WASHINGTON: A Frenchman wearing a uniform and claiming to be an Air France pilot was arrested on board a plane in Philadelphia after being found sitting in the cockpit, police said yesterday.
The individual, identified as Philippe Jeannard of La Rochelle, France, was a ticketed passenger for the US Airways flight to West Palm Beach, Florida, according to a police statement that spelled his name two different ways. Jeannard, in his 60s, was found sitting in the jump-seat behind the captain’s chair and claimed to be a 747 pilot for Air France.
“When (Jeannard) could not produce proper credentials he was removed from the flight and the police were notified,” the Philadelphia police said. “When arrested, (Jeannard) was in possession of a counterfeit Air France Crew member identification card,” it said in the statement. AFP
