A federal jury has ordered American Airlines to pay $400,000 to a computer consultant who was pulled from a flight at Logan International Airport because of security concerns, then denied reboarding even after he had been cleared by State Police."I felt like I was being treated like a terrorist and there was no way I could prove I didn't do anything or say anything at all," said John Cerqueira , 39, who grew up in Fall River and now lives in Miami.
"I'm grateful to the jury for sending the message to American Airlines that just the use of the word security isn't an excuse for unlawful behavior."
Cerqueira, who was born in Portugal and is a US citizen, was returning to Florida after spending Christmas with his family when he boarded a non stop flight to Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28, 2003. But before takeoff, Cerqueira said, the flight crew called police because of concerns about two Middle Eastern passengers who were seated beside him.
Cerqueira said he didn't know the men, who were Israelis, but believes he was taken into custody with the men because he looked like them.
LSB: I thought you were presumed innocent until proven guilty, but that would be an incorrect assumption in Bush Country. I understand that with terrorism on the rise, thanks in part to “he-who-is-an-idiot,” some concessions will be made in the name of safety. But to be turned away even after being cleared - for simply looking like an Israeli? Good job on the jury’s part!
Follow-up: An incident report from the event signed by AA Capt. John Ehlers, which the Herald obtained yesterday, explains, “3 PAX (passengers) sitting in row 20 (seats) DEF observed by F/As (flight attendants) & cockpit crew as making inappropriate, suspicious comments in boarding area & on board aircraft. Seemed to be foreign nationals. Overheard wishing other PAX ‘Happy New Year.’ ” (LSB: OMG, they were wishing people Happy New Year – have they no sense of decency? No wonder they were suspicious.)
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