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Intelligence indicating that al Qaeda terrorists are seeking to release a chemical or biological agent aboard an airliner, or transport a radiological device in cargo, prompted the cancellation of six international flights scheduled for today and tomorrow, senior administration officials familiar with the reports said yesterday. The possibilities, as described by three intelligence officials, include releasing an undetectable biological agent such as smallpox or anthrax aboard a plane that passengers would then unknowingly spread; releasing a chemical agent to debilitate the passengers and crew so the plane could be hijacked, and sneaking a radiological device aboard a plane inside a...

LONDON (AP) - British Airways (BAB) and Air France on Saturday announced the cancellation of seven flights to and from the United States because of security concerns. BA canceled four flights between Heathrow Airport and Washington on Sunday and Monday and one from Heathrow to Miami on Sunday. Air France canceled two Paris-to-Washington flights. There are no plans to raise the terror alert in the United States because of the latest threats, Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. "We remain concerned about al-Qaida's desire to target aviation, especially international aviation," said Roehrkasse said. "The U.S. intelligence community continues to...

LONDON (AP) - British Airways (BAB) has canceled three flights from Heathrow Airport to Washington, D.C., and Miami because of government security concerns, the airline said Saturday. Flight 223 to Washington's Dulles airport will not fly on Sunday or Monday, but is to depart on schedule at 3:05 p.m. local time Saturday, said an airline spokeswoman. U.S. officials said Friday that new intelligence indicated Flight 223 and Air France flights from Paris to an unspecified U.S. city could be terrorist targets. Flight 207 to Miami will not fly on Sunday, she said, but had departed Saturday morning. The spokeswoman, who...

British Airways has cancelled three planned flights from London to cities in the United States for security reasons. Two flights from London to Washington (BA 223), on February 1 and February 2, and one flight to Miami (BA 207), on February 1, have been cancelled on security advice from the British Government. A BA spokeswoman apologised to customers for the inconvenience. She added: "The safety and security of our operations is our absolute priority and will not be compromised." A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: "Aviation security is kept under review at all times. "In the light of...

8:17am - John Portnoy, WMAL AM-630 news broke into "David Byrd" show to report that British Airways has just canceled three flights into the US today - one flight to Miami and two to DC (Dulles?). Sorry, that's all they said. Will listen for further...