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FACTBOX: Timeline of attempt to blow up U.S. airliner
(Reuters) - Following are details from an FBI affidavit released on Saturday about a Nigerian man's attempt to blow up a U.S. commercial airliner flying from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.
- On December 25 Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, boarded Northwest Airlines flight 253 in Amsterdam bound for Detroit carrying a total of 278 passengers and 11 crew members.
- Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for about 20 minutes and then returned to his seat, pulling a blanket over himself and complaining that his stomach was upset.
- Passengers reported that they then heard popping noises that sounded similar to firecrackers being set off and that they smelled an odor. Some passengers reported that Abdulmutallab's trousers and the airplane wall were on fire.
- Abdulmutallab was quickly subdued and restrained by passengers and crew members. Fire extinguishers were used to put out the flames.
- Asked by a flight attendant what he had in his pocket, Abdulmutallab said an "explosive device." A passenger told investigators that he also saw Abdulmutallab holding what appeared to be a partially melted syringe that was smoking. The passenger took it, extinguished it and threw it to the floor of the aircraft.
- Abdulmutallab was taken to University of Michigan Health System Hospital after the plane landed for treatment.
- A preliminary analysis of the explosive device discovered that it contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, the same explosive used by the so-called shoe bomber Richard Reid who tried to blow up a transatlantic jumbo commercial airliner just over eight years ago.
Sources: FBI affidavit, Justice Department.
(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky in Washington, Editing by Eric Walsh)
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The “Sharp Dressed Man” apparently told the agent to let the bomber in without a passport.
Agent Provocateur.
Kurt Haskell of Newport, Mich., who posted an earlier comment about his experience, talked exclusively with MLive.com and confirmed he was on the flight by sending a picture of his boarding pass. He and his wife, Lori, were returning from a safari in Uganda when they boarded the NWA flight on Friday.
Haskell said he and his wife were sitting on the ground near their boarding gate in Amsterdam, which is when they saw Mutallab approach the gate with an unidentified man.
Kurt and Lori Haskell are attorneys with Haskell Law Firm in Taylor. Their expertise includes bankruptcy, family law and estate planning.
While Mutallab was poorly dressed, his friend was dressed in an expensive suit, Haskell said. He says the suited man asked ticket agents whether Mutallab could board without a passport. “The guy said, ‘He’s from Sudan and we do this all the time.’”
The ticket agent referred Mutallab and his companion to her manager down the hall, and Haskell didn’t see Mutallab again until after he allegedly tried to detonate an explosive on the plane.”
CCTV Footage will confirm the identity of this man.
A. According to Kurt Haskell, whose 30 minute extensive interview is available online, the FBI didnt bother with the CCTV footage.
B. When Haskell asked the FBI about where is the CCTV footage of the Sharp Dressed Man at the gate, they became irritated.
C. After the flight dogs identified a man and suspicious baggage. This person was quickly led away. This person subsequently the FBI claims doesnt exist. Curiously the FBI showed Haskell this mans picture and he remarked “This is the person who supposedly doesnt exist?”
Funny FBI Behavior. When you go to a Museum you look at whats on display not the window dressing. Window Dressing seems to be the only thing FBI is investigating. It of course is all, just window dressing.
Kurt Haskell 30 minute interview is available online.
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