Tightey-Whitey Terrorist

On Christmas Day, 2009, a 23 year old Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, unsuccessfully attacked a US-bound plane. The plane took off from the alleged “unsafe” airport in the Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. The plane’s destination was Detroit, Michigan. The terrorist was living in London at the time. The Plane took an emergency landing in Detroit’s airport, after the explosives were activated in the landing zone.

On Northwest Airline 253, the attacker had special underwear that was equipped to hold explosive powder in the crotch. The powder was the same as the infamous shoe-bomber used. The Nigerian man also had a syringe full of liquid that he was going to use to ignite the powder.

Abdul Mutallab had a blanket over his lap to be discreet. After injecting the liquid, his lap started on fire. Suddenly, flurries of passengers were running to the back of the plane, while one brave man put the terrorist in a head lock. Soon afterwards, a few other passengers came to help then the flight attendant came over with the fire extinguisher to put out the fire that then had spread to the seats.

All 257 passengers on board were not harmed, however, Abdul Mutallab was severely burned. After the plane had landed, the terrorist was taken to the University of Michigan burn Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. However, the United States in not treating this incident as a terroristic one. They are treating him like a standard U.S. criminal, charging him with attempting to blow up an air craft.

“Their security is a joke, but I don’t fly, so it is not that big of a deal to me,” said Freshmen Abbey Hamm. The Schiphol Airport was known for its relaxed security and unchecked baggage. Amsterdam is one of many countries that do not allow Air Marshalls on international flights. Passengers were not required to be body searched.

Abdul Mutallab was raised in a wealthy family in London. His father reported him the authorities on accounts of acting suspicious, and terroristic. No authority ever looked into the matter. Before the attack, Abdul Mutallab was living in a two million dollar home. He reportedly joined a radical Iman group and began his hijack/attack training.

He is currently being held in Milan, Michigan, while the family resides in London. "The family will continue to fully cooperate with local and international security agencies towards the investigation of this matter, while we await results of the full investigation,” said a spokesperson for Adbul Mutallab’s family.

“It [lack of security] makes me angry that the government is doing anything about terrorist and their flying,” said Sterling Davis. Increased security measures are being induced, and were critically enforced in the two days following the incident. In those two days, passengers were not allowed to use blankets and pillows, or use the bathroom within one hour of landing. Passengers were encouraged to take on less carryon items and bags, resulting in the airlines allowing additional luggage to be stored under the plane free of charge.

“He is a terrorist and the U.S. should treat him like one,” said Anna Kosmach. While people disagree about his official criminal title, others disagree when asked about this incident’s affect on flying. When East students were asked there was mixed responses. “I’m just more worried about turbulence,” said Kosmach.

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