- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
(CNN) - An American Airlines mechanic was arrested Thursday and accused of trying to sabotage a commercial plane shortly before he left Miami International Airport for the Bahamas with 150 people on board.
MIRA: American Airlines extends cancellations of its Boeing 737 Max until December 3
Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani has been accused of "intentionally damaging, destroying, disabling or intervening an airplane and attempting to do so," according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Alani allegedly attempted to damage or disable the aircraft's data module (ADM) system, which reports aircraft speed, pitching and other critical data, on July 17.
This Thursday, the researchers interviewed Alani and he “admitted that he accessed the ADM” and that “he inserted a piece of foam at the entrance of the ADM where the line is connected and that he applied super glue to the foam to prevent the foam from coming off ”Says the complaint.
READ: An American Airlines passenger is forced to cover herself with a blanket
"Alani stated that his intention was not to cause damage to the aircraft or its passengers," the investigators say in the complaint.
The court documents say that Alani told investigators that he was upset about a contractual dispute between union workers and airlines, and that the dispute had cost him money.
Alani allegedly explained that he manipulated the plane so he could work overtime on the plane.
When the plane descended the runway and the pilots increased the engine power, there was an error related to the ADM system and the takeoff was canceled.
MIRA: The American Airlines airline indefinitely suspends its flights to Venezuela
The aircraft returned to the esplanade and no one on board was injured, the complaint says.
American Airlines mechanics immediately inspected the aircraft and "discovered an offline pitot tube, which connects directly to the ADM" and determined that "the ADM appeared to have been deliberately clogged with what appeared to be a dark styrofoam-like material. ”, According to the demand.
Authorities used surveillance videos to identify Alani, the document says.
American Airlines, in a statement to CNN, said: “At American we have an unwavering commitment to the safety of our customers and team members and we are taking this matter very seriously. At the time of the incident, the plane was taken out of service, maintenance was performed and after an inspection to ensure it was safe, the plane was back in service. American immediately notified federal authorities that they took over the investigation with our full cooperation. ”
READ: American Airlines employees must complete anti-racist training
CNN contacted Alani unsuccessfully on Thursday and is trying to determine if he has a lawyer.
He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Miami this Friday, said Marlene Fernández-Karavetsos, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor's office in the Southern District of Florida.
American Airlines
