Search the Internet          Tips  Links: Terror in America

Attempt to 'blow up' American
airliner thwarted

An attempt to blow up an American Airlines plane, on flight from Paris to Miami with 197 passengers on board, was thwarted when alert crew members overpowered a man who tried to ignite explosives concealed inside his shoes.

Officials are determining whether it was a terrorist attempt to instill fear in people two days before Christmas.

Investigators believe it could be a terrorist act as the passenger, reportedly of Middle Eastern origin and aged 28, was travelling without luggage.

Officials said he was carrying a British passport issued three weeks earlier which identified him as Richard Reid but say it could be fake.

A flight attendant became suspicious when she smelt sulphur from a lit match as the man, seated in the middle of the plane tried to light the fuse wire coming out of his shoes.

The man, confronted by the attendant, became violent and bit her hand. Another flight attendant who tried to help her was also injured but soon the youth was overpowered with the help of other passengers.

The suspect was being questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies.

Following the incident, two F-15 fighter jets escorted the plane after it entered the American airspace and diverted it to the Logan airport in Boston.

PTI

America's War on Terror: The Complete Coverage
The Attack on US Cities: The Complete Coverage

The Terrorism Weblog: Latest Stories from Around the World

External Link:
For further coverage, please visit www.saja.org/roundupsept11.html

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report