Frenchman arrested in US Airways cockpit

PHILADELPHIA -- A 61-year-old Frenchman was arrested at Philadelphia International Airport and charged with impersonating a pilot after airline officials found him in the cockpit of a US Airways plane scheduled for takeoff, police said Friday.

The crew of the flight bound for West Palm Beach, Fla., found Philippe Jernnard in the jump seat behind the pilot Wednesday night. They removed him after he could not produce valid credentials and argued with them, police said.

Jernnard, a ticketed passenger, was wearing a white shirt with an Air France logo and had a black jacket with epaulets on the shoulders, police said. Police said he had a fake Air France ID card.

Air France said Jernnard, from La Rochelle, France, is not one of its employees.

It's not clear how Jernnard got into the cockpit. Police said there's no indication Jernnard meant any harm.

Pilots can ride for free in the jump seat of another airline, but they must make arrangements ahead of time and their presence is to be noted on a passenger manifest, which is reviewed by the pilot before takeoff.