Second Time The Air Force Veteran Has Been Blocked From Flying

A U.S. Air Force veteran of Muslim descent was blocked from boarding an airplane in Oklahoma City, OK, last Saturday because he is on the no-fly list. It is the second time in a month that Saadiq Long has been prevented from flying.

Long is an American citizen. The Associated Press reports that he was told by a Delta ticket agent that the airline was unable to issue a boarding pass to him because he is on the list, and then contacted TSA. TSA said he is "still on the list," and told Long to contact the FBI, which said through a spokesman that they are in contact with Long and his attorney and have no further comment on the matter.

Long now lives in Qatar with his wife and is an English teacher. He came to the U.S. last year to visit his mother, who suffers from congestive heart failure. He initially had difficulty getting permission to enter the U.S., but was granted that permission in November.

He first tried to return to Qatar in early February, but was denied boarding. He would not comment as to why he thinks he is not being allowed to fly, saying any such comment would be "speculation." The FBI has also not said even to Long why he is on the list. He also declined to discuss possible alternative travel plans. He did say that he would likely try again to board a commercial flight to Qatar.

FMI: www.fbi.gov, www.tsa.gov