Ministry of foreign affairs: do not travel to Ivory Coast

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 06 Nov 2004, 18:07

It seems the civil war in that country is getting out of hand: French forces in Ivory Coast have destroyed two government warplanes after an air strike which left eight French soldiers dead and 23 injured.
( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3988769.stm )

According to VRTnieuws.net, the ministry of foreign affaires is asking people not to travel to that country. Belgians living over there need to get in touch with the embassy. An evacuation isn't planned yet.

So, will we see cancelled SN-flights to Abidjan like some months ago with the problems in Kongo?

Update: There was also a battle between the french army and troops at the airport of Abidjan.

liebensd · Post by **liebensd** » 06 Nov 2004, 22:12

It is official now: SN Brussels Airlines will cancel its flights to Abidjan. (VRT news)

The French president Chirac ordered his army to destroy the entire Ivory Coast Air force after that air force bombed French troops. 8 soldiers were killed 23 were injured. France has 4000 soldiers in Ivory Coast, there is also a UN troop of 6000 persons.

more news

Greetz,

Dave

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 07 Nov 2004, 10:06

According to the VRT radionews, 11 crew members of SN are still in Abidjan. They were brought to a place of safety.

*cough* Mr. SN, why don't you update your website? *cough*

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 07 Nov 2004, 10:19

I hope that nothing bad will happen to the SNBA crew-members...

5Y-KQV · Post by **5Y-KQV** » 08 Nov 2004, 10:45

A Kenya Airways plane (B737-700 Reg. 5Y-KQG) was stuck there for 26 and a half hours. It is a Saturday flight that does the NBO-ABJ-ACC-NBO sector. It arrived as scheduled in ABJ but couldn't take off as the airport and airspace was closed by the French military. All KQ flights to ABJ have now been cancelled until further notice.

Here's the link to the story:

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news. ... cleid=5270

Cheers,

Walter.

Post by **sn26567** » 08 Nov 2004, 12:52

This morning, flight SN207 to Freetown and Abidjan was not really cancelled, butb limited to Freetown.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 08 Nov 2004, 19:42

Has the crew, which was stuck in Abidjan, been able to catch the flight back from Freetown ? Or are they still in Abidjan right now ?

Chris

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 08 Nov 2004, 20:19

At least until monday, all SN-flights to Abidjan will be cancelled.

Source: KanaalZ.

EBBR · Post by **EBBR** » 09 Nov 2004, 10:49

Avro wrote:Has the crew, which was stuck in Abidjan, been able to catch the flight back from Freetown ? Or are they still in Abidjan right now ?

I had contact with one of the crewmembers, they are still in Abidjan. Now at the Novotel hotel near the business district "well protected" by French military. The normal hotel (Gulf hotel?) has been looted.

5Y-KQV · Post by **5Y-KQV** » 09 Nov 2004, 17:28

The KQ Plane and crew got off ok. Apparently the captain took off with other European passengers from other airlines. The links below show an interview with a KQ passenger as well as praise to the captain of the aircraft is contained in the following links:

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news. ... cleid=5345

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news. ... cleid=5343

Cheers,

Walter.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 09 Nov 2004, 20:12

Thanks for the answer EBBR

Post by **sn26567** » 10 Nov 2004, 09:18

Isn't it ironic that SN Brussels Airlines is now offering double Privilege miles on all flights to Abidjan?

To compensate for the inconvenience?

5Y-KQV · Post by **5Y-KQV** » 10 Nov 2004, 09:58

The finale to the KQ Abidjan story ........ nice lookin F/O 8) . Read on guys:

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news. ... cleid=5414

Cheers,

Walter.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 11 Nov 2004, 15:03

Vluchten Brussel-Abidjan nog steeds opgeschort (SN Brussels Airlines)
11/11/2004 14:51

(Belga) De vluchten tussen Brussel en Abidjan blijven opgeschort tot aanstaande maandag. Dat heeft Cédric Leurquin, woordvoerder van luchtvaartmaatschappij SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA) donderdag laten weten.

Elf personeelsleden van SNBA die al enkele dagen in Abidjan vastzaten, werden intussen gerepatrieerd met een vliegtuig van de Verenigde Naties en zijn weer thuis, aldus nog de woordvoerder. SNBA vliegt vier keer per week tussen Brussel en de Ivoriaanse stad Abidjan. Passagiers die door de opschorting van de vluchten werden getroffen, werden op de hoogte gebracht en kunnen naar Abidjan vliegen zodra de verbinding wordt hervat.

In short: the 11 crewmembers are save at home now. They were evacuated with a plane of the UN. All the flights remain suspended. Also, there are 11 crewmembers stuck in Monrovia but they will return with a normal plane.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 11 Nov 2004, 18:34

Strange. According to the radio, the 11 crew members of SN have been transfered to Monrovia, where they will take an SN plane back home....

Chris

Flybe · Post by **Flybe** » 11 Nov 2004, 20:43

This is what they say at A.net:

BTW, the SN crew which was stuck in Abidjan for almost a week has left Abidjan tonight, November 10, at 22.20 (Central European Time) and are on their way with a United Nations aircraft to Monrovia. From there they will fly to Brussels on SN209, where they are expected to land at 08.40 (CET) tomorrow morning November 11.

So they already arrived home.

greets,

Pieter