Muttered "Pakistan" As She Paced Aisle

In today's troubled times, there are some things you just should NOT do onboard a commercial airliner... as a 59-year-old Vermont woman, whose actions onboard a United Airlines flight from London Wednesday led the flight to be diverted to Boston out of fear over terrorism, is now aware.

Passengers onboard the Boeing 767 told the Associated Press that Catherine Mayo paced the aisle nervously as the plane flew towards its intended destination of Washington, DC. She also made several trips to the restroom... before her behavior became even more suspect.

"She was in a frenzy," passenger Martin Drinkwater said to The Boston Globe. "She then pulled her trousers and knickers down and squatted on the floor."

Witnesses claim Mayo also muttered unintelligibly throughout the ordeal, except for one word -- "Pakistan."

That was enough for two men and an unspecified number of flight attendants to tackle the woman, and handcuff her -- while the pilots declared an emergency diversion to Logan International, escorted by two F-15s.

While stating there are no apparent ties to terrorism, authorities say Mayo faces federal charges for the incident.

Confirming reports of suspicious Mayo had in her possession onboard the airliner, FBI spokesperson Gail Marcinkiewicz said Thursday that authorities found several banned items in the woman's carry-on luggage -- including a screwdriver, an unspecified number of cigarette lighters, and matches.

That, of course, raises many serious questions about the effectiveness of security at London's Heathrow Airport -- which has been heightened since last Thursday's foiling by London authorities of a terror plot aimed at blowing up trans-Atlantic flights, using liquid explosives.

As Aero-News reported, United Flight 923 made an uneventful emergency landing Wednesday at Logan after the diversion, and all 182 passengers and 12 crew members were hurried off the plane so it could be searched.

FMI: www.united.com