American Airlines Mechanic Accused Of Sabotage Denied Bail Over Possible Terror Links

The American Airlines mechanic who was accused of sabotaging a commercial jetliner in July has been denied bail over possible links to the Islamic State (ISIS).

Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani, 60, a naturalized American citizen from Iraq has a brother with possible ties to the ISIS. The new evidence presented by prosecutors also includes statements made by him wishing Allah would use "divine powers" to harm non-Muslims.

According to the Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Medetis, Alani allegedly had ISIS video on his phone showing people being shot by militants. He had also told someone that the video was sent as he wanted Allah to cause harm to non-Muslims, NBC News reported.

Prosecutors revealed that he had sent $700 to someone in Iraq and also didn’t disclose to arresting authorities that he traveled to Iraq in March.

Alani’s coworker claimed that Alani had to go to Iraq to visit a brother who was a member of ISIS. While his roommate alleged Alani had to go as his brother was kidnapped, CNN reported. Investigators could gather no evidence of brother being kidnapped, nor did prosecutors provide evidence of a brother in ISIS.

"You may be very sympathetic to terrorists. That's very disconcerting," Judge McAliley told Alani at the hearing in Miami federal court.

On July 17, Alani allegedly tried to disable an aircraft's air data module (ADM) system that reports information like aircraft speed, pitch, and other critical data. He used super glue to attach a piece of foam into an inlet on the air data module.

The plane, set to fly from Miami to the Bahamas with 150 people on board was called off after the pilots noticed an error related to the ADM system.

"What you did with this aircraft was highly reckless and unconscionable. Certainly, there was a risk of a catastrophic disaster. I think it is likely you will be convicted," Business Insider quoted Magistrate Judge Chris McAliley as saying.

Alani’s attorney Christian Dunham, a federal public defender, said that his client, an experienced mechanic knew the sabotage would keep the aircraft grounded and asked for Alani's release on $200,000 bail, secured by family members, which was denied by the judge.

"We don't think they are going to be able to prove he intentionally put people in danger. The plane would have been fine to fly," CNN quoted Dunham as saying.

Investigators in their complaint said Alani admitted that he had accessed the ADM but his intention was not to cause harm to the aircraft or its passengers. He was upset over a contract dispute between union workers and the airlines, and the dispute had cost him money, according to court documents. He allegedly explained that he tampered with the aircraft so he could get overtime working on the plane.

Alani has been fired from his job at the airline for not cooperating with the investigation and his certificate as an aircraft mechanic has been revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Alani is charged with willfully damaging, destroying or disabling an aircraft. But no terror-related charges have been filed yet, CNN reported. He is expected to enter a plea at another hearing Friday.