L.A.-To-London Flight Diverted To New York

Confusion Over Whether Passenger Was Properly Screened Caused American Airlines Flight To Make Stop

(CBS/AP)  A flight from Los Angeles to London was diverted to New York early Thursday because of what officials said may have been unfounded fears of a security breach.

A flight attendant on the American Airlines plane apparently became suspicious of a male passenger because there was "some confusion as to whether the man was properly security screened" before boarding the London Heathrow Airport-bound flight at Los Angeles International Airport, a law enforcement official said.

Authorities were questioning the passenger Thursday morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak to the media.

A flight attendant saw the passenger riding on a Los Angeles airport employee shuttle bus from the employee parking lot to the airport employee entrance earlier and then recognized him on the flight after it was en route to London, Homeland Security officials told CBS News.

American Airlines security confirmed the identity of the passenger, the uncertain process by how he boarded the plane and that he was an executive platinum traveler with a legitimate round trip ticket that purchased on April 19, the Homeland Security officials told CBS News.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CBS' The Early Show the incident may have been a miscue.

Chertoff said it appeared "to be a misunderstanding."

"The good news here, though, is that when members of the air crew saw something which they thought was suspicious they reacted immediately and appropriately," he said.

Chertoff told CNN he heard from the airline that the passenger is an American Airlines employee who was traveling in a private capacity.

Carrying 230 passengers, the flight landed at JFK at about 3:30 a.m., said Alan Hicks, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. He said the agency was told about an hour earlier that Flight 136 was being diverted.

The plane was still at the airport later Thursday morning, Hicks said. He was unsure whether the passengers remained on board or had been allowed into the terminal.

[dubby12]

WHO KNOW WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEARTS AMD MINDS OF MEN-----THE BUSH ADMIN DOES EACH TIME THEY LOK IN A MIRROR!

[doggymama]

Most of the relatives of the Big H changed their names, and there are many in the US. HOWEVER, I agree with the poster here that compared our current situation in the US with Nazi Germany, i.e., "Your papers please!"

With all the 'legal bugging' the average person is afraid to say anything against the current regime.

[lordelpus-2009]

Hitler nothing,

You mean the Stasi. The same group of persons who would grass their own family members in the former East Germany.

Now where did all they go to?

[zootallures2]

HITLER? You've got to be kidding me?

Posted by boatdrinks56 at 10:54 AM : Jul 12, 2007

No. There really was a Hitler and probably is still some peoples names. But yes, 'THE' HITLER did exist. He's been in many old news reels, propaganda pieces, and home movies.

[moosbrth]

Why all of s sudden do we have Chertoff babbling terror stuff, is he telling us something in advance or did Cheney tell him to stir the pot.

He should have let someone know who he was an employee, a dumb employee

[boatdrinks56]

HITLER? You've got to be kidding me? Too bad somebody didn't see anything prior to 9/11 then maybe all those jeys wouldn't have been hijacked! Of course we all know that the bleeding heart liberals will blame this on W?

[sheila2u-2009]

Well I think it is much better to be safe then sorry....CHEERS to the crew !

[barbaraf4]

Chertoff said it appeared "to be a misunderstanding."

"The good news here, though, is that when members of the air crew saw something which they thought was suspicious they reacted immediately and appropriately," he said.
~~~
Sounds like Germany under Hitler, "the air crew saw something which they thought was suspicious." Totally subjective. My neighbor might think the fact that I shower every day is suspicious. Then they will report me - then I will have to report them for NON showering everyday. Life as we know it, under Bush and his minions, will never be the same.

[zootallures2]

You have to have a "gut feeling" to qualify

Posted by ozilot at 09:47 AM : Jul 12, 2007

He must be stealing Stephen Colbert material. Right out of one of his routines..........:O

[zootallures2]

Oh, and we've been seeing a lot of Mister Chertoff lately? Promoting a new book? Movie? War? False Flag Op? Hurricane?

[zootallures2]

Executive Platinum Traveller...huh!

I'm an Exclusive Premium Qualified First Class Elite Executive Platinum Traveller with a Special Privilages Plan and a free accompanying agent to tell me I'm great at everything and reasure me that everyone loves me the best...LOL!

Childish, childish, childish.

[mediabrat60]

Executive Platinum Traveller?
How do I get one?