A commercial airline pilot is suing the Department of Homeland Security to have his name removed from the "no-fly" list claiming it has cost him his job with regional carrier Colgan Air. New Jersey native Erich Scherfen is not only a commercial pilot, but also a Gulf War combat veteran who claims, "My livelihood depends on being off this list." One reason Scherfen believes he is on the watch list intended to keep terrorists off flights is that he converted to Islam back in 1994. It's not just him either. His Pakistan-born wife is also on the list. Scherfen's lawyers have teamed up with the ACLU alleging the move by the TSA to put them on the list violates both of their civil rights. After flying for Colgan for a year, the airline suddenly placed him on a paid suspension because of the "positive match" and subsequently moved him to unpaid leave two weeks later. Although they are both Muslim, Scherfen asserts that both he and his wife have no ties to terrorism or even a criminal record. TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis claims "religious and political affiliation does not impact whether an individual is placed" on the list. Either way, Scherfen won't be able to make a living in his chosen profession until this is resolved which may take a while.[TBO.com]
Thanks, Tom.
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