Report: Saudi Police Foil Airliner Attack

Reuters ^ | 12/27/03 | Peter Graff

[Buck W.]

LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi security forces have seized light planes packed with explosives near Riyadh's King Khalid airport, foiling a plot by suicide pilots to blow up a Western airliner on the runway, a British newspaper said on Sunday.

Two pilots apparently intended to crash their light planes into a Western jet as it taxied slowly on the tarmac, the Mail on Sunday quoted Patrick Mercer, homeland security policy chief for Britain's opposition Conservative Party as saying.

"My understanding is that (the light planes) were found on the flight line and that the plan was to fly them into a passenger jet either about to land or take off," Mercer told the paper.

The two pilots were among several people arrested after the planes were discovered some time in the past few weeks, the paper said.

It said British Airways was believed to be the most likely target, although several other European carriers also use the airport.

A BA spokesman said the airline had no knowledge of the incident described in the paper.

"We are in regular contact with the Saudi authorities and the British government and we wouldn't fly unless it was completely safe to do so," a spokesman said. "We haven't changed our flights to or from Saudi Arabia."

BA suspended flights to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom in August citing a security threat, but the airline resumed flying the following month after a review.

Mercer was not available to elaborate on his remarks and the British Foreign Office said it was not aware of the incident.

Britain and the United States have both warned of possible threats to Western aviation targets in Saudi Arabia over the past few months.

Saudi Arabia, birthplace of suspected September 11, 2001, mastermind Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), has seen a wave of strikes by militants this year, including major suicide bombings at housing compounds in May and November that killed more than 50 people.

Police and militants have had frequent shootouts. The government has rounded up hundreds of suspects and says it has seized massive caches of explosives and weapons.

[11B3]

I'd like to see a light plane try to ram an airliner on final approach - they'd get a ride they never forgot!

[TSgt]

"Report: Saudi Police Foil Airliner Attack"

What? Did one of the Sodemy Police back out?

[Chu Gary]

It sounds to me as if the terrorists are getting more and more desperate to make a big splash, and continuing to fail to do so. I wonder how the Saudis will feel when major international carriers suspend service to/from their sandbox until they take effective security measures against these maniacs.

[vladog]

WOW another foil! How many foils does that make since 12/25/03? Or was that tin-foil!

[MediaMole]

Until something actually blows up, the orange alert will be nothing but official paranoia in the eyes of the public.

[sawyer]

I do not even think the story is true as only the royals can fly in SA. I lived over there and never saw a small plane.Yes air liners but no small planes. Fighters once in a great while.

[jungleboy]

I like this part... "The two pilots were among several people arrested"...

[Lloyd227]

"...only the royals can fly in SA..."

Interesting point you make, although rather than disbelieve the story, I would wonder about the identity of these two pilots arrested.

"Royal" family members involved possibly?

[Joe Boucher]

I'm suprised. After reading the title, I was sure the perpatrators were American Christians come to die for Christ and do damage to the GODless muslims in Saudi Arabia.

[sawyer]

I guess it could be the royals flying but I just found it odd. Did not ring true to me.

[JETDRVR]

"My understanding is that (the light planes) were found on the flight line and that the plan was to fly them into a passenger jet either about to land or take off," Mercer told the paper


Bwaahhhahahahahahahahardyhahaha.......dats a good one:)