Two Moroccan men who were on the no-fly list were, once again, allowed to fly. Whether this list is even useful is questionable; the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens was on it. But nevertheless, isn't the purpose of the no-fly list to not let people fly?
The simple fact that they got on the plane in the first place makes this idiotic.
More below the fold...
From the
Boston Globe:
BANGOR, Maine (AP) Two Moroccan men were transported to Massachusetts on Sunday after a flight from Paris bound for Dulles International Airport was diverted when officials determined one of the men was on the U.S. no-fly list.
Air France Flight 026 was diverted to Bangor on Saturday night and the men were removed from the plane and held at the Penobscot County Jail.
Officials were investigating why the passenger was allowed to board the plane in Paris. The other man detained was traveling with the banned passenger.
''They are en route from Maine to Massachusetts, where they'll be temporarily detained while we make arrangements for their travel back out of the U.S.,'' said Paula Grenier, spokeswoman for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. ''That should happen within the next couple of days.''
Customs officials did not release the names or ages of the men, and said they did not know why one was on the no-fly list.
Jail officials identified the men as Abdeluala Ahmed Lahiti, 47, and Mohammed Oukassou, 76.
The plane eventually flew on to Dulles, arriving more than two hours late.
Passengers, who were unaware there was a problem until they crossed into U.S. air space, said everything went smoothly though some were alarmed by the incident.
The plane, a Boeing 777, had 263 passengers on board, an Air France spokeswoman said.