Two Russian and three British aircraft are being investigated for possible radiation contamination following the death of former spy Alexander Litvinenko.
A fourth plane, operated by private Russian airline Transaero, arrived at Heathrow airport in London on Thursday morning.
So far, 18 people who may have been exposed to the radioactive substance, Polonium 210, have been referred to specialist clinics. All urine tests so far have The British authorities are also interested in a fifth plane, in their inquiry into the death of Litvinenko, according to Reid. "There is one other Russian plane that we know, that we think we would be interested in. There may be other airplanes... But those are the five we know of," Reid said. The Health Protection Agency is expected to clear one of the three British Airways aircraft identified as having possible radioactive contamination. The aeroplanes operate the London-Moscow route. BA plane investigation All three B767 short-haul aircraft have remained out of service for forensic testing until further notice. "The police found very low traces of a radioactive substance on board two of the three aircraft" Transaero Airline Send us your viewsLitvinenko, a former Russian agent who became a leading critic of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, died of radiation poisoning in a London hospital last week. The police found "very low traces of a radioactive substance on board two of the three aircraft" that they wished to search, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. BA said it has been advised that the risk to public health was low. But it said it was contacting customers who had flown on the aeroplanes, which operate within Europe. Litvinenko died last Thursday of radiation poisoning. Significant amounts of radioactive Polonium 210 were found in his body.
"There is one other Russian plane that we know, that we think we would be interested in. There may be other airplanes... But those are the five we know of," Reid said.
The Health Protection Agency is expected to clear one of the three British Airways aircraft identified as having possible radioactive contamination. The aeroplanes operate the London-Moscow route.
"The police found very low traces of a radioactive substance on board two of the three aircraft"
Transaero Airline
Send us your views