Reply #67: Reuters: WH Version of Mid-Air Exchange Disputed (the story's cracking!) [View All]

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=247700


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031201/us_nm/bush_iraq_pilot_dc&cid=1896&ncid=1480

White House Version of Mid-Air Exchange Disputed
56 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British Airways said on Monday that none of its pilots made contact with President Bush
(news - web sites)'s plane during its secret flight to Baghdad, contradicting White House reports of a mid-air
exchange that nearly prompted Bush to call off his trip.

Honor Verrier, a spokeswoman for British Airways in North America, said two BA aircraft were in the area at the
time and neither radioed the president's plane to ask if it was Air Force One.

"We have spoken to the British Airways captains who were in the area at the time and neither made comments to
Air Force One nor did they hear any other aircraft make the statement over the radio," Verrier said in response to
a question from Reuters.

The White House had no immediate comment on the discrepancy.

Bush aides recounted with excitement last week the moment during the flight to Baghdad when they said a BA
pilot thought he spotted the president's blue and white Boeing 747 from his cockpit.