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Basketball player's comment delays flight from Charlotte
03/19/2002
Associated Press
A minor league basketball player was suspended from one game without pay after making a comment to airport security over the weekend that delayed the team's flight to Alabama.
The US Airways flight, which originated at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport and was bound for Huntsville, Ala., was delayed for more than an hour Sunday after the player's comment to a gate agent was deemed a security breach.
The player was Makhtar Ndiaye, a member of the North Charleston Lowgators of the National Basketball Development League. The 6-foot-10 native of Senegal was questioned by airport security and not allowed to board the US Airways flight to Huntsville.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, US Airways spokesman John Bronson said he had no information about the flight. But a passenger on the flight told The Huntsville Times that Ndiaye used the word "bomb" in a joking manner as he was preparing to board the plane.
Passengers on the flight had to exit the plane and return to the airport terminal for another security screening. One of the passengers, Nancy Mohlere of Huntsville, said luggage was removed from the plane and a bomb-sniffing dog was brought on board.
Ndiaye flew to Huntsville later aboard a Delta Air Lines flight, but he was suspended by the NBDL for Monday's game against Huntsville Flight without pay for a violation of league policy.
Ndiaye, who played at the University of North Carolina, was not arrested.
"I deeply regret making an inappropriate comment while passing through security at Charlotte/Douglas International airport," the 28-year-old player said in a statement released through the NBDL.
"I meant no harm, but now realize how wrong it was and I am sorry to have disrupted so many people."
03/19/2002
Associated Press
A minor league basketball player was suspended from one game without pay after making a comment to airport security over the weekend that delayed the team's flight to Alabama.
The US Airways flight, which originated at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport and was bound for Huntsville, Ala., was delayed for more than an hour Sunday after the player's comment to a gate agent was deemed a security breach.
The player was Makhtar Ndiaye, a member of the North Charleston Lowgators of the National Basketball Development League. The 6-foot-10 native of Senegal was questioned by airport security and not allowed to board the US Airways flight to Huntsville.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, US Airways spokesman John Bronson said he had no information about the flight. But a passenger on the flight told The Huntsville Times that Ndiaye used the word "bomb" in a joking manner as he was preparing to board the plane.
Passengers on the flight had to exit the plane and return to the airport terminal for another security screening. One of the passengers, Nancy Mohlere of Huntsville, said luggage was removed from the plane and a bomb-sniffing dog was brought on board.
Ndiaye flew to Huntsville later aboard a Delta Air Lines flight, but he was suspended by the NBDL for Monday's game against Huntsville Flight without pay for a violation of league policy.
Ndiaye, who played at the University of North Carolina, was not arrested.
"I deeply regret making an inappropriate comment while passing through security at Charlotte/Douglas International airport," the 28-year-old player said in a statement released through the NBDL.
"I meant no harm, but now realize how wrong it was and I am sorry to have disrupted so many people."
