China Detains White House Press Plane

BEIJING — A charter airplane carrying the White House press corps was detained for nearly three hours Friday at Beijing's international airport not long after President Bush arrived to attend the Olympic Games.

The flight crew of the Northwest Airlines 747 had been expecting to park at a VIP terminal, but after landing was instead directed by the control tower to a normal international gate.

White House officials would say only there were "logistical problems" getting clearance to unload the aircraft. The flight crew was told the Chinese were insisting that all luggage be inspected.

Typically, the White House press charter receives the "custom of the port," meaning reporters, photographers and camera crews are able to get off the plane right after landing, board buses and head to their hotels and work areas while U.S. State Department officials process immigration and customs details.

Delays on landing have happened before, but no one on the plane was able to recall one this long.

The plane landed at 2:10 a.m. local time. Passengers finally were able to get off the plane shortly after 5 a.m. However, they were made to pass through Chinese immigration control individually, and baggage was still being screened.

Many of those on the plane _ roughly 40 journalists _ were due to cover the president's first appearance of the day: the opening of the new Beijing U.S. Embassy complex.

Comments

[vietveter]

What do you think the Homeland Security boys would do if

a planeload of about 80 of those little 'chia-pets' rolled into

Washington with 200 cases full of who knows what?

[macbabe]

anthrax? .. been there, done that.

[macbabe]

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/governments-laptop-seizures-cross-privacy-line

[robXdion]

These Olympics will be called off and disbanded by Tuesday. Watch for it.

[aristippe]

not gonna happen

[OneOleMan]

Goes to show you just how much respect Bush and his cronies have been do for this country. Perhaps if I were the Chinese government I would've delayed Bush's plane and let the journalists go through without any problem.

[instagladiator]

Oh, that would have been the icing on the cake. Darn.....

[Huffingtonposter231]

Slow News Day?

[RobinSeattle]

This is just another act of intimidation by the Chinese government. The message being sent is, "if we're willing to hassle the White House press corps then it is no big deal to do the same to you [meaning other members of the press)." Very transparent.

[Cynth]

Yes, and payback for Bush's recent criticisms re: China's human rights record. Symbolism runs big in China...

[Clenbuterol]

Well, what do you expect? They're a c.ommunist country. Under the guise of security, they were really checking for Americanishe propaganda. It's an old Chinese proverb... go west young man!

[NochlessMonster]

LOL! China welcomes the world for the Olympics in a way only the Chinese could.... in a most unwelcoming way.......­..

[Superbus]

Freedom of the Press - Chinese Communist style

[BlueStateMan]

...& they have our economy by the BALLS.

[Furby]

Yes true, but the US actually put their economic balls where they now find themselves today. Too late to take their "marbles" and go home isn't it.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Has nothing to do with freedom of the press, ShortbusTheLiar.

As stated in the article: "Typically, the White House press charter receives the "custom of the port," meaning reporters, photographers and camera crews are able to get off the plane right after landing, board buses and head to their hotels and work areas while U.S. State Department officials process immigration and customs details.

"Delays on landing have happened before, but no one on the plane was able to recall one this long."

I do not recall "custom of the port" being listed in the First Amendment.

Of course, you are too ignorant and too much of a liar to be believed in anything you post.

[instagladiator]

What a sour puss. Did something slither up your crotch and nip ya where it smarts?

[instagladiator]

Bee you tea full - Love it.