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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
[[File:2006-08-10 police raid walthamstow london uk-NOISEedit.jpg|thumb|190px|right|Police at the scene of one of the raids, on Forest Road, [[Walthamstow]], London]]
The '''2006 transatlantic aircraft plot''' was a [[Terrorism|terrorist]] plot to detonate [[Explosive material|liquid explosives]], carried aboard [[airliner]]s travelling from the [[United Kingdom]] to the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], disguised as soft drinks.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob |last=Sherwood |author2=Stephen Fidler |title=MI5 tracked group for a year |work=Financial Times |date=10 August 2006 |access-date=17 February 2009 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/cbed2e12-28b5-11db-a2c1-0000779e2340.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026170433/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/cbed2e12-28b5-11db-a2c1-0000779e2340.html |archive-date=26 October 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The plot was discovered by British [[Metropolitan Police
Of 24 suspects who were arrested in and around London on the night of 9 August 2006, eight were tried initially for terrorism offences associated with the plot. The first trial occurred from April to September 2008. The jury failed to reach a verdict on charges of conspiracy to kill by blowing up aircraft but did find three men guilty of conspiracy to murder and acquitted one other of all charges.
During July 2010, a further three of the accused were found guilty at a third trial at [[Woolwich Crown Court]] of conspiracy to murder.<ref name=BBC12710>{{cite news|title=Would-be suicide bombers jailed for life |date=12 July 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10600084.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://
==Surveillance==
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==Arrests==
On 9 August 2006, British police arrested 24 people for questioning. The arrests were made in London, [[Birmingham]], and [[High Wycombe]], Buckinghamshire, in an overnight operation. Two of the arrests were made in the Birmingham area and five were made in High Wycombe; firearms officers were not involved in the arrests.<ref name="BBC-suspects">{{cite news|title=Homes cleared in anti-terror raid |work=BBC News |date=10 August 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4780697.stm |access-date=20 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212222206/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4780697.stm |archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The key suspects were British-born [[Muslims]], some of [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani descent]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Philip |last=Webster |author2=Sean O'Neill |author3=Stewart Tendler |date=11 August 2006 |title=A Plan 'to commit unimaginable mass murder' |work=The Times |___location=London |access-date=17 February 2009 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article606341.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110222012903/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article606341.ece |archive-date=22 February 2011 |url-status=
Eight of the suspects were later charged with conspiracy to murder and commit acts of terrorism, a further three with failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism, and one youth with possession of articles related to a terrorist act. Others were released without charge.<ref name=natta20060828 />
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===Disagreement over when to make the arrests===
[[NBC News]] reported disagreement between the United States and the United Kingdom over when to make the arrests. According to NBC News, a senior British official contended that an attack was not imminent, noting that the suspects had not yet purchased [[airline ticket]]s and some did not even have passports; he had urged that the investigation continue to collect more evidence.<ref name=msnbc14320452>{{cite news|first=Aram |last=Roston |author2=[[Lisa Myers]] |author3=the NBC News Investigative Unit |title=Source: U.S., U.K. at odds over timing of arrests |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14320452 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421010043/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14320452/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2014 |date=14 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |work=[[NBC News]] }}</ref>
The same source also told NBC News that the United States had threatened to use [[extraordinary rendition]] on suspected ringleader [[Rashid Rauf]] in Pakistan, or to pressure the [[Pakistan Government|Pakistan government]] to arrest him. A United States official acknowledged disagreement over the timing of arrests and that British officials had believed that an attack was not imminent. However, [[Frances Townsend]], Assistant to the President for [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Homeland Security]], denied the report of a dispute: "There was no disagreement between US and UK officials."<ref name=msnbc14320452/>
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In [[Ron Suskind]]'s book ''[[The Way of the World (book)|The Way of the World]]'' (2008), Vice President [[Richard Cheney|Dick Cheney]] is reported to have "ordered" the arrest of Rauf in Pakistan in August 2006, as an attempt to provide "good news" prior to the [[2006 United States elections|US 2006 mid-term elections]].<ref name=Jenkins8909>[[Simon Jenkins]], ''The Guardian'', 8 September 2009, [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/sep/08/bomb-plot-trial-war-on-terror This trial tells us it's policing, not war, that stops terrorists] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911064644/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/08/bomb-plot-trial-war-on-terror |date=11 September 2009 }}</ref>
==
The plotters planned to use [[organic peroxide|peroxide]]-based [[Explosive material|liquid explosives]];<ref name="BBC-disrupted"/> the Metropolitan Police said that the plot involved [[acetone peroxide]], (TATP),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |title=Five key questions for anti-terror investigation |work=The Guardian |___location=London |date=19 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |first=Sandra |last=Laville |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224030453/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |archive-date=24 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is sensitive to heat, shock, and friction, and can be initiated with fire or an electrical charge, and can also be used to produce improvised detonators.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Brian |last=Bennett |author-link=Brian T. Bennett |author2=[[Douglas C. Waller|Douglas Waller]] |date=10 August 2006 |title=Thwarting the Airline Plot: Inside the Investigation |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1225453,00.html |access-date=18 February 2009 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121220545/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1225453,00.html |archive-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electronpusher.org/?p=517 |work=Electronpusher |title=Practical Chemistry |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726022111/http://www.electronpusher.org/?p=517 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=March 2009}}
During the trial of the conspirators, the prosecution stated that each bomber would board a plane with the "necessary ingredients and equipment". They would then construct the devices mid-flight and detonate them. The hydrogen peroxide would be placed in {{cvt|500
A second substance, a type of high explosive, would be hidden within an [[AA battery]] casing; this small explosive charge would detonate the main bomb. The charge would be detonated by linking the bottle of explosives to a light bulb and a [[disposable camera]]. The charge from the camera's flash unit would trigger the explosion.<ref name="BBC airliners plot">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7329221.stm |access-date=18 February 2009 |title='Airliners plot': The allegations |date=3 April 2008 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009132853/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7329221.stm |archive-date=9 October 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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===Responsibility===
There was speculation in the UK that the [[Islamic fundamentalism|militant Islamic]] organisation [[al-Qaeda]] could be organizing the plot, which, it was claimed, was scheduled to occur only weeks after the group threatened to attack British aviation.
In their martyrdom tapes, the suspects quoted from the [[Quran]], claimed they were seeking revenge for the [[foreign policy]] of the United States, and "their accomplices, the U.K. and the Jews" and hoped God would be "pleased with us and accepts our deed." It also called upon other Muslims to join [[jihad]], and justified the killing of innocent civilians in [[Western Countries|Western countries]].<ref name="natta20060828" />
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==Public announcement==
On 10 August 2006, British [[Home Secretary]] [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]], broke the news, along with [[Douglas Alexander]], the Transport Secretary.<ref name="Reid statement">{{cite news|title=Parties 'united' over terror plot |work=BBC News |date=10 August 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4778713.stm |access-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906112707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4778713.stm |archive-date=6 September 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same day, [[Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis|Deputy Commissioner]] of the [[Metropolitan Police]], [[Paul Stephenson (police officer)|Paul Stephenson]], said that a plot, intended to destroy as many as ten aircraft in mid-flight from the United Kingdom to the United States using explosives brought on board in the suspects' [[luggage#Hand luggage|hand luggage]], had been disrupted.<ref name="BBC-disrupted"/> News media reported that planned targets included [[American Airlines]], [[British Airways]], [[Continental Airlines]], and [[United Airlines]] flights from [[London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] and [[London Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]] airports to Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles; Miami; Orlando; Boston; Newark; New York City; San Francisco; Cleveland and Washington, D.C.<ref name="MSNBC-plot">{{cite news|title=Details emerge on alleged plot to bomb airliners |work=[[NBC News]] |access-date=20 February 2009 |date=10 August 2006 |url=
In the United States, the announcement was made during a joint press conference by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, the [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Alberto Gonzales]], the Administrator of the [[Transportation Security Administration]] [[Kip Hawley]] and the Director of the [[FBI]], [[Robert Mueller]]. Chertoff refused to be drawn on questions about the design of the devices or whether any bombs had actually been built.<ref name="DHS-Chertoff"/>
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* Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] was on holiday during these events, but decided not to return to the UK. Blair had been notified of the raid prior to its occurrence, and kept in constant contact with officials. He briefed President [[George W. Bush]] about the raid overnight.<ref>{{cite web|title=PM pays tribute to police and security services |publisher=[[10 Downing Street]] |date=10 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page9970.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207223530/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page9970.asp |archive-date=7 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Britain's Deputy Prime Minister, [[John Prescott]], running the UK government during Tony Blair's holiday, paid tribute to the way the UK reacted to what he called an "extraordinary past 36 hours… in the efforts to protect this country". He expressed his "deepest appreciation" to the "real dedication" shown by security services, police, transport staff and aviation companies and praised Home Secretary, John Reid, and [[Secretary of State for Transport|Transport Secretary]] [[Douglas Alexander]]. Prescott added that the British public had acted "calmly, sensitively and with great patience."<ref>{{cite news|title=Police quiz terror plot suspects |work=BBC News |date=12 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4783141.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910212551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4783141.stm |archive-date=10 September 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On 12 August, British Muslim groups sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, stating that "current British government policy risks putting civilians at increased risk both in the UK and abroad."<ref name="UK Muslim letter">{{cite news|title=Full text: Muslim groups' letter |work=BBC News |date=12 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4786159.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404040043/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4786159.stm |archive-date=4 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The letter also stated "Attacking civilians is never justified", and encouraged the UK to reassess its foreign policy in order to maintain the safety of individuals both in the UK and abroad. In interviews with the BBC the following day, [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] (then [[Home Secretary]]) described the letter as "a dreadful misjudgement", and former [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] leader [[Michael Howard]] described it as "a form of blackmail".<ref name="Muslim letter reaction">{{cite news|title=Muslim letter 'misjudged' – Reid |work=BBC News |date=13 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4788133.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203235219/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4788133.stm |archive-date=3 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Scepticism in response to the arrests===
Several commentators expressed [[scepticism]] over the allegations.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sandra |last=Laville |title=Five key questions for anti-terror investigation |date=19 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |work=The Guardian |___location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224030453/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |archive-date=24 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Judith |last=Latham |title=London Terror Plot: Skepticism Surrounding Handling of the Crisis |date=16 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-18-voa21.cfm |publisher=[[Voice of America]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825230524/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-18-voa21.cfm |archive-date = 25 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many mentioned the [[2 June 2006 Forest Gate raid|Forest Gate raid]], the shooting of [[Jean Charles de Menezes]] and the [[Iraq War]], all based on [[Intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] that turned out to be wrong, as reasons for their doubts.<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul |last=Donovan |date=14 August 2006 |title=Scepticism is needed |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/aug/14/pauldonovan |work=The Guardian |___location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204043230/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/aug/14/pauldonovan |archive-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Sean |last=O'Neill |author2=Stewart Tendler |date=12 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |title=Past blunders put pressure on police to make case stick |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article606828.ece |work=The Times |___location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224025949/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article606828.ece |archive-date=24 February 2011 |url-status=
Former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan [[Craig Murray]] was sceptical of the account of the plot. He said that "None of the alleged terrorists had made a bomb. None had bought a plane ticket. Many did not have passports". He also suggested that suspected ringleader Rashid Rauf had invented the plot under torture in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0608180833175231.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230056/http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0608180833175231.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 |title=Be skeptical about UK's terror alert, says former ambassador |publisher=[[Islamic Republic News Agency]] |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref>
Technology news website ''[[The Register]]'' explored the practicalities of producing [[TATP]] on board a plane from constituent liquids and concluded that, while theoretically possible, the chances of success would be extremely low. Later, following additional details revealed at the trial, ''The Register'' wrote that the plot and bombing method chosen were viable.<ref>{{cite news|first=Thomas C. |last=Greene |date=17 August 2006 |title=Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible? |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/ |access-date=18 February 2009 |work=[[The Register]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203161439/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/ |archive-date=3 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Page|first=Lewis|title=Yes, there was a viable liquid bomb plot|url=https://www.theregister.com/2008/09/10/liquid_bomb_verdicts/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=www.theregister.com|language=en}}</ref>
Lieutenant-Colonel Nigel Wylde, a former senior British Army Intelligence Officer, declared the plot to be "fiction", an invention of the UK security services intended to justify new security measures that threatened to permanently curtail civil liberties. He said the explosives in question could not possibly have been produced on the plane.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nafeez |last=Ahmed |author-link=Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed |date=16 September 2006 |title=Sources: August terror plot is a 'fiction' underscoring police failures |url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Sources_August_Terror_Plot_Fiction_Underscoring_0918.html |access-date=18 February 2009 |work=[[The Raw Story]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208194823/http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Sources_August_Terror_Plot_Fiction_Underscoring_0918.html |archive-date=8 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>IOL.co.za: [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1157375162381B226 British bomb-plot suspects appear in court] {{
==Security repercussions==
{{Main|Security repercussions due to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot}}
[[File:Heathrow Terminal 5 airside 020.JPG|right|thumb|[[London Heathrow Airport]]]]In the immediate aftermath of the first arrests, passengers were forbidden from carrying any liquids, apart from baby milk, onto flights between the United States and the United Kingdom. Since passengers could purchase beverages after passing airport security checkpoints in some American airports, gate checkpoints were also introduced at such airports.<ref>{{cite news|title=Romney activates National Guard for Logan Airport – Boston.com |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/10/romney_to_activate_national_guard_for_logan_airport/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724201342/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/10/romney_to_activate_national_guard_for_logan_airport/ |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2009 }}</ref>
{{As of|2025|lc=n}} passengers are still not allowed to carry liquid containers larger than {{cvt|100|mL|USfloz}} onto commercial aircraft in their [[hand luggage]] in many airports around the world. However as airports install advanced [[CT scan|computed tomography]] (CT) scanners, those restrictions are gradually being removed or relaxed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lindsay |first1=Jessica |title=Airport liquid rules are changing — which ones are scrapping the 100ml limit? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/29/airport-liquid-rules-changing-across-europe-ones-scrapping-100ml-limit-23774520/ |access-date=11 August 2025 |work=Metro |publisher=Associated Newspapers Ltd |date=29 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
===United Kingdom===
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===United States===
Following the operation, [[United States Homeland Security]] banned all liquids and gels except baby formula and prescription medicines in the name of the ticket holder in carry-on luggage on all flights.<ref name=fox20060810>{{cite news |title=Terror Threat: New Security Measures at U.S., UK Airports |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=10 August 2006 |url=
From 13 August 2006, airline passengers in the United States could take up to {{Convert|3.4|USoz|0|abbr=on}} of non-prescription medicine, glucose gel for diabetics, solid lipstick, and baby food aboard flights. The [[Transportation Security Administration|TSA]] also ruled that passengers must remove their shoes so they could be X-rayed before boarding.<ref>{{cite web |title=TSA Asks Passengers to Place Shoes Directly on X-Ray Belt |url=http://www.tsa.gov/weekly/051809.shtm#news8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923203333/http://www.tsa.gov/weekly/051809.shtm#news8 |archive-date=23 September 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 September 2009 }}</ref> Eventually passengers were allowed to carry only {{Convert|100|ml|1|abbr=on}} of liquid in their hand luggage,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|title=TSA: Agency Adjusts Liquid Ban, Aviation Threat Level Remains High |url=http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/9-25_updated_passenger_guidance.shtm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510120609/https://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/9-25_updated_passenger_guidance.shtm |archive-date=10 May 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 September 2009 }}</ref> TSA standards required all non-medical liquids to be kept in a quart-sized plastic bag, with only one bag per passenger.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
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Overall, an estimated 400,000 passengers were affected because of the alerts. It has been estimated that the first day of delays cost the airlines over £175 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen |first=Nick |title=Prosecutors pursued retrial to justify liquids ban |work=The Daily Telegraph |___location=London |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=8 September 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6152046/WITH-LEGAL-Prosecutors-pursued-retrial-to-justify-liquids-ban.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912072004/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6152046/WITH-LEGAL-Prosecutors-pursued-retrial-to-justify-liquids-ban.html |archive-date=12 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As many as 20,000 bags are believed to have been misplaced at Heathrow.<ref>{{cite news|title=BA back to normal in 48 hours |work=BBC News |date=16 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4797569.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228200915/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4797569.stm |archive-date=28 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
A 2022 article offers an assessment of the impact of Operation Overt and refers to Rashid Rauf's alleged role <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/02/liquid-bomber-plot-counterterrorism-international-cooperation-526246| title = How the U.S., U.K. and Pakistan Teamed Up To Stop Another 9/11 - POLITICO| website = [[Politico]]| date = 2 January 2022}}</ref>
===Flight cancellations===
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[[File:IMG 2558 Tents exterior Heathrow 14 august 2006.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Tents on the car park in front of terminal 4. [[Heathrow]], 14 August. Erected to give people a place to stay while waiting for their flight to depart]]
A few hours after the beginning of the confusion, aircraft began to fly out of London Heathrow, although in reduced numbers. The situation remained chaotic with long queues of passengers waiting to check-in and get through the strengthened security procedures. Some aircraft were reportedly leaving Heathrow with only transit (i.e., connecting passengers hence already screened elsewhere though not for the {{cvt|100
On Sunday 13 August 30% of flights out of Heathrow were cancelled to reduce pressure on screeners.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nick |last=Mathiason |author2=Oliver Morgan |author3=Rob Sharp |title=BA criticises Heathrow as travel mayhem grows |work=The Observer |___location=London |date=13 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/aug/13/theairlineindustry.terrorism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506093002/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/aug/13/theairlineindustry.terrorism |archive-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 15 August flight cancellations had fallen to 47 flights at Heathrow, and 8 Ryanair flights from Stansted. It was reported by BA that 10,000 items of baggage belonging to their passengers had gone missing. It was anticipated that cancellations would reduce on 16 August, with 90% of flights expected to depart as scheduled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bags misplaced at Airports |work=BBC News |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4795821.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722081717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4795821.stm |archive-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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On 12 August a public argument broke out between [[BAA plc|BAA]], the operator of Heathrow and other airports, and [[British Airways]], with [[Willie Walsh (Irish businessman)|Willie Walsh]], BA's Chief Executive, accusing BAA of not being able to cope with the increased security and baggage checks. [[Ryanair]] also called on the British government to employ police and military reservists to speed up the full body searches which were now mandated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryanair calls for reservists to speed up checks. |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=14 August 2006 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-16380023_ITM |access-date=8 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020035729/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-16380023_ITM |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Three days later on 12 August
On 18 August Ryanair's CEO, [[Michael O'Leary (businessman)|Michael O'Leary]] delivered an ultimatum to the British government demanding the resumption of normal hand baggage dimensions and hand screening one passenger in four instead of one in two within one week, otherwise Ryanair would sue the Government for compensation under section 93 of the [[Transport Act 2000]]. The government responded that the actions were taken under the Aviation Security Act 1982, and no compensation was payable.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryanair issues luggage ultimatum |work=BBC News |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=19 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5261908.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215085622/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5261908.stm |archive-date=15 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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===Economic effects===
''[[The Times]]'' commented on the day after the arrests that the economic effects were minor. It observed that the real commercial risk is that "people may stop travelling ... because they are tired of complying with necessary security measures."<ref>{{cite news|title=Terror may already be priced into values |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article606276.ece |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=19 February 2009 |work=The Times |___location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612112029/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article606276.ece |archive-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=
[[British Airways]] cancelled 1,280 flights, at an estimated cost of £40 million.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 September 2006 |title=BA says terror alert cost it £40m |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5316920.stm |access-date=19 February 2009 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://
Air passengers also switched to other means of travel, including ferries operating from Dover to Calais, and [[Eurostar]].<ref name="Independent_Switching">{{cite news|title=Airport meltdown: Airlines attack BAA over its handling of terror crisis, saying it 'cannot cope' |work=The Independent |___location=London |date=13 August 2006 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/airport-meltdown-airlines-attack-baa-over-its-handling-of-terror-crisis-saying-it-cannot-cope-411679.html |access-date=19 February 2009 |first=Simon |last=Calder |author-link=Simon Calder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027192934/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/airport-meltdown-airlines-attack-baa-over-its-handling-of-terror-crisis-saying-it-cannot-cope-411679.html |archive-date=27 October 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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In their defence, the seven men, six of whom had recorded videos denouncing Western foreign policy, said they had only planned to cause a political spectacle and not to kill anyone. Ali told the court that he intended to make a political statement by letting off a small device at Heathrow and scaring people and that the plot did not involve attacking planes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7564184.stm |work=BBC News |title=Liquid bomb plot: What happened |date=9 September 2008 |access-date=22 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512170936/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7564184.stm |archive-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> All the accused, except for Gulzar, admitted plotting to cause a public nuisance. Ali, Sarwar and Hussein also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause explosions.<ref name="BBC verdicts"/>
On 7 September 2008 after more than 50 hours of deliberations, the jury found Ali, Sarwar and Hussein guilty of conspiracy to murder but were unable to reach verdicts on charges of conspiracy to murder by blowing up aircraft for them and Islam. Three of the other accused were found not guilty on the latter charges.<ref name="BBC verdicts">{{cite news|title=Airliners bomb plot: The Verdicts |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8233954.stm |access-date=7 September 2009 |archive-url=https://
Mohammad Gulzar was acquitted on all counts.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 September 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7605583.stm |title='Astonishment' at terror verdicts |access-date=19 February 2009 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111163049/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7605583.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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==External links==
===UK press===
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm
* [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/ Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible?]
===International press===
* [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-10-britain-terror_x.htm British police thwart alleged major terrorist plot]
* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0810/terror1.html 24 questioned after prevention of terror plot]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10395577
{{US War on Terror|state=collapsed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Transatlantic Aircraft Plot}}
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