Attempted Terrorist Attack on Delta Airbus.

Steyr

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Official-Says-Man-Who-Ignited-Powdery-Substance-On-Flight-Was-Trying-To-Blow-Up-The-Plane/Article/200912415508161?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15508161_Official_Says_Man_Who_Ignited_Powdery_Substance_On_Flight_Was_Trying_To_Blow_Up_The_Plane

Breaking News12:00am UK, Saturday December 26, 2009
Passenger 'Tries To Blow Up' U.S. Plane
Neal Walker, Sky News Online

The White House says an incident involving a small explosion on an airliner was an attempted act of terrorism.
Delta Flight 253 was carrying 278 passengers from Amsterdam to Detroit


A U.S. intelligence official said the passenger who ignited a "powdery substance" on the Delta Airlines flight was trying to blow up the plane.

The flight was arriving at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport when the incident took place.

A number of passengers received minor injuries, including the person responsible for the incident.

The suspect, who suffered second-degree burns, reportedly told federal investigators that he was directed by al Qaeda.

The White House says President Obama, who is on holiday in Hawaii, is "actively monitoring" the situation.

Obama spoke by conference call with national security advisers, and then "instructed that all appropriate measures be taken to increase security for air travel," White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott said the suspect was subdued immediately.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581153,00.html

White House: Failed Airline Bombing Was Attempted Act of Terrorism
Friday, December 25, 2009

U.S. officials say a Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria said he was acting on behalf of Al Qaeda when he tried to blow up a flight Friday as it landed in Detroit.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., identified the suspect as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. King said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit.

One of the U.S. intelligence officials said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid. It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.

The passenger was being questioned Friday evening.

Both of the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

The motive of the Christmas Day attack was not immediately clear.

"He appears to have had some kind of incendiary device he tried to ignite," said one of the U.S. officials.

Authorities initially believed the passenger had set off firecrackers that caused some minor injuries.

Delta Air Lines spokeswoman Susan Elliott said the passenger was subdued immediately. She had no details on the injuries. Delta and Northwest have merged.

One passenger from the flight was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said. She didn't know the person's condition, or whether the person was a man or woman. She referred all inquiries to the FBI.

An FBI spokeswoman said the incident is being investigated. It came just as the flight, an Airbus 330 carrying 278 passengers, was arriving in Detroit from Amsterdam.

Passenger Syed Jafri, a U.S. citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident happened during the plane's descent. Jafri said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and said he saw a glow, and noticed a smoke smell. Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him."

"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," he said.

Rich Griffith, a passenger, said he was seated too far in the back to see what had happened. But he said he didn't mind being detained on the plane for several hours.

"It's frustrating if you don't want to keep your country safe," he said. "We can't have what's going on everywhere else happening here."

President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said. It said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii.

J.P. Karas, 55, said he was driving down a road near the airport and saw a Delta jet at the end of the runway, surrounded by police cars, an ambulance, a bus and some TV trucks.

"I don't ever recall seeing a plane on that runway ever before and I pass by there frequently," he said.

Karas said it was difficult to tell what was going on, but it looked like the front wheel was off the runway.

The Homeland Security Department said passengers may see additional screening measures on domestic and international flights because of the incident.

"We encourage those with future travel plans to stay in touch with their airline and to visit www.tsa.gov for updates," the department said.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been briefed on the incident and is closely monitoring the situation.

The department encouraged travelers to be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement officials.

Run_to_da_hills

Damn, thats another clear plastic bag needed at Dublin Airport. :mad:

Foggy43

It is alledged the chap is claiming he strapped a syringe of fluid and some powder to his leg.
Looks like those 'naked view' scanners will now have to be introduced.

From current media reports, as far as I am aware the concealed items the chap was carrying were not detecable with current security measures. The only chance of him being caught at Schipol would have been if he became Mr Random going through the detector.

BrianD

Foggy43 wrote: »

From current media reports, as far as I am aware the concealed items the chap was carrying were not detecable with current security measures. The only chance of him being caught at Schipol would have been if he became Mr Random going through the detector.

The Dutch are claiming that because he didn't cross their border (he transferred in Schipol) that he wasn't subject to the same security control. I actually thought you were if you were boarding another international flight. Also he was on a US "watch list". What's the point of me handing over info to the US if they are not going to use it? All September 11th attackers were on visas (granted pre homeland security days) and this guy was as well.

Just curious about the reports - it seems that the plane was on landing approach when the incident happened. I would have thought, if you were going to commit this type of atrocity it would be mid-air. Do you think that this was deliberate? More oxegen in the cabin? Or was it an oversight bt the perpetrator?

In any case, the brave passengers who "had a go" are to be commended. Must have been a terrifying situation.

silverharp

http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/1794-Starve-The-Beast-Airlines.html

A bit of a rant piece here, but time for a bit of sensible racial/demographic profiling? One suggestion is to allow "law abiding" people to carry tazers on board. hey it would keep the cabin crew attentive lol

Run_to_da_hills

According to this media report it could well have been a battery from a PED (Personal Electronic Device) Netbook, PDA, etc. The guy was also Nigerian student which wouldn't have helped

We have heard of recalls from Sony and Nokia over faulty lithium Ion batteries and the effects of this type of explosion can be demonstrated in this video

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-374564

n.catenthusiast

BrianD wrote: »

Just curious about the reports - it seems that the plane was on landing approach when the incident happened. I would have thought, if you were going to commit this type of atrocity it would be mid-air. Do you think that this was deliberate? More oxegen in the cabin? Or was it an oversight bt the perpetrator?

Was wondering about this myself.

Possibly any explosion/crash over a populated land area would have more of an impact (i.e. spread more terror) as oppose to a similar incident over the ocean, where there would be reports but little by the way of pictures/videos/eye witness reports etc.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Foggy43 wrote: »

It is alledged the chap is claiming he strapped a syringe of fluid and some powder to his leg.
Looks like those 'naked view' scanners will now have defintely be introduced.

From current media reports, as far as I am aware the concealed items the chap was carrying were not detecable with current security measures. The only chance of him being caught at Schipol would have been if he became Mr Random going through the detector.

Nothing about "have to" here. They'll use this as an excuse to push them through like all other moronic measures of the last few years.

BrianD wrote: »

The Dutch are claiming that because he didn't cross their border (he transferred in Schipol) that he wasn't subject to the same security control. I actually thought you were if you were boarding another international flight. Also he was on a US "watch list". What's the point of me handing over info to the US if they are not going to use it? All September 11th attackers were on visas (granted pre homeland security days) and this guy was as well.

Just curious about the reports - it seems that the plane was on landing approach when the incident happened. I would have thought, if you were going to commit this type of atrocity it would be mid-air. Do you think that this was deliberate? More oxegen in the cabin? Or was it an oversight bt the perpetrator?

In any case, the brave passengers who "had a go" are to be commended. Must have been a terrifying situation.

Atrocity? What?! The worst he could've done was start a fire and maybe blow up a battery. Hardly going to bring down a massive airliner is it?

n.catenthusiast wrote: »

Was wondering about this myself.

Possibly any explosion/crash over a populated land area would have more of an impact (i.e. spread more terror) as oppose to a similar incident over the ocean, where there would be reports but little by the way of pictures/videos/eye witness reports etc.

I think the media and people like yoruself put more thought into these things than the actual nutters than try and carry them off.

Dacian

You look at this and the shoe bomber incident. Both carried barely enough chemicals/explosives to create an explosion/fire yet the reaction was immense. Was on a flight into the states today (Chicago) everyone had to stay in their seats with no access to luggage or anything on their lap from an hour before landing. How does that actually increase our safety? Yes it would have stopped this nutter, but now they will just find another way to bring the stuff onboard. What next, inside tablets in a container of medicine? In powder form in lemsip packets? as tablets disguised in a pack of softmints?

Yes. This guy COULD have severely damaged the aircraft if not cactually casued a crash. However he was on a database of 500K possible suspects, he had a oneway ticket to the USA (I thought this was an automatic flag to US authorities)he had no checke din bags(again an obvous flag to) I'm assuming this guy used the ESTA precleareance (as I had to). Whats the point if it doesn't 'click' with other agencies/info?

BrianD

Red Sleeping Beauty wrote: »

Nothing about "have to" here. They'll use this as an excuse to push them through like all other moronic measures of the last few years.



Atrocity? What?! The worst he could've done was start a fire and maybe blow up a battery. Hardly going to bring down a massive airliner is it?




I think the media and people like yoruself put more thought into these things than the actual nutters than try and carry them off.

You have not read my post. By atrocity I mean if he had been successful in destroying the aircraft as opposed to the attempt.

Discodog

Brave man to keep explosive in his undercrackers. The press said that his legs were burnt. The photo of the pants told a different story !

Better keep your hands out of your pockets during flight & no adjusting the tackle.

He may of made a big mistake as jail in Holland would be far better than where he is going.