A Qatari diplomat who was questioned by federal investigators after an in-flight disturbance has been released and will not face charges, officials said.

Mohammed Al-Madadi has "been given clearance to travel back to Washington," said Alison Bradley, a spokeswoman for the Brown Lloyd James public relations firm, which represents the Qatari Embassy. A federal law enforcement official told CNN Al-Madadi will not face charges.
Initial reports said the incident involved an attempt to set a shoe on fire, but there were later indications that the situation may have resulted from a misunderstanding.

The passenger was in a lavatory for a long time and may have been smoking, a U.S. official told CNN. He also may have made an "unfortunate comment" referring to a shoe bomb when questioned on the plane, the official said.

Fran Townsend, a homeland security official in President George W. Bush's administration, told CNN that the person involved was a Qatari diplomat and that her sources said the incident may have been a misunderstanding. She said law enforcement officials examined the man's shoes and were satisfied there were no explosives.