Airline Passenger Attempts to Light 'Substance' In-Flight
 

Passenger Subdued, Lit Substance In Air
December 25, 2009 - 3:01 PM | by: Mike Levine
per Mike Levine and Sarah Wolff, with help from WJBK FOX2 Detroit


A passenger on a Christmas-day flight from Amsterdam to Detroit was subdued after the passenger tried to ignite a powdery substance during landing, sources told FOX News.

The passenger is now in custody and witnesses are being interviewed by authorities, according to a statement from the Transportation Security Administration. One source described the suspect as Nigerian.

An FBI official would not say whether the suspect was trying to hijack or harm the plane, and a Department of Homeland Security official would not say whether investigators are looking into that as a possibility.

Northwest Flight 253 was carrying 278 passengers when it declared an emergency shortly before touching down at Wayne County International Airport, an airline official said. Some minor injuries were reported, the airline official said.

The FBI is leading an investigation into the incident, and agents from the Detroit Field Office are on the scene, according to an FBI official. The FBI official would not say whether agents from a Joint Terrorism Task Force were involved in the investigation.

Officials from the FBI and DHS, which oversees the TSA, would not offer any further information about the passenger's identity or possible motives.

The TSA statement said authorities will "continue to monitor the situation" and provide updates "as necessary."

"All passengers have deplaned and out of an abundance of caution, the plane was moved to a remote area where the plane and all baggage are currently being rescreened," the TSA statement said.

Flight 253 was scheduled to arrive in Detroit at 11:40am, but arrived shortly after noon, according to Northwest's web site.


http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2...plane-subdued/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1261...LEFTTopStories

Midair Bomb Attempt Fails

Man on Flight to Detroit Claims Al Qaeda Ties; Obama Tightens Security
DECEMBER 26, 2009
By PETER SPIEGEL, CAM SIMPSON and NEAL E. BOUDETTE
DETROIT--A passenger on a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight tried to detonate an explosive device that was strapped to his leg and later told investigators that he was trying to blow up the plane and had affiliations with al Qaeda, according to a senior U.S. official.

The passenger was identified by authorities as Abdul Mudallad, a 23-year-old Nigerian national, according to Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

The device was technologically advanced and potentially devastating, Mr. King said. "This was not a firecracker," he said.

Stephanie van Herk, a passenger from the Netherlands who was in seat 18B, said the Northwest plane had lowered its landing gear when she heard a loud bang. At first she thought the plane might have gotten a flat tire, but then she said saw a flame leap from the lap of a man sitting in the row behind her in the window seat, 19A.

"It was higher than the seat," said Ms. van Herk, who was traveling to Detroit on route to a vacation in New York.

"Then everyone started screaming. It was panic," Ms. van Herk, 22 years old, said. She said the flight attendants shouted, "What are you doing? What are you doing?"

Mr. King said the suspect's name did not appear on any of the terrorist watch lists maintained by U.S. authorities, but that the Nigerian national did turn up "hot" in other terrorism-related databases maintained by intelligence officials.

Mr. Mudallad suffered 3rd-degree burns when the device detonated on approach to Detroit, according to Mr. King. He said none of the other passengers was seriously injured.

The man told investigators that he was given the device by al Qaeda operatives in Yemen, where he was also given instructions on how to detonate it, the U.S. official said.

"This guy claims he is tied to al Qaeda, specifically in Yemen," the official said. "He claims he was on orders from al Qaeda in Yemen."

Bill Burton, a White House spokesman, said President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, was notified of the incident after 9 a.m. local time and held two secure conference calls with his national security team to discuss the incident, but that his schedule had not changed.

"The president is actively monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates," Mr. Burton said.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that airline passengers should expect to see additional screening measures put in place on both domestic and international flights.

The senior U.S. official said investigators were still trying to determine whether the suspect's claims of ties to al Qaeda were legitimate and what his motives were. Asked whether the man may have been sent to retaliate against recent U.S.-supported air strikes against al Qaeda targets in Yemen, the official said: "They are interested in finding that out now."
"There's definitely a terrorist nexus -- that's the term being used by the people I'm talking to in Washington," Mr. King said following his briefings Friday. He would not say, however, whether there was a direct link to al Qaeda.

Mr. King said authorities were scrambling to find out where a security breach might have occurred. The plane departed from Lagos, Nigeria, and had a stopover in Amsterdam before flying to Detroit, according to Mr. King. He also said there was no intelligence indicating it was part of a wider plot involving other attempted attacks, but that authorities weren't taking any chances.

One person was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center and was still hospitalized Friday evening, said hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice.

Shortly after the plane landed around 11:50 a.m. Detroit time, the Transportation Security Administration put out a statement indicating that "out of an abundance of caution" the jet's passengers were going through a special security screening and the luggage in the hold also was being re-examined.

Authorities were interviewing passengers, even as the plane sat at a remote corner of the airport surrounded by a phalanx of law-enforcement and emergency vehicles.

Once passengers realized the suspect's pants were on fire, they called for water, according to Ms. Van Herk, her sister, Dominique van Herk, and their cousin, Celeste van Herk.

The man was pulling his burning pants down, Stephanie van Herk said. She and several other passengers got water from the galley and the man was doused with water. Then a male Dutch passenger jumped on the perpetrator, Ms. van Herk said.

Once the man was subdued, he was taken to business class and his hands were bound, she said. A few moments later the plane was on the ground, and several security officers boarded the plane and took the suspect away, she said.

Though the plane had Delta markings, it was a Northwest Airlines flight. Northwest is part of Delta after a merger....

I don't understand the fascination with aircraft. There are much softer targets out there with better payoffs for them. I am amazed none of them have been hit.

Symbology?

Previous success?

TR

HELLO IT'S FRIKIN CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!
 

I was thinking the same thing TR......... Symbology on the previous success. Outside of the 911 and Embassies the best have been Aircrafts.

The one thing that made me come back here to psot was while watching Tv.. CNN to FOX. NOT one of then made the point to think about the day that this happen on.

HELLO IT'S FRIKIN CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! What a better day for AQ to hit an America Target!! One the one day or Holiday that America's are the softest?!?


So is this PC or just an over look on the news or me over thinking?

A Very Merry Christmas to you and yours from .......the Religion of Peace.

Seems to me there has been something in the news at least once a month for a few months now and maybe a bit longer than that. Fort Hood, a plane incident a couple weeks ago and the many arrest inside the US and places like Pakistan.

Might something in the works and opportunity could be around the corner.

Just my worthless .02 RL .......but if I was a betting man I'd say that if this "attempted man caused disaster" would have been successful, there would have been some out there would would have gotten around to pointing out plot similarities with a certain other Bojinka Plot from Jan 1995......

Let me see if I can remember who was involved in that plot besides Ramsi Yousef.... heavy set guy.....initials KSM...think he has a trial coming up in New York City soon....oh, it will come to me.....

As with the WTC bombing in 1993 - they stick with a target until they hit it hard.......

I maybe reading into this abit. But, I'm kind of wondering if the security breach and subsequent leaking of the TSA security screening handbook may also have had a role in the in method used to attempt to perpetrate this act of terrorism? I know that the flight originated outside their 'purview' but if there were more than one individual and or attacker they may also have originated from CONUS or other points of origin.

I'll tell you something about airline security.

A couple of years ago I prepared for a recreational trip to NY and packed a small backpack with all I needed for my four-day weekend up in the Big Apple. I decided to use a desert camouflaged 3-Day Assault pack that was manufactured by Camel Back. Anyway, I pulled all my military stuff out and put in some clothes and my laptop, etc.

I go through screening - no problems. My bag not only goes through the X-Ray machine, but is also searched by hand. I get on the plane and about two hours into the flight I begin to search in the bag for a spare battery for my laptop. Then, I feel something odd; it was not my spare battery. It was my SEAL 2000 knife that was given to me as a gift after I graduated from Ranger School back in the days. Some of you might have an idea of just how big and how heavy this full size, full tang blade is. And, it was not hidden anywhere. It was just in the very front pocket that has that mesh bag inside as well as a key chain keeper; you guys know which I'm referring to. This was Post-911 folks, and I innocently boarded a plane with a full size combat knife.

It's just amazing how disfunctional airline security is. I'm just glad that we don't have the same idiots working there rigging our parachutes here.

Fascination with delivery of an attack from overseas, the fear of flying factor, etc. Fear is key to the publicity locker. The point made about these people sticking with a target until they get it is worth noting. But, if this Godless creep had been successful in bringing down the aircraft, how long would it have taken NTSB to derive that it was brought down by a clown setting fire to his leg (or his whatever)?

Could it be that the failed attempt wasn't a failure at all? That the purpose was to get a terrorist in the news for arrest, trial, sentencing, etc? Especially with KSM coming up.

We need to look where they ain't, because that's where they could come from next. Increase surveillance at bus terminals, POE's, shipping terminals, homegrown cells, etc.

I guess I'm just suspicious of the obvious, wary of "advertisements".

They should have monkey stomped that fucker until he was no more than a bloodly pulp. :mad:

Glad everyone made it out ok.

Yes Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab wanted to be the new santa and give america a gift for Christmas... I hope he likes his 3rd degree burns....

An overt strategy by a group to incite fear and to foster the idea of a government's inability to protect its citizenry and economic interests is an element of UW - whether it falls under the defined umbrellas of terrorism or guerrilla warfare.

Since all American registered commercial aircraft nominally belong to the US Govt as a part of our emergency reserve fleet and many of our commercial airline pilots are also reserve pilots, attacking an American 'flag carrier' is the same - symbolically - as attacking the US Govt in the minds of such groups.

Attacking an airliner filled with ordinary people always makes the news and serves as a platform for any such group - no matter the size - to gain nearly instant global recognition of their so-called cause.

Additionally, such an attack sets into motion events which further harm and degrade a key component of our national and global economic systems - our somewhat fragile airline industry.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02 :munchin

God thing
 

"....The man told investigators that he was given the device by al Qaeda operatives in Yemen, where he was also given instructions on how to detonate it, the U.S. official said......"


Good thing it's not terrorist related, just some crazy guy.

I was just watching Fox News and they stated that the guy had a visa to the US until 2010...that he was an engineering student in London. Why are we so lax in handing out visas? What reason did the US have for giving a Nigerian a visa? Perhaps we need to start looking more closely at what type of people we let in our country.....it's time to start closing down our borders....

Concur. Mission accomplished.

BTW, monkey stomping him would take too long, and for what? Just put him in the nearest dumpster and pop him btwn the eyes with a .22 round nose. Then send him off to the landfill where his god and all those virgins live! Put a 2" report on the bottom of page 12 of the local Penny Saver and let that be the end of it.

Sounds like failure to detonate, resulting in deflagration instead. Thank goodness he's incompetent/an idiot....perhaps the Man Upstairs was not going to let the religion of pieces get the spotlight on a special day.

Holy shit brother......I am shocked beyond belief....... shocked that one of those TSA screeners didn't steal your computer and knife !!

Almost all the thefts reported here have TSA/Airport Operations involvement - yea, there looking to stop haji every day........

While I was watching FOX and CNN last night; it seemed to me by a CNN caller that was on the plane (seat 17G) that the people that took "down" the 23 Y/o may have "broken" the device and it leaked "out" and he was burnt by it. This may explain the failure to detonate.

LAst night it was reported that the 23 y/o Nigerian may have been on the Do not Fly List???

I don't see this true, well hope it's not since he did have this U.S. Visa. I can't find anything about it on the web.

I hope that the passengers who tackled that guy get some recognition and a few pats on the back for what they did. Most people won't go in harms way.

I wonder what they did with the IED after they got it away from him. I was thinking cover it with a bunch of pillows and keep it in the center of the plane against a bulkhead and away from the outer walls? Drop down to 1000' and jettison it out the door? Gift wrap it and give it to your mother in law for Christmas?

NPR has reported that:

• It was - according to the FBI - an incendiary device designed to start a fire vice explosive device.
• The remnanats of the device were taken to the forensic labs in Quantico for analyses.
• The guy being on 'some watch list' info has no confirmation yet.
• The self-made claims to al-Quaida ties are unconfirmed and may just be self-aggrandizement.

And so it goes...:confused:

Richard's $.02 :munchin

Here's how the left thinks: :rolleyes:

Not So Scary “Terror”
Matthew Yglesias
December 26, 2009

Obviously, people shouldn’t be lighting anything on fire inside airplanes. That said, all the big Christmas airline incident really shows to me is how little punch our dread terrorist adversaries really pack. Once again, this seems like a pretty unserious plot. And even if you did manage to blow up an airplane in mid-air, that would be both a very serious crime and a great tragedy, but hardly a first-order national security threat.

And then there’s Peter King:

“This was the real deal,” said Representative Peter T. King of New York, the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, who was briefed on the incident and said something had gone wrong with the explosive device, which he described as somewhat sophisticated. “This could have been devastating,” Mr. King said.

Ultimately, it does no favors to anyone to blow this sort of thing out of proportion. The United States could not, of course, be “devastated” by anything resembling this scheme. We ought to be clear on that fact. We want to send the message around the world that this sort of vile attempt to slaughter innocent people is not, at the end of the day, anything resembling a serious challenge to American power. It’s attempted [mass] murder, it’s wrong, we should try to stop it, but it’s really not much more than that.

SOURCE:
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/ar...ary-terror.php

Good thing it didn't go off. We'd have to face the fact that he wasn't just trying to light a cigarette [against FAA Regulations].

I mean, come on, he's from Nigeria, how's he supposed to know what U.S. FAA Regulations are?

I wasn't on the flight. I'm not scared. See how brave I am? :rolleyes:

MOO...

The press is also reporting that this guy had a valid entry visa here which raises the question of who at DHS-State-the intel community, fell asleep at the switch and allowed this guy to get a visa. At the very least whoever is responsible needs to be unemployed.

Although one would have thought the Brits would have also had this guy on their radar and would have put a heads up to our guys as well. We can only hope Sir John at 6, as well as his 5 counterpart DG Evans, will be a bit more proactive and on their side of the pond and figure out WTF failed there, and who else might have slipped through the cracks.

Agree we still have gov't workers aslee at the switch.

Why would the Brits get involved in this particular individual on this itinerary?

He went from Nigeria, to Amsterdam to Detroit.

Sir, I have read a few press articles which state he was (is) a student at a British University.
Since he is a foreigner attending a UK university. I would hope that the '5-6 and home office' and would be aware of who this guy is as well as his ties and associations. Especially since he is from a 'former colony' and they have long had an interest in the AO. If I'm incorrect in my connecting the dots I hope some of the better informed here will correct and educate us as to what the real scoop is. My thinking was he would have had to go through the UK background check and hoops to get their visa as well as ours and as a result some flag, info. and or questions should have been asked about this guy.

SOURCE

Hhmm...
 

I hope his father didn’t warn authorities via email :D

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...253_attac.html

“The Scholar” must be a misunderstander of Islam - because Islam is a religion of peace… :munchin

The AP is reporting that the DOJ has filed an affidavit in federal court in Detroit disclosing that initial testing of the device in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's pants contained PETN.

SOURCE

Also, The UK times reports;"Airline bomber was barred from Britain Former student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who allegedly attempted to blow up US jet, had UK visa request refused in May"

Captive audience, no place to run or hide. People already know that they are in a perilous position given altitude, jet fuel, and confined space. Ultimate fear response.

Even a failed attack is still successful for the AQ Global Strategy. 1 attempt causes a resource intensive response that meets their goal of monetarily bleeding us out.

Good on the passengers for springing into action. Hope none are brought into the courts and tried for abusive behavior or hate crimes. You know I'm not just saying it, you thought it too!

See the consistency here?

Male, Islam, 23yo, engineering student.......Went through three common AQ waypoints.

Let's not call it what it really is. Profiling is a hate crime now, thanks to your leftist, feel goods and do nothings. WM post just continues to seal it for us. Morons in the House and Senate on both sides of the isle.

Keep this in mind when you vote.

Airlines: New Rules in Place to Keep Passengers in Seats
 

Flying used to be great fun. It now seems more akin to some time in Hell.

-----------------------------------------------------------

LINK

WASHINGTON — Some airlines were telling passengers on Saturday that new government security regulations prohibit them from leaving their seats beginning an hour before landing

The regulations are a response to a suspected terrorism incident on Christmas Day.

Air Canada said in a statement that new rules imposed by the Transportation Security Administration limit on-board activities by passengers and crew in U.S. airspace. The airline said that during the final hour of flight passengers must remain seated. They won't be allowed access to carryon baggage or to have any items on their laps.

Flight attendants on some domestic flights are informing passengers of similar rules. Passengers on a flight from New York to Tampa Saturday morning were also told they must remain in their seats and couldn't have items in their laps, including laptops and pillows.

The TSA declined to confirm the new restrictions.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement Saturday that passengers flying to the U.S. from overseas may notice extra security, but she said the measures "are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere."

A transportation security official speaking on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly said passengers traveling internationally could see increased security screening at gates and when they check their bags, as well as additional measures on flights such as stowing carryons and personal items before the plane lands.

A Nigerian passenger on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam allegedly attempted to start a fire as the plane prepared to land in Detroit on Friday, according to authorities. The incident has sparked a major international terrorism investigation.

Air Canada said it was limiting passengers to one carryon bag in response to a request from the U.S. and Canadian governments.

The airline advised U.S.-bound passengers to restrict their carryon item to "the absolute minimum" or to not carry any bag on board at all.

"Carriage of any carryon item will result in lengthy security delays for the customer," the airline said.

U.S.-bound flights on all airlines are experiencing significant delays, said Duncan Dee, Air Canada's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

A spokeswoman with Infraero, a Brazilian government agency that oversees airport infrastructure, said that airlines had been asked by federal authorities to add another layer of security for international flights originating in the country after the attempted attack in the U.S.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the matter, said that passengers would face an extra screening that would take place just before they boarded planes. She would give no more details, citing security concerns.

David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, said the domestic airline industry has been in close coordination with the security administration since Friday's incident and there will be increased scrutiny of passengers. He declined to comment on whether new regulations have been put in place.

When in the 60s? :D

I was thinking of 1979, actually...granted, the 60's were better...but there was still a certain civility. Stewardesses (yes, I know, I should use the politically correct term of flight attendent) were pleasant. The airlines served meals in flight - and they weren't bad.

I enjoyed flying. But it has been nearly 9 years since I got on an airplane, and I suppose it will be quite awhile before I do so again.

You need to be PC here?

I agree up to the 70s Flying still had some flair but since the "no frills" craze it has been little better then the bus.

Perhaps we need to serve complementary, yet mandatory bacon (sorry to my Jewish and SDA freinds) h'orderves on every flight and port of entry.

Roger. I get that he's been studying in the UK. Once out of the country, flying from a 2nd country, through a 3rd country to a 4th country....why would the UK track him?

I still call them "waiter" and "waitresses". But my father advised me, never piss anybody off who's in a position to spit in your food.

"Steward" is the correct title, and if I had the job, I'd be proud to be called a Steward. It's a honorable position is life to serve others.

What do you call attendants of Railroads or Cruise liners?...

I thought so!

Everyone should fly naked.