By KUNA
London : A pilot wrongly accused of training the 9/11 hijackers is entitled to claim damages, the Court of Appeal, in central London, ruled Thursday.
Algerian Lotfi Raissi, of west London, was detained for nearly five months after being arrested following the 2001 attacks in the United States.
The court’s ruling means the British Government has to reconsider Raissi’s claim for compensation which had been refused.
Speaking to reporters following the judgment, Raissi said he had suffered a miscarriage of justice, but had now been “completely exonerated.” “I am very glad. I always had faith in British justice,” he added.
Raissi said his claim will include compensation for the time spent in prison and the money he paid to train as a pilot, estimated at about 60,000 pounds.
He is currently not working and says he is blacklisted from working for any airline.
He also intends to claim for compensation for the loss of his career.
Raissi said he also plans to claim for damage to his health and the general effect on his life.
The pilot was arrested in the UK soon after 9/11 and accused of having trained the 19 hijackers.