US Pilot Turns Israeli Consul General Away from US Flight

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 15, 2002

US Pilot Turns Israeli Consul General Away from US Flight

A pilot of the US National Airlines refused to let Israel's Consul General in New York Alon Pinkas board a US domestic flight, the Israeli newspaper Yeidiot Achronot reported Sunday.

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A pilot of the US National Airlines refused to let Israel's Consul General in New York Alon Pinkas board a US domestic flight, the Israeli newspaper Yeidiot Achronot reported Sunday.

"I don't care what he does, he will not get onto my plane," the pilot told security personnel at the San Francisco Airport when theconsul sought to board a flight to New York on July 11.

After being told the diplomat was boarding the plane, the pilot responded by screaming that he was afraid Pinkas' presence would endanger all the other passengers.

The head of the airlines threatened the pilot, but the pilot insisted he would not fly if Pinkas was aboard the aircraft.

At last, the diplomat was asked to take another flight of the Continental Airlines, the newspaper said.

"It appears to be the case of one stupid guy and not a systemic problem," Pinkas said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it would file a formal complaint against the National Airlines and demand that the pilot be disciplined.

The US State Department said the incident is being investigated.

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