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Qatari diplomat released after incident on US plane

Published:Thursday | April 8, 2010 | 6:05 PM

A Qatari diplomat has been released from custody after an incident on a flight from Washington to Denver in the United States.



US officials say two F-16 jets were earlier scrambled to intercept the United Airlines plane and escort it to land safely at Denver airport.



Initial reports said the man, identified as Mohammed al-Madadi, had tried to set fire to his shoes.



Officials later said no explosives were found and he had apparently been trying to smoke in a plane toilet.



Mr al-Madadi, the embassy\'s third secretary, was released by the US authorities after being questioned.