Man removed from same flight as Christmas attack
A passenger onboard the same Northwest Airlines flight that was attacked on Christmas Day was taken into custody in Detroit on Sunday after becoming verbally disruptive upon landing, officials said.
A law enforcement official said the man was Nigerian and had locked himself in the airliner's bathroom. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
This picture shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday, Dec. 25. Officials say a passenger aboard today's flight from Amsterdam was removed from the plane for being "disruptive."
J.P. Karas | The Associated Press
Airport spokesman Scott Wintner said it was the same flight on which a man tried to set off an explosive on Christmas Day.
"The pilot requested emergency assistance upon arrival," he said.
Security and airline personnel are on edge since the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day, and the law enforcement official said that lesser incidents had been reported on other flights arriving in Detroit, but the incident with the Nigerian man had sparked the most concern.
Comments
Mr. DB
Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 8:42 p.m.
@ Wolverine3660 JeffS- why did you assume that the guy was talked to just becasue he was black? Given that one Nigerian had tried to blow up that plane midair, wouldnt it stand to reason that if another nigerian was being un-cooperative that it would make sense for the cops to be a bit interested? FYI 99.9% of Nigerians are Black. You can't tell a Black is Nigerian until you hear his accent or know his name. Hence, it not only sucks to be a Nigerian and be flying international, it sucks to be Black.
Lisa Starrfield
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 9:35 p.m.
This policy of staying in ones' seat for the last hour was not well thought out. After a long flight (possibly more than one) of bad airplane food, this is going to happen again and again. Someone will get ill and have to use the toilet. What's the plan then? Handcuff them upon landing? Lock them in? Drag them out pants around their ankles before final approach? Install cameras and monitors in all lavatories?
Sofia Toti
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 7:38 p.m.
Haven't the TSA types specified that no one is supposed to leave his/her seat for the last hour of flight time on international flights? Didn't they make that announcement on Saturday? So why is this person (regardless of color, sex, or country of origin) allowed to lock himself in a bathroom?
packman
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 6:41 p.m.
Looks like we need some objective journalism here, or would be almost the same as an oxymoron?
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 6:32 p.m.
No doubt? Really? So now we're just supposed to assume all Nigerians are black, all flight staffs are completely white, and all altercations with black people happen because of racism?
Wolverine3660
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 5:22 p.m.
JeffS- why did you assume that the guy was talked to just becasue he was black? Given that one Nigerian had tried to blow up that plane midair, wouldnt it stand to reason that if another nigerian was being un-cooperative that it would make sense for the cops to be a bit interested?
Bob Martel
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 4:43 p.m.
It must be tough to be Nigerian and flying into Detroit from Amsterdam these days. I hope that this turns out to be as innocent as it appears to be and I'm glad no one decked the poor man.