Pilot grilled - Air France pilot was questioned by police at JFK

[dArKeR]

New York - An Air France pilot was questioned by police at New York's Kennedy International Airport on Friday night after he allegedly said his plane was going to explode.

It was the second time in three months that an Air France pilot was involved in this type of incident. The French carrier had to cancel a New York-Paris flight because of the incident.

The pilot was detained for questioning and later released. Nothing dangerous was found in his suitcase.

A spokesperson for the US transportation security administration told the New York Times the pilot was summoned to the airport baggage inspection area after his suitcase set off a metal detector alarm.

"While screeners were inspecting the bag, he made some comments about the plane blowing up, him blowing up, and the story ending up on the front page of the New York Times," the spokesperson told the Times.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1435884,00.html

[DemoTex]

1. Francophobic retaliation? Who knows.

I trust no one at TSA. It is a political band-aid.

[burrowowl]

2. Was

probably making a joke that got lost in the translation.
But, even before 9-11, US Customs have been the meanest in the world, even to US citizens.
And I image the screeners (though probably incompetent) have no sense of humor either.

[DemoTex]

3. Would not have been US Customs (wrong end)

TSA (Transportation Security Admin.), bwaaa haaa haaa haaa! What a fucking joke on our country!

[DivinBreuvage]

4. I went to France about ten years ago

to visit family, and the only trouble I had with customs was in JFK on the way back; the agent kept after me with questions and I almost missed my flight. I never was able to figure out what his problem was.

The French customs agents at the time couldn't care less. They could barely even be bothered to stamp the passports.

Françoise