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.