OYE! Jewish Prayer Object Causes Plane to Divert to Philly

tefillin/istock photo
tefillin/istock photo

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

Oye.

A US Airways Express flight carrying 15 passengers from New York to Louisville on Thursday was diverted to Philadelphia after a Jewish teenager put on a religious prayer object called a tefillin, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities said the 17-year-old from White Plains, N.Y., put on the tefillin, which includes two black boxes attached to leather straps. One is strapped to the head and the other to the arm.

“It’s something that the average person is not going to see very often, if ever,” FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver told the Associated Press.

The AP reported that the teen explained the ritual to the crew members. However, Republic Airways, which operates the plane issued a statement saying crew members “did not receive a clear response” when they talked with the teen. “Therefore, in the interest of everyone’s safety, the crew decided to land in Philadelphia.”

AP said the plane was searched and passengers were questioned and the teen was very cooperative. The teen was traveling with his sister. Both were allowed to continue on their trip.

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