U.S. officials take custody of man removed from flight

U.S. officials take custody of man removed from flight

Aircraft of the Mexican airline Aeromexico are seen at the Mexico City international airport, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. (AP / Iyari Tirado Burnat)

Updated: Wed Jun. 02 2010 11:13:21 AM

The Canadian Press

Montreal — A man whose presence on a transcontinental flight last weekend caused the plane to be grounded in Montreal has been abruptly shipped to the United States.

Abdirahman Ali Gaal is now being questioned by American security officials. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirms Gaal was handed over to them by Canadian officials Tuesday.

"Mr. Gaal, a legal permanent resident (of the U.S.), was returned to the United States where he is currently being questioned by DHS," department spokesman Matt Chandler wrote in an email.

The man had been scheduled to appear before Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board Wednesday morning in Montreal.

But the Canada Border Services Agency said that, on Tuesday at 4 p.m., it turned him over to U.S. authorities.

Gaal had been held since the weekend at an immigration detention centre, as he was declared inadmissible to Canada.

Gaal was originally detained on an Aeromexico flight from Paris to Mexico City on Sunday afternoon.

The flight made a sudden stop in Canada after American officials asked that it be diverted away from the U.S.

Gaal was apparently on a U.S. watch list.

Those who witnessed Gaal's arrest on Sunday's Aeromexico flight said he offered no resistance when six police officers approached his seat.

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