U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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March 21, 2002 Passenger Charged Following In-Flight Disturbance Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of EVA D. AL-ZAGHARI, age 27, of Menlo Park, California. AL-ZAGHARI was arrested by FBI Agents, without incident, late yesterday afternoon at O'Hare International Airport. AL-ZAGHARI has been charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District court in Chicago with one count of "Interference with a Flight Crew", which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, AL-ZAGHARI was a passenger on American Airlines flight 1100, which provides non-stop service from San Francisco to Chicago. Approximately 15 minutes prior to landing, AL-ZAGHARI physically assaulted another passenger. When a member of the flight crew intervened, AL-ZAGHARI is alleged to have also assaulted her. The plane landed safely at O'Hare Airport, where AL-ZAGHARI was taken into custody. The assaulted passenger and flight crew member were both treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released. AL-ZAGHARI is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier, later today. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITORS NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against AL-ZAGHARI is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
