Was Traveling To Japan To Visit His Wife Deployed There

Gulfport, MS, resident Wade Hicks Jr. got an unwelcome surprise when he landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii recently. He was flying on a military flight to Japan to see his wife who is on active duty and deployed there ... but was told during the layover there that he was on the FBI's "No Fly" list, and would not be allowed to continue.

Nor could he get on a military or commercial flight home.

Then, last Thursday, he was suddenly removed from the list. No explanation was given for either incident, according to the Associated Press.

The military commonly allows spouses to hitch rides on official flights when there is space available. He had apparently had no problem boarding the flight in California, but when he got to Hawaii, he was told he was on the no-fly list, despite having recently passed an extensive background check in order to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon. He thought at first it must be a mistake, but was told by authorities that his name, date of birth, and social security number matched the list. The list can be updated within minutes, so it is possible that his name was added while he was in transit between California and Hawaii.

While the government will not reveal why someone is placed on the no-fly list, Hicks said he speculates that it may be because he has publicly disagreed with the findings of the 9/11 Commission concerning the terrorist attacks.

Hicks got a hotel room on the base, apparently his appearance on the no-fly list did not preclude him staying there, and he worked the phones calling politicians in Hawaii and Mississippi in an effort to get off the island. While he considered his options, he received a call that said he had been removed from the list just as mysteriously as he had found himself on it.

Hicks reportedly boarded another scheduled military flight back to California, where he finally had his reunion with his wife. He said he would try to recoup the expenses for the extended stay in Hawaii from the government.

FMI: www.fbi.gov