Detained man on no-fly list said to have boarded US-bound jet in Nigeria, passenger says
By APThursday, April 22, 2010
‘No-fly’ Nigerian allegedly on US-bound jet
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A man detained in Puerto Rico had apparently managed to board a New York-bound jet in Nigeria even though he was on an official no-fly list.
A passenger tells The Associated Press that the pilot disclosed the apparent breach as the Delta Air Lines flight stopped to refuel in Puerto Rico.
Passenger Joan Mower says the pilot said he was informed about the passenger while over the Atlantic.
Flight 215 originated in Abuja, Nigeria, where the man boarded the jet. It continued on to New York after the man was detained Thursday. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says the unidentified man is being held for questioning. He was taken into custody without incident.
Customs officials had no immediate comment.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — 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.
