Air France pilot held after 'plane blast' remarks
An Air France pilot was detained after he allegedly made remarks about the plane blowing up as his baggage was being screened at New York’s Kennedy Airport, authorities said today.
An alarm went off as the pilot’s checked luggage was sent through a screening machine yesterday, and he was called back to the machine, according to Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Amy von Walter.
As screeners were inspecting his bags, the pilot made comments that included references to the plane blowing up, him blowing up and the story ending up on the front page of The New York Times, von Walter said.
Screeners notified New York Port Authority police, she said. The screeners completed their inspection and there was no problem with the bag.
Air France spokesman Jim Faulkner said the pilot, whose name was not released, was taken in for questioning and released. He said he could neither confirm nor deny the pilot’s comments.
The passengers on the plane, Air France Flight 23 to Paris, were put on other flights, Faulkner said.
In August, an Air France pilot was arrested after allegedly telling a security screener he had a bomb in his shoe. No explosives were found on the pilot or the plane.
