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| The suspect apparently had taped a packet of powder to his leg, and used a ] containing chemicals to cause a ],<ref name="ABC"/> but failed to detonate it successfully. The lower part of his body caught on fire, and he was taken to a burn unit at the hospital shortly after the plane landed.<ref name="WWJ"/> A passenger reported that the suspect, though burned "quite severely" on his leg, seemed "very calm" and like a "normal individual".<ref>{{cite news|author=Wheaton, Sarah|title=From a ‘Pop’ to a Headlock, Passengers Recall Flight 253|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/from-pop-to-headlock-passengers-recall-flight-253/|date=December 26, 2009|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-12-25}}</ref> An investigation has been initiated into whether the attempted attack was part of a larger plot, but the suspect claimed to be acting alone.<ref name="Reuters UK">{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5BP00820091226?sp=true|title=U.S. says al Qaeda-linked man tried to blow up plane|date=25 December 2009|last=Krolicki|first=Kevin|publisher=Thomson Reuters|accessdate=2009-12-25}}</ref> | The suspect apparently had taped a packet of powder to his leg, and used a ] containing chemicals to cause a ],<ref name="ABC"/> but failed to detonate it successfully. The lower part of his body caught on fire, and he was taken to a burn unit at the hospital shortly after the plane landed.<ref name="WWJ"/> A passenger reported that the suspect, though burned "quite severely" on his leg, seemed "very calm" and like a "normal individual".<ref>{{cite news|author=Wheaton, Sarah|title=From a ‘Pop’ to a Headlock, Passengers Recall Flight 253|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/from-pop-to-headlock-passengers-recall-flight-253/|date=December 26, 2009|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-12-25}}</ref> An investigation has been initiated into whether the attempted attack was part of a larger plot, but the suspect claimed to be acting alone.<ref name="Reuters UK">{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5BP00820091226?sp=true|title=U.S. says al Qaeda-linked man tried to blow up plane|date=25 December 2009|last=Krolicki|first=Kevin|publisher=Thomson Reuters|accessdate=2009-12-25}}</ref> | ||
| The senior ] on the ], Representative ], said officials in the Obama administration and officials with law-enforcement information access told him the suspect may have had contact with ]; al-Awlaki is the former imam linked to ], three of the ] bombers, and ], the suspected ] shooter, among others.<ref>{{cite news|author=Johnston, Nicholas, and Braun, Martin Z.|title=Suspected Terrorist Tried to Blow Up Plane, U.S. Says (Update1)|date=December 26, 2009|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aMPCgJ4YFUoM|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref> | The senior ] on the ], Representative ], said officials in the Obama administration and officials with law-enforcement information access told him the suspect may have had contact with ]; al-Awlaki is the former imam linked to ], three of the ] bombers, and ], the suspected ] shooter, among others.<ref>{{cite news|author=Johnston, Nicholas, and Braun, Martin Z.|title=Suspected Terrorist Tried to Blow Up Plane, U.S. Says (Update1)|date=December 26, 2009|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aMPCgJ4YFUoM|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref> Hoekstra said: “The question we'll have to raise is was this imam in Yemen influential enough to get some people to attack the US again."<ref></ref> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 10:34, 26 December 2009
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| Northwest Airlines Flight 253 | |
|---|---|
_landing_at_Amsterdam_Airport_Schiphol_(1).jpg) Photo of a similar Northwest aircraft, also in Delta livery | |
| Location | Romulus, Michigan, United States |
| Coordinates | 42.208°N -83.356°E / 42.208°N 83.356°W / 42.208; -83.356 Coordinates: longitude degrees < 0 with hemisphere flag {{#coordinates:}}: invalid longitude |
| Date | Friday, December 25, 2009 approximately 11:30 a.m. (UTC-5) |
| Attack type | Attempted bombing or arson |
| Weapons | Unknown powder, liquid chemicals |
| Injured | 3 |
Northwest Airlines Flight 253 is a transatlantic flight to Detroit, Michigan, United States, from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and was the target of an attempted terrorist attack on December 25, 2009. Three people, including the suspected attacker, were wounded. The suspect was taken into custody.
Incident
The airplane involved was a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330-300 twin engine jet, with 278 passengers aboard. It left Amsterdam at 8:45 a.m. local time, and arrived at Detroit around noon EST.
A Nigerian man set off a small explosive device consisting of a mix of powder and liquid (originally reported to be firecrackers) as the plane was about to land. The suspect apparently had taped a packet of powder to his leg, and used a syringe containing chemicals to cause a chemical reaction, and the lower part of his body caught on fire, but the device failed to detonate properly.
There were injuries, however. The suspect suffered third-degree burns, and was taken to the burn unit of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Two other passengers received minor injuries.
Several passengers and crew members noticed the attack, and witnesses saw one passenger run forward and tackle and overpower the suspect, while the crew extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The suspect was said to have been immediately subdued, isolated from other passengers, and restrained until he was handed over to authorities and taken into custody for questioning and treatment for his injuries when the plane landed. A passenger reported that the suspect, though burned "quite severely" on his leg, seemed "very calm" and like a "normal individual".
When the attack triggered a fire indicator light within the cockpit, the pilot requested rescue and law enforcement. The incident was initially declared an in-flight emergency, before being deemed an attempted terrorist attack. The plane made an emergency landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit) just before noon local time.
Reaction and follow-up
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI} agents arrived at the airport after the plane landed, and passengers were diverted into a holding area. The suspect was taken to a burn unit at the hospital shortly after the plane landed. The plane was moved into a remote area so authorities could re-screen the plane, the passengers, and the baggage on-board. In addition, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) interviewed all passengers before letting them leave. A bomb-defusing robot was first used to board the plane.
The FBI is handling the investigation. It is unknown how the suspect managed to smuggle the incendiary device past airport security, and what training he received, if any. An investigation has been initiated into whether the attempted attack was part of a larger plot, but the suspect claimed to be acting alone.
President Barack Obama was notified of the incident by an aide while on a vacation in Kailua, Hawaii, and spoke with officials from the Department of Homeland Security. The White House said that Obama was actively monitoring the situation, and had instructed that all appropriate measures to be taken regarding the attack. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was also briefed, and was monitoring the incident. The government did not raise the terrorist threat level immediately following the attack, which was orange at the time. However, the Department of Homeland Security said that additional security measures would be in place for the remainder of the Christmas travel period.
The White House called the attack an act of terrorism. However, Attorney General Eric Holder has not declared the incident an official terrorist act.
Delta Air Lines, which owns Northwest, said that its Detroit group did not handle the security for the flight. They released a statement calling the incident a "disturbance," and said that Delta was "cooperating fully with authorities".
The incident has raised concern regarding security procedures at Nigeria's major international airports in Lagos and Abuja, where tests for explosive materials are not conducted on carry-on baggage and shoes, and where bags are allowed to pass quickly through x-ray scanners. A police spokeswoman based at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol refused to comment about security procedures at Amsterdam Airport, where large numbers of passengers are processed en-route to North America from Africa.
Suspect
The suspect, who arrived in Amsterdam on a KLM flight from Lagos, Nigeria, was identified by Representative Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian national. Another official identified him as 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
He was traveling one-way, without a return ticket. According to federal documents, he was an engineering student at University College of London. He claimed to have extremist affiliations, and also claimed that the device was obtained in Yemen, along with instructions from al-Qaeda as to how to use it. Authorities have so far been unable to confirm his allegations.
Several passengers and crew members noticed the attack, and tackled the suspect. The suspect was immediately subdued, and taken into custody for questioning and treatment for his injuries when the plane landed.
The motive for the attack was unclear. However, the attack was on the eighth anniversary of the attempt of an al-Qaeda member to blow up a plane using explosives hidden in his shoe. The Taliban also released a video of a captured U.S. soldier on the day of the attack.
The suspect was in an intelligence database, and may have also been on a federal no-fly list. While in custody, the suspect told authorities he was directed by Al-Qaeda. A counterterrorism official told The New York Times, however, that that claim "may have been aspirational".
King said that the suspect's name did not appear in U.S. terror watch lists, but did appear in terror watch lists maintained by other countries. He also said that the explosive device was deadly and somewhat sophisticated. It is still unclear what, if any, connections the suspect had with extremist organizations, but King said that the suspect appeared to have such connections.
The suspect apparently had taped a packet of powder to his leg, and used a syringe containing chemicals to cause a chemical reaction, but failed to detonate it successfully. The lower part of his body caught on fire, and he was taken to a burn unit at the hospital shortly after the plane landed. A passenger reported that the suspect, though burned "quite severely" on his leg, seemed "very calm" and like a "normal individual". An investigation has been initiated into whether the attempted attack was part of a larger plot, but the suspect claimed to be acting alone.
The senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Pete Hoekstra, said officials in the Obama administration and officials with law-enforcement information access told him the suspect may have had contact with Anwar Al Awlaki; al-Awlaki is the former imam linked to al-Qaeda, three of the 9/11 bombers, and Nidal Hasan, the suspected Fort Hood shooter, among others. Hoekstra said: “The question we'll have to raise is was this imam in Yemen influential enough to get some people to attack the US again."
See also
References
- ^ Simpson, Cam (25 December 2009). "Suspect Identified as Nigerian Man". Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ "Passenger Tries To Blow Up Airliner". CBS Interactive. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Jakes, Lara; Berris, Randi; Adler, Shelley (25 December 2009). "Terror suspected in plot to blow up Northwest jet". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Esposito, Richard; Mayerowitz, Scott (25 December 2009). "Man Attempts to Set Off Explosives on Detroit-Bound Airplane". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ "Firecrackers disrupt transatlantic flight to Detroit". BBC News. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ "US says explosion on plane was terrorism attempt". Thomson Reuters. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ "Bomb uncovered on U.S. passenger plane". Mainstream Media EC. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Windrem, Robert; Johnson, Alex (25 December 2009). "Officials: Possible terror attack on Northwest jet". msnbc.com. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- "Plane terror suspect 'set pants on fire". ninemsn Pty Ltd. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- Wheaton, Sarah (December 26, 2009). "From a 'Pop' to a Headlock, Passengers Recall Flight 253". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Meyer, Zlati; R. Patton, Naomi (25 December 2009). "Reports: NWA passenger was trying to blow up flight into Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Passenger Ignites Explosive on Delta Flight, Al Qaeda Connection Reported". FOX News. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Bohn, Kevin; Labott, Elise; Henry, Ed; Streitfeld, Rachel (25 December 2009). "Explosive device set off aboard airliner". Cable News Network. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- Rotella, Sebastian (25 December 2009). "Passenger tried to blow up plane, U.S. official says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Krolicki, Kevin (25 December 2009). "U.S. says al Qaeda-linked man tried to blow up plane". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- Zakaria, Tabassum; Zargham, Mohammad (25 December 2009). "Obama monitoring Delta flight firecracker situation". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- "Passengers tackled would-be bomber". The Press Association. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- "Delta Air Lines Issues Statement on Northwest Flight 253". Delta Air Lines, Inc. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- "Airports: A tale of two countries". 25 December 2009.
- "Terrorist attack foiled aboard U.S. jetliner". 25 December 2009.
- "Explosive device set off aboard airliner." CNN. December 25, 2009. Retrieved on December 25, 2009.
- ^ O'Connor, Anahad and Schmitt, Eric (December 25, 2009). "Terror Attempt Seen as Man Tries to Ignite Device on Jet". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Wheaton, Sarah (December 26, 2009). "From a 'Pop' to a Headlock, Passengers Recall Flight 253". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- Johnston, Nicholas, and Braun, Martin Z. (December 26, 2009). "Suspected Terrorist Tried to Blow Up Plane, U.S. Says (Update1)". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Allen, Nick, "Detroit: British student in al-Qaeda airline bomb attempt", The Telegraph, December 25, 2009, accessed December 26, 2009
External links
- Delta Air Lines Issues Statement on Northwest Flight 253 - Delta Air Lines
- Statement by Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Sara Kuban--Dept. of Homeland Security Press Release, Dec. 25, 2009
| Aviation accidents and incidents in 2009 (2009) | |
|---|---|
| Jan 15 Makhachkala Ilyushin Il-76 collisionJan 15 US Airways Flight 1549Jan 17 French Air Force Eurocopter AS 532Jan 27 Empire Airlines Flight 8284Feb 7 Manaus Aerotáxi Embraer EMB 110Feb 12 Colgan Air Flight 3407Feb 25 Turkish Airlines Flight 1951Mar 12 Cougar Helicopters Flight 91Mar 20 Emirates Flight 407Mar 23 FedEx Express Flight 80Mar 25 Medair Bell 206Apr 1 Bond Offshore Helicopters Flight 85NApr 6 Indonesian Air Force Fokker F27Apr 9 Aviastar BAe 146Apr 17 Mimika Air Flight 514Apr 19 CanJet Flight 918May 3 Venezuelan Army Mil Mi-17May 20 Indonesian Air Force Lockheed L-100Jun 1 Air France Flight 447Jun 30 Yemenia Flight 626Jul 3 Pakistan Army Mil Mi-17Jul 13 Southwest Airlines Flight 2294Jul 15 Caspian Airlines Flight 7908Jul 24 Aria Air Flight 1525Aug 2 Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 9760DAug 4 Bangkok Airways Flight 266Aug 8 Hudson River mid-air collisionAug 11 Airlines PNG Flight 4684Aug 26 Aéro-Frêt Antonov An-12Sep 2 Andhra Pradesh Government Bell 430Sep 9 Aeroméxico Flight 576Sep 22 Iranian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76Sep 24 SA Airlink Flight 8911Oct 21 Sudan Airways Flight 2241Oct 21 Northwest Airlines Flight 188Oct 22 Divi Divi Air Flight 014Oct 29 California mid-air collisionNov 1 Yakutia Ilyushin Il-76Nov 12 RwandAir Flight 205Nov 18 Pel-Air IAI Westwind IINov 28 Avient Aviation Flight 324Dec 22 American Airlines Flight 331Dec 25 Northwest Airlines Flight 253 | |
| 2008 ◄ ► 2010 |
- Current events from December 2009
- Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2009
- Delta Air Lines flights
- Terrorist incidents in 2009
- Terrorist incidents in the United States
- Failed airliner bombings
- Accidents and incidents on commercial airliners in the United States
- Accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A330