Qatari diplomat held in US flight scare
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Qatari diplomat held in US flight scare
1 hour, 41 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US air marshals wrestled a Qatari diplomat to the floor on a flight to Denver in a security scare that prompted fighter jets to be scrambled and top White House aides to brief President Barack Obama, officials said.
But in the end, the incident on Wednesday turned out to be a false alarm, triggered when the Qatari reportedly lit a cigarette in one of the plane's restrooms and then, when confronted, joked he was trying to ignite his shoes.
The plane landed safely at Denver International Airport following the disturbance, and US officials later said it appeared the passenger was not trying to blow up the plane, although the incident was under investigation.
Qatar's ambassador to Washington Ali Bin Fajad al-Hajari said in a statement that the diplomat was traveling to Denver on official embassy business.
"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity," the ambassador said. "The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation."
But the scare prompted fighter jets to scramble and intercept the flight amid fears of a possible repeat of a passenger's foiled attempt to bring down a Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day as it approached to land at Detroit.
"The president was briefed by National Security Advisor General Jim Jones and National Security Staff Chief of Staff Denis McDonough at 8:50 pm EDT and appropriate actions were taken to ensure the safety of the traveling public," a White official said on condition of anonymity.
"The incident is currently under investigation," the official added.
Obama was aboard Air Force One at the time, en route to Prague to sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.
Law enforcement authorities initially notified key lawmakers that US air marshals subdued the Qatari national after he apparently sought to "ignite their (his) shoe" on the flight, a congressional aide told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Air marshals jumped in, and the cockpit wasn't breached," the official said.
The man was identified in US media reports as Qatari diplomat Mohammed al-Modadi, 27, who as the third secretary and vice consul of the Qatari embassy in Washington enjoys full diplomatic immunity.
The FBI was investigating the incident, but a US official told AFP the incident was "not what it appeared to be" and there was no attempt to detonate a bomb.
NBC News said a search of the man found no explosives and that bomb-sniffing dogs found no traces of explosives aboard the aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the passenger was placed in custody, adding it was "monitoring" the incident.
Federal officials told NBC the incident occurred half an hour before United Airlines flight 663 was due to make a scheduled stop in Denver on a flight that originated at Washington's Reagan National Airport.
A flight attendant smelled smoke as a passenger came out of a restroom, and alerted an air marshal, the report said.
The marshal confronted the man, and then wrestled him to the ground after he made the statement about lighting his shoes, NBC said.
A US security official acknowledged "it may have been a massive misunderstanding," telling ABC that Al-Modadi may have been making a "sarcastic" comment when he was confronted by two air marshals.
The pilot declared an emergency, and two F-16 fighter jets raced to intercept the aircraft around 6:45 pm (0045 GMT Thursday) under the authority of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
"Shortly before landing in Denver, a passenger possibly caused a disturbance on the plane. Upon intercepting the aircraft, the F-16s escorted the aircraft until it landed safely without incident at approximately 6:50 pm (0050 GMT) where the plane was met by local law enforcement," NORAD said.
The plane was carrying 157 passengers and six crew members on a flight originally scheduled to ultimately arrive in Las Vegas after a scheduled stop in Denver.
The incident came a week after the United States unveiled new security measures subjecting all US-bound plane passengers to screening methods that use real-time intelligence to target potential threats, replacing the mandatory screening of passengers from a blacklist of 14 mainly Muslim countries.
The measures were announced in the wake of a Nigerian man's failed attempt to detonate explosives concealed in his underwear on a Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam on Christmas Day.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US air marshals wrestled a Qatari diplomat to the floor on a flight to Denver in a security scare that prompted fighter jets to be scrambled and top White House aides to brief President Barack Obama, officials said.
But in the end, the incident on Wednesday turned out to be a false alarm, triggered when the Qatari reportedly lit a cigarette in one of the plane's restrooms and then, when confronted, joked he was trying to ignite his shoes.
The plane landed safely at Denver International Airport following the disturbance, and US officials later said it appeared the passenger was not trying to blow up the plane, although the incident was under investigation.
Qatar's ambassador to Washington Ali Bin Fajad al-Hajari said in a statement that the diplomat was traveling to Denver on official embassy business.
"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity," the ambassador said. "The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation."
But the scare prompted fighter jets to scramble and intercept the flight amid fears of a possible repeat of a passenger's foiled attempt to bring down a Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day as it approached to land at Detroit.
"The president was briefed by National Security Advisor General Jim Jones and National Security Staff Chief of Staff Denis McDonough at 8:50 pm EDT and appropriate actions were taken to ensure the safety of the traveling public," a White official said on condition of anonymity.
"The incident is currently under investigation," the official added.
Obama was aboard Air Force One at the time, en route to Prague to sign a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.
Law enforcement authorities initially notified key lawmakers that US air marshals subdued the Qatari national after he apparently sought to "ignite their (his) shoe" on the flight, a congressional aide told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Air marshals jumped in, and the cockpit wasn't breached," the official said.
The man was identified in US media reports as Qatari diplomat Mohammed al-Modadi, 27, who as the third secretary and vice consul of the Qatari embassy in Washington enjoys full diplomatic immunity.
The FBI was investigating the incident, but a US official told AFP the incident was "not what it appeared to be" and there was no attempt to detonate a bomb.
NBC News said a search of the man found no explosives and that bomb-sniffing dogs found no traces of explosives aboard the aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the passenger was placed in custody, adding it was "monitoring" the incident.
Federal officials told NBC the incident occurred half an hour before United Airlines flight 663 was due to make a scheduled stop in Denver on a flight that originated at Washington's Reagan National Airport.
A flight attendant smelled smoke as a passenger came out of a restroom, and alerted an air marshal, the report said.
The marshal confronted the man, and then wrestled him to the ground after he made the statement about lighting his shoes, NBC said.
A US security official acknowledged "it may have been a massive misunderstanding," telling ABC that Al-Modadi may have been making a "sarcastic" comment when he was confronted by two air marshals.
The pilot declared an emergency, and two F-16 fighter jets raced to intercept the aircraft around 6:45 pm (0045 GMT Thursday) under the authority of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
"Shortly before landing in Denver, a passenger possibly caused a disturbance on the plane. Upon intercepting the aircraft, the F-16s escorted the aircraft until it landed safely without incident at approximately 6:50 pm (0050 GMT) where the plane was met by local law enforcement," NORAD said.
The plane was carrying 157 passengers and six crew members on a flight originally scheduled to ultimately arrive in Las Vegas after a scheduled stop in Denver.
The incident came a week after the United States unveiled new security measures subjecting all US-bound plane passengers to screening methods that use real-time intelligence to target potential threats, replacing the mandatory screening of passengers from a blacklist of 14 mainly Muslim countries.
The measures were announced in the wake of a Nigerian man's failed attempt to detonate explosives concealed in his underwear on a Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam on Christmas Day.
Don't diplomats understand how to behave properly in foreign countries?
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The middle east
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This comes after we "foreigners" in the Middle East keep getting reminded by the locals to behave ourselves and to respect the local culture and laws.
Its seems the "locals" here don't give a rat's arse about other countries laws or culture. They do as they please yet they have the hypocrisy to jail a couple for giving each other a peck on the cheek.
Its seems the "locals" here don't give a rat's arse about other countries laws or culture. They do as they please yet they have the hypocrisy to jail a couple for giving each other a peck on the cheek.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This diplomat sounds like a complete idiot. Not smoking on US airlines is a super-basic rule that every passenger is remined of at the beginning of each flight. Talk about embarrassing...
I suppose a promotion is in order for the gentleman in question, maybe an ambassadorship in Washington, London or some other plum location. Seems he's very well connected.
Qatar's ambassador to Washington Ali Bin Fajad al-Hajari said in a statement that the diplomat was traveling to Denver on official embassy business.
"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity," the ambassador said. "The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation."
"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity," the ambassador said. "The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation."
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,808
Received 135 Likes
on
63 Posts
May I offer a few words such as ... stupid, arrogant, irresponsible, juvenile?
I earnestly hope that this pseudo-diplomat is declared "persona non grata" at the earliest opportunity.
I gather from Fox [sorry] that he has already claimed diplomatic immunity.
And I do agree with others such as FOD - try that sort of rule-ignoring in their culture.
I earnestly hope that this pseudo-diplomat is declared "persona non grata" at the earliest opportunity.
I gather from Fox [sorry] that he has already claimed diplomatic immunity.
And I do agree with others such as FOD - try that sort of rule-ignoring in their culture.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Doha
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This guy thought that he is on Qatar Airways flight, where those Qatari can do what ever they want one the flight ex- talk on mobile, smoking the toilet and shouting to cabin crew.
...
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: london
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Typical stupid, arrogant, irresponsible dip Shi7.
He needs to be held accountable.
Or maybe Daddy should bend him over his Knee and give him a good Beatin.
Hey Nice way to represent the Qatari's jerk wad.
He needs to be held accountable.
Or maybe Daddy should bend him over his Knee and give him a good Beatin.
Hey Nice way to represent the Qatari's jerk wad.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Miami (on days off) or KCLT
Age: 48
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nothing racist about what togaluck said. Brown, black, red, or blue, I don't care. You come out of the lav (after smoking) and make a stupid comment about lighting your shoes on fire, and you deserve more than a beating. Three bullets (2 to the chest, one to the head) would have been appropriate...
The really crappy part is (straight from a FAM friend of mine) is that the Qataris have whisked him out of the country, but are demanding the 2 FAMs on the flight be addressed as well. So, it looks like two guys just doing their job are going to have black marks on the files because of some smart-mouthed little punk. Nice...
Next time, shoot the little bugger...
The really crappy part is (straight from a FAM friend of mine) is that the Qataris have whisked him out of the country, but are demanding the 2 FAMs on the flight be addressed as well. So, it looks like two guys just doing their job are going to have black marks on the files because of some smart-mouthed little punk. Nice...
Next time, shoot the little bugger...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: middleast
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We ALL known that security has become a VERY SENSITIVE issue in US after the 9/11...who can blame them..?
This "smart" qatari diplomat(based in US..!) should have known that and think twice before acting/talking or "joking" like that..
Try to make a joke about Islam here (THE SENSITIVE issue here in the middle east.)and you might end up in jail or kick out of the country...
Same same....
This "smart" qatari diplomat(based in US..!) should have known that and think twice before acting/talking or "joking" like that..
Try to make a joke about Islam here (THE SENSITIVE issue here in the middle east.)and you might end up in jail or kick out of the country...
Same same....
Last edited by loc22550; 9th Apr 2010 at 07:39.
Guest
Posts: n/a
togaluck That "diplomat" secretary looks freakin' indian.... maybe he's one of those son's of DRIVERS qataris.
I beg to differ BadAndy! If you guys have something against the guy for being an insensitive buffoon or a total jackass so be it but dragging up racist cr&p is not acceptable!
I beg to differ BadAndy! If you guys have something against the guy for being an insensitive buffoon or a total jackass so be it but dragging up racist cr&p is not acceptable!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This diplomat sounds like a complete idiot. Not smoking on US airlines is a super-basic rule that every passenger is remined of at the beginning of each flight. Talk about embarrassing...
The smoke detector on the crappers' roof said something along the lines of "Blah Blah $2000 + Federal + Blah Blah"
As mere SLF , I figured that in this time and age the only time you can smoke inflight is
a) on the flight deck ( on some operators )
b) no where else
What kind of an idiot smokes on an airplane considering that there are next to no airlines that allow smoking
disclaimer: smoker here
roadrunner21...
In this case (obviously) an idiot Qatari diplomat.
Makes me wonder if ''Qatari diplomat'' is perhaps an oxymoron, because the so-called diplomat in question was clearly a moron.
What kind of an idiot smokes on an airplane...
Makes me wonder if ''Qatari diplomat'' is perhaps an oxymoron, because the so-called diplomat in question was clearly a moron.