The government has deported a man with links to the September 11th attacks, deeming him a threat to national security.

Twenty-eight-year-old Rayed Mohammed Abdullah Ali flew on aircraft simulators in the United States with one of the 9-11 hijackers.

The Yemeni national was named in the official report on the attacks, and arrived in New Zealand in February.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe says the fact that Ali had been flight training in Palmerston North at the Manawatu Aero Club was a factor which was considered.

David Cunliffe says there is no evidence Ali had terrorist intentions, but his connections made him a possible threat. A deportation order was sought and obtained from the Governor-General under Section 72 of the Immigration Act 1987.

He was arrested in Palmerston North last month, and escorted to Saudi Arabia.

He says Ali had used a variation of his name when he applied for entry to New Zealand, but once his real identity became known, he was identified as having close connections to people involved with the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, and had been named in the 9/11 Commission Report.

Mr Cunliffe says for security reasons, he cannot comment further, but says he has been advised that at no point was there any specific risk to New Zealanders during the man's time in this country

The report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States can be read at http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Notes.htm

It reveals that Rayed Abdullah was interviewed by the FBI on September 15th, 2001, just four days after the attacks took past, and that he knew Bandar al Hazmi - who lived with one of the hijackers - from high school.