§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts were made to contact the passengers of flight BA 199 immediately after their detention on 2 August; and when the ambassador in Kuwait first visited them.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 15 October 1990]: Although the embassy telephones were cut following the Iraqi invasion and movement around town was difficult for several days, the embassy made contact with British Airways shortly after the flight was detained and was able to establish that all the BA 149 passengers were fit and well. As soon as freedom of movement was restored the passengers were visited regularly in their hotels by consular staff.
§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken to inform British Airways of the situation in Kuwait immediately prior to the landing of flight BA 199 on 2 August.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 15 October 1990]: The captain of BA 149 checked the position with BA staff in Kuwait, who in turn checked with the British embassy, before take-off from Heathrow on 1 August. Three hours before landing he was told by the pilot of a BA plane which had just left Kuwait that all was well there. The aircraft landed without incident, well before Kuwait airport was closed as a result of the invasion.