And the U.S. "no-fly" list madness begins.

Well, you knew it was just a matter of time:

A Canadian man returned home Saturday and was demanding answers after he was pulled off a flight from Toronto to Mexico and detained for being on a U.S. no-fly list.

Sami Kahil was getting ready for a vacation with his wife and two young children but when the plane landed, he was taken to an immigration office for questioning.

Kahil said that officials told him that he was wanted by Canadian authorities but he was given no more information.

Kahil said he's lived in Canada for 17 years and recently travelled to the United States and has never been in trouble.

He said he has no idea why he'd be on the no-fly list and wants an explanation.

He was born in Lebanon and can only guess he was stopped because he is Arab or Muslim but he hopes that's not the reason.

A Foreign Affairs spokesman said he could offer few details about the case, other than to say that the family is receiving consular assistance.

"We're in touch with the family and continue to be and we're looking into this matter with the Mexican authorities," said duty spokesman Rodney Moore.

I'm still unclear on the details:

• Was he pulled aside upon arriving in Mexico?


• Did the plane make any stops in the U.S. or was it a direct, non-stop flight between Canada and Mexico that simply passed through U.S. airspace?


• Does this mean Mexico is now accommodating the U.S.'s "no-fly" list? It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?


• If he was on a "no-fly" list, why was he allowed to fly back?

I suspect this is just the beginning.

AFTERTHOUGHT: I'm wondering if Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs is going to be really hard-assed about getting some answers here, or whether they're just going to roll over. Personally, I'm betting on that "roll over" thing.

HERE'S MORE: A piece from the London Free Press (some excerpts):

... Kahil said he first learned he was on a no-fly list when the Air Transat captain announced it on a loudspeaker as their flight landed in Acapulco for refuelling.

"In no time we had about eight officers around us. I was terrified. I thought maybe it was just misunderstood," Kahil said.

And it gets weirder:

Canadian officials arranged for a private jet to fly him home without going through American airspace -- which would have been a violation of the United States' strict policy after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

A case of mistaken identity? Not according to the U.S.:

U.S Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Brian Doyle has said there is no question that Kahil's name should be on a watch list. "This is not a case of mistaken identity," he said.

Somebody has to come up with some answers here.

THE REAL ISSUE HERE: The most disturbing aspect of all of this is that Mexican authorities detained Kahil because he was allegedly wanted back in Canada. In the first place, how would they know that? Who told them that? And (if I'm not mistaken), unless Canada was officially asking for extradition assistance or something like that, what business would it be of Mexican authorities?

Next, why would someone being wanted in Canada cause them to end up on a U.S. no-fly list? Wanted for what? Unless it was something terrorism related in the first place, why would it have anything to do with the no-fly list?

And, finally, if Kahil wasn't wanted for anything back in Canada, then someone really does have some explaining to do. Canada should absolutely demand to know the basis for Kahil's detention in Mexico and where Mexican authorities got that information.

And if they're not forthcoming, perhaps Mexico's ambassador to Canada should be sent home for a while until he's ready to come up with some answers.

THE MORNING NEWS: The Globe's take on this, with this delightful excerpt:

Brian Doyle, a spokesman at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington, said his office will have no further involvement once Mr. Kahil arrives home.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think the notion of "No comment" really works here.