Investigation Continues Into Attempted Plane Bombing Suspect; Homeland Chief Now Admits Security Didn't Work

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian national charged with trying to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25, was released from the hospital and removed to a federal prison as authorities try to understand how he smuggled a deadly explosive onto the plane and why, despite his family's warnings to the U.S. Embassy, he was allowed to fly. And a day after saying that "everything happened that should have," today Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano admitted that the system failed.

Napolitano said yesterday, "This was one individual literally of thousands that fly and thousands of flights every year," and said that air travel was "very, very safe... And he was stopped before any damage could be done... Once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have." But on the Today Show this morning, the Wall Street Journal reports that anchor Matt Lauer "pressed: How does a guy who’s on this general terror list, who buys a one-way transtlantic ticket with cash, who checks no luggage, and who’s own father has flagged him to authorities, get on the plane? Napolitano said that 'our system did not work in this instance' and no one 'is happy or satisfied with that.' She maintained 'air travel is safe.'"

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While Abdulmutallab's prominent family raised concerns about their son's radical views, American authorities only put his name on a broader watch list but not on a no-fly list—an unidentified TSA official told the NY Times, referring to years of criticism of too many people being on the watch list, “You are second-guessed one day and criticized on another"—and there was a note saying he should be questioned if he tried to reapply for a visa. An intelligence official told the Washington Post it's hard to investigate all tips, "It's got to be something that causes the information to sort of rise out of the noise level, because there is just so much out there."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said, still, Abdulmutallab should have been inspected more thoroughly at security, "This individual should not have been missed. Clearly, there should have been a red flag next to his name." President Obama has ordered a review of airline security and tracking those with alleged terrorist ties.

Abdulmutallab had the PETN explosive sewn into his underwear, which he claims he received from Al Qaeda in Yemen. According to the NY Times, pentaerythritol tetranitrate "is in the same chemical family as nitroglycerin and among the most powerful of explosives. It was the same explosive that Richard C. Reid tried to detonate in his shoes during an American Airlines flight in December 2001. But one characteristic of PETN is that it does not easily detonate, and that apparently thwarted Mr. Abdulmutallab, officials said. Dropping it or setting it on fire will not typically detonate it." Abdulmtullab had tried to inject a liquid into it.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 28, 2009 9:25 AM

Comments [rss]

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Jesse

Nap should be fired already. One second she says its all fine and after says its not. Obama find a person that can get the job done. Kick this bitch out already.

jt10000

Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to investigate more tips if government resources weren't spent on security thaetre in airports (supposedly now some carry-ons will be screened twice!!!) and instead on investigating specific information.

Think of the huge costs in time and money from nonsensical "security" at airports and what could be done with that. Maybe running down some tips. Maybe safer streets or emergency preparedness or flu vaccines.

jt10000

What stops me from flying is not terrorism, but the idea of having to get the airport so earlier, be asked a variety of personal questions by potential bullies, take off my socks in a dirty public place, sit packed in in horrible air with no room. No thanks unless I absolutely have to.

jaycjay

"Once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have."

That single line is being taken out of context not just in this Gothamist article, but all over the media. Here's a more complete transcription of what she said:

"Once this incident occurred, everything went according to clockwork, not only sharing throughout the air industry, but also sharing with state and local law enforcement. Products were going out on Christmas Day, they went out yesterday, and also to the [airline] industry to make sure that the traveling public remains safe."

But that's so uncontroversial that it wouldn't even be worth writing about. Much better just to chop it off into a short and misleading sentence.

jchez

There's no way to detect a terrorist who swallows a condom full of chemicals or inserts them as suppositories, and you know the next wacko will try that.

El AL has known that they don't have th technology to even detect Lexan camping knives filed to razor sharpness, so taking away pocket knives or clippers is plain stupid. El EL profiles and questions every passenger leading to further questions before boarding.

When the Airlines start to go bankrupt, maybe, just maybe, we'l look into the El Al model.

Politburo

an unidentified TSA official told the NY Times, referring to years of criticism of too many people being on the watch list, “You are second-guessed one day and criticized on another"
BS. Criticisms of the watch list were based on plainly absurd examples like Senators and Reps being on the list, babies being on the list, military personnel on the list, use of credit score to determine "flyability", etc., plus the 'feature' of the list that it was impossible to be removed from it and you always had to do desk check-in.

No one ever criticized the list for including someone who warranted suspicion.

ides_of_march

Better to let 300 innocent people get blown out of the sky than offend one muslim.

Glad to see the government take credit for the actions of one brave passenger who should never have been put in that position.

PTG in nyc

I don't totally agree with you, but regardless of who's taking credit, let's not forget that the passenger who took matters into his own hands was a Dutch guy (Amsterdam flight, makes sense).

The only thing more offensive to Americans than having a plane blown up by a terrorist is having a Dutch person steal the role of hero normally designated for the red, white, and blue.

I'd like for our security to be totally guaranteed, but I don't think it's unfair to ask the citizens to be alert and occasionally step in and diffuse a crisis. While that's less than desired, I find it hypocritical that the same tough Americans who point their finger at Obama and Napolitano for being "soft on terrorists" are the same ones who attend tea parties in the name of government leaving everyone alone.

The shoe bomber attempt happened under Bush's watch, yet I don't recall you saying that Bush was too concerned with offending one Muslim. These things happen all the time, regardless of whose ass you think our government is too afraid to insult.

Stewart

Both the Bush and Obama administration are guilty of not wanting to offend any Muslims.

It's simple. Let's put people who are suspected of being terrorists and jihadists on the no-fly list, revoke their visas and tell them they are not welcome in the US. If they're already here, tell them to get out.

Rocknrope

I anticipate the TSA requiring all passengers to go commando.

manuelmontalvo

"And he was stopped before any damage could be done . . . Once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have." Meaning... AFTER the incident occurred?

Kojak

I guess they mean by the response (Isolating the aircraft and subduing the passenger), SWAT, etc?

Either that or Dr Who is working overtime.

Mr. Shankly

'Air travel is safe' meaning about as safe as driving through any metro area with the typical percentage of texting/phoning drivers and methed out truckers.

Kojak

Statistics say that air travel is even safer than that, even if terrorists were able to blow up a few airliners every year or so. Its the idea of an airplane blowing up midflight that has an effect on people's psyche. But that wouldn't stop me from flying. I need to get to where I need to go. Now is not the time to wuss out.

If he was on my flight, I'd kick the shit out of him. Not on MY plane Freedom Hater!

tom9d

Er...wasn't it the other passengers who stopped him? So saying that "he was stopped before any damage could be done" is disingenuous.

Also, "you are second-guessed one day and criticized on another" is not a valid defense. It means you are doing a shitty job.