Man Charged With Impersonating Soldier at Airport

NEW YORK -- A Long Island man has been arrested after impersonating military personnel while on an international American Airlines flight.

According to authorities, Rock Diaz, 22, of Freeport, Long Island, was arrested Friday night at John F. Kennedy airport.

Diaz, who was traveling from the Dominican Republic to New York, arrived at the airport dressed in fatigues. He had gotten an upgrade from coach to first class based on his military service.

Diaz also wore a black POW patch on his sleeve, which no real Soldier would place there, the New York Post reported.

When asked where he was stationed, Diaz had no response. He also could not show a military ID to corroborate his story. He was later detained at the airport.

Investigators said Diaz had pulled the same scam before. In December 2009, he talked his way into the cockpit of a jet, where he was photographed sitting at the controls of the plane.

Diaz is being charged with second-degree impersonation, a felony.