Midair alert due to Jewish ceremony
Source: Agencies |
March 15, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PILOTS on an Alaska Airlines flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles locked down the cockpit and alerted authorities on Sunday when a flight crew grew alarmed at the behavior of three men who turned out to be conducting an elaborate orthodox Jewish prayer ritual, officials said.
The men, all Mexican -nationals, began the ritual that involves tying leather straps and small wooden boxes to the body, and the crew of Flight 241 alerted the cockpit, airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said.
"Shortly after takeoff, a flight attendant saw what she believed was unusual behavior from three passengers on board," Egan said in a statement. "The three passengers were praying aloud in Hebrew and were wearing what appeared to be leather straps on their foreheads and arms."
The cockpit was placed on a security lockdown for the rest of the flight - meaning the door couldn't be opened, even for pilots to leave briefly.
FBI and customs agents along with police and fire trucks met the plane at the gate at Los Angeles International Airport, and the men were escorted off.
After questioning by the FBI, the men were released without being arrested. They continued in their travel which took them overseas, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told City News Service.
The men, all Mexican -nationals, began the ritual that involves tying leather straps and small wooden boxes to the body, and the crew of Flight 241 alerted the cockpit, airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said.
"Shortly after takeoff, a flight attendant saw what she believed was unusual behavior from three passengers on board," Egan said in a statement. "The three passengers were praying aloud in Hebrew and were wearing what appeared to be leather straps on their foreheads and arms."
The cockpit was placed on a security lockdown for the rest of the flight - meaning the door couldn't be opened, even for pilots to leave briefly.
FBI and customs agents along with police and fire trucks met the plane at the gate at Los Angeles International Airport, and the men were escorted off.
After questioning by the FBI, the men were released without being arrested. They continued in their travel which took them overseas, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told City News Service.
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