Aug 23 2006
Another Foiled Attack Avoided?
Update: It seems the actions of passengers was bizzare enough to cause the Air Marshall on board to take control of the situation. This has mean leaning back the other way now on what this incident was all about. Some first hand accounts here. End Update
I have been watching the news out of Holland and the news of the diverted US flight escorted back to Schiphol Airport by an F-16 fighter. With the arrest of 12 people, I now see this as a possible terrorist attack given that high number of people being taken into custody.
Dutch police arrested 12 passengers on a U.S. Northwest Airlines plane bound for India which was forced to turn back to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on Wednesday, news agency ANP reported.
Typically the “out of control passenger” leads to a single arrest. This will be one to watch.
Update: Given the fact that the BBC is reporting the threat level at the airport has returned to normal so quickly now I am beginning to doubt this may have been a terrorist attack. Still, 12 people arrested is quite a lot. I wonder if two groups got into some altercations.
Here is some interesting information from local papers who describes the incident (h/t FreeRepublic):
“Coincidentally, among the 149 passengers aboard Northwest Flight NO0042 was the tipster who first alerted the FBI to al-Qaida operative Zacarias Moussaoui’s odd behavior at a Minneapolis-area flight school five years ago.
Tim Nelson, who was seated in the forward business-class section, said by phone from Amsterdam that he watched the plane dump fuel as it circled back toward the airport, while several federal air marshals appeared in the front of the cabin, hanging their badges around their necks to keep order. ”
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/15344027.htm
BobSunshince,
Hey, thanks for the tip. I noticed the story on Google before I read your comments. Since great minds think alike, I want to say how sorry I am your stuck with thinking like me.
AJStrata