The U.S. military dispatched two F-16s Wednesday night to escort a United Airlines flight to Denver after a Qatari diplomat joked that he had lit his shoe on fire after he smoked a cigarette in the plane’s bathroom. FBI investigators rushed to the scene to interview witnesses. The pilot and crew, meanwhile, waited on the tarmac an extra hour.
You think that’s cheap?
Sure, there was no real threat, and the diplomat was just joking. But the blogosphere was on fire, so to speak, on Thursday with calls for the Qatari government to reimburse Uncle Sam for the money it cost the federal government to respond. Even a U.S. congressman said that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
“A lot of people kicked into action last night based on a perceived threat,” said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., ranking Republican on the House intelligence committee. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable” to ask Qatar for the money.
Full story: FOXNews.com – Qatari Diplomat’s Midair Scare Cost Taxpayers Thousands