Sweden monitoring BA plane radiation case - around 2,000 affected

Nov 30, 2006, 10:54 GMT

Stockholm - Swedish aviation authorities on Thursday said up to 2,000 passengers were believed to have flown between London and Stockholm on two British Airways (BA) planes currently grounded in the British capital after traces of radioactivity were found.

In all 10 flights were registered with the affected planes, officials and the airline said. The first flight arrived November 3 at Stockholm international airport from Heathrow, and departed for Heathrow the following day. Eight other flights arrived and departed the same day on November 19, 22, 23 and 24.

Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) spokeswoman Ulrika Lyth said the government watchdog had not received any detailed information about the suspected radioactive substance from British authorities, but was monitoring developments.

Although the public health risk was said to be low, the agency and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare advised passengers who felt poorly or experienced extreme exhaustion to contact a doctor.

Local BA spokesmen said the airline was also making contact with the passengers who were on the two affected Boeing 767 aircraft.

Traces of radioactivity found on BA planes are believed to be connected to the poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. The airline is making contact with up to 33,000 passengers who travelled on the 221 European flights affected, but said it had been advised that the risk to public health was minimal.