Meet the man who saved Northwest 253:
A Dutch airline passenger told The Post how he leapt into action when an alleged Muslim terrorist tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner packed with 300 people just moments before landing.
Chaos erupted as alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23, tried to set off a sophisticated explosive device strapped to his body.
“Suddenly, we hear a bang. It sounded like a firecracker went off,” said Jasper Schuringa, a film director who was traveling to the US to visit friends.
“When [it] went off, everybody panicked … Then someone screamed, ‘Fire! Fire!’”
Schuringa, sitting in seat 20J, in the right-most section of the Airbus 330, looked to his left. “I saw smoke rising from a seat … I didn’t hesitate. I just jumped,” he said.
Schuringa dove over four passengers to reach Abdul Mutallab’s seat. The suspect had a blanket on his lap. “It was smoking and there were flames coming from beneath his legs.”
“I searched on his body parts and he had his pants open. He had something strapped to his legs.”
The unassuming hero ripped the flaming, molten object — which resembled a small, white shampoo bottle — off Abdul Mutallab’s left leg, near his crotch. He said he put out the fire with his bare hands.
Schuringa yelled for water, and members of the flight crew soon appeared with fire extinguishers. Then, he said, he hauled the suspect out of the seat.
“I took him in a choke to the first class and all the people were like, ‘What’s going on?!”
Here a news crew interviews some of the passengers:
This incident proves that after 9/11 no one, absolutely no one, should just let the crew handle things. If someone is attempting to damage the plane everyone on that plane is now a soldier fighting for their lives.
Another lesson learned?
This war on terror is far from over and that whatever security devices are put in place to combat these terrorists will not be enough. They will find a way around it, especially when many of the airports don’t have the type of devices that would of detected this stuff.
Abdulmutallab, also named elsewhere as Mutallab, is belived to have boarded KLM Flight 588 in Lagos, Nigeria bound for Amsterdam. There he connected to Northwest Airlines 253, heading for Detroit in an Airbus A330 bearing the colours of the airline’s new owner, Delta.
~~~Airports in Nigeria do not typically conduct tests for explosive residue on passengers’ carry-on baggage and shoes. However, a spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria said the airport in Lagos had cleared a US Transportation Security Administration audit in November.
Yup, you read that right. The Nigerian airport from whence this terrorist came from had just cleared a TSA audit a few months ago. Who cares right? We don’t need this type of security anymore seeing as how Obama has proclaimed “We have reset our image around the world” when he gave himself a grade of B+ for his job so far. Guess Abdulmutallab didn’t get the memo that he was supposed to love us now.
And treating this war as a law enforcement issue will only guarantee that we will be on the losing side of this war.
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Schuringa may be facing assault charges, Obama and Holder will be looking into the situation, possible violations to the terrorist’s civil rights will also be considered.
Then you have this traitorous fat bastard:
Who is this “they” jerk?
Not to diminish Schuringa’s efforts, but the photo is puzzling, if this quote from today’s WSJ is accurate:
“At one point during the ordeal, passengers were told that the man who helped subdue the alleged attacker was exiting the plane. A female passenger who was seated 13 rows behind the suspect recalled the scene clearly. The woman, a nurse from Dayton, Ohio, described a blonde man with his fingers individually bandaged, and another bandage around his palm. A few people, she said, began to clap as he walked by.”
If this is an old photo, I don’t see a blonde. If it’s a new photo, I don’t see bandaged fingers — nor does he mention burns to his hands in the story.
Bean, I’m thinking this is quite clearly a photo of this hero from an earlier, more carefree time in his life, probably supplied by a friend or family. Good God… are you serious? And hair color? Not only is the problem what you consider blonde, but what the witness making the comment considers blonde and what the reporter considered blonde when the witness said , oh, his hair was lighter than brown but not white… it all happened so fast, I’m not sure but he sure saved all our lives…”
The ticket taker said “you can’t board without a passport”.
The would-be bomber fits the profile of an AQ terrorist: son of a respectable Nigerian banker, spent time in Yemen (AQ stronghold), studied engineering at the University of London, Muslim, young, etc.
That’s right, profiling is wrong. And, declaring him an unlawful, enemy combatant is wrong.
@Skookum: Either that or BO and Holder will ensure he is provided the best legal counsel our tax dollars can buy!
Hear the new regulations? No moving about the last hour of a flight and no personal items out during that time!!! Wouldn’t a little common sense be more appropriate and start profiling? Oh NOes! No profiling!
EVERYONE is a suspect!! We will willfully ignore backgrounds, faith of passenger, origin of flight, destination, duration, ethnicity …. everyone is equal to the Governments’ eyes…
Air travel passenger loads falling in one, two, three…….. Just what the airlines need!! Brilliant overreaction!
@DR said: declaring him an unlawful, enemy combatant is wrong.
What should he be called?
No doubt this terrorist scum was read his miranda rights and will take full advantage of the American legal system to avoid revealing who his accomplices might be and any future plans they may have to try this kind of attack again.
My return flight to SC originates in Detroit and I would feel more secure if I felt that the Obama Administration took my rights more seriously than they do those of a terrorist intent on murdering Americans.
But of course they seem to be more concerned that conservative activism is a greater threat than terrorism so they’ll probably interrogate me at the gate while waving through hordes of Muslims shouting Allahu Akbar!
Mike, I think if you re’read DR’s post, his last paragraph appears to be sarcasm.
Nor would I worry about too much about a shorter hop flight from Detroit to the Carolinas. Jihadis tend to like bigger planes, longer distant flights (at least cross country if not oceanic flights), more passengers, and larger fuel tanks. But as a just in case, I’d hide your pecans…. LOL
MA, I think DR’s suggestion was sarcasm.
The Terrorist was walked forward in a choke hold. A few of us less noble types might have tripped on the way through the aisle. It is amazing how vulnerable the human neck is when it is in a choke hold. Oh well.
I hope the story is correct and Schuringa is a hero; just an average everday American saving the lives of hundreds of people.
Now, our traitors in the White House, Obama and Holder are bus scheming to blame this on Bush and spin it to their political advantage.
I’m guessing this was some sort of high school science “bomb.” There are some materials such as Cesium which explode when combined with water. I don’t think it was ment to down the plane. The U.S. is going to spend billions of dollars in beefed up security and maybe go overboard and ban drinks on the plane.
Mike, to hell with the nuts; if anyone’s pants are on fire, beat them half to death (the person not the trousers) and pour water on them (the pants), stick a ham sandwich in his mouth and watch him very carefully until you land. If he spits out the ham sandwich, finish him! Holder will want to try you for war crimes and for an assault on a Jihadist; but there are worse things in this life.
@MataHarley: It’s small comfort that a jihadi prefers a wide body jet to the cigar tubes I get stuck on between here and SC.
The bigger problem will be the new “security” measures Obama and his TSA will deem necessary to inflict on the average American.
I’ll report back on any new delays and accounts of nuns being strip searched while bearded goons with prayer rugs shouting Allahu Akbar are waved through!
No problem, the US has known for two years that the terrorist was a potential Terrorist and his father reported to the American and Nigerian officials the extent of his son’s intentions, according to Fox News, six months ago. See how wonderful we are not to employ profiling, the rest of the world loves us, because of the complicity of our Leftists. See how Obama loves us and wants to take care of us.
“If someone is attempting to damage the plane everyone on that plane is now a soldier fighting for their lives.”
Amen to that. The libtards think we can negotiate with and appease people who are intent on killing us. Not even all his daddy’s wealth, power, privilege, and a university education kept this hate-filled cretin from trying to murder hundreds of fellow passengers. Everyone on that plane owes Jasper Schuringa a debt of gratitude. We all — and I especially mean the MSM — should be demanding to know why Abdulmutallab wasn’t on a no-fly list after his own father exposed him.
I would like to know how this terrorist got an American visa in the first place. It is apparent that DHS and Dept. of State are not doing their jobs. Along with a president that is weak on defense, this country can expect more of this.
Where is Dick Cheney when you need him? Why doesn’t FOX news have an interview with him or show his speeches on National Security!
If the Obama admisnitration thinks that Terrorists are trying to attack the US because of ‘poverty’ issues or because of the white men injustices, they must be dreaming. Brazil has the largest poorest number of people in the world and you never hear that Brasilians strap themselves with bombs to blow churches and synagogues…Terrorism is a religious ideology and not a class struggle.
This case of this Nigerian shows and proves that a large number of these terrorists come from upper class families and it is the brain washing that they go throught in college(University of London is well known to be center of Middle Easterner ideologues)that makes them nuts.(I can think of Fidel Castro who came from a very affluent Cuban family before turning into a murderer Communist)
Same thing happens in America with the Radical environmentalists and marxists lovers. Innocent children go to college and take courses with the nut professor(some call them intelectual class) who brain washes the students’ mind with an ideology of destruction and self-pity. That is why the environmental movement is doing so well these days, they got married to the Islamic Jihadists of the world and they are financed by them.
These ideologies need to be addressed and not appeased. Terrorism is an ideology of nihilism and destruction practiced by people who suffer from paranoia and sickness due to their inferirity complex.
It is sad for Napolitano that H1N1 turned out to be such a non-issue: because now she and her boss, The Pathetic One, have no excuses for why this latest known Islamic Fascist was not on the Do Not Fly List. Since his flight originated in a Third World Country and he did not leave a secure area, he was above suspicion according to Napolitano and Fearless Reader. Now that he has been classified as a nut case, Napolitano can get hysterical about flu vaccines for an epidemic that doesn’t exist and Obama can strut around the international stage like a Banty Rooster with three balls extolling his limited actions on the Overseas Contingency that is so much more trendy than a war against Islamic Fascism.
In the mean time, in an effort to relieve the stresses of nightly basketball games and parties, the Pretender is relaxing and campaigning in the 57th state with his family. White House officials have expressed The Prez’s hope that there will be no quasi-emergencies that might require him to feign the slightest interest. The anointed one or as he is known in the ghettos of the Windy City, The Oily One, hopes to devote the remaining time of this presidential term to legalizing Acorn’s clandestine activities and finding major funding for them, he also hopes to capitulate to Islamic Fundamentalists and find a means that will allow the Black Liberationists and Muslim Fanatics to merge under a new umbrella of mutual exceptionalism and cooperation.
@JBean #3: and @Yippie21 #4: The guy has a FaceBook, and I’m pretty sure the photo was swiped from it, as it is his profile pic.
@ Skookum wrote : Mike, to hell with the nuts; if anyone’s pants are on fire, beat them half to death (the person not the trousers) and pour water on them (the pants), stick a ham sandwich in his mouth and watch him very carefully until you land. If he spits out the ham sandwich, finish him! Holder will want to try you for war crimes and for an assault on a Jihadist; but there are worse things in this life.
Really this is a sad sad story what happened but Skookum when I read your post you made me laugh out loud! I did crack up on the sandwich bit….Didn’t mean to but you have a wicked sense of humor 🙂 This world is nuts…God bless us all..
Marie, I am glad that you enjoyed, the comment. However, the ham sandwich part is as serious as a heart attack. I think it could become the litmus test for rooting out terrorists and Jihadists. It could be adopted by our Special Forces, Napolitano’s Homeland Security, and concerned passengers who want to do their part in being vigilant as requested by Janet Napolitano. I can see the near future, when every able bodied male passenger will have a ham sandwich in his pocket: ready to apply the test to anyone who spends too much time in the bathroom or spreads a blanket over their lap while behaving in a nervous manner. This technique has the potential to triple or quadruple the efficiency of the airport security: with the added benefit of having a snack upon leaving the airport. This is truly a win win situation. A man who knows he is right, with steady hands, a discerning eye, a cool demeanor, and a ham sandwich in his pocket is virtually unstoppable.
🙂 yeah right…I am running to get a ham sandwich now!!!As for Janet Napolitano give this woman a break: she can’t be that bad as she is an avid basketball fan and regularly plays tennis with a ham sandwich in her pocket that’s why she is unstoppable you are right!
@Skookum: has a point. It would be great to get some decent airline food for a change. My flight to Detroit we didn’t even get a bag of pretzels. They should pass out ham sandwiches before boarding.