In what the White House is describing as an “attempted act of terrorism”, after a device a Nigerian man was carrying on a Northwest Airlines flight bound from Amsterdam to Detroit, failed to detonate on Christmas Day, the U.S. has imposed stricter security measures on airline travel.
AP: An attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight began with a pop and a puff of smoke – sending passengers scrambling to tackle a Nigerian man who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up the airliner, officials and travelers said.
The commotion began as Northwest Airlines Flight 253, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, prepared to land in Detroit just before noon Friday. Travelers said they smelled smoke, saw a glow, and heard what sounded like firecrackers. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man, who officials say was trying to ignite an explosive device.
