No threat aboard diverted RAM flight, official
Morocco-USA, Local, 2/21/2004

Moroccan Airliner Royal Air Maroc has ruled out any " threat" to the passengers of its Casablanca-bound flight 201 that was diverted, Thursday night, to Bangor in the Maine (North-east of the United States), shortly after take-off from New York's Kennedy International Airport, The company said in a communique sent to MAP.

After "deep checks," inside the plane, American authorities concluded to "the total absence of any threat likely to harm the plane or its passengers," the communique added.

According to RAM, there were 82 passengers and the ten-member crew aboard the plane when it was diverted, "two hours after take-off, when the company received a phone call on the presence of a suspect aboard."

RAM underlined that only the suspect was removed by local authorities before the plane could resume its flight.

According to press reports, the passenger who left the plane is a 27-year-old investment banker Zubiar Ali Ghias, who had been reported missing to Chicago police last Saturday. He was in Bangor Friday and is not under arrest, FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said.

"The investigation is continuing and he continues to be cooperative," she said.

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