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Passenger Describes Heroic Effort to Stop Terrorist Attack on Northwest Flight 253 - Video 12/25/09
Freedom's Lighthouse ^ | December 26, 2009 | Brian

Posted on 12/26/2009 7:37:45 AM PST by Federalist Patriot

Here is video of a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 telling about the heroic effort of another passenger to stop a terrorist on board to keep him from completing his attempt to blow up the airplane.

A young man climbed over passengers to get to the Nigerian terrorist to stop him. Reports indicate the terrorist was burned badly on his legs, where he had strapped the explosive device. The heroic passenger was also burned in subduing the attacker:

An attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight began with a pop and a puff of smoke - sending passengers scrambling to subdue a Nigerian man who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up the airliner, officials and travelers said.

The commotion began as Northwest Airlines Flight 253, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, prepared to land in Detroit just before noon Friday. Travelers said they smelled smoke, saw a glow, and heard what sounded like firecrackers. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man, who officials say was trying to ignite an explosive device.

"It sounded like a firecracker in a pillowcase," said Peter Smith, a passenger from the Netherlands. "First there was a pop, and then (there) was smoke."

Smith said one passenger, sitting opposite the man, climbed over passengers, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. The heroic passenger appeared to have been burned.

Afterward, the suspect was taken to a front-row seat with his pants cut off and his legs burned. Multiple law enforcement officials also said the man appeared badly burned on his legs, indicating the explosive was strapped there. The components were apparently mixed in-flight and included a powdery substance, multiple law enforcement and counterterrorism officials said.

The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel. Dutch anti-terrorism authorities said the U.S. has asked all airlines to take extra precautions on flights worldwide that are bound for the United States. . . . (VIDEO)



TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: airlinesecurity; deltaflight253; flight253; hero; northwestflight; northwestflight253; terrorattack; tm
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To: luvEastTenn

LOL, can you hear “Houston, we have challenges”?


21 posted on 12/26/2009 9:07:26 AM PST by Cold Heart
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To: tjd1454

How do you know there were Americans seated near by?

Apparently the Dutchman was the first to spot the flame.

Why not praise him, be grateful and leave it at that?


22 posted on 12/26/2009 9:07:36 AM PST by onyx
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To: tjd1454
The Dutchman who saved the day was several seats away, and literally had to jump over a number of seats and passengers to reach the terrorist. Where were all the Americans?

Oh Braveheart, forgive me- you seem to know precisely what happened; I was not aware that you were on board.

"Where were all the brave Americans?" you ask- When you're in charge, no Marines, no SEALS are required! We hail you MACHOMAN!

23 posted on 12/26/2009 9:14:11 AM PST by InkStone
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To: tjd1454

How do you know they weren’t women, or French or worse yet, Liberals? Perhaps you should wait for the facts before you start calling out FReepers or Americans.

Pray for 2010


24 posted on 12/26/2009 9:15:10 AM PST by bray (What ya in for Son? No Health Insurance. Me too.)
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To: onyx

Good point. It is possible that there were only people of other nationalities seated near the terrorist. But by the same token, the posts that appear on these hijack threads about how we Americans “sure taught that terrorist guy a lesson” on that plane are equally in error.


25 posted on 12/26/2009 9:18:58 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: tjd1454

A bunch of potheads returning from Amsterdam to Detroit is not a good cross section of Americans. I can promise you if that flight was out of Houston, there would have been blood.


26 posted on 12/26/2009 9:20:13 AM PST by willyd (Reducing Taxes Reduces our Carbon Footprint)
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To: InkStone

Apparently a number of Freepers knew “precisely” what transpired on board that plane before the facts came out. I am speaking about the numerous “we sure showed that terrorist not to mess with Americans!” type comments perhaps inspired by inaccurate news headlines proclaiming that “passengers” subdued the terrorist with it was actually one person, a Dutchman no less, that actually took him down.


27 posted on 12/26/2009 9:25:37 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: willyd

I certainly hope you are correct. In the end it may be left to Texans and others with the fortitude to confront evil to save our Republic.


28 posted on 12/26/2009 9:39:11 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: Federalist Patriot

WOW - it appears from reports that although passengers went after the terrorist after seeing and hearing ‘stuff’ the fact is that the bomb simply didn’t go off - meaning that the terrorist had everything in place to make this happen.

Geez, let’s try profiling as people are boarding. He must have been visually as likely suspect.


29 posted on 12/26/2009 9:45:09 AM PST by unique
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To: tjd1454

Thanks, and it’s also possible, that women and children were seated nearby too.

Now, were I seated next to the terrorist (I like the aisle seat) I think he would have felt the force of my 20 pound Coach handbag smashed into the side of his face immediately after I saw him bend over to light the explosive, and I would have screamed my head off. So there!!


30 posted on 12/26/2009 9:48:55 AM PST by onyx
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To: onyx

“Thanks, and it’s also possible, that women and children were seated nearby too.

Now, were I seated next to the terrorist (I like the aisle seat) I think he would have felt the force of my 20 pound Coach handbag smashed into the side of his face immediately after I saw him bend over to light the explosive, and I would have screamed my head off. So there!!”

Excellent!


31 posted on 12/26/2009 10:21:56 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: tjd1454
What I am referring to is the macho comments on these hijacking threads about how Americans are rough & tough and would leap into action to subdue any terrorist. That apparently did not happen.

You're right, we're pussies here....tell that to these folks.


32 posted on 12/26/2009 10:33:52 AM PST by wardaddy (Say Merry Christmas or I'll kill you..slow....I am weary of the onslaught on Christ in America)
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To: An American In Dairyland

“It was a Failed Terrorist Attack however the Muzzie did actually pull it off because he did manage to smuggle the explosive on the plane and he DID ignite the explosive on the plane.”

The terrorist attack succeeded. It got the guy on board, and he set off the device.

A known black muslim from an African nation in religious strife was not screened.

Our systems FAILED, under Obama.

Maj. Hasan and now this guy. Dems can’t be trusted with National Security.

Spread the word, and start next November reducing the number of dems.


33 posted on 12/26/2009 10:35:50 AM PST by truth_seeker
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To: tjd1454
You're kidding right? As someone who travels weekly and traveled to London 9 times in the last 10 months, I can tell you that there are many nationalities coming into the States. Moreover, the A330 widebody, especially where he was sitting, was on the far side meaning only someone within 3-4 rows would even be able to reach them and they would have to be on the aisle. That means you've now restricted your choices to roughly 6 people to act.

I can also tell you, without any doubt or hesitation, there are people like me, and quite a few, who, from our first class or seats up towards the front of the aircraft, watch every person who comes on board a flight with a skeptical eye and who will act upon any disturbance.

And I will also say, that will never be restricted to a nationality but to anyone who values their life.

34 posted on 12/26/2009 10:40:51 AM PST by Solson (magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.)
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To: wardaddy

Good for you. I’d be happy to see a thousand similar protests. Just don’t defend those who rashly presume it was Americans on that flight that subdued the terrorist. In this case - as hard as it apparently is for some on these threads to take - it was actually a Dutchman who deserves the credit.


35 posted on 12/26/2009 10:41:18 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: Solson

“...I can tell you that there are many nationalities coming into the States. Moreover, the A330 widebody, especially where he was sitting, was on the far side meaning only someone within 3-4 rows would even be able to reach them and they would have to be on the aisle. That means you’ve now restricted your choices to roughly 6 people to act...”

So I presume from the above that those who initially assumed it was Americans who nailed the terrorist are also in error?


36 posted on 12/26/2009 10:45:06 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: tjd1454

No one here tried to do any sort of taking credit from a Dutchamn as you claimed.

You’ve created a dragon to slay on this thread that only exists in your head, not on this thread.

Happy Boxing Day.


37 posted on 12/26/2009 10:48:25 AM PST by wardaddy
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To: wardaddy

Whew, what a relief! I was SO worried that we were facing a real dragon - an implacable enemy in militant Islam, and furthermore, that we in the West had lost our will and ability to confront evil, and are only left with a lot of empty boastful talk exemplified by those on this esteemed forum who before they knew the facts were boasting of their fellow American’s prowess on that plane!!


38 posted on 12/26/2009 10:58:29 AM PST by tjd1454
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To: tjd1454

You’re a fool. Good luck with that.


39 posted on 12/26/2009 11:05:32 AM PST by wardaddy
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To: tjd1454
I guess so but what's your point? You're initial point was "where were the Americans?" not pointing the error of assuming it was Americans who acted first!

trust me when I saw that Americans are usually the first to act. The fact they didn't on this flight wasn't, IMO, the thrust of your first post...so I provided some anecdotal context that questioned your original premise.

40 posted on 12/26/2009 11:07:22 AM PST by Solson (magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.)
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