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Northwest Airlines Flight 253

Coordinates: 42.208°N -83.356°E / 42.208°N 83.356°W / 42.208; -83.356 Coordinates: longitude degrees < 0 with hemisphere flag
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Northwest Airlines Flight 253
A Northwest Airbus A330 in Delta livery, similar to the one involved in the incident aboard flight 253.
LocationRomulus, Michigan, United States
Coordinates42.208°N -83.356°E / 42.208°N 83.356°W / 42.208; -83.356 Coordinates: longitude degrees < 0 with hemisphere flag
{{#coordinates:}}: invalid longitude
DateFriday, December 25, 2009
approximately 11:30 a.m. (UTC-5)
Attack type
Failed bombing or arson
WeaponsPentaerythritol tetranitrate
Injured3

Northwest Airlines Flight 253 is a transatlantic flight to Detroit, Michigan, United States, from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and was the target of an attempted terrorist attack on December 25, 2009.[1] Three people, including the suspected attacker, were wounded. Abdul Mudallad, the suspect, was taken into custody, treated for his injuries and charged the following day with attempting to destroy an aircraft.

Incident

The aircraft involved was a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330-300 twinjet, with 278 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots[2] aboard. It left Amsterdam around 8:45 a.m. local time (0745 UTC), and was scheduled to arrive in Detroit at 11:40 a.m. EST (1640 UTC)[3] but actually did so around noon.[4] The aircraft was painted in Delta Air Lines' livery as Northwest is currently operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta. A complete integration of the carriers is underway.[5]

Witnesses reported that the suspect went into the plane's lavatory for about 20 minutes, and complained of feeling sick after returning. He was then seen pulling a blanket over himself, and secretly ignited the explosive.[6] While in mid-flight, a passenger identified as Abdulfarouk Umar Muttalab, a 23 year old Nigerian man[7] set off a small explosive device consisting of a mix of flammable powder[2] and liquid (originally reported to be firecrackers) about 20 minutes before the plane landed.[8][9][10] The suspect apparently had taped a packet of powder to his leg or groin, and used a syringe containing chemicals to cause a chemical reaction, and though the lower part of his body caught on fire, the device failed to detonate properly.[4][9] A passenger said that "there was smoke and screaming and flames. It was scary".[11] It is now believed that substance used was Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a highly explosive chemical. The suspect apparently carried it onto the plane in a soft plastic container, possibly a condom. However, much of the packaging was lost in the fire.[12] The substance was analyzed at Quantico by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[13] An affidavit filed in the Eastern District of Michigan[14] showed that preliminary findings of the device did indeed show that it contained PETN.[15] It also showed that authorities found the remains of a syringe believed to have been used by the terrorist.[14]

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.[16][17] That passenger, identified as Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch director of a media company based in Amsterdam,[18] suffered burns to his hands while trying to stop the attacker. He was later taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center.[19] The suspect was immediately subdued, isolated from other passengers, and restrained.[9][20] A passenger reported that the suspect, though burned "quite severely" on his leg, seemed "very calm" and like a "normal individual".[21]

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.[9] The plane made an emergency landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit) just before noon local time.[16]

Reaction and investigation

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived at the airport after the plane landed, and passengers were diverted into a holding area.[22]

Other than the suspect, who suffered third-degree burns, two passengers were injured.[23][24] The suspect was handed over to authorities when the plane landed and taken into custody for questioning and treatment for his injuries in a secured room[25] of the burn unit of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.[4][9] Two other passengers received minor injuries.[4][24] The plane was moved into a remote area so authorities could re-screen the plane, the passengers, and the baggage on-board.[26] In addition, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) interviewed all passengers before letting them leave.[17] A bomb-defusing robot was first used to board the plane.[4]

The investigation into the incident is being managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[27] It is not known how the suspect managed to smuggle the incendiary device past airport security, and what training he received, if any.[28] The suspect said he was acting alone, but an investigation has been initiated into whether the attempted attack was part of a larger plot.[29] British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the UK would take "whatever action was necessary" in response to the attacks. The day after the incident, British police sealed off Mansfield Street, in Marylebone, a London suburb where the suspect allegedly lived in a family-owned basement flat.[30]

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.[26] The White House said that Obama was actively monitoring the situation, and had instructed that all appropriate measures be taken regarding the attack.[31] Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was also briefed, and was monitoring the incident.[22] The White House called the attack an act of terrorism.[8] However, Attorney General Eric Holder has not declared the incident an official terrorist act.[32]

The incident 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.[33] A police spokeswoman based at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol declined to comment about security procedures at Amsterdam Airport, where large numbers of passengers are processed en-route to North America from Africa.[34] However, another airport spokesperson said it was likely that the suspect was screened in Amsterdam, as all passengers transferring from international flights are required to be there.[2] A preliminary investigation, however, found no security lapses, and despite being listed as having a potential terrorism connection, the suspect had a valid U.S. visa.[35] The day after the attack, members of the U.S. Congress pledged to hold hearings to investigate how the device passed through security and whether further restrictions should be placed on air travel.[3]

On December 26, 2009, the day after the attack, the U.S. Justice Department[15] charged the suspect in a Detroit federal court for trying to destroy the plane with a "destructive device".[14][36]

Effect on travelers

The government did not raise the terrorist threat level, orange at the time,[17] immediately following the attack.[9] However, the Department of Homeland Security said that additional security measures would be in place for the remainder of the Christmas travel period.[26] The TSA posted a statement detailing several of the measures, including the restriction of movement and access of personal items during the last hour of flight for all planes within U.S. airspace. British Airways said that passengers flying to the U.S. would only be permitted one carry-on item.[37] The TSA also said that travelers would see more officers and dogs around airports.[2] Other European countries increased baggage screening, pat-down searches, and random searches for all passengers traveling to the U.S. A spokesperson for the Dutch airport used by the attacker said that heightened security would be in place for "an indefinite period".[38]

Delta Air Lines, which owns Northwest, said that its Detroit group did not handle the security for the flight[22] and released a statement calling the incident a "disturbance," and saying that Delta was "cooperating fully with authorities".[39]

Suspect

The suspect, who arrived in Amsterdam on KLM flight 588, a Boeing 777,[2] from Lagos, Nigeria,[40] was identified by Representative Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, as Abdul Mudallad,[8] a Nigerian national[27] and former mechanical engineering[2] student at University College of London.[9] Another official identified him as 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.[4] His last known address is believed to be a $4 million apartment in Central London near the college,[19] which was searched by Scotland Yard. The attacker studied University College from September 2005 to June 2008.[2]

The suspect has further been identified as the son of prominent former Nigerian minister and banker Alhaji Umaru Mutallab[19] who had made a report to the US authorities regarding his son's extremist religious views.[41] It is believed that the suspect had such views since he attended high school, at the British International School in Lome, Togo.[19]

He was traveling without a return ticket.[17] King said that the suspect's name appeared in intelligence terror watch list databases maintained by other countries, but did not appear in U.S. terror watch lists, and that he appeared to have an extremist connection; the suspect may have also been on a federal no-fly list.[17][23] King also said that the explosive device was deadly, and somewhat sophisticated.[1][42] Another official later said that the suspect had been in a list of people with suspected terrorist ties for at least two years.[43]

The suspect claimed to have made contact with al-Qaeda through the Internet, with a radical imam. The explosives were supposedly sewn into the suspect's underwear but failed to cause much damage because the detonator was either too weak or did not make good contact with the explosive material.[30]

Possible motives

While in custody, Mudallad told authorities he had an extremist affiliation, and said he was directed by al-Qaeda.[23] A counterterrorism official told The New York Times that his claim "may have been aspirational".[42] He said that the device was obtained in Yemen, along with instructions from al-Qaeda as to how to use it. Authorities have not yet confirmed his statements. His father also said that he may have gone to Yemen, but he was unsure as well.[44] On December 26, a criminal complaint against Mudallad was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by Theodore James Peisig, an FBI special agent, charging him with an attempt to destroy an aircraft and with placing a destructive device in proximity to an aircraft.[45]

Anwar al-Awlaki

The motive for the attack was unclear.[4] However, the attack was near the date of the eighth anniversary of Richard Reid's attempt 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.[17]

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.[46] 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."[47] Hoekstra said in an interview: “The suspicion is also that” the suspect “had contact with al-Awlaki. The belief is this is a stronger connection with al-Awlaki” than Hasan had.[48] Hoekstra also said that the target of the attack may not have been Detroit, but a destination similar to Detroit (which is a hub of Delta), with many incoming international travelers. The attack occurred over the city because the plane had not flown over U.S. land prior to the landing.[49] In addition, an attack of this type (injecting chemicals into a substance to provoke a chemical explosion) has not been used in previous terrorist plots, and it is possible that the attempt was a test to see if such materials could pass through screening and how much damage the resulting blast would cause.[12]

See also

Wikinews has related news:

References

  1. ^ a b Simpson, Cam (December 25, 2009). "Suspect Identified as Nigerian Man". Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Shane, Scott; Lipton, Eric (26 December 2009). "Passengers Took Plane's Survival Into Own Hands". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  3. ^ a b Levine, Mike; Herridge, Catherine; Wolff, Sarah (26 December 2009). "Congress to Probe Attempted Airline Attack, Consider Added Security Precautions". FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Passenger Tries To Blow Up Airliner". CBS Interactive. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  5. ^ "Delta, Northwest to consolidate gates at airports". Associated Press. February 9, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2009.[
  6. ^ "U.S. files charges in jet-terror inciden". The Associated Press. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  7. ^ New York Times December 26, 2009 "Governments React After Terror Attempt on Airplane"
  8. ^ a b c Jakes, Lara; Berris, Randi; Adler, Shelley (December 25, 2009). "Terror suspected in plot to blow up Northwest jet". Associated Press. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Esposito, Richard; Mayerowitz, Scott (December 25, 2009). "Man Attempts to Set Off Explosives on Detroit-Bound Airplane". ABC News. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  10. ^ "US plane attack suspect quizzed after 'terror attempt'", BBC News, December 26, 2009
  11. ^ "How al-Qaeda airline fiend used leg bomb and syringe", The New York Post, December 26, 2009, accessed December 25, 2009
  12. ^ a b "Official: Explosive PETN Used in Attack". CBS Interactive Inc. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  13. ^ Temple-Raston, Dina (26 December 2009). "Terrorism Links Uncertain In Airplane Attack". NPR. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  14. ^ a b c D. Shear, Michael; Johnson, Carrie; S. Hsu, Spencer (26 December 2009). "Airports intensify security measures worldwide in wake of failed bomb attack aboard U.S.-bound jetliner". The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  15. ^ a b Barrett, Devlin (26 December 2009). "Christmas Day terrorism suspect is charged". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  16. ^ a b "Bomb uncovered on U.S. passenger plane". Mainstream Media EC. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Windrem, Robert; Johnson, Alex (December 25, 2009). "Officials: Possible terror attack on Northwest jet". msnbc.com. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  18. ^ media company ‘Go with the flow productions’ "Hollandse Jasper overmeestert terrorist"
  19. ^ a b c d Goldsmith, Samuel (26 December 2009). "Father of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, Nigerian terror suspect in Flight 253 attack, warned U.S." NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  20. ^ "Plane terror suspect 'set pants on fire". ninemsn Pty Ltd. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  21. ^ Wheaton, Sarah (December 26, 2009). "From a 'Pop' to a Headlock, Passengers Recall Flight 253". The New York Times. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  22. ^ a b c Meyer, Zlati; R. Patton, Naomi (December 25, 2009). "Reports: NWA passenger was trying to blow up flight into Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 25, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ a b c "Firecrackers disrupt transatlantic flight to Detroit". BBC News. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  24. ^ a b "US says explosion on plane was terrorism attempt". Thomson Reuters. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  25. ^ E. Boudette, Neal; Pasztor, Andy; Spiegel, Peter (26 December 2009). "Bomb Attempt Made on U.S.-Bound Flight". Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  26. ^ a b c "Passenger Ignites Explosive on Delta Flight, Al Qaeda Connection Reported". FOX News. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  27. ^ a b Bohn, Kevin; Labott, Elise; Henry, Ed; Streitfeld, Rachel (December 25, 2009). "Explosive device set off aboard airliner". Cable News Network. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  28. ^ Rotella, Sebastian (December 25, 2009). "Passenger tried to blow up plane, U.S. official says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Krolicki, Kevin (December 25, 2009). "U.S. says al Qaeda-linked man tried to blow up plane". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  30. ^ a b "Police search London flat in US plane attack inquiry". BBC. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  31. ^ Zakaria, Tabassum; Zargham, Mohammad (December 25, 2009). "Obama monitoring Delta flight firecracker situation". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  32. ^ "Passengers tackled would-be bomber". The Press Association. December 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 26, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  33. ^ "Airports: A tale of two countries". December 25, 2009.
  34. ^ "Terrorist attack foiled aboard U.S. jetliner". December 25, 2009.
  35. ^ "US plane attack suspect quizzed after 'terror attempt'". BBC. 26 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateaccessed= ignored (help)
  36. ^ "Suspect to be charged with trying to blow up NWA plane". The Associated Press. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  37. ^ Robbins, Liz; Maynard, Micheline (26 December 2009). "Restrictions Rise After Terrorism Attempt". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  38. ^ Baker, Luke (26 December 2009). "Europe tightens security after foiled U.S. attack". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  39. ^ "Delta Air Lines Issues Statement on Northwest Flight 253". Delta Air Lines, Inc. December 25, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  40. ^ "Explosive device set off aboard airliner." CNN. December 25, 2009. Retrieved on December 25, 2009.
  41. ^ ThisDayOnline 12.26.2009 Umaru Mutallab's Son Identified as Delta Airline Attempted Bomber
  42. ^ a b 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 December 25, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ Sullivan, Eileen (26 December 2009). "AP source: US officials knew name of terror suspect who tried to blow up airliner in Detroit". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  44. ^ Irwin, Jim (26 December 2009). "Nigeria banker fears son is alleged plane attacker". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  45. ^ Peisig, Theodore James (December 26, 2009). "Criminal Complaint" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  46. ^ Johnston, Nicholas, and Braun, Martin Z. (December 26, 2009). "Suspected Terrorist Tried to Blow Up Plane, U.S. Says (Update1)". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 26, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ Allen, Nick, "Detroit: British student in al-Qaeda airline bomb attempt", The Telegraph, December 25, 2009, accessed December 26, 2009
  48. ^ "Terrorist Attempt on Detroit-Bound Plane Puts Airports on Alert," Business Week, December 26, 2009, accessed December 26, 2009
  49. ^ Free Press (26 December 2009). "Detroit may not be the target of foiled terror attempt". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
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