French Citizen Causes Flight to Divert to Bangor

BANGOR, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty, II announced that yesterday, U.S. Airways flight 787 from Paris, France to Charlotte, North Carolina was diverted to Bangor International Airport because of a security issue regarding a passenger and what was reported as an implanted device of some kind.

Upon arrival in Bangor, Lucie Zeeko Marigot, a 41-year-old French citizen and native of Cameroon, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation into charges of interference with the flight crew members and attendants continued throughout the night and this morning by the FBI.

The original detention was based upon probable cause that she interfered with the flight crew. She appeared in front of U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk this afternoon.

United States Attorney Delahanty and Assistant United States Attorney James McCarthy informed the court that based on further investigation, a criminal complaint would not be filed against her. Instead, she will be taken into custody by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be returned to France.

United States Attorney Delahanty said that when the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, it was the correct decision to divert the flight to Bangor, given the circumstances that were known at that time. Marigot had given a note to a flight attendant along with a book authored by her that details her personal story. Both the note and book were in French. The note sought help from President and Mrs. Obama and the American people. The note stated that she was “simply a victim of a group of doctors” and that she had “an object in her body that is out of [her] control.” When the flight attendant asked whether the object could hurt her or others, she replied that she did not know. An examination by two doctors on board determined that she had no visible scars indicating any kind of implant.

Upon arriving in Bangor, a search of the plane and baggage revealed no explosives or dangerous items. The continuing investigation revealed that the plane and its crew and passengers were never actually in danger at any time.

United States Attorney Delahanty praised the thorough investigation that was conducted by the FBI, CBP, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Bangor Police Department.