05/03/2008

Portadown Man Linked To Bin Laden

A Portadown man has been arrested in the US after allegedly telling flight attendants he had links with Osama Bin Laden.

The 44 year-old man is alleged to have been drinking on the flight from Atlanta to Dublin and smoking in the toilets. When challenged the man is said to have told flight attendants he was associated with Osama Bin Laden and was going to hijack the plane.

The man later told an off-duty pilot he was a terrorist, according to an FBI affidavit.

The affidavit also states the man punched an off-duty flight attendant who warned him he would have to be restrained.

The plane had to be landed prematurely at the nearest airport as a result of the incident.

(DW/JM)


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