The Secret History of Flight 149
Imagine boarding a flight thinking you’re heading on holiday, but instead you get taken hostage by Saddam Hussein. It might sound far-fetched, but in August 1990 this is what happened to the passengers and crew of BA Flight 149. What followed has been dubbed the most shocking government cover-up of the last thirty years.
Journalist Stephen Davis has been reporting on this extraordinary story for the past three decades. In this series you’ll hear directly from the hostages - the people used as human shields by the Iraqi regime, with horrific and traumatic consequences. But why was the plane allowed to land at all, putting so many lives at risk? Why have secrets and lies persisted for so many years? Join Stephen in his search to uncover the truth behind The Secret History of Flight 149.
Presenter: Stephen Davis
Producer: Samantha Psyk
Mixing and sound design: Rory Auskerry
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Stephen has an update on our first series, The Secret History of Flight 149. This short bonus episode features an interview with journalist Jon Snow from his podcast, 'Snowcast', in which Stephen discusses the latest developments in the case. Click here to listen to the full interview on Snowcast British Airways has given the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The ...
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The investigation gains momentum as key individuals speak out about the events of August 1990. Stephen reveals just who was on Flight 149...is this why the plane landed? British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion." The Foreign Office re...
The hostages may have made it home, but the psychological and emotional effects continue. Stephen begins his search for the truth. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion." The Foreign Office released a statement in 2021 that said: “...
The West stands on the brink of war against Saddam Hussein’s regime, but the human shields are in the line of fire. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion." The Foreign Office released a statement in 2021 that said: “On 1 of August ...
What must it have felt like to be a child hostage? Stephen hears the remarkable tale of one of the youngest captives, and also asks how the Flight 149 family members left behind coped with the ordeal. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the i...
The US Embassy finds itself under siege. As the international pressure on Saddam Hussein intensifies, he makes a sudden announcement that creates a dilemma for many of the human shields. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion." The ...
The hostages have now become human shields – scattered at strategic locations across Iraq and Kuwait. They have been put in the line of fire and are living in constant fear of being bombed. When food supplies run dangerously short, they are forced to take drastic measures... British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the...
The hostages are faced with the impossible decision of whether to follow the official advice and stay in a hotel occupied by the Iraqi army, or risk everything to make a run for it. The Captain calls a secret meeting of his crew, but has he left it too late to escape? This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly ho...
The Flight 149 passengers and crew are now stranded in war-torn Kuwait. Tanks surround their hotel, and soldiers have set up camp in the basement. But could the hostages smuggle themselves to safety? British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the in...
This episode delves into the shocking events of Flight 149, which landed in Kuwait on August 1, 1990, just as Saddam Hussein's forces invaded. Investigative journalist Stephen Davis reveals how 385 people became hostages and human shields, exploring the crucial question of why the plane was allowed to land despite clear warnings. Eyewitness accounts detail the terror of the airport bombing and the harrowing beginning of their ordeal, culminating in a horrific sexual assault and a disturbing act of 'justice.'
