Korean Air flight forced to turn around due to US demand

Airline Industry Information, May 31, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Refusal by US authorities to let a Korean Air aircraft enter US airspace caused the aircraft to be diverted to Japan.

The flight from South Korea, headed to San Francisco, was carrying a passenger with the same name as one of the terrorist suspects on the US no-fly list. The man and his family had travelled from Bangkok in Thailand to South Korea to board the US flight. He was reportedly allowed to re-board the aircraft and continue to the US with the other passengers when it had been determined that he was not the suspect on the list.

According to The Associated Press, the aircraft had completed most of the journey to the US when it was ordered to turn back.

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