Passenger ‘Tries To Blow Up’ U.S. Plane

Neal Walker
Sky News
Friday, December 25, 2009

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The White House says an incident involving a small explosion on an airliner was an attempted act of terrorism.

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.

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

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

Representative Peter King, who sits on the House of Representatives
Homeland Security Committee, said the device was “fairly
sophisticated,” and the suspect was a 23-year-old Nigerian man.

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

Full story here.