Investigation Summary
On Christmas Day 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to destroy an Airbus A330 carrying 289 other people using a chemical explosive device. The device consisted of approximately 80 grams of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) sewn into a pouch in his underwear. As the flight began its descent into Detroit, Abdulmutallab used a syringe to inject a liquid acid catalyst into the powder to initiate detonation. Instead of a high-order explosion, the device produced a series of popping sounds, smoke, and a fire that burned Abdulmutallab's legs and the cabin wall. Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch passenger, climbed over seats to tackle the suspect while flight attendants used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. The incident resulted in three injuries: Abdulmutallab suffered severe burns to his legs and groin, while two other passengers sustained minor injuries during the struggle to subdue him. The aircraft landed safely at Detroit Metropolitan Airport shortly thereafter. The attack was later claimed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), who provided the training and the device in Yemen.
Final Conclusions
The incident was a failed suicide bombing attempt orchestrated by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The perpetrator, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was convicted in U.S. federal court on eight counts, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder. On February 16, 2012, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The investigation highlighted significant intelligence failures, as the suspect's father had previously warned U.S. embassy officials in Nigeria about his son's radicalization, yet Abdulmutallab remained on a low-level watch list that did not prevent him from boarding the flight.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
A non-metallic device consisting of PETN powder and TATP, designed to evade traditional airport metal detectors.
Cabin Fire Suppression
Handheld fire extinguishers were used by the flight crew to successfully put out the fire caused by the partial detonation.
Interesting Facts
- 01The explosive device contained over 80 grams of PETN, a powerful crystalline explosive.
- 02The suspect used a syringe containing liquid chemicals to attempt to trigger the detonation.
- 03The aircraft involved, N820NW, was an Airbus A330-323E manufactured in 2007.
- 04There were 278 passengers and 11 crew members on board at the time of the incident.
- 05The attack was masterminded by Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Enhanced Passenger Screening
The TSA accelerated the deployment of Full Body Scanners (Advanced Imaging Technology) at U.S. airports to detect non-metallic threats hidden under clothing.
Watchlist Reform
The U.S. government revised the criteria for adding individuals to the 'No Fly' and 'Selectee' lists to ensure that individuals with known extremist ties are more effectively barred from air travel.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Intelligence Failures
Reference ↗The U.S. intelligence community was criticized for failing to connect 'bits of information' that could have prevented the attack, including a direct warning from the suspect's father to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.