Diplomat sparks bomb scare on U.S. flight
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No charges for Qatari diplomat after US flight scare
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – A Qatari diplomat who sparked a national security scare by joking about setting fire to his shoe on an airplane will be released without charge, a US law enforcement official told AFP on Thursday.
"It's expected that he's going to be turned over today to Qatari officials. I don't know if he's still with the FBI or if he's been turned over to the Qatari officials yet," the official said.
Mohammed al-Modadi, 27, the third secretary and vice consul of the Qatari embassy in Washington was confronted by air marshals late Wednesday after smoking a cigarette in an airplane bathroom and joked he was trying to ignite his shoe.
The source, who asked not to be named, said that even though smoking in airplane restrooms is a federal crime under US law, the diplomat is not likely to be prosecuted.
"He has diplomatic immunity. If he was a US citizen, that's a violation, but he does have diplomatic immunity," the official said. "Only a foreign government can lift the immunity."
US air marshals wrestled Modadi to the floor of the plane during a flight from the US capital to Denver, after he joked about setting fire to his shoes.
His comments raised fears of a repeat of the 2001 "shoe bomber" incident in which British national Richard Reid tried to blow up an airliner using explosives hidden in his shoe.
Reid pleaded guilty in 2003 to trying to blow up an American Airlines Paris-Miami flight on December 22, 2001 and murder the 197 people aboard.
Wednesday's security scare prompted fighter jets to be scrambled and top White House aides to brief President Barack Obama.
The plane landed safely at Denver International Airport following the disturbance, and US officials later said it appeared the passenger was not trying to blow up the plane.
The State Department said Thursday it expected a quick diplomatic solution to the affair, adding US authorities had been in close contact with the ambassador of Qatar.
"We are satisfied with the seriousness by which they take what has occurred. That's why we have confidence that this will be resolved very quickly," spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, hinted Modad would soon be sent home. "His ability to function effectively has been significantly compromised," the official said.
Qatar's ambassador to Washington Ali Bin Fajad al-Hajari said in a statement the diplomat had been traveling to Denver on official embassy business.
"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity," the ambassador said. "The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation."
The panic reaction also appeared to have been prompted by fears of a possible repeat of the foiled Christmas Day bombing, when a Nigerian passenger tried to blow up a plane by igniting an explosive secreted in his underwear.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano praised the swift actions of the federal air marshals.
"We always treat security-related incidents seriously until verified otherwise, and thankfully this incident posed no actual security threat," she added.
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dumbass "diplomat" wanted to smoke...
stupid irresponsible piece of crap
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another idiot with diplomatic immunity...
but then again...its the US govt that the idiot is fooling around with..that he might be sent home....if its SG govt............................he gets his own ticket home? *shakes head*
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Reminds me of Harold and Kumar...
