Mistaken Identity Grounded France Flights

[velocity]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-France-Airline-Security.html

January 2, 2004
Mistaken Identity Grounded France Flights
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:34 p.m. ET

PARIS (AP) -- Six cases of mistaken identity were behind the pre-Christmas grounding of six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles over terrorism fears, a police official said Friday.

The names of six passengers sounded similar to those of terrorist suspects provided by the FBI, prompting the French government to ground the planes, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy refrained from criticizing the United States when asked whether American intelligence had provided erroneous information that led to the cancellations.

``I don't think there are systematic errors. We are exchanging passenger lists,'' Sarkozy said. ``There are problems of people who share the same name

,,,,cut,,,,,

It appears that they were using LAST name only....

[arcane1]

1. damn, is Choice Point still on the job or what?

was this "mistake" just a good way to generate New-Years-party talk over the holiday?

reason #12,598,326.1 to NEVER TRUST A GODDAMNED THING THESE PEOPLE SAY

[Moderator]

2. Dupe... locking

Please continue discussion within the original LBN thread on this topic, which can be found here:

REUTERS: Air France's groundings were a mistake

Thanks!

DU Moderator