UNITED
States airspace has been closed to all traffic following three air crashes,
thought to be terrorist attacks.
Earlier
this afternoon two aircraft crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York,
causing both towers to collapse, while a third crashed into the Pentagon in
Washington.
American
Airlines confirmed two of its aircraft were involved, although it is not known
who owned the third.
AA flight
11, a Boeing 767 travelling from Boston to Los Angeles carrying 92 people and
AA flight 77, a Boeing 757 travelling between Washington and Los Angeles
carrying 64 people, both crashed.
AA will
not confirm where its aircraft went down.
News
reports claim the US military is patrolling the skies for any other rouge
aircraft.
United
Airlines has grounded its worldwide fleet and is diverting all enquiries to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
British
Airways is either diverting its USA bound flights or recalling them to the UK.
None of its aircraft were involved in the crashes.
Virgin
Atlantic has had to redirect one flight to Canada and two to the Caribbean
while an incoming flight on its way to the UK will land as usual.
Manchester
airport has cancelled two US bound flights while three aircraft heading for the
US, which were already in the air, have been turned back. The airport is also
on standby to accept aircraft turned back from the States, as is Belfast
International Airport.
A spokesman for Heathrow warned passengers can expect
significant delays as a result of today’s events.