Posted on 11/26/2004 12:55:55 PM PST by demlosers
Federal officials yesterday deported a Moroccan man on the no-fly list who was taken into custody Saturday after his Washington-bound flight was diverted for security reasons.
The passenger carried an expired Portuguese passport, a revoked U.S. work visa, and was aboard Air France Flight 026 to Washington Dulles International Airport — the same flight grounded four times because of a terrorist threat in February.
Neither his name nor that of his flying companion, who left the country voluntarily, were released. Homeland Security officials did not name them when asked.
CNN identified the passengers as Ahmed Lhacti, 47, and Mohammad Oukassou, 76. The network did not say which man was on the threat list and which man left voluntarily.
Homeland Security officials would not say why the passenger was originally placed on the no-fly list, which contains the names of known and suspected terrorists and people with links to terrorist organizations.
The flight from Paris was diverted to Bangor, Maine, by the Transportation Security Administration "out of an abundance of caution," spokeswoman Yolanda Clark said.
"It was a swift and decisive action to divert the flight," Miss Clark said.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials boarded the plane and removed the two passengers, and discovered the man on the terrorist watch list was also flying on an expired passport, said Barry Morrissey, CBP spokesman. Asked whether the passengers cooperated with the law-enforcement officials, Mr. Morrissey said, "From what I understand, yes, I've heard nothing to the contrary."
It was the third incident since June in which suspected terrorists slipped through the cracks of the no-fly list, and federal officials say Air France could be fined for not checking the list or the passenger's travel papers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I guess they'll just fly to Mexico and walk across next time.
They accomplished their goal of testing the system, and got to go home for free.
Every gate and ticket agent who processed this passenger should be fired. Why should I have to produce my passport four times to different people during the course of boarding one international flight, if those people don't even check whether the passports are current?
ping
" Why should I have to produce my passport four times to different people during the course of boarding one international flight, if those people don't even check whether the passports are current?"
According to the author of "Flying Blind", who has also testifed before congress, Minetta (Clinton holdover and head of Trans. Dept) has strictly forbidden any profiling, especially of Arabs. In fact, airlines have been fined for doing so.
I would prefer less coverage.
They just disappear. No news coverage.
If families in the muslim world want to get their press to dig in, let them. The story:
"Ibrahim and Mohammad were last seen, standing in the ticket line in Paris, bound for the US."
"They were never seen or heard of since."
"When questioned, US authorities claim to have no records, and would not comment further."
Geez---the guy had all these expired/revoked documents---and he flew on Air frog
Why am I so surprised (sarcasm off)
"They accomplished their goal of testing the system, and got to go home for free."
I totally agree with you on this. This is their modus operandi.
The flight from Paris....
HUGE surprise there. NOT.
Put them on milk cartons in Syria.
So, our French friends let this guy on a flight bound for Dulles, in Washington DC - and the dude had an expired passport, a revoked US visa, and was on the no-fly list.
What in the hell is a passoprt, visa, and no-fly list good for if it dosen't stop something like this?
File under 'government efficiency'.
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