http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ID/3775771/
Six Paris-to-L.A. flights canceled over security
NBC: U.S. officials raise concerns; more flights could be scrapped
Updated: 2:44 p.m. ET Dec. 24, 2003Amid intensive discussions between U.S. and French officials, six Paris-to-Los Angeles flights were canceled Wednesday because of security concerns, French and U.S. officials said Wednesday.
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Air France canceled Flights 68, 69 and 70 at the request of U.S. officials, while three other flights were canceled by other carriers, NBC's Nancy Ing reported from Paris.
A senior Homeland Security official told NBC News on condition of anonymity that Secretary Tom Ridge and other top officials from various agencies were consulting with their French counterparts.
A senior State Department official said the State Department was also consulting with the French ambassador and that Secretary of State Colin Powell had spoken personally with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to discuss airline security, including specific flights.
Specific flights and routes
A senior U.S. official told NBC’s Robert Windrem that the United States had uncovered “plausible” intelligence that several flights originating in Paris would be the targets of terrorists, including the three Air France flights that were canceled.
The official described the intelligence as “fairly specific. ... We do not take it for lock-solid, no-doubt intelligence, but instead I would call it plausible. It's the sort of intelligence that matches up with other stuff we received.”
Some of the intelligence was “date-specific, some route-specific. ... There are other flights and routes,” he said, adding that Air France was not the only airline discussed in the reports.
The U.S. official said Washington was trying to get even more flights grounded, one or more of which may be connected to Air Mexico. “There is no way yet to determine when the worst of this will pass,” the official said.
Six Paris-to-L.A. flights canceled over security
NBC: U.S. officials raise concerns; more flights could be scrapped
Updated: 2:44 p.m. ET Dec. 24, 2003Amid intensive discussions between U.S. and French officials, six Paris-to-Los Angeles flights were canceled Wednesday because of security concerns, French and U.S. officials said Wednesday.
advertisement
Air France canceled Flights 68, 69 and 70 at the request of U.S. officials, while three other flights were canceled by other carriers, NBC's Nancy Ing reported from Paris.
A senior Homeland Security official told NBC News on condition of anonymity that Secretary Tom Ridge and other top officials from various agencies were consulting with their French counterparts.
A senior State Department official said the State Department was also consulting with the French ambassador and that Secretary of State Colin Powell had spoken personally with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to discuss airline security, including specific flights.
Specific flights and routes
A senior U.S. official told NBC’s Robert Windrem that the United States had uncovered “plausible” intelligence that several flights originating in Paris would be the targets of terrorists, including the three Air France flights that were canceled.
The official described the intelligence as “fairly specific. ... We do not take it for lock-solid, no-doubt intelligence, but instead I would call it plausible. It's the sort of intelligence that matches up with other stuff we received.”
Some of the intelligence was “date-specific, some route-specific. ... There are other flights and routes,” he said, adding that Air France was not the only airline discussed in the reports.
The U.S. official said Washington was trying to get even more flights grounded, one or more of which may be connected to Air Mexico. “There is no way yet to determine when the worst of this will pass,” the official said.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Signs of Terror Plot Point
to LAX; 6 Flights Canceled
By Sebastian Rotella, Josh Meyer, Greg Krikorian
France acted after U.S. warned that as many as a half-dozen passengers on one flight might have been Al Qaeda or Taliban terrorists. One name on list believed to be a trained pilot.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
From todays LA Times. 12/25
to LAX; 6 Flights Canceled
By Sebastian Rotella, Josh Meyer, Greg Krikorian
France acted after U.S. warned that as many as a half-dozen passengers on one flight might have been Al Qaeda or Taliban terrorists. One name on list believed to be a trained pilot.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
From todays LA Times. 12/25
From Drudge:
"Some passengers boarding Air France flight from Paris to Los Angeles 'intended to hijack it and crash land in Las Vegas', the WASHINGTON POST is planning to report in Page One leads on Friday, sources tell DRUDGE... officials said they 'remain suspicious about some passengers who did not show up at the airport to claim their seats on the ultimately aborted Flight 68 from Paris to Los Angeles. One of those who did not appear for the Christmas Eve flight apparently is a trained pilot'... Developing..
"Some passengers boarding Air France flight from Paris to Los Angeles 'intended to hijack it and crash land in Las Vegas', the WASHINGTON POST is planning to report in Page One leads on Friday, sources tell DRUDGE... officials said they 'remain suspicious about some passengers who did not show up at the airport to claim their seats on the ultimately aborted Flight 68 from Paris to Los Angeles. One of those who did not appear for the Christmas Eve flight apparently is a trained pilot'... Developing..
Patriot, if we know who they are, and what they are taking on board, I am sure we could have sufficient Marshalls on the flights to insure nothing goes wrong. I mean set them up, surround them with agents from our side. Surely we can do that without endangering the various suspect flights, especially if the terrorists are known to us. The way it sounds, we cannot arrest anyone in France, which leaves known, or alleged, El Queda terrorists at large.
wil.
wil.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wilheim:
Patriot, if we know who they are, and what they are taking on board, I am sure we could have sufficient Marshalls on the flights to insure nothing goes wrong. I mean set them up, surround them with agents from our side. Surely we can do that without endangering the various suspect flights, especially if the terrorists are known to us. The way it sounds, we cannot arrest anyone in France, which leaves known, or alleged, El Queda terrorists at large.
wil.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wil,
I have a cousin that is an air marshall.
Trust me - you DO NOT want your safety in the hands of this guy. He's been through about a dozen jobs in the past 5 years because he has little responsiblity. Somehow he got this job because he was a Marine reservist.
Patriot, if we know who they are, and what they are taking on board, I am sure we could have sufficient Marshalls on the flights to insure nothing goes wrong. I mean set them up, surround them with agents from our side. Surely we can do that without endangering the various suspect flights, especially if the terrorists are known to us. The way it sounds, we cannot arrest anyone in France, which leaves known, or alleged, El Queda terrorists at large.
wil.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wil,
I have a cousin that is an air marshall.
Trust me - you DO NOT want your safety in the hands of this guy. He's been through about a dozen jobs in the past 5 years because he has little responsiblity. Somehow he got this job because he was a Marine reservist.
Tablarasa,
I don't think an airliner could destroy the dam. The most effective way is with massive explosives. However, the yield needed would require a semi or other large vehicle which are currently banned from crossing.
Too bad they didn't do that 15 years ago so when I came back from Arizona I wouldn't have to wait 30 minutes for some trucker to get an opening to turn wide around the various curves.
I don't think an airliner could destroy the dam. The most effective way is with massive explosives. However, the yield needed would require a semi or other large vehicle which are currently banned from crossing.
