Air steward held by FBI

The FBI has arrested a flight attendant on charges that he falsely claimed to have found a terrorist bomb threat on a transatlantic flight.

The Virgin Atlantic jet, flying from London Gatwick to Orlando, was diverted to Iceland.

Frenchman Michael Philippe is alleged to have reported finding messages in the aircraft toilet which said an al-Qaeda bomb was on board.

Philippe reported to the flight’s captain that he had found a mis-spelled message reading “Bin Laden is the best Americans must die there is a bomb on board Al Quaida” written on an airsickness bag in the plane’s toilet.

‘Written on mirror’

A second message “American must die” was written on a mirror, he is alleged to have told the crew members.

Based on matching fingerprints and handwriting, the FBI believes Philippe wrote the messages. Icelandic police searched the plane after it landed in Keflavik and found no threat.

Philippe faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Last Updated: 06:27 UK, Friday March 29, 2002
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I am also flying on the 11:30 flight to Los Angeles with Virgin Atlantic aswell on Monday. I’m sure this will be interesting.

Shaun