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LONDON - British Airways said today that "very low traces" of a radioactive substance had been found on two of its aircraft being examined in a police probe into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.
The airline said in a statement that three B767 short haul aircraft were taken out of service for forensic examination. Initial results showed "very low traces of a radioactive substance on board two of the three aircraft."
British Airways said that all three planes will remain out of service until further notice. Two of the planes are at London's Heathrow Airport and the third is in Moscow and has not been checked yet, the airline said.
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 planes, which operate within Europe.
Litvinenko, a former Russian spy, died last Thursday of radiation poisoning. Significant amounts of radioactive Polonium 210 were found in his body.
- REUTERS
