On September 13, 1998 the British newspaper News of the World reported that ex-MI6 British intelligence agent Richard Tomlinson was scheduled to fly aboard Swiss Air 111 (see article below).  At the last minute he was detained by US authorities, causing him to miss the flight.  The plane subsequently crashed into the seas off Nova Scotia, killing all on board.  Tomlinson had been in the news recently because not long before the crash he testified in Paris before Judge Herve Stephan, expressing his views that British Intelligence had assassinated Princess Diana.  Was Swiss Air 111 sabotaged in an attempt to silence Tomlinson?

British reporter Neville Thurlbeck, who broke the News of the World story, in a telephone interview with Laura H. (see also below), a member of the alt.conspiracy.princess-diana newsgroup on the internet, stood behind his story.  He says he interviewed a close friend of the Tomlinson family, and he is absolutely certain the story is true.  If so, this may mean that the crash of Swiss Air 111 was no accident, but murder.  At the very least, it would point to the need for the media to give the circumstances surrounding the crash far more scrutiny than it has thus far received.  Mr. Thurlbeck can be reached at the News of the World newspaper, London, England, telephone number 0171 782 4431.

The News Of The World
September, 13, 1998

AIR SMASH ESCAPE OF DIANA SPY

Ex-spy Richard Tomlinson, the MI6 renegade who backed claims of a plot
against Princess Diana, has had a bizarre brush with death.

It was revealed last night he had been booked on the Swissair jet which
crashed in the Atlantic killing all 229 on board.

Tomlinson, 35, only missed the flight at the last minute because he was
arrested in America as an undesirable alien.

Last month he demanded to see Judge Herve Stephan, who is investigating the
crash which killed Diana.  He claimed she was subjected to a massive
surveillance exercise, fueling theories she was killed by the security
services.

Gerald James, a close friend of the family, said after Tomlinson's narrow
escape:  "They know he is not flavour of the month, but no one is jumping to
conclusions."

End of Article

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH REPORTER NEVILLE THURLBECK
CONDUCTED BY LAURA H.

LH:  “My name's Laura and I'm from the internet newsgroup
alt.conspiracy.princess-diana.  If it's true that Richard Tomlinson was scheduled to fly on S-111 then the focus of Diana-Assassination theory will have to be adjusted to take account of it:  is there anything you can tell me which would confirm the story?

Neville Thurlbeck: “Do you know Richard?

LH:  “No sir, not personally; do you know him?”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “Well, yes.  In fact, I'm a friend of the Tomlinson family and I'm in
regular contact with Richard's dad, David.”

LH: “Was it from Mr. Tomlinson senior that you received this information,
Mr. Thurlbeck?”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “Not directly: I got this news from another friend of the family.”

LH: “One thing which worries some newsgroup-members is that this story has
not appeared anywhere else.  That's why I'm calling.”

Neville Thurlbeck: “Well, not many people would know about this if they hadn't talked  to my source.”

LH: “Can you tell me the best friend's name?”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “It does appear in the article, actually.”

LH: “In that case, you must mean Gerald James.  Is that correct?”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “Yes, that's right.”

LH:  “Given that what your article says is true, it was rather brave of you
to write it.  I would like to thank you for that and for giving me this information.”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “If a story is found to be untrue, we always print a rebuttal notice;
but, you can take my word for it, this one won't be!”

LH:  “Thank you again, Mr. Thurlbeck, for speaking to me.”

Neville Thurlbeck:  “That's all right, no problem.”