In a long-standing legal battle, passengers and crew members who endured a harrowing hostage ordeal more than three decades ago aboard British Airways Flight 149 are gearing up to take legal action against both the UK government and the airline. Represented by law firm McCue Jury and Partners, these victims are seeking justice and compensation for their traumatic experiences.
On August 2, 1990, as Iraqi armed forces launched the Gulf War by invading Kuwait, British Airways Flight 149 made an ill-fated landing at Kuwait International Airport. Over 300 passengers and crew members were immediately detained by Iraqi troops, setting in motion a nearly five-month nightmare as they were used as “human shields” by then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
While the UK government maintained that the Iraqi authorities bore sole responsibility for the incident and British Airways claimed ignorance of the impending invasion, documents released in November 2021 revealed that the British ambassador in Kuwait had informed the Foreign Office of the Iraqi incursion an hour before the flight’s landing. Regrettably, this critical information was never relayed to British Airways, rendering them powerless to divert the flight.
McCue Jury and Partners assert that evidence exists suggesting both the government and British Airways were aware of the invasion’s commencement and allowed the plane to land for an undisclosed “special military operation.” The law firm is now calling upon more passengers and crew members from the ill-fated flight to join the legal claim, which is slated to proceed to the High Court in London in the coming months. Each hostage may seek an estimated average of £170,000 in damages.
Matthew Jury, managing partner of McCue Jury and Partners, condemned the government and British Airways, stating, “The lives and safety of innocent civilians were sacrificed by the British government and British Airways for the sake of an off-the-books military operation. Both have concealed and denied the truth for more than 30 years. The victims and survivors of Flight BA149 deserve justice for being treated as disposable collateral.”
The hostages’ experiences left many with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after enduring abuse and witnessing atrocities. Barry Manners, one of the passengers participating in the claim, reflected on their plight, saying, “We were not treated as citizens, but as expendable pawns for commercial and political gain. A victory over years of cover-up and bare-faced denial will help restore trust in our political and judicial process.”
In response to the impending legal action, a government spokesperson reiterated their condemnation of the Iraqi invasion and mistreatment of the passengers and crew, asserting that the responsibility lies solely with the government of Iraq at the time. British Airways also expressed sympathy for the victims, reiterating that they were not warned about the invasion, citing records released in 2021.
