'9/11 pilot not eligible for compensation: court

LONDON: An Algerian commercial airline pilot wrongly held in custody and accused of training the September 11, 2001 hijackers on Thursday lost his legal battle for compensation at the High Court in London.   

In a long-awaited judgment, two High Court judges said Lotfi Raissi was ineligible because he was detained at the request of the United States in extradition proceedings which were not "in the domestic criminal process".   

As such, he did not qualify for an 'ex gratia' payment -- those made more out of a sense of moral rather than legal obligation -- under a government scheme to compensate miscarriage of justice victims. The decision backs the government's position.   

Raissi, 32, of Chiswick, west London, brought the action after his release from custody after nearly five months and exoneration by a court. He was arrested and held 10 days after the attacks in New York and Washington.   

His legal team claimed he should be compensated because of the "exceptional" circumstances of his experience, which amounted to wrongful detention.   

The pilot said his ordeal ruined his life, damaged his reputation, lost him his liberty and caused him distress and psychological injury.