US authorities formally began proceedings Tuesday to extradite an Algerian pilot who has been accused of training some of the hijackers who crashed a jet into the Pentagon on Sept. 11.
However, prosecutors said the United States is not immediately seeking to extradite Lotfi Raissi, 27, on charges related to the attack, but only on charges of falsifying an application for a U.S. pilot's license.
Raissi, an Algerian, was arrested in London on Sept. 21. He denies any connection to terrorism. Prosecutors have said Raissi made several trips to the United States this summer and trained with some of the suspected hijackers.
British prosecutor Paul Warner, acting on behalf of U.S. authorities at Belmarsh Magistrates Court, said Britain had received an extradition request from the United States on Friday. The request showed Raissi had been indicted by a U.S. grand jury on two counts of making false statements on a Federal Aviation Administration application for a pilot's license, Warner said.
Raissi allegedly lied about a theft conviction and failed to mention a knee operation.
Warner also said U.S. prosecutors planned to charge Raissi with 11 charges connected to the falsification of immigration forms.

Bureau Report