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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ex-hostages demand UK inquiry | Ex-hostages demand UK inquiry |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A group of British airline passengers taken hostage by Saddam Hussein's regime on the eve of the first Gulf War want an independent public inquiry. | A group of British airline passengers taken hostage by Saddam Hussein's regime on the eve of the first Gulf War want an independent public inquiry. |
| They say UK officials allowed a BA flight to stop to refuel in Kuwait to get spies in, despite knowing that Iraqi troops had already invaded. | |
| Margaret Thatcher was prime minister at the time and her successor, John Major, has denied similar claims in the past. | Margaret Thatcher was prime minister at the time and her successor, John Major, has denied similar claims in the past. |
| The Britons were held by Saddam Hussein's regime for five months. | The Britons were held by Saddam Hussein's regime for five months. |
| They were used as "human shields" during the war, alongside some American and French citizens who were also on board the British Airways flight. | They were used as "human shields" during the war, alongside some American and French citizens who were also on board the British Airways flight. |
| I'm convinced the plane touched down essentially on government orders John ChappellEx-hostage | I'm convinced the plane touched down essentially on government orders John ChappellEx-hostage |
| Some of them will meet Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker on Monday to call for an independent public inquiry. | Some of them will meet Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker on Monday to call for an independent public inquiry. |
| One of the former hostages, John Chappell, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I want a little bit of honesty from my government. We said all along there was no reason this plane should have touched down. | One of the former hostages, John Chappell, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I want a little bit of honesty from my government. We said all along there was no reason this plane should have touched down. |
| "I was amazed as a 14-year-old child that they were still flying into Kuwait, I thought they were going to re-route. | "I was amazed as a 14-year-old child that they were still flying into Kuwait, I thought they were going to re-route. |
| "Successive governments have consistently denied there was anything fishy going on. I'm convinced the plane touched down essentially on government orders." | "Successive governments have consistently denied there was anything fishy going on. I'm convinced the plane touched down essentially on government orders." |
| WHAT HAPPENED TO BA149 Left London on 1 August 1990 bound for India and MalaysiaIraqi troops seized passengers and crew when it refuelled in KuwaitThey were taken to strategic locations in Kuwait and Iraq to prevent bombingsHundreds of UK ex-pats used in same way Freedom came five months later but many suffered post-traumatic stress | WHAT HAPPENED TO BA149 Left London on 1 August 1990 bound for India and MalaysiaIraqi troops seized passengers and crew when it refuelled in KuwaitThey were taken to strategic locations in Kuwait and Iraq to prevent bombingsHundreds of UK ex-pats used in same way Freedom came five months later but many suffered post-traumatic stress |
| A programme about the issue is being independently produced in the US, but a BBC spokeswoman said the corporation had yet to decide if it would be broadcast. | A programme about the issue is being independently produced in the US, but a BBC spokeswoman said the corporation had yet to decide if it would be broadcast. |
| The documentary claims flight BA149, with 350 passengers on board, could have been diverted while it was still in the air. | The documentary claims flight BA149, with 350 passengers on board, could have been diverted while it was still in the air. |
| But the spying mission led officials to allow the plane's refuelling stop in Kuwait City en route to Madras, even though Iraqi troops had invaded hours before. | But the spying mission led officials to allow the plane's refuelling stop in Kuwait City en route to Madras, even though Iraqi troops had invaded hours before. |
| The claims come from men who said they were involved in the mission and who have spoken about it on film for the first time. | The claims come from men who said they were involved in the mission and who have spoken about it on film for the first time. |
| 'Not BA's fault' | 'Not BA's fault' |
| Journalist Steven Davis said the plan was that the spies would disembark and the plane would go on without anyone knowing they had been on board. But the runway was bombed when the plane landed. | Journalist Steven Davis said the plan was that the spies would disembark and the plane would go on without anyone knowing they had been on board. But the runway was bombed when the plane landed. |
| He said that of the nine spies on board, two were captured and used as human shields with the passengers. | He said that of the nine spies on board, two were captured and used as human shields with the passengers. |
| Saddam denied using hostages as human shields | Saddam denied using hostages as human shields |
| The other seven escaped and they delivered vital intelligence which later helped the Allies when they invaded, he said. | The other seven escaped and they delivered vital intelligence which later helped the Allies when they invaded, he said. |
| Twice French courts have ordered BA to pay compensation to the passengers who were taken hostage, in payouts totalling nearly £4m. | |
| The airline denied responsibility but the court said the invasion had been highly predictable. | The airline denied responsibility but the court said the invasion had been highly predictable. |
| The British hostages were told they had no right to claim damages. | The British hostages were told they had no right to claim damages. |
| The Foreign Office has said that the government's position has already been outlined to Parliament and it is not prepared to discuss intelligence matters. | The Foreign Office has said that the government's position has already been outlined to Parliament and it is not prepared to discuss intelligence matters. |
| Hundreds of ex-pats were in Kuwait when the invasion happened and Saddam Hussein appeared on state television with 12 of them but denied they were being used as human shields. | Hundreds of ex-pats were in Kuwait when the invasion happened and Saddam Hussein appeared on state television with 12 of them but denied they were being used as human shields. |