getting onto an aeroplane,” he said.

“However, there will be cases – and they are comparatively rare – where it may be necessary to go further and to ground a particular flight. It really depends on the information that we have got.”

Today’s flight, carrying 241 passengers, was set to leave Heathrow at 3.05pm but left nearly three and a half hours late, due to additional security screening.

A BA spokesman said: “The delay has been caused by the passing of some extra information to the US.

“They requested to be supplied with extra information about the flight for security purposes before take-off to Washington, the same as happened yesterday.”

The Home Office has been in talks with US authorities about ways to minimise disruption to transatlantic flights. BA made the final decisions on cancelled flights this week following consultations.

The majority of passengers from Friday’s grounded flight flew on the later BA225 service to Washington the same day.

All remaining stranded passengers were put up in a hotel overnight and flew to the US capital yesterday.

They gave a round of applause when they finally touched down at Dulles International at about 2.10am UK time (9.10pm local time).

The BA263 flight from Heathrow to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, which was due to depart at 1.35pm yesterday, was also cancelled after receiving “security advice” from the Government, said BA.

No decision has been made about the next flight to Riyadh, which is scheduled to leave tomorrow.

Meanwhile, an Aeromexico flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles was cancelled after US authorities refused to allow it to land because of security worries.

But Mexican officials found no evidence of a threat on flight 490 and all 40 passengers were allowed to leave on a Mexicana flight.

Six Air France flights from Paris to Los Angeles were grounded in December because of concerns that possible terrorists were on board.