January 27, 2006, - 12:11 pm
BREAKING SCHLUSSEL EXCLUSIVE: Bomb Found on Detroit Plane Pre-Superbowl
By
***SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES from Northwest Airlines & Federal Air Marshal***
DETROIT–Just over a week before the Superbowl takes place here, reliable law enforcement sources say local and federal authorities are trying to keep quiet a story about a bomb found on a flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Sources say that a week ago, Thursday or Friday, a bomb inside a small black box was found on a departing Mesaba Airlines flight, after passengers had boarded (Mesaba is a commuter airline that partners with Northwest Airlines on connections). The bomb, found on a seat, contained shrapnel and ball-bearings, the sources said. Reportedly, passengers were deplaned after the device was found.
If this story is correct, it once again calls into question the ability of TSA screeners to prevent explosive devices from getting past airport checkpoints. It also raises questions regarding whether terrorists are testing the system just prior to the Superbowl, here.
*** UPDATE: Northwest Airlines Vice President of Government Relations Andrea Fischer-Newman called me to say that it was not a bomb but a kid’s science project. She said she will send me e-mails (with the names removed) proving it. Have not gotten them yet, but will post when I do. I have heard of other, previous similar incidents at DTW (Detroit Metro Airport) from reliable sources in a position to know, as were the sources for this one.
*** UPDATE: Northwest Airlines VP Andrea Fischer-Newman sent this e-mail from Mesaba Airlines security personnel, but asked that I remove certain names. So was there a bomb? Or wasn’t there? Hopefully, there was not. But, as FOX News would say, I report; you decide. It should be noted that Ms. Fischer-Newman was one of the University of Michigan Regents who allowed Islamic Jihad terrorist Sami Al-Arian to speak on campus (as well as other terror and murder supporters) at the 2002 “Divestment Conference” (in the name of “free speech”).
From:
Sent: Fri 1/27/2006 4:31 PM
To: Ramsay, Scott B [Northwest Airlines Security]
Cc:
Subject: Re: Suspicious Item on board XJ Flight 3521 in DTW 18JAN06
Scott,
FYI
Wayne County determined it was not a threat. They tracked down the inbound passenger and found that it was part of a young kid’s science project for his school.
Regards,
Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management
Mesaba Airlines
*** UPDATE: Here is what a Federal Air Marshal in the know wrote in response, and I agree (but feel a tad safer knowing there are people like this person protecting us):
I trust NWA [Northwest Airlines] to give me the truth…not. DTW [Detroit] is as porous as it can be. We search every plane that we get on no matter how long it has sat. Then the crew are like, “Nobody has access to the plane but crew, cleaners and caterers.” Riiight. Caterers and cleaners with names like Habib, Jamal, Rafiq….
Tags: Andrea Fischer-Newman, Detroit, Detroit Metro Airport, director, Emergency Management Mesaba Airlines, federal air marshal, FYI Wayne County, Islamic Jihad, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Safety, Sami Al-Arian, Security, terrorist, The University of Michigan, University of Michigan Regents, Vice President of Government Relations, VP
Debbie,
Not to worry about TSA screeners, they see only what they want to see. I stupidly put a pair of $200 Oakley sunglasses in my checked bag on a flight out of JFK last week. Sure enough, they were missing when I touched down in Burbank!
It’s OK to let bombs go through the screening process.
Just make sure you grab those Oakleys that don’t belong to you!
I have nothing to worry about though. The very entity that stole my sunglasses will be investigating the theft!!
Criminals looking out for criminals. Sort of gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside, doesn’t it?
NJBeachbum on January 27, 2006 at 12:35 pm