French woman banned from US flight because of her name

World Bulletin / News Desk

The US has prevented a 33-year-old French woman from entering the country because an incorrect pronunciation of her name sounded similar to Al Qaeda.

Alic Aida was unable to board a plane from Geneva to New York when it was discovered that she was among 21,00 people on the US no-fly list.

"My surname comes before my name in the passport, thus it sounds like al-Qaida. My friends often tease me because of this. I am used to it. However, I still cannot believe I was not allowed on the plane just because of my name," Alic Aida said.

Alic Aida, who was originally born in Bosnia when it was still part of Yugoslavia, had to cancel her trip.