JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A convicted hijacker was transported through Jacksonville International Airport on Sunday.
Saado Mohamed Ibrahim, 47, was sent back to his home country of Lebanon, by way of Jacksonville, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Monday.
Ibrahim completed his time in prison and was being deported from the United States. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison back in 1997.
"The arrest and removal of criminal aliens is at the absolute core of what we do," said Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami Field Office Director Marc Moore. "ICE uses its unique immigration enforcement authorities to safeguard our communities from criminal aliens and others who pose a public safety threat."
Federal authorities said he forced his way into the cockpit of Iberia Flight 6621 on July 26, 1996, threatening to blow up the plane.
That flight was on its way from Madrid to Havana with 231 passengers and crew on board.
The plane landed safely in Miami and the Ibrahim surrendered peacefully.
News4Jax Crime and Safety Analyst Gil Smith said although Ibrahim was around other passengers Sunday, this was a very secure situation.
“They’re searched very thoroughly in the prison before they leave,” Smith said. “No one, not even the prisoner knows when he is leaving and he’s with at least two armed police officers. Now in the case of this federal prisoner there may have been even more, so that was actually one of the safest planes in the air at that time.”
Ibrahim was removed by ERO officers Sunday from the Jacksonville International Airport. Upon his arrival in Lebanon, officers transferred him into the custody of Lebanese authorities.
ERO coordinates the removal of criminals, foreign fugitives and others ordered deported. Last year alone, ERO removed 315,943 people from the United States.
News4Jax was told there was a large law enforcement presence at the airport yesterday. There’s still no word on why Ibrahim was sent back to Lebanon via Jacksonville.