DETROIT — Robert Sayegh, a 37-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y.
resident, was removed at the end of a Delta Airlines flight from Kansas City to
Detroit Metro airport by security after a conversation with a fellow passenger
was overheard by a flight attendant.

Sayegh, a children’s book author, said that he asked another
passenger why a flight delay of 45-minutes was so long.

He reportedly said “What the ‘f—‘ is going on?”

The plane, which had been taxiing on the runway, turned
around and Detroit Metro police were summoned to escort Sayegh off the flight.
It was scheduled to go to Newark, New Jersey.

Sayegh denies that his comment was directed at anyone in particular and
said it was merely part of a quiet conversation. He ended up taking a later
fight and arriving in Newark four hours late. He may not file a lawsuit. An
Atlantic Southeast Airlines spokeswoman apologized for any inconvenience that
was caused by the company.