Airport Security
Date 2/1/2010
This story is based on lax security at Athens Airport,1980’s, Having just watched an old movie Raid on Entebbe, has prompted my memory, of an incident that happened back then.
This story begins in a restaurant in Eastern Greece, called Marie’s, this restaurant is twelve kilometres from the Turkish Border, and this was the last stop, and the first stop, for Western Drivers entering Turkey or leaving Turkey via Ipsala Border
The story starts with myself and Billy Russell arriving at Marie’s two days before Christmas, on our way home, there is a fax waiting for us, this informs us that we cannot load until The New Year, both of us are loading in Bitola, Yugoslavia, Billy then suggests that we should fly home, and return after the Holiday, after another beer, it is decided that, we should do this.
Having made a few calls we have found that the only Airport that that can offer us a Flight Home, is Halkikdi, which is an eight hour drive from we are, and we really would have push to the limits to do this, Billy said follow me. Now anyone who has followed Billy Russell will know what that meant.
Next stop Policastro, Billy leaves his vehicle there I drop my trailer, Billy & I then proceed to the Airport in my Unit, We made the Flight.
On arrival at Heathrow, Billy wants to hire a car , but because he does not have a Credit Card, this despite that fact that he had a lot of cash in his briefcase, he was not allowed so Billy Lived in Haverford west at that time, I lived in Livingston ,which was 15 mins from Edinburgh Airport. It was decided that we would both take the bus home
So after a few drinks, Billy & I departed, both went our separate way, only to meet up again, at the appointed time, for our Flight back to Athens.
On the Flight to Athens, Billy decided we should break our journey, and spend a night at Glfada, Unfortunate, for us, Olympic Airways did not agree, and insisted that we continue on our flight to Hallkidi.
Athens Airport at that time, Passengers had to walk to the aircraft, no tunnels like to-day, Billy befriended an old lady that needed assistance to climb the stairs into the aircraft, in doing so he left his briefcase on the Tarmac,
On arrival at Hallkidi ,and having checked all our baggage, no briefcase, now it was time to inform security.
This is when it turned nasty, they The Greeks, surrounded the plane with armoured cars, Billy & I got arrested, and it wasn’t till I suggested that there security may have been at fault, we were released.
After having survived that incident, We moved on to Policastro,There me meet with Six BRS Drivers,
Now these guys are telling Billy, that BRS are paid the same for Athens as Billy is paid for Doha,at this Billy flares, and he challenges this crew, Billy Russell was at that 68 years old, I was in my 40’s guess who was going to come second best in that row…
Billy & I Survived.
Dave.
)i last saw him about a month ago in Ouistreham.
