You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Home Front: WoT
Disruptive Detroit passenger ill, not a threat
2009-12-28
Police removed an airline passenger Sunday following a disruption on the same Detroit-bound flight that was subject to a failed bomb attack on Christmas Day.

An FBI spokeswoman in Detroit said Sunday's incident turned out to be nothing serious.

"Today (Sunday) at Detroit Metro Airport, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) responded to a report from an incoming flight from Amsterdam where a passenger spent a lengthy time in the restroom. This raised concerns so an alert was raised. JTTF investigated and the investigation shows that this was a non-serious incident and all is clear at this point," the FBI spokeswoman told Fox News.

A law enforcement official said the man removed from a Sunday flight to Detroit posed no security risk to the plane. The official says the passenger was taken into custody after becoming verbally disruptive on landing. Subsequent interviews by investigators determined he was a businessman who became ill during the flight.

A source confirmed this report to Fox News, saying the passenger was indeed sick and that the incident appears to be "a non-event at this point."

Authorities did not find any sign of explosives.

A federal law enforcement official said the man, who was from Nigeria, was interviewed by authorities and the aircraft was swept. But the official said the incident was all an incredible coincidence.

DHS Press Secretary Sara Kuban issued a statement on the incident: "A passenger on today's Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit spent an unusually long time in the aircraft lavatory. Due to this unusual behavior, the airline notified TSA and the agency directed the flight to taxi to a remote area upon landing to be met by law enforcement and DHS."

"The passenger in question, a Nigerian national, was removed from the flight and interviewed by the FBI; indications at this time are that the individual's behavior is due to legitimate illness, and no other suspicious behavior or materials have been found."

"Though this does not appear at this time to be a security incident, in an abundance of caution, the aircraft was fully screened, with negative results, and all baggage is being rescreened before the aircraft taxis to the gate."

Several police vehicles and a police command unit had surrounded a Northwest Airlines plane at Detroit's Metro Airport Sunday after the pilot on the flight requested emergency help. The passenger reportedly became verbally disruptive and barricaded himself in the bathroom for an hour.

Two sources tell Fox News that the suspect boarded a plan in Lagos, Nigeria, with no baggage, and said the FBI has already sent an e-mail alert to other federal agencies notifying them of the incident.

A source told Fox News that the man taken into custody at the Detroit airport was a Nigerian national in his 30s. Federal officials know who the suspect is, but won't provide any more details.
Posted by:lotp

#10  HMMMMM, HMMMMMM, another Nigerian!?

Whaddaya all think - to wit,
* Simple Co-incidence?

versus

* Not-A-Tween Adult Al Qaeda Co-Terrorist wid "Cold Feet"?

versus

* Intentional PCorrect/Deniable DIVERSION > DISINFO + MISINF???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-12-28 21:25  

#9  There are no coincidences in matters like this, and barricading is hardly the act of a sick man, with no luggage who paid cash for his ticket.
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2009-12-28 16:17  

#8  Somehow the only part of the story I believe is that the suspect barricaded himself in the toilet for an hour. The rest of it smells like BS.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2009-12-28 10:29  

#7  What is his name?
Posted by: Parabellum   2009-12-28 10:20  

#6  Oh he quite likely was ... only this second guy heading to Detroit doesn't appear to be part of the fun. Let's hope his illness isn't one of those dreadful African diseases against which most Americans have no immunity.
Posted by: lotp   2009-12-28 10:17  

#5  And the first guy was not part of a larger plan.

It's frightening how I have come to trust the word of the FBI, JTTF, DHS et. al. so little.
Posted by: AlanC   2009-12-28 09:01  

#4  The first cue was noises like a water buffalo giving birth, coming from the lavatory.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2009-12-28 08:07  

#3  I wonder if his illness was a biologic response to a failed anal transportation of explosives (sort of the like the coke mules when the condom bursts)? Did the FBI analyze the contents of the commode?
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-12-28 07:48  

#2  "Sharp-dressed Man" > Uh, uh, ZZ TOP!?

FTLG does this mean the future OWG-NWO wants MTV-VH1 to return to playing Rap???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-12-28 01:45  

#1  Hope it's nothing too infectious.
Posted by: Gladys   2009-12-28 01:17  

00:00