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CNN Live Event/Special

America Under Attack: FBI Arrest Several People at New York Airports

Aired September 13, 2001 - 19:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go immediately now to the Justice Department coverage from CNN's Kelli Arena who is our Justice correspondent. There are some new developments on that front -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Joie, we just found out from New York City police officials and FBI sources that there has been an arrest made at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City of a man who was purportedly trying to use fake pilot credentials.

There are also, we are told, up to five or six people that have been detained. They are being questioned by the FBI. Those people had tried to either board -- had bought tickets, tried to board flights. When their names have been punched into airport computers, security red flag was raised. We don't know why. It could have been immigration, it could have been for a variety of reasons. But those people were detained and are now being questioned.

Earlier today, the FAA had issued a ground stop on all New York City area airports, and now the details are finally trickling out as to why that action was taken -- Joie.

CHEN: Any further updates on the airports themselves, Kelli?

ARENA: No, I don't, Joie. I have been covering the law enforcement angle on this story.

CHEN: All right. Well, CNN's Kelli Arena, our justice correspondent, following up on details on that. Thanks very much.

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