“Data discrepancy” bars BA flight from US airspace

16 FEB 2010:  Let’s hope this doesn’t become a habit. A British Airways Mexico-bound flight was turned back to London on Friday because of what was called a "data discrepancy" involving a passenger. The Boeing 747 jumbo jet was two hours out of London when US authorities barred it from American airspace because of 'serious concerns' about a 55-year-old male passenger. The plane was forced to return to Heathrow, where the man left the plane, but was not arrested.

 
The man, a US citizen, was escorted off the plane at Heathrow and his bags were apparently searched under the Terrorism Act. The airline apologized to the 317 other passengers onboard the plane for the inconvenience caused, the aircraft refuelled, and took off for Mexico without any further issues.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said there had been no breach of security at Heathrow as a result of this incident.

A BA spokesman said, “The BA243 Heathrow to Mexico City flight returned to Heathrow on Friday afternoon due to a data discrepancy with a US citizen.”

The nature of the data discrepancy was not revealed.

Interesting…enough to disrupt a flight but not to arrest.