Plane plot: Hand luggage banned

2006-08-10 09:27

London - Airlines banned hand luggage on flights out of the United Kingdom on Thursday and warned of massive delays after British police said they had disrupted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight.

All carriers, including British Airways, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, stepped up security on news of the plot to smuggle bombs on board a flight between Britain and the United States.

Passengers were banned from carrying any hand luggage on board flights, including mobile phones and handbags, airlines and airport authorities said.

Baby milk must be tasted

All liquids were banned on board except for essential medicines. Milk for babies would be allowed on board but must be tasted by the accompanying passenger, UK airport operator BAA said in a statement.

"British Airways, acting on instruction from the UK government, wishes to advise passengers that no items of hand baggage can be carried on board any aircraft departing any UK airport," the airline said in a statement.

"The UK government has advised that this instruction will apply to all airlines operating from UK airports."

US security alert raised

Meanwhile, the US department of homeland security said it was taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in co-ordination with the heightened security alert in the UK.

"For that reason, the United States government has raised the nation's threat level to severe, or red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States," the department said in a statement.

Security at all UK airports increased

The British department of transport said in a statement on its website that security at all UK airports had been increased and additional security measures had been put in place on all flights.

BAA Plc, which operates three of London's biggest airports including Heathrow, said all passengers would be hand searched and their footwear and all items they carry would be X-rayed.

It added that all passengers on flights to the United States would be subject to a secondary search at the boarding gate.

"We are co-operating fully with the authorities," said a spokesperson for United Airlines, which is one of just two US airlines, along with American, that have landing rights at London's main Heathrow airport.

Significant delays expected

Carriers not flying on transatlantic routes were also affected. Low-cost airlines Ryanair and easyJet said significant delays should be expected.

"Our first-wave flights are currently in the process of taking off. We did not have aircraft in the air when we heard about this first thing this morning," an easyJet spokesperson said.

Shares in BA were expected to fall about four percent in early trade, dealers said.

- Reuters