Crafty smoke diplomat sparks jet bomb scare

No explosives were found on the man, and officials do not believe he

was trying to harm anyone on the Boeing 757. An Arab diplomat identified the man as Mohammed Al-Madadi.

Two law enforcement officials said investigators were told the man was asked about the smell of smoke in the toilet and he made a joke that he had been trying to light his shoes – an apparent reference to the 2001 "shoe bomber" Richard Reid.

Air marshals aboard the flight on Wednesday night restrained the man and he was questioned. The plane landed safely as military jets were scrambled.

Hours after the plane landed, the man was still being interviewed by investigators, and it was unclear what if any charges he might face.

Jayne Smith, 61, said her husband, Scott, was on the United flight. She said he didn't see anything because the incident occurred in the first-class section. "He just said someone had a temper tantrum," Ms Smith added.

She said her husband told her that he and the other passengers were being interviewed at a fire station.

A senior State Department official said there would be "consequences, diplomatic and otherwise" if the passenger had committed a crime.