Military jets escorted a diverted American airlines flight to Boston`s Logan International Airport on Saturday after a passenger tried to ignite an improvised explosive In his shoes, authorities said.
The passengers and crew on the Paris-to-Miami flight
subdued the passenger, who became violent when confronted.
After the 767 landed at 2220 IST, Richard Reid, who had a
British passport, was questioned by federal authorities, according to officials with the Massachusetts port authority,
which runs the airport.
I`m told the flight attendant was drawn to him by the smell of sulfur from a lit match, and then challenged him as to what he was doing, said Massport interim executive director Thomas Kinton.
American airlines flight 63 was en route from De Gaulle
Airport in Paris to Miami with 185 passengers and 12 crew on board when the suspect lit a match and attempted to light his shoe on fire, Massport spokeswoman Laura White said.
When a flight attendant intervened, the 6-foot-4-inch Reid resisted and bit her.
Passengers went to her aid and subdued him, belting him
into his seat. Two doctors used the airplane`s onboard medical kit to sedate him, and the man`s shoe, which had protruding wires, was removed.
Bureau Report
