May 30th, 2010
10:51 PM ET

'Person of interest' arrested on diverted plane

An Aeromexico flight from France to Mexico was diverted to Montreal, Canada, Sunday because a "person of interest" was on board, a Transportation Security Administration spokesman said.

Law enforcement officers removed the passenger from the flight after it landed at the Montreal airport and arrested the individual on an outstanding warrant, TSA spokesman Sterling Payne said.

All other passengers were rescreened before the flight continued to its destination of Mexico City, Mexico, he said. The Boeing 767 originated in Paris, France.

Payne said TSA would continue to monitor the flight.

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Filed under: Air travel • Canada
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. ruffnutt

    i heard it was ronald mcdonald, he was wanted in a case involving the smuggling of seaseme seed buns.

    May 30, 2010 at 11:21 pm | Report abuse |
  2. heinrich

    "2 people recommend this. Be the first of your friends." these two people seriously.. why would u recommend this to anyone

    May 31, 2010 at 3:05 am | Report abuse |
    • John

      This sets a new precedent for over-flight of countries. Thousands of flights fly over various countries en route to their destination each day. If the U.S. now can stop a foreign carrier from flying over U.S. airspace with a "criminal" or "person of interest" what will stop Iran or Pakistan from stopping U.S. flights from over-flying to India...or North Korea from stopping over-flights en route to China...etc. This is a huge deal. Look-up Augusto Pinochet's arrest in the U.K. when he went there for medical treatment. This will have similar impact on international law for decades to come.

      May 31, 2010 at 3:39 am | Report abuse |
  3. Joe

    Why are these flights diverted to Canada?Let the U.S. deal with their own paranoia.

    May 31, 2010 at 10:46 am | Report abuse |
  4. Gary

    Canada always takes the B.S from the U.S oh well... got to love Canada!

    May 31, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Cyphase

    A flight from *France* to *Mexico* was diverted to *Canada* and the TSA, a *United States* agency, is involved why? Is it because it's flying over the US? I would have thought that would have been the purview of the FAA, not the TSA.

    August 19, 2010 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • wzrd1

      Let's review the story. A passenger was arrested IN CANADA on an outstanding warrant. The last time I checked, Canada doesn't normally honor US warrants without good cause.
      Perhaps the person was flagged in the Canadian system? Should we just let them leave the North American continent? Or should we divert the flight and permit the Canadian authorities to arrest their wanted person?
      One possible explanation. Out of possible thousands.

      August 20, 2010 at 8:13 am | Report abuse |
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