Air France flight diverted
2004-11-21 18:27
Bangor, Maine - Two Moroccan men were taken off a flight from Paris bound for Washington after officials determined one of the men was on the US no-fly list.
Air France Flight 026 was diverted to Bangor on Saturday night and the two men were being detained on Sunday as officials investigated why the passenger was allowed to board the plane in Paris.
The second man detained was travelling with the banned passenger.
"They are being detained and will be going through processing for expedited removal" from the country, said Janet Rapaport, spokesperson for US customs and border protection.
Rapaport did not have the names or ages of the men, and did not know why one was on the no-fly list.
The plane eventually flew on to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, arriving more than two hours late.
Passengers, who were unaware there was a problem until they crossed into US 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 spokesperson said.
- AP