Freed HMS Cornwall sailors back in England

LONDON -- A calm, somber-looking troupe of 15 British sailors touched down on British soil today, ending the drama of their 13 days in captivity in Iran.

A British Airways passenger jet carried the crew from Tehran to Heathrow Airport, where they stood on the tarmac for a few moments before being whisked off in two powerful Sea King helicopters for debriefing at a Royal Marine base in Devon.

Family members were waiting inside the closed confines of the barracks to greet them, and British officials said the release opened a tentative new door to diplomacy with Iran.

Read the rest at the NY Times

Related Link:
Iran frees HMS Cornwall sailors after 13-day crisis

Related Link:
Iran says it will be allowed a visit with detained Iranians, U.S. says 'considering' request

Related Link:
Report: Kidnapped Iranian diplomat released

Related Link:
Iranian consul in Basra says office surrounded, shots fired in air by UK troops

Related Link:
Iran shows video of detained sailors, 1 says 'Obviously we trespassed into their waters'

Related Link:
Senior Commander: U.S. rules of engagement would have called for fighting in HMS Cornwall incident

Related Link:
Iranian Commander: 15 detained sailors now in Tehran, 'confess' to being in Iranian waters

Related Link:
Analysis: Why Iran Seized the British Marines

Related Link:
Analysis: Pawns in a deadly game of high stakes

Related Link:
Opinion (Julian Borger and Ian Black): Sailors fall foul of emerging regional superpower

Related Link:
Perspective: Sailing in stormy waters

Related Link:
Perspective: Seizure Occurs in Long-Contested Waters

Related Link:
Perspective: Protecting Iraq's oil supply

Related Link:
Perspective: Iran can harass but not block Hormuz ships-experts

Related Link:
Commander of HMS Cornwall says seizure of sailors by Iran may have been 'simple misunderstanding'

Related Link:
Iran seizes 15 British HMS Cornwall sailors at boundary of territorial waters