This was the topic for discussion on our Boston radio station this morning. Evidently, he arrived at the airport early and asked to have his seat changed. He wanted an exit row for more legroom. He boarded the aircraft and went to the lav, sat down and took out his laptop. The 2 Israelis focused attention on themselves when they told the pilot while boarding that it was going to be a great flight and wishing all the passengers a Happy New Year. When the authorities approached the row, they were all sitting in ,Cerqueira had fallen asleep.
Frankly, it doesn't sound like he did anything wrong.
Does 'changing seats' at the last minute have any precident?
If that's all that's happened something is wrong, when airliners eject innocent passengers, but don't profile potential terrorists.
Remember Reid, the shoebomber, was not allowed on one flight, but the next day they let him right onto the plane.