Alitalia flight diverted to Bangor, Maine after passenger name was found on US no-fly list

Airline Industry Information, May 18, 2005

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A passenger on an Alitalia flight was removed yesterday (17 May) after his flight was diverted on to Bangor, Maine.

The Alitalia flight 618 from Milan, Italy to Boston, US, reportedly carried 127 passengers and 10 crew members, was diverted to Bangor as it was found that the name of a passenger matched a name on the US no-fly list. Local police and federal officials met the flight and the man and his luggage were removed from the aircraft, which was cleared to continue its journey.

The FBI questioned the passenger and decided not to arrest him, saying that he was of no interest, Reuters reported. Customs and Border Protection officials however held the man to determine his status and find out whether or not he should be allowed into the country.

No details on the name of the passenger nor his nationality have been disclosed, nor why he was on the list.

While nothing unusual happened during the flight, according to a Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman, the aircraft had been escorted through Canadian airspace by Canadian fighters, and two F-15 Eagles from Otis Air National Guard base, Cape Cod escorted it through US airspace, The Associated Press reported.

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