US detains passenger on Africa-to-New York flight during stop in Puerto Rico

Passenger on NY flight detained in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. authorities detained a passenger on an Africa-to-New York flight during a fuel stop in Puerto Rico on Thursday, officials said, without disclosing why the person was held or giving any details.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency issued a statement identifying the passenger only as a “potential person of interest,” who was removed from the Delta Air Lines flight for further questioning and remained in custody. Spokeswoman Jenny Burke declined to provide details.

Delta said it received a request from the government to board and remove the passenger during the refueling stop in Puerto Rico.

There was no incident on board the plane, passengers were not in any danger and the flight continued to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport afterward, said Delta spokeswoman Susan Chana Elliott.

Flight 215 was traveling from Dakar, Senegal, in West Africa to John F. Kennedy International Airport when it diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to refuel. Such a diversion is not unusual for a full flight that runs into trans-Atlantic headwinds and was not related to the passenger, Elliott said.