Air Marshals Stop Alleged Shoe Bomber

[James48843]

Air Marshals Stop Alleged 'Shoe Bomb' Attempt On United Jet to Denver

Qatari Diplomat In Custody After Attempting to 'Light Up' His Shoes

Federal air marshals subdued a man who authorities say attempted to "light his shoes on fire" on a United flight from Washington Reagan to Denver Wednesday night, federal law enforcement officials told ABC News.

Authorities say an explosive team is on the way to the airport, and that while the presence of explosives has not yet been confirmed, they believe it was an attempted "shoe bomb."

The suspect was identified by authorities as a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington, Mohammed al Modadi. The FBI said the man had full diplomat immunity as the 3rd secretary and vice-consul.

Authorities said two jet fighters were scrambled from Buckley Air Force Base to accompany United flight 663, a Boeing 757, as it flew the final 40 miles to Denver where it landed safely.

Authorities said the man, identified as from Qatar, was restrained by the air marshals who were on the flight.
The United jet was reportedly being directed to a remote location at the Denver airport.
A spokesman for the FBI in Denver declined to comment.

Source:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/air-marshals-stop-shoe-bomb-attempt-united-jet/story?id=10315314

 

[alevin]

It was just a matter of time before they tried to attack the heartland instead of just major national symbols. I fly in and out of Denver to visit family, when I fly, darn it. good thing I'm within long driving distance when not inclined to fly-which I havent' been much since 9/11. but for some extended family visits, it's just not rational to drive there instead of fly, so I still fly. thank god for the air marshals.

 

[James48843]

First reports may be wrong.

Now seeing reports that the guy wasn't trying to light his shoes- but rather was in the lavatory, and lit up a cigarette. Air Marshals jumped him when they smelled the smoke of the cigarette.


Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[James48843]

AP source: Man on flight possibly sneaking smoke

By IVAN MORENO and DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writers – 13 mins ago

DENVER – A Qatari diplomat trying to sneak a smoke in an airplane bathroom sparked a bomb scare Wednesday night on a flight from Washington to Denver, with fighter jets scrambled and law enforcement put on high alert, officials said.
No explosives were found on the man, and officials do not believe he was trying to harm anyone, according to a senior law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
An Arab diplomat briefed on the matter identified the diplomat as Mohammed Al-Madadi.
Two law enforcement officials said investigators were told the man was asked about the smell of smoke in the bathroom and he made a joke that he had been trying to light his shoes — an apparent reference to the 2001 so-called "shoe bomber" Richard Reid.
The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Officials said air marshals aboard the flight restrained the man and he was questioned. The plane landed safely as military jets were scrambled.
Hours after the plane landed, the man was still being interviewed by investigators, and it was unclear what if any charges he might face.
Emergency vehicles' flashing red lights surrounded a fire station at Denver International Airport, and two buses, apparently carrying passengers from the United flight, left the station for an unknown location.
Flights continued to land and take off at the airport, one of the nation's busiest. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus said he could not comment on whether the incident disrupted flights and referred all queries to the FBI.
Inside the terminal, passengers from other flights picked up their luggage at baggage carriers, apparently unaware of any emergency.
A senior State Department official said the agency was aware of the tentative identification of the man as a Qatari diplomat and that there would be "consequences, diplomatic and otherwise" if he had committed a crime.
The latest edition of department's Diplomatic List, a registry of foreign diplomats working in the United States, identifies a man named Mohammed Yaaqob Y.M. Al-Madadi as the third secretary for the Qatari Embassy in Washington. Third secretary is a relatively low-ranking position at any diplomatic post and it was not immediately clear what his responsibilities would have been.
Foreign diplomats in the United States, like American diplomats posted abroad, have broad immunity from prosecution. The official said if the man's identity as a Qatari diplomat was confirmed and if it was found that he may have committed a crime, U.S. authorities would have to decide whether to ask Qatar to waive his diplomatic immunity so he could be charged and tried. Qatar could decline, the official said, and the man would likely be expelled from the United States.
The Boeing 757 was carrying 157 passengers and six crew members, said Michael Trevino, a spokesman for United Airlines. The flight left Reagan National Airport at 5:19 p.m. EDT and landed in Denver International Airport at 7 p.m. MDT, Trevino said.
The flight crew radioed air traffic control to ask that the flight be met on the ground by law enforcement, he said.

 

[Show-me]

At least he has diplomatic immunity. :nuts: Talk about over reaction and some really pissed off passengers.

 

[OBGibby]

...Talk about over reaction...

Not really a overreaction by any stretch of the imagination. Man in closed lav lighting fire, smoke is apparently smelled by others. When questioned man states something to the effect of lighting shoes on fire. Considering that multiple attacks on civil aviation have taken place in the past along those same lines, it is not unreasonable for the crew, air marshals, and other law enforcement on the ground to respond as they did. To do otherwise would be foolhardy.

If the man had been up to something nefarious, and no one did anything, we might be talking about a successfull terrorist attack today rather than some inconvenienced passengers.

 

[James48843]

It's a sad day when the President of the United States has to be briefed on the fact that a guy lit a cigarette on a plane to Denver.

But welcome to the 21st century...

 

[Show-me]

They need a airlock and sign on the planes. Stupid Smoking Section.