
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 18, 1991                   TAG: 9102180110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

CHARLOTTE AIRPORT HALTS LOADING OF MISSILES

Officials at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport refused to allow Saudi Arabians to load a shipment of anti-tank missiles on their property, a newspaper reports.

Jerry Orr, Charlotte aviation director, told The Charlotte Observer that officials of the government-owned Saudi Air Cargo requested permission last Monday to load 180,000 pounds of TOW anti-tank missiles.

"We told them the way we like to handle things like that is through the Air National Guard," the Observer quoted Orr as saying in its Saturday editions. "They have the security. It's a military operation and that's the way we like to handle it."

When the Saudis were referred to the Air National Guard, they "got real antsy," Orr said. "They accused us of not supporting the troops in the Gulf War."

One city official said the airport's reluctance to allow the loading was based on potential danger.

- Associated Press

by CNB