2 Questioned After Causing Plane’s Evacuation
An America West pilot ordered a runway evacuation after landing in Columbus on Friday because two passengers had asked suspicious questions and one jiggled the cockpit door, authorities said.
The two men were in custody for about three hours and questioned by the FBI before they were released, said Richard Morgan, chief of airport safety.
The men identified themselves as Hamdan Alshalawr, 37, and Muhammad Al Qudhaieer, 34, doctoral students from Saudi Arabia who are studying linguistics.
They said they asked questions about the flight merely because they were curious about their itinerary. One man said he was looking for a bathroom, not trying to get into the cockpit.
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