British Airways Passengers And Crew Held Hostage In Kuwait Sue UK Government And Airline

Passengers and crew from a British Airways flight, taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990, have initiated legal proceedings against the UK government and the airline. The law firm McCue Jury & Partners, representing the plaintiffs, announced on Monday that the lawsuit accuses both parties of "deliberately endangering" civilians.

The ordeal began on August 2, 1990, when BA flight 149, en route to Kuala Lumpur, landed in Kuwait just hours after Iraq's then-leader Saddam Hussein invaded the country. The 367 passengers and crew members were taken hostage, with some held for over four months, including periods where they were used as human shields against Western attacks during the first Gulf War.

Why This Matters: Ninety-four of the hostages have filed a civil claim at the High Court in London, alleging severe physical and psychiatric harm suffered during their captivity. The lawsuit contends that the UK government and British Airways were aware of the invasion but allowed the flight to land as part of a covert operation to insert special forces into occupied Kuwait.

"We were not treated as citizens but as expendable pawns for commercial and political gain," said Barry Manners, one of the claimants. He added that a victory in the lawsuit would help restore trust in the political and judicial systems after years of alleged cover-ups and denials.

The UK government files released in November 2021 revealed that the British ambassador to Kuwait had informed London about the Iraqi incursion before the flight landed. However, the message was not passed on to British Airways. There are also claims, denied by the government, that passengers were knowingly put at risk to deploy undercover operatives, with the takeoff delayed to allow their boarding.

The UK government has refused to comment on ongoing legal matters. British Airways has consistently denied accusations of negligence, conspiracy, and cover-up. The airline did not respond to a recent request for comment but previously stated that records released in 2021 confirmed it was not warned about the invasion.

McCue Jury & Partners had announced its intention to file the suit in September, estimating that hostages could claim an average of £170,000 ($213,000) each in damages. In 2003, a French court ordered British Airways to pay 1.67 million euros to the flight’s French hostages, citing serious failures in its obligations by allowing the plane to land.

Key Takeaways:

• Passengers and crew from BA flight 149 sue UK government and airline.
• Lawsuit alleges UK and BA knowingly endangered civilians for covert ops.
• Hostages claim severe physical and psychiatric harm during captivity.
• UK government files indicate prior knowledge of Iraqi invasion.
• British Airways consistently denies negligence and conspiracy accusations.