Canadian Fighters Shadow New York-Bound Indian Airliner With `Suspicious' Passenger Aboard

Thursday, February 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(WASHINGTON) - Canadian fighters shadowed a New York-bound Air India jetliner over the Atlantic Ocean Thursday after authorities determined it was carrying a suspicious passenger, U.S. government officials said.

The commercial plane, flying from London to New York, apparently would be allowed to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. fighters were expected to escort the plane once it entered U.S. airspace, the officials said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the concern about the passenger, but the officials said Federal Aviation Administration authorities had spoken to members of the Air India crew, who were in a reinforced cockpit and indicated they were not alarmed.

The jetliner was being shadowed from a distance, not escorted, so the passengers would not see the Canadian fighters, the officials said.