New York: Six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were cancelled after the US received "plausible intelligence" that several flights originating from Paris could be the target of terrorists.

The US was also trying to get some more flights grounded, one or two of which may be connected to Air Mexico, NBC news reported yesterday (Dec 24, 2003) quoting American and French officials.

Three of the cancelled Air France flights were scheduled to depart yesterday and three today (Dec 25).

The report quoted a senior Homeland Security official as saying that Secretary Tom Ridge and other top officials from various agencies were consulting with their French counterparts.

A senior State Department official said the State Department was also consulting with the French Ambassador and that Secretary of State Colin Powell had spoken personally with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to discuss airline security, including specific flights.

The US has been in a state of heightened alert after intelligence reports warned that terrorists could attack American targets over the holiday season. Officials had said Los Angeles and its international airport appeared to be at the greatest risk.

A senior US official told NBC that the US had uncovered "plausible" intelligence that several flights originating in Paris would be the targets of terrorists.