mieboy
Regular Member
The pilot, Dale Robbin Hirsh, and other crew members were arrested on arrival from Miami.
They have all now been released. American Airlines has agreed to pay the fine and has issued an apology.
However the airline added that the pilot had not intended to be disrespectful.
Brazil has been photographing and finger-printing US visitors in response to similar US requirements for visitors needing a visa.
The incident occurred when Mr Hirsh, 52, and his crew were going through security checks after arriving from Miami.
After he landed. On the way he was talking to the crew members that he was going to do that. And nothing would happen.
Mr Hirsh raised his middle finger as he was handing papers to officials, in "an internationally recognised obscene gesture," a Brazilian police spokesman told reporters.
Mr Hirsh was taken to a federal courthouse. The authorities decided not to press criminal charges, imposing a fine instead.
Francisco Baltazar da Silva, chief of Sao Paulo's federal police said Mr Hirsh had apologised repeatedly for the incident.
"Basically, it was a joke done in bad taste," Mr da Silva said.
Ten other crew members were also denied entry to Brazil after causing problems during the identity checks.
American Airlines has apologised over the incident.
"The company apologises to the Brazilian Government, the airport authorities, the police or anyone else who may have perceived anything they believe to have been disrespectful," a statement said.
"The captain and other crew members certainly meant no disrespect."
Eager to speed up the process, Brazil on Wednesday rushed to gather digital fingerprint readers from police stations across the country. Officials said they will be ready by Thursday to register U.S. visitors in "30 seconds" rather than the hours it takes with an ink pad.
More than 2000 americans land in Sao Paulo International Airport.
This is so silly!!!! Brazil and America should stop with this Kids fighting!Thats a shame!!!!
They have all now been released. American Airlines has agreed to pay the fine and has issued an apology.
However the airline added that the pilot had not intended to be disrespectful.
Brazil has been photographing and finger-printing US visitors in response to similar US requirements for visitors needing a visa.
The incident occurred when Mr Hirsh, 52, and his crew were going through security checks after arriving from Miami.
After he landed. On the way he was talking to the crew members that he was going to do that. And nothing would happen.
Mr Hirsh raised his middle finger as he was handing papers to officials, in "an internationally recognised obscene gesture," a Brazilian police spokesman told reporters.
Mr Hirsh was taken to a federal courthouse. The authorities decided not to press criminal charges, imposing a fine instead.
Francisco Baltazar da Silva, chief of Sao Paulo's federal police said Mr Hirsh had apologised repeatedly for the incident.
"Basically, it was a joke done in bad taste," Mr da Silva said.
Ten other crew members were also denied entry to Brazil after causing problems during the identity checks.
American Airlines has apologised over the incident.
"The company apologises to the Brazilian Government, the airport authorities, the police or anyone else who may have perceived anything they believe to have been disrespectful," a statement said.
"The captain and other crew members certainly meant no disrespect."
Eager to speed up the process, Brazil on Wednesday rushed to gather digital fingerprint readers from police stations across the country. Officials said they will be ready by Thursday to register U.S. visitors in "30 seconds" rather than the hours it takes with an ink pad.
More than 2000 americans land in Sao Paulo International Airport.
This is so silly!!!! Brazil and America should stop with this Kids fighting!Thats a shame!!!!
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If you think cameras are necessary for security, than this shouldn't be an issue no matter where they are.