The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit on behalf of three terror suspects against Jeppesen for “knowingly” helping the CIA spirit them to various countries so they could be tortured. Jeppesen spokesman Mike Pound is quoted by the Denver Business Journal as saying that its business is to supply charts and flight planning information, but what the customer does with that information is its own business. “We create flight plans, what the fuel requirements might be, where they might refuel, the airports they might use. It’s not our practice to ever inquire about the purpose of a trip,” Pound told CBS News. In the ACLU’s estimation, however, Jeppesen is profiting from the practice of “extraordinary rendition” in which the CIA ships suspects to other countries for interrogation that some allege involves torture. Anthony Romero, the ACLU’s executive director, says companies like Jeppesen should be made to atone for their role in the controversial practice. “Corporations that choose to participate in such activity can and should be held legally accountable,” Romero said in a statement. Jeppesen is owned by Boeing. The suit is being launched under the Alien Tort Statute that allows people from other countries to file suit in the U.S. The terror suspects named in the suit are Binyam Mohamed of Ethiopia, Italian citizen Abou Elkassim Britel and Ahmed Agiza of Egypt.
Jeppesen Sued For Providing CIA Flight Plans
Key Takeaways:
- The ACLU has sued Jeppesen, alleging the company knowingly facilitated the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" program, which transported terror suspects to countries where they were allegedly tortured.
- Jeppesen defends its actions by stating its business is to provide flight planning and chart information, not to inquire about the purpose of a customer's trip.
- The ACLU argues that corporations participating in such activities should be held legally accountable, filing the suit under the Alien Tort Statute on behalf of three terror suspects.
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