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Britain
Dry run of liquid explosives?
2006-08-11
Masked explosives capable of destroying an airplane midair were recovered in a tense operation from a family travelling from London to Boston.

A source at Heathrow airport recounted the drama. The five-member family — two adults and three children — boarded American Airlines Flight 109 for Boston. They checked in at the last moment, inviting only a perfunctory check of the children’s hand-baggage.

After the aircraft took off the check-in computer at the airport flashed a warning that a person under observation had boarded the flight. Airline staff informed immigration and security officials. A background check revealed that the male adult member of the family was on a suspect list prepared by Scotland Yard after the 7/7 terror attacks in London.

By the time the pilot was alerted to the danger, the flight had been airborne for an hour. UK authorities and the pilot began deliberating on the possibility of checking the suspectÂ’s luggage. But the plan was abandoned because it could have triggered a violent response from the suspect and caused panic on board.

The pilot was advised to proceed to Boston where US security agencies could take over. But he decided to return to Heathrow. To avoid causing suspicion, it was agreed that the pilot would not announce the change in itinerary.

The aircraft landed safely at Heathrow and armed marshals boarded it to take the suspect and his family in custody. A search revealed the deadly cargo.
Posted by:Nimble Spemble

#7  Very interesting. The 8/10 airliner bombing plot arrestees have been found to also have links to the 7/7 terrorists. The Brits have already said there were 3 independent cells involved in the plot. They just may have stumbled onto a fourth cell.
Posted by: ed   2006-08-11 19:42  

#6  John Fund ( radio segment) was discussing this same information yesterday. The constituents were found in bottles. This is the first I heard that it was in children's carry-on bags. Not surprising. These scumbags will stoop to any degraded level necessary to carry out their deeds. We need to keep in mind who we're dealing with here. There should be no hesitation in exterminating them when required.
Posted by: SOP35/Rat   2006-08-11 19:20  

#5  wasn't flight 109 that either blew up over Lockerbie or right after leaving new york a few years ago?

Posted by: honkey   2006-08-11 16:57  

#4  You mean like this?
Transatlantic flight turns back to London over security alert Mon Aug 7, 5:27 PM ET British authorities questioned four people at London's Heathrow Airport after a flight to Boston turned around midway across the Atlantic because of a security alert.

American Airlines flight 109 carried 240 passengers and 13 crew members on the Boeing 777 jet, which landed back in London four hours after it departed. Four of the passengers were escorted from the plane when it landed in London, where six police officers were waiting for them, a Heathrow Airport spokeswoman told AFP. Anneliese Morris of American Airlines said the turn-around was "due to a security issue that needed to be resolved in London," but declined to comment further.

A spokeswoman for London's Metropolitan Police told AFP four people were interviewed by police officers at the airport, but had not been arrested. She declined to give details on the four. Britain's domestic Press Association said the four passengers questioned were believed to be a man who had been travelling with three women, believed to be his mother and two sisters.

The flight, which left London at 10:55 am (0955 GMT), had been due to arrive at Boston's Logan International Airport at 1:05 pm local time (1705 GMT). American Airlines told AFP it had re-booked passengers onto alternative flights to Boston.

According to the US Transportation Safety Administration, one of the passengers' names was on a so-called no-fly list, of persons not allowed to board airliners. "Early in the flight, TSA learned that a passenger on board was a positive match on the no-fly list. Out of an abundance of caution, TSA determined that the best course of action was to turn the flight around and at around 8:20 EST we instructed American Airlines Flight 109 to land," said Ann Davis, TSA spokeswoman. "This is the eighth international diversion due to a no-fly list match since the fall of 2004," Davis said. Air transportation was greatly bolstered after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"It's important to note that American Airlines was in regular communications with the flight as it returned to Heathrow and there were no reports of any unusual activity on board. "US law enforcement is working with local law enforcement in the UK to interview the passenger on the ground," she said.
Posted by: Steve   2006-08-11 16:54  

#3  This one smells to high heaven. MSM would have been all over a story about a returning plane.
Posted by: mcsegeeek1   2006-08-11 15:50  

#2  Not saying it didn't happen, but I might like a more reliable source then DNA World.
Posted by: tu3031   2006-08-11 14:43  

#1  This is the first I've heard of this, gee, bringing his whole family too
Posted by: Jesing Ebbease3087   2006-08-11 14:32  

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