Pilots lock down the cockpit after passengers' bizarre Jewish prayer ritual

Pilots lock down the cockpit after passengers' bizarre Jewish prayer ritual

Pilots locked down their cockpit when three passengers performed a bizarre Jewish prayer in the middle of the jet's cabin.
They radioed a security alert after passengers and flight attendants became alarmed during the flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles.
Police and firefighters with foam trucks met the Alaskan Airlines jet as it taxied to terminal two at LAX  at 8.30am this morning.

In flight prayer: The Tefillin ritual which was conducted on the jet as it flew from Mexico to Los Angeles, involves binding leather straps to the body

The men, Mexican nationals, were escorted off the plane and then questioned by the FBI before being released and allowed to continue their journey overseas.
The drama began soon after take off when a flight attendant thought the men were acting suspiciously by praying aloud in Hebrew and wearing what appeared to be leather straps on their foreheads and arms.
But no one was in danger,  it was just  a traditional orthodox prayer ritual known as Tefillin. The wooden boxes contain Torah quotations.
Initial reports said the passengers were rowdy and that a fight had broken out on board. Two men were later arrested.

An Alaska Airlines jet: Pilots radioed a security alert after three passengers began chanting in Hebrew and strapped leather and boxes to their bodies

FBI spokesman Laura Eimiller said:  'we're obligated, of course, to respond when the flight calls us out to clear up concerns.
'They were Mexican nationals, travelling openly overseas. Because they were not charged with anything, we don't release any kind of personal information.'
Airline spokesman Bobbie Egan said the pilots followed standard procedures following a security alarm. Passengers were held in the plane for about 10 minutes while the three passengers were removed.
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