by Kelli Arena and David Ensor (CNN Washington Bureau)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal authorities are holding a former Sudanese Air Force pilot who may have been planning to hijack an airliner and fly it into a target in the United States, U.S. officials told CNN on Friday.
Sources said he is being held in Greensboro, North Carolina.
An internal communication went out Wednesday from FBI headquarters alerting FBI field offices and state and local law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a Sudanese pilot who “may represent a possible threat,” sources said.
The communication included the suspect’s name and other identifying information.
According to the sources, there was no information suggesting the threat involved the Washington area, contradicting earlier news reports saying the target was the White House. In fact, sources said information that was gathered did not suggest any specific target within the United States.
Other sources said intelligence suggested the former pilot might have been planning to hijack an airliner, or otherwise obtain an aircraft, to hit a target in the United States. The sources had characterized the search for the man as urgent.