The family of Riyanna was pulled off a JetBlue flight in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and told the 18-month-old toddler's name turned up on a no-fly list. (WFOR)
(CBS/AP) MIAMI - The family of an 18-month-old girl who was pulled off a flight because airline employees thought her name was on the U.S. no-fly list does not plan to take any legal action, but they are looking for an answer - and an apology.
Family spokesperson Rick Abbott told The Associated Press Friday that the family wants an explanation from JetBlue, which blamed the problem on a computer glitch.
An airline employee boarded the Newark, N.J.-bound flight before it departed Tuesday evening from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, telling the family their toddler, named Riyanna, was on the federal list that includes thousands of known or suspected terrorists.
After about half an hour, they were told they could re-board the plane. The couple said they didn't get an apology or an explanation, and refused to re-board because they were too embarrassed by what happened.
The couple told CBS Station WFOR they felt they were being singled out, as they are of Middle Eastern descent. However, they are American-born, and raised in New Jersey. (They asked that their full names not be revealed because they feared repercussions.)
JetBlue said its employees were following proper protocol.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said the girl never was flagged by the agency, and that the fact the family had obtained their boarding passes meant they were not on a no-fly list.
In a statement the TSA said they were called to the gate by the airline. "After talking to the parents and confirming through our vetting system, TSA determined the airline had mistakenly indicated the child was on a government watch list."
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