By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — First lesson: if you’re going try your hand at humor on a plane — better it be funny, than scary.
The Associated Press reported that something went wrong on United Flight 663 from Washington-to-Denver Wednesday night when a diplomat from Qatar, who has lived in the U.S. for years, tried to sneak a smoke in the bathroom.
The AP reported that an official said the man “made a joke about it” after being confronted, which only alarmed people more on the Boeing 757 with 157 passengers and six crew members. AP did not specify what the joke may have been, but there were some reports implying it could have related to lighting a shoe.
Authorities said no explosives were found and it appeared the man was not trying to harm anyone, AP reported.
Nonetheless, an air marshal, who apparently didn’t get the humor, restrained the man. No joke. ABC identified him as Mohammed al Modadi.
And there was another not-so funny moment. AP reported that fighter jets were scrambled, but the plane landed safely in Denver. Law enforcement was interviewing the man.
Maybe as a real joke, the State Department can expell the man from the U.S.
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