• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » News » Diplomat Jokes About Shoe Bomb After Smoking in Lavatory on DCA-DEN United Flight
NewsUnited Airlines

Diplomat Jokes About Shoe Bomb After Smoking in Lavatory on DCA-DEN United Flight

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 8, 2010 Leave a Comment

Here’s a hint: if you decide you want to smoke in the lavatory, don’t cover it up by claiming you were trying to detonate a shoe bomb.

A Qatari diplomat who caused a security alert aboard a United Airlines flight after smoking in a toilet will not be charged with a crime, an embassy representative said on Thursday.

Qatar’s ambassador to the United States called the incident aboard a flight from Washington to Denver late on Wednesday a "mistake" and said the man, who had diplomatic immunity, was traveling on official business.

He was caught smoking in a toilet and made a remark that was perceived as a threat on the plane, officials said. No smoking is allowed on commercial flights in the United States.

UA’s evening DCA-DEN flight is usually only about three hours long. Is it that hard to abstain from a cigarette?

Reuters didn’t have the guts to print what the man actually said, but the Times of London did:

Asked about the smoke as he emerged from the lavatory, Mr al-Modadi, a junior Qatari official in Washington, allegedly joked that he had been trying to light his shoes — an apparent reference to the British shoe-bomber, Richard Reid, who attempted to blow up an American airliner in December 2001. According to one account an air marshal heard the diplomat say: “I’m lighting my shoes on fire.”

What a witty joke! To a FAM no less!

Qatar’s ambassador to Washington, Ali bin Fahad al-Hajri, said the man posed no security threat.

"He was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity. The facts will reveal that this was a mistake, and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation," al-Hajri said in a statement posted on the embassy’s Web site.

Sure buddy.

Why didn’t I get an F-16 escort on my flight?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article United and US Airways in Merger Talks…Again
Next Article United Eliminates Free Standby for Premier Executives and Below

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United New Flight Attendant Contract

    6 Clauses That Could Derail United’s New Flight Attendant Contract

    June 10, 2025
  • United Starlink Radio Interference

    Starlink Grounded: United Temporarily Disables Wi-Fi On Some Regional Jets

    June 9, 2025
  • 2FA Aeroplan

    2FA Now Mandatory With Air Canada Aeroplan

    June 9, 2025

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • American Airlines Fake Flight Attendant
    American Airlines Employee Flew 120 Times For Free By Pretending To Be A Flight Attendant—Now He’s Going To Jail June 11, 2025
  • United New Flight Attendant Contract
    6 Clauses That Could Derail United’s New Flight Attendant Contract June 10, 2025
  • Delta Crying Baby
    Delta Passenger Melts Down Over Crying Baby, But Who Was Really The Brat? June 10, 2025
  • Singapore Airport Shoplifters
    Singapore Doesn’t Play: Airport Shoplifters Busted Within The Hour June 10, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025
  • a group of people in blue uniforms
    United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter May 28, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.