I wonder if he was still chuckling...

...during the subsequent, obligatory cavity search...

Investigators were told the man was asked about the smell of smoke in the toilet and he made a joke that he had been trying to light his shoes - an apparent reference to the 2001 "shoe bomber" Richard Reid.

Officials later said no explosives were found and he had apparently been trying to smoke in a plane toilet.

C'mon... what airline passenger doesn't love a good "bomber" joke?

**********

UPDATE: Gotta love the subtext...

-- (CBS/ AP) -- A Qatari diplomat who sparked a bomb scare after sneaking a smoke in an airplane bathroom was traveling for a consular visit to see an imprisoned al Qaeda sleeper agent.

Consular officials frequently visit foreigners held in the United States to make sure they are being treated well. He also planned to meet with Qatari college students.

Uh-huh.