An American Airlines mechanic arrested for Sabotage after a ground robbery

An American Airlines mechanic based at Miami International Airport was arrested Thursday for sabotaging the navigation equipment of a plane carrying 150 people, forcing him to be anchored just before the takeoff, announced the authorities.

The mechanic, Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani, told investigators Thursday that he had tampered with the flight data module system of flight 2834 from Miami to Nassau in the Bahamas on July 17, because he was unhappy of a stalemate on a contract with a union, according to the newspaper. to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

The equipment, housed in a compartment under the cockpit and in the vicinity of the nose landing gear, makes it possible to follow the speed and the slope of the aircraft, as well as other critical flight data.

As the Boeing 737-800 approached the runway and started its engines, the crew received an error message and stopped the takeoff, officials said.

The security camera images showed that Mr. Alani had had access to the compartment housing the aircraft's overhead data module system, where he had inserted a piece of foam to obstruct the equipment, according to investigators.

"Alani said that his intention was not to cause damage to the aircraft or to its passengers," said the criminal complaint. "Alani explained to the police that he was upset by the contract dispute between the unionized workers and American Airlines and that this conflict had affected him financially. Alani claimed to have tampered with the targeted aircraft in order to cause a delay or cancel the flight in anticipation of obtaining overtime. "

Information about Alani's age and place of residence was not immediately available. We did not know immediately if he had a lawyer.

He is accused of deliberately damaging, destroying or deactivating an aircraft and faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years if he is convicted.

Two days after the episode, American Airlines security services reported suspected sabotage to the F.B.I, according to the criminal complaint.

"At American, we have an unwavering commitment to the safety of our customers and members of our team and we take this matter very seriously," American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said in an email. "At the time of the incident, the aircraft was taken out of service, maintenance work was performed and, after an inspection to ensure its safety, the aircraft was put back into service. American immediately warned the federal security forces who had resumed the investigation with our full cooperation. "

The same plane flew from Orlando to Miami just hours before its planned departure for Nassau and needed only minimal maintenance to replace a bulb in the cockpit, authorities said.

It was unusual for Mr. Alani, who normally works in a hangar for disabled aircraft, to be in the area of ​​the plane, investigators said.

In addition to the problem of navigation equipment, a pitot The tube, used to determine speed, a measure essential to the control of the aircraft, was also loose, the authorities said. Accumulation of ice in a pitot tube the accident of the flight 447 of Air France over the Atlantic in 2009.