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| Officials: Only A Failed Detonator Saved Northwest Flight | |
| 2009-12-28 | |
Officials now say tragedy was only averted on Northwest flight 253 because a makeshift detonator failed to work properly.
"We've known for a long time that this is possible," said Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar and ABC News consultant, "and that we really have to replace our scanning devices with more modern systems." Clarke said full body scans were needed, "but they're expensive and they're intrusive. They invade people's privacy." Al Qaeda, said Clarke, is aware of this vulnerability in the U.S. airport security system. "They know that this is a weakness and an Achilles' heel in our airport security system and this is the second time they've tried it." | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Only a failed detonator and a Flying Dutchman saved Northwest flight. Good thing Capt. Jack Sparrow wasn't around. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-12-28 15:40 |
| #7 i'm most grateful indeed, lotp. I came to Canada from Scotland some decades ago. In 1989 and, ironically, from Lockerbie. I'm doubly greatful this one didn't detonate and no-one was hurt either in air or on ground. Nasty flashbacks tho' on the near tragedy. |
| Posted by: Solomon Glulet1502 2009-12-28 15:03 |
| #6 Glad that was the only damage done to your area, Solomon G, despite the frayed nerves and inconvenience. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-12-28 14:49 |
| #5 Flight 253 was in Canadian airspace when the bomber attempted to detonate. Specifically, above the picturesque little town of Wallaceburg (see flightpath on Google). My town. Flight 253 Part II made a rapid descent to about 12,000 feet yesterday over .... yup, Wallaceburg. The laundromat is working overtime today on our collective tidy whities - again. Not funny. |
| Posted by: Solomon Glulet1502 2009-12-28 14:29 |
| #4 #3 Sure, tell 'em what went wrong. No kidding; looking for his 15 minutes. Wattabunchamaroons.... |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2009-12-28 13:43 |
| #3 Sure, tell 'em what went wrong. Reminds me of the story about the engineer and the guillotine... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-12-28 11:13 |
| #2 Free, he also has to find the right people to bow and apologise to, ya know? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-12-28 08:58 |
| #1 But... the system worked! Obama will speak on the subject as soon as he can find someone to give a shout-out to. |
| Posted by: Free Radical 2009-12-28 05:40 |