New York, NY - False Alarm Drama on Plane by Man Claiming to be an Off-Duty NYPD Officer

New York, NY - Seth Stein is used to jetting around the world to create stylish holiday homes for wealthy clients. This architect is familiar with the irritations of heightened airline security post-9/11. But not even he could have imagined being mistaken for an Islamist terrorist and physically pinned to his seat while aboard an American Airlines flight -- especially as he has Jewish origins.

The drama unfolded less than an hour into the flight, when one of the other passengers decided to take matters into his own hands.
As Stein settled down with a book and a ginger ale, the father-of-three was grabbed from behind and held in a head-lock. "This guy just told me his name was Michael Wilk, that he was with the New York Police Department, and that I have been acting suspiciously and should stay calm. I could barely find my voice and couldn't believe it was happening," said Mr Stein.
"He went into my pocket and took out my passport and my iPod. All the other passengers were looking concerned."
Eventually, cabin crew explained that the captain had run a security check on Mr Stein after being alerted by the policeman and that this had cleared him.
When the plane arrived in New York, Mr Stein was met by apologetic police officers who offered to fast-track him out of the airport.

In a twist to the story, Mr Stein has since discovered that there is only one Michael Wilk on the NYPD's official register of officers, but the man retired 25 years ago. Officials have told the architect that his assailant may work for another law enforcement agency but have refused to say which one.