Crude oil prices recovered partially from a drop of more than $2 a barrel. This drop was triggered by expectations of lower jet fuel demand and weaker consumer confidence on news of aborted airplane attacks in Britain. The thwarted attacks have caused European carriers to cancel flights to Britain where airports experienced massive delays. There were delays in the United States as security heightened. Light, sweet crude for September delivery stood at US$74.24 in midmorning Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.