Forklift truck driver barred from flight because US mistook him for a terrorist

Debra and Michael McManum are £5,000 out of pocket after the mix up.

A middle-aged dad-of-two says his life has been plunged into chaos after he was mistaken for a terrorist.

Forklift truck driver Michael McManus, 54, was stopped by British airport officials as he tried to board a flight to Barbados to begin a cruise holiday last month.

Staff at Manchester Airport barred him from getting on a plane with wife Debra, after learning he was on the US’s Transportation Security Administration’s “No Fly List”.

It meant the couple, who booked the P&O Caribbean cruise with travel agents Thomson to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, missed out on the £5,000 dream trip.

Instead of soaking up the sunshine on a luxury vessel in the Caribbean Sea they spent a wet week in Yorkshire.

Last night a baffled Michael said: “I was gobsmacked.

“I kept expecting to see Ant and Dec jump out and say it was a prank.

“I’ve never been to court, never been arrested nor have I a criminal record.

“It would be comical if it wasn’t so heart-breaking.

“We have insurance but the company says it doesn’t cover things like this.

“We’re more than £5,000 out of pocket for what is clearly a case of mistaken identity.”

The American authority was involved because the flight briefly entered US airspace.

When passports are checked on boarding, authorities cross-reference names, dates of birth and gender against a database of people governments are monitoring.

Michael, from Leeds, said: “Homeland Security are investigating after I asked them why on earth I was on such a list.

“I’ve done an internet search and discovered there was someone with the same name as me linked to the troubles in Northern Ireland 20 years ago. Of course, it has nothing to do with me.

“But it doesn’t explain why my name has been added to the list now. I’ve flown loads of times before with no trouble.”

Michael has sent his birth certificates and other identification to Homeland Security in the hope they’ll remove him from the list in time to travel to Ibiza later this year.

A spokeswoman for Thomson said: “Thomson acted solely as a third party agent when booking Mr McManus’s holiday and our retail team has done everything possible to assist the customer with this matter.”

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook Airlines, who the couple were supposed to fly with, added: “We have explained to Mr McManus that unfortunately he was not allowed to fly under strict instruction from the Transportation Security Administration.

“We’re continuing to provide him with advice on contacting the authorities.”

A P&O Cruises spokesman said: “The airline acted on advice given by TSA and US Secure. We have suggested he contacts TSA and US Secure.

“Should this prove to be a case of mistaken identity we’ll happily look at it for him.”

Homeland Security said they were investigating but the list was compiled by the FBI.