BA flight to U.S. delayed again
 |
About 200 passengers were delayed Monday as BA223 sat on the tarmac.
Story Tools
VIDEO
|
CNN's Kelli Arena reports on possible attacks by al Qaeda and related groups.
British plan for marshals on some flights to U.S.meets resistance.
|
|
LONDON, England (CNN) -- After three consecutive days of 3 1/2 hour delays, British Airways Flight 223 has left London heading for Washington after only a two-hour delay.
The flight, which was canceled Thursday and Friday and escorted to Washington by fighter jets on Wednesday, departed Heathrow at 1713 GMT (12:13 p.m. ET) Tuesday and was due at Dulles airport at 8:06 p.m. ET (0106 GMT Wednesday).
The airline has said the delays Saturday, Sunday and Monday were caused by additional security checks by U.S. authorities, but has not yet commented on Tuesday's delay.
U.S. and British officials have said the flight's troubles stem very specific intelligence information indicating it could be a terrorist target. British Airways pilots have said they would cancel flights in the event of a specific threat rather than allow armed sky marshals aboard, as U.S. officials want.
Talks took place on the issue Tuesday between the British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA), which represents 8,000 of Britain's 9,500 airline pilots and is Europe's largest pilots' organization, and British Transport Minister Alistair Darling.
BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslen later said the organization had asked Darling to convene "a security summit." (Q&A)
In addition to representatives of the government, the airlines, airline employees and air traffic controllers, McAuslen said BALPA "would also like to see representatives of the traveling public and of the travel industry."
There was no immediate comment from Darling or the Transport Ministry.
McAuslen said the talks between Darling and BALPA "made some progress" Tuesday and would continue.
"We are seeking an agreement with the government whereby if sky marshals are ever used, we have a protocol -- a Gold Standard -- as to how they will be deployed," he said.
He said the pilots would prefer an agreement similar to one agreed to by Virgin Airways on December 31.
Virgin's agreement covers many of the pilots' concerns, including training, legal and financial issues and the type of weapon the marshal carries.
The accord also calls for the marshal to be introduced to the pilot and other crew members and stipulates that the flight captain remains the ultimate authority on the flight.
