In other accounts, Makhzoomi said he told his uncle how he asked a question during the event about Islamic State.

Makhzoomi was escorted off the plane and interviewed by airport police and the FBI.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles World Airports Police said another Arabic speaker on the plane said Makhzoomi was overheard mentioning the name of a terrorist organization in the phone conversation.

"The individual found the comments alarming and disturbing," Officer Rob Pedregon said. But he added that the police did not have enough evidence to substantiate the claim.