Passengers suffer at Heathrow
2006-08-10 18:06
London - Passengers stuck in massive queues at London's Heathrow Airport reacted with defiance as they underwent drastic security checks on Thursday after police foiled an alleged plot to blow up US-bound planes.
The world's busiest international airport, like other British airports, was snarled in chaos as flights were cancelled or massively delayed - at the height of the busiest time of year, the summer holiday season.
Draconian, time-consuming security measures were imposed after police revealed they had swooped on the major players behind an alleged plot to commit mass murder on an "unimaginable" scale by smuggling explosives onto flights.
But passengers at Heathrow, west of London, said they understood why the tough measures had been enforced, causing huge delays as they tried to cope in the confusion.
'I'll never forget 9/11'
"Am I afraid? Of course. I'll never forget the Twin Towers in New York," said Nancy Schroeder, a 68-year-old grandmother trying to return with her family home to San Diego in California on a United Airlines flight.
"I am glad that they have the security measures they have now", she told AFP. Her family was among the hundreds of passengers patiently queueing for the check-in to catch a trans-Atlantic flight.
Linda Cowie, a Scot trying to take an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles, said she was not scared by the alleged terror plot to detonate explosives on flights to the United States.
"You can't stop travelling," said the businesswoman, from Aberdeen, northeast Scotland.
Gordon Smith, a pensioner from Newmarket in eastern England, was determined not to let the fear of terrorism affect him trying to reach Chicago.
"Why should I be afraid? I can't stop the course of events," he said.
British Airways scrapped all its short-haul flights due Thursday between Heathrow and other British and European cities while some domestic services and short-haul services from London Gatwick Airport, Britain's second busiest, were also cancelled.
Passengers stuck in the lengthy queues for US-bound flights were handed an information sheet telling them that they would be subjected to a second security search just before boarding their planes.
All cabin luggage was severely restricted to a limited list of items, including passports, travel documents and essential medication.
"I am OK with the security measures," said Edmond Tremblay, a US businessman hoping to fly to Dallas, Texas on a United Airlines flight.
Meanwhile, some trans-Atlantic travellers landing at Heathrow after long overnight flights also found themselves caught up in the confusion.
"I flew in from Detroit and I'm going to Cairo. I'm completely lost," said Lindsay Jubo, 26, with a smile, her Canadian passport in hand.
"They told me that flights have been cancelled. I can't even find mine."