An American Airlines flight traveling from Los Angeles to London was diverted to New York's JFK airport this morning after the flight crew reported a suspicious passenger.
The US Transportation Security Administration said Flight 136 made an emergency landing in New York around 4am (9am Irish time) and that security agents boarded the plane.
The officers then took a man off the plane, according to reports.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had received a report the man was an employee who was travelling in a private capacity.
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"It may very well turn out that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee who used an employee bus to get on a plane for a private flight," Mr Chertoff said.