A passenger on a flight from Washington, D.C., to DIA reportedly made a comment that he was trying to light his shoes on fire during the flight.

Federal air marshals on the flight stopped and restrained the man, who was a first class passenger on United flight 663 from Reagan National Airport to DIA Wednesday night. United flight 663, a Boeing 757, landed in Denver at 6:50 p.m.The man, identified as Mohammed al-Madadi, a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington may have been smoking in the bathroom. The FBI said the man had full diplomat immunity as the 3rd secretary and vice-consul.

Two law enforcement officials said investigators were told the man was asked about the smell of smoke in the bathroom and he made a joke that he had been trying to light his shoes — an apparent reference to the 2001 so-called “shoe bomber” Richard Reid.The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Read Full Story

article courtesy thedenverchannel.com