Attempted Terrorist Attack on Delta Airbus Flight

Steyr

Not strictly Mil but

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.

dog_pig

I read somewhere that he can only serve a maximum of 20 years?

...

Watch Ryder

dog_pig wrote: »

I read somewhere that he can only serve a maximum of 20 years?

...

It may well be a lot more than that...

Craigsy

Watch Ryder wrote: »

It may well be a lot more than that...

Attempted terror attack on a US plane, you can be sure he'll be gone away for a lot longer than 20 years.