Airliner alert
6.15 pm
In the last half-hour an airliner out of Sydney bound for Los Angeles has returned and safely landed at Sydney Airport after a bomb threat. United American Airlines Flight 840 was one and a half hours into the flight when the captain acted on a non-specified, Code 3 alert and took the decision to return to Sydney.
After dumping fuel over the Pacific the 747 landed at a secure part of the airport on Botany Bay. The plane is now isolated and locked down, with all interior lights off. The 246 passengers and 18 crew have been evacuated by bus.
Unconfirmed radio reports have a threatening note being found at the terminal after the plane departed with a further note being found onboard. There is also a suggestion an attempt was made to forcibly enter the cockpit.
Full emergency procedures were enacted. Airspace over Sydney was closed and flights from other cities and regional centres are either in a holding pattern, or returning to their points of origin. Additionally police are closing General Holmes Drive under the Botany Bay runway.
In another incident, Monday at Sydney Airport a knife, boxcutter, was found on a Middle East airliner before passengers boarded.
UPDATE : Last night neither Sydney airport nor the Department of Transport would confirm exactly what had taken place on board but it is understood to relate to a note that was found on the aircraft by crew.
I know it's a bit off subject, but a word in your ear, Adrian- Niall's taken a shine to you. I suggest a shower, change of clothes, change of identity and relocation somewhere safe, like Felluja.
Posted by: PB | July 27, 2004 at 11:37 PM
Call security !!! Besides, I don't know any Niall. I only know and love Bart,
I didn't do it, no one saw me do it, ya can't prove a goddam thing !
Posted by: adrian | July 28, 2004 at 12:46 AM
Niall liking Adrian is one of the sure signs of the approaching apocalypse.
Posted by: Mike Jericho | July 28, 2004 at 04:00 PM
You should all be so lucky. I love the smell of smouldering RWDB in the morning :)
Posted by: Niall | July 28, 2004 at 06:44 PM
Umm, after this last comment I was intrigued enough to find out who or what is 'Niall'. So I've consulted the Urban Dictionary which gave five definitions,
Niall
A peanut head who lives in lithgae and can't go a day with out his gel and boyfriends e.g.Beck,Stu & Euan. Niall is a kind but in some cases too kind if you know what i mean! He adores and possibly fancies Mr.Clark our chemistry teacher and Niall's main ambition in life is to polish that bald head!
Another related definition has 'Niall' as,
Niall
The Scottish/Irish term for a person who would masturbate at a wedding.
'At the reception, Everyone was shocked to discover he was a Niall'
Oh, dear....
Posted by: adrian | July 29, 2004 at 05:17 AM