British Airways said that "very low traces of a radioactive substance" had been found on two of its three aircraft taken out of service in the probe into the death of a former Russian spy. BA said it withdrew three Boeing 767 short-haul carriers from service "to enable forensic examination to be carried out" after it was notified Tuesday night by those probing Alexander Litvinenko's death last week.
"The initial results of the forensic tests, which was (sic) confirmed late this afternoon, has shown very low traces of a radioactive substance onboard two of the three aircraft," the BA statement said.
In a separate statement, the Home Office said investigators have "started tests on two aircraft at Heathrow Airport and are making arrangements for a third plane to be tested.
"This is to assess if there is any risk to public health," it said.
BBC television said the third aircraft was in Moscow.
The government informed British Airways that "this investigation is confined solely to these three B767 aircraft, which will remain out of service until further notice," according to the BA statement.
"British Airways understands from advice it has been given that the risk to public health is low," it said.
"The airline is in the process of making contact with customers who have traveled on flights operated by these aircraft, which operate within Europe."
It then published a list of the flights concerned on its website, allowing passengers to contact the health authorities in Britain or in their countries of residence.
The list of Boeing 767 flights throughout November covered outgoing and incoming flights from London's Heathrow to Moscow, Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Athens, Larnaca, Stockholm and Vienna.
British Airways has set up a special helpline for customers and staff on 0845 6040171 or + 44 191 211 3690 for international calls.
Traces of radioactive plutonium 210, large quantities of which were found in Litvinenko's urine, have already been discovered at a sushi bar and a central London hotel where Litvinenko met various contacts on November 1.
Hours later he became ill.
The substance has also been found at his north London home, the office of exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky -- an acquaintance of Litvinenko -- and a security company.
Litvinenko died in University College Hospital in London on November 23.
