Thursday, August 10, 2006

Airport chaos

British airports are in chaos this morning after the security and intelligence services foiled a plan by terrorists to blow up twenty aeroplanes over the Atlantic en route to the USA from the UK.

I don't know what consequences this will have for Brian who's due to arrive into Gatwick airport on Saturday morning. As it is, all air traffic in and out of that particular airport, as well as others, has now been suspended.

Click here to see the news item on the current state of affairs for travel arrangements by air.

Also, passengers are no longer able to take anything with them into the cabin unless they are essential items, like diabetic kits, passports and tickets.

I've also just heard on the radio that the police say the events of the morning will have catastrophic global consequences. Whatever that means, I don't know. We've been told to expect more information about this soon.

Panic ensues and I expect we will very soon see some backlash directed against Muslims as after 9/11.

What has happened to the world?


21 comments:

Minge said...

I just heard a woman on the radio complaining that she can't take anything on the aeroplane to amuse her five and seven year old children. Oh yeah, ok, so we'll just let anyone take anything on board. You're children will be amused - and then dead. Happy? You stupid little bitch.

ucallmemadam said...

Also just heard that it is mainly domestic and Euorpean flights that are delayed or cancelled. Most intercontinental flights are late but still continuing. It is departures that are causing problems, not arrivals. Although with delayed departures this subsequently leads to delays elsewhere are aircraft become incereasingly behind schedule ultimately to cancellations.

PJS said...

What has happened to the world is that fanatical, murderous zealots that have long been among us now have the technology to bring about destruction and wage warfare that only states and armies used to be able to muster.

This threat is not new, even its methods are recycled:

This plot seems very reminiscent of the so-called "Bojenka" (or "Manila Air") plot from 1994 — the Ramzi Yousef / Khalid Sheik Mohammed plot to blow up a dozen U.S. airliners as they were in flight over the Pacific.

The '94 plot involved explosive components that the bomber could assemble in the plane's bathroom and that could be detonated by a timer (a simple wrist-watch, if I'm remembering correctly). Yousef put one of these together in a test-run. He boarded a plane making one stop enroute to the U.S. On the first leg, he put together the device and planted it under his seat. He then did not contine on the second leg. The bomb detonated, killing a Japanese national and nearly bringing the flight down.

A notable component is that most of the plotters arrested in the past five years have been in their twenties; having been born in the late 1970's or early 1980's. People raised on the beliefs that their problems are based on the actions (or existence) of Jews, Americans, and anyone in sympathy with either group.

As one tactic is thwarted, another will be tested and tried. This started long before Bush or Blair were in office, and will continue long after they're out of office. This, I fear, is the new "normal".

Brian Farrey said...

Hakuna matata. Remember the rule. Only good vibes.

A Novelist said...

Yeah, I don't know what the heck is going on in the world? I just found out yesterday that on July 29th, 11 students from Egypt came to the U.S. and landed in NY at JFK Airport. They were supposed to visit a college for something, but never showed up and were reported missing! Homeland Security is now investigating. I guess they came over on student visas and that's how they got into our country?

Anyway, you can imagine how people in NY are feeling, wondering who is wondering around and what they might be plotting...

Just stay safe where you are. :)

A Novelist said...

I meant who is wandering around...

I'm a little on edge as you can tell... :(

David said...

I'd say that Brian will have some interesting observations as all this unfolds further during his flight.

Brian Farrey said...

Don't ping my cheese with your bandwidth.

Minge said...

It's all going to be fabulous. I can feel it in my water.

Daddy Cool said...

This reminds me of the great tweezers scare when the Department of Homeland Bureaucracy deemed various grooming items to be a great threat. It will all blow over shortly and we can get back to reality.

Minge said...

Not being able to take a book on a long haul flight will be as shit.

Minge said...

Now I'm sounding as bad as that woman who was choked up about not being able to amuse her kiddies.

Daddy Cool said...

But they could be TERROR BOOKS!

I fully support any parent trying to amuse a small child on a long flight.

Please seat minge next to that poor little girl who just wants her dolly.

Minge said...

I'd amuse the little bgugers - with sleeping pills!

LOL!

;)

RIC said...

How heartless of you, Minge!
What a day...

Anonymous said...

I recently read about a new airline. It's for smokers. Fabulous, as I'm a smoker. Non-smokers boarding this aircraft would be shocked and angry if they hadn't been warned beforehand but their website clearly states that it's for smokers only.

Now, when are we going to see an airline that doesn't allow Muslims? Racist? You fucking bet I am. I was in London on 7/7 last year and almost everyone I knew called or txted me to make sure I was okay. They did that before I even knew that over 50 people had been evilly murdered by 4 muslim terrorists.

I would love to travel with an airline who had a policy of "leave your stupid religion shit beliefs at the door". And that goes for ALL religions.

Would I choose to travel with an airline who had a "NO MUSLIM" policy. You're fucking goddamn right I would.

Minge said...

I'm heartless. And I hate to say it, but I think I would consider an athiest airline...!

Alan Fisher said...

I want an international airline called BAU. i.e. Bitches Are Us. The stewards would completely ignore me and then suddenly Joan Collins would come striding out of 1st class and splash Martini all down my shirt

Alan Fisher said...

I want an international airline called BAU. i.e. Bitches Are Us. The stewards would completely ignore me and then suddenly Joan Collins would come striding out of 1st class and splash Martini all down my shirt

Alan Fisher said...

or was it Cinzano?

Minge said...

I'm sure it was Cinzano.

Anything but lager.