“Suspicious” Passenger Awarded $400,000

A federal jury in Boston has awarded a Portuguese computer consultant $400,000 for his being “profiled” by American Airlines. Passenger John Cerqueira was ejected from a Boston flight bound for Fort Lauderdale on December 28, 2003. The plane’s pilot, Captain John Ehlers, claimed passengers said Cerqueira was making inappropriate, suspicious comments in the boarding area and onboard the aircraft. Cerqueira was escorted off the flight and questioned. He was not permitted to reboard. This is the first case of its kind to come before a jury since 9/11.