Nigerian “Crotch Bomber” Induces Further Flight Restrictions

Published on December 26th, 2009

In the wake of the terrorism attempt Friday on a Northwest Airlines flight, federal officials on Saturday imposed a new layer of restrictions on travelers that could lengthen lines at airports and limit the ability of international passengers to move about an airplane. Among other steps being imposed, passengers on international flights coming to the United States will apparently have to remain in their seats for the last hour of a flight without any personal items on their laps. Overseas passengers will be restricted to only one carry-on item aboard the plane, and domestic passengers will probably face longer security lines.

The restrictions will again change the routine of air travel, which has undergone an upheaval since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001 and three attempts at air terrorism since then.

Just a day after the attempt on Friday, travelers at airports around the world began experiencing heightened screening in security lines. On one flight, from Newark Airport, flight attendants kept cabin lights on for the entire trip instead of dimming them for takeoff and landing.

The limits, which brought to mind some of the most stringent policies after the 2001 attacks, come at a difficult time for the airline industry.

TSA Motto: “We’re not gonna stop till no one wants to leave home.”

58 users responded in " Nigerian “Crotch Bomber” Induces Further Flight Restrictions "

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# 1 pedro said, on December 26th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Just peachy! And this is going to make flying safer how?

# 2 McCullough said, on December 26th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Think of all the money you’ll save on rectal exams.

# 3 pedro said, on December 26th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

I’m sorry, but I would not mind if all muslims get profiled and not allowed to board a plane. There, easier & faster airport security.

# 4 The DON said, on December 26th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

Did the wannabee terrorist remove his ability to reproduce, and does he have any offspring?

Could be a darwin award nominee

# 5 adoggz said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

Everyone should just stop flying. The TSA will ease up once the airlines have gone out of business.

# 6 ArtSpot said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Terrorist win. They get some dumb-dumb to do these asinine things to tie up and paralyze our country’s transportation system. They’ve got us walking on eggshells worrying about stupid stuff!

Meanwhile the terrorist sit & plot their real plan which probably won’t have anything to do with planes.

# 7 canamrotax said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Screw it all. I’m staying home as much as possible, and when I have to travel, driving instead. Nothing makes me loose my cool faster than idiotic airport procedures and rules.

# 8 yes said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Well if the American people could just get their collective asses together, and come to the conclusion that they really dont need to go anywhere until all this security BS takes a saner turn.

Let the airlines friggin starve for awhile and make it plain and simple that strip searching xray machines will not be tolerated etc, etc..and things will change. When the airlines start running even deeper into the red, they will force the TSA to reconsider.

# 9 jescott418 said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

We just have too many people crying about having their rights violated that true security cannot be done well enough to prevent this type of bombing. You cannot profile, you cannot delay passengers you cannot do much until another bombing actually happens and then people are more willing to accept more evasive searches.
Let’s face it, the terrorists just wait until we get tired of the security and begin to let our guard down. Then they strike after discovering our weakness. We are not vigilant enough about security. We accept it for so long then we go back to our old ways. We have a government who creates things like Homeland security to make us feel good. But it amounts to more spending and very little real difference in protection. We have the FBI and CIA. They have long been our protectors. We have simply tied their hands at times and not allowed them to do their jobs. We are too worried about our privacy more then our life.

# 10 Uncle Don said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

TSA – Theoretical Security of America

# 11 csdibiase said, on December 26th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

Before too long everyone will be required to fly naked and sedated

On the bright the airlines will be more profitable because they can cram more people per flight if everyone is out cold and do away with all in flight services.

A conspiracy theory for the No Agenda show would be that now that some crazy has tried to take a plane down by blowing up his crotch, all men will need to have an high powered x-ray of their package, which as an “unforeseen side effect” will be sterilization due to irradiation. Thus helping reduce global populations.

# 12 Father said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:05 pm

Short of a real x-ray of every person, including TSA folks working near planes, we can’t stop them. If someone is willing to die, they would submit to having all their guts removed, and have 25 lbs of C4 inserted in their belly. This procedure could be done through the rectum, leaving no visible scar. I think something like this was already done once for a ground attack.

Sedation would not work. The bomber is only a vessel.

# 13 dusanmal said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

@#11 Actual conspiracy is more likely their want to impose unpalatable whole body scan as mandatory. My bet: they knew this maniac (confirmed in press), they provided him with ready-to-fail “explosive” and “safe passage” (he needed to get visa despite his status on terror-list). Oh, yes, “they”=leftist World Govt. nuts hungry for control over others. Let’s help them fail.

# 14 brm said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

Limit their ability to move about? How about like, properly detecting their explosives?

Oh lol, I guess you spent all your time making sure that every single person didn’t accidentally bring shaving cream and water on the plane instead.

Awesome!

# 15 MikeN said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

So do you guys support the full X-rays being put in place at airports?

# 16 MikeN said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:41 pm

I’m getting the impression that yuou wish this guy had succeeded.

# 17 Special said, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

Can’t anyone build a decent detonator anymore?

And I got detained by TSA for my home built Ipod amplifier.

# 18 Animby said, on December 26th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

McCullough: Please don’t link to articles that require registration.

Full body scans: Trust me, no one is going to be looking at your package and getting all stimulated. First, time will limit their ability to appreciate your jewels and, secondly, after the first couple of hundred swinging dicks this morning, who cares?

It doesn’t matter, anyway. Every time one of these incidents is greeted with knee jerk restrictions on passengers, the terrorists have achieved their goal. You can’t move around during the last hour of the flight? Pity the poor pregnant woman who has to pee every 15 minutes. She’ll be tazed and just pee on the floor. No personal items on your lap? Is the latest Grisham novel gonna be confiscated?

Just more nonsense from people who have no idea what they’re doing. Instead of further inconveniencing travelers, wouldn’t it be best to spend the money finding the security problem at Schipol?

I say, if you want to save money on health care, put the TSA in charge. People will stop going to the doctor just to save the hassle.

[I agree, but it didn't req. registration when I posted this..it is the NYT. go figure. ed.]

# 19 Faxon said, on December 26th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

Muslim? Camel yes, airplane no. Stay in the 14th Century, assholes.

# 20 Animby said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

I was only kidding about the no book to read for the last hour in my post (#18) but it turns out I was right! For the last hour and half, no on-board entertainment. For the last hour, no blankets, pillows, books, magazines. WTF?

http://tiny.cc/bjSLS

Also very strange, for the last hour they are not allowed to inform you of where you are! Terrorists (not the TSA – no no no) must be very stupid. They want to bomb the plane just before landing so they wait until the flight attendants tell them they are about to land. Without this information, they will not know when to blow off their own nuts.

Of course, they have no idea that since the scheduled landing time is 8 pm and that it is nearly that time and they are descending and maybe the landing gear is down and the flight attendants are strapped in, etc. – they might be about to land.

The terrorists are definitely winning.

# 21 deowll said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

As always a few posters said something reasonable and prudent.

Father has a point but it should still show up on infrared or ultra sound. Some modern X-ray machines use very low power.

You can’t tell by looking who is and who is not a Muslim and not all Muslims want to die.

On the other hand the failure to check people out because of Politically Correct thinking is killing people.

# 22 Animby said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

TechCrunch is reporting TSA -MAY- ban all personal electronics for in-flight use. This is unconfirmed but if it becomes real, then would we be required to put our laptops and Kindles, etc into out checked luggage? Which, of course, the airlines ask us NOT to do…

http://tiny.cc/jpcdX

# 23 Named said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

3 pedro,

“I’m sorry, but I would not mind if all muslims get profiled and not allowed to board a plane. There, easier & faster airport security.”

And how do you figure that out? If they are as dark as a dirty Latino like yourself put them to the wall?

And what do you do with the Tim McVeighs in the world? Give them a reward?

# 24 msbpodcast said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

Gawd! The TSA is a whore outfit. Get over it…

THEY don’t want you to travel.

If the airlines go broke (again in some cases,) THEY could not give a flying fart.

THEY don’t own shares in those losers except to “short” them.

Who are THEY?

THEY are the people who don’t fly commercial.

THEY board right off of the runway from their private limos into their private jets. (Like the uppity auto execs who were shocked at their reception in Washington a little while back.)

THEY don’t put up with the TSA.

They OWN the TSA.

THEY are laughing their asses off because THEY even have YOU paying for it all.

YOU can’t even take the train anymore in North America because you bought all those cars which ran on all that oil that THEY had/have you sacrificing your children in far away lands to get for them.

YOU paid THEM to TEAR UP THE TRACKS and you were too distracted to care.

Until YOU build up the train infrastructure, YOU’re going to have to get used to flying naked and afraid.

Ba-aa-aa-aah! Ba-aa-aa-aah…

“Pow, pow, clink, tinkle” sheeple.

# 25 qb said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Let’s hope this dipshit smoked his nards.

# 26 Father said, on December 26th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

So no pacemakers (the perfect trigger for the gut bomb)?

And no wrist watches?

I appreciate the updates because I’m flying back home Tuesday.

# 27 bill said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

I’ll never fly again, and I’m fine with that.

The train is a lot more fun anyway.

# 28 Troublemaker said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

ArtSpot said:

Meanwhile the terrorist sit & plot their real plan which probably won’t have anything to do with planes.

Like invading Iran.

# 29 Troublemaker said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

ArtSpot said:

Meanwhile the terrorist sit & plot their real plan which probably won’t have anything to do with planes.

———-

Like invading Iran.

# 30 Troublemaker said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

Pfffftttt….

# 31 Troublemaker said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

Hmmm…

# 32 Captain Howdy said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

ArtSpot said:

Meanwhile the terrorist sit & plot their real plan which probably won’t have anything to do with planes.

Like invading Iran…

# 33 sargasso said, on December 26th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

People are avoiding travel through the USA en-route to other destinations on vacation, because of the severity of airport security and expensive travel delays and also because the US is wrongly seen as a dangerous place to visit. Tourists watching Fox, CNN and MSNBC see LA and NY as though they were Beirut or Baghdad.

# 34 pedro said, on December 26th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

#23 I just put you on the list. Who needs an annoying ass like yourself as next seat passenger.

#28 A cavity search on you sounds nice right now.

# 35 fred said, on December 26th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

the man with the rubber glove..

# 36 qb said, on December 26th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

So, this really was a religious nut job.

# 37 MikeN said, on December 27th, 2009 at 1:02 am

The new restrictions don’t go far enough.
How about don’t let someone board flights if his father has warned the authorities about his religious zealotry?

# 38 TThor said, on December 27th, 2009 at 1:22 am

1) Every non-US visitor has to preregister with ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization, https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

2) The Nigerian moron was already on the US list of suspicious individuals, after his father notified the authorities about his son’s extreme opinions – a year ago!

So – blatantly obvious that the rules and regulations and all powers vested with ‘them’ has not been used. Someone has been sleeping! TSA, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security… who knows, but someone simply did not do their job!

And who shall suffer? All the millions that needs to travel. No more dimmed lights in the cabin for you!; no more toilet visit 1 hour before landing for you!; only one piece of cabin baggage for you!…No more service for you!!!

The airlines should consider to offer everyone to change into orange jumpsuits for use while in flight; that private clothes are handed back at arrival…?

# 39 pedro said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:07 am

#37 I’m pretty sure this is Dumbya’s fault too.

# 40 pedro said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:11 am

Crap! Here’s how #39 should have read.

#37 said: “Someone has been sleeping! TSA, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security…”

I’m pretty sure this is Dumbya’s fault too. It’ll still be his fault 4 years from now.

I’ll be sure to remember both Dumbya’s & Obama’s moms next time I fly.

# 41 Crotch Bomber said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:13 am

I just registered crotchbomber.com

I’m such a capitalist pig. lol

# 42 airplanefixer said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:20 am

Nigerian-crotch-bomber-induces-new-security-measures. “Did you pack your bomb yourself?” tricky security question will catch the bombers out! I Feel safer already! Do you?

# 43 gquaglia said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:51 am

More useless hassles. Hey TSA how about stop wasting your time on children and grannies and go after the real threats. Young, Arab males. I know you PC weenies can’t stand the thought of that, but they are the most likely to be terrorists so they should be concentrated on.

# 44 gquaglia said, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:53 am

The Nigerian moron was already on the US list of suspicious individuals, after his father notified the authorities about his son’s extreme opinions – a year ago!

So – blatantly obvious that the rules and regulations and all powers vested with ‘them’ has not been used. Someone has been sleeping! TSA, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security… who knows, but someone simply did not do their job!

They were too busy checking toe nail clippers, mouthwash bottles and 6 mos old babies. TSA is a joke, why pretend they are anything other then that.

# 45 New Innovations - Underwear said, on December 27th, 2009 at 4:06 am

Whats next in the global war against terror
High tech scanners to test underwear
It all comes down to simple human intelligence on the ground – intelligence seems severely lacking as the British denied this person a visa to begin with

# 46 Yef said, on December 27th, 2009 at 5:07 am

The problem with all this is, a mountain of evidence shows 9/11 was perpetrated by the US government.

# 47 pedro said, on December 27th, 2009 at 5:12 am

#45 And Obama is now in it too; you know, since now he’s the man.

Although is not my place to give it, the King Kahuna Moron Award goes to you today

# 48 LOWER CASE SCREEN NAME said, on December 27th, 2009 at 8:24 am

Tiger Woods hired the guy to create a distraction.

Notice that Tiger’s now off the front page?

# 49 Buzz said, on December 27th, 2009 at 9:16 am

Wasn’t the shoe-bomber guy American, meaning non-muslim?

# 50 My2Cents said, on December 27th, 2009 at 9:31 am

Does anyone remember the movie “The Fifth Element”. Put everyone to sleep in some sort of coffin like box ( that holds your luggage as well )and ship them on cargo planes. Before these “boxes” reach the plane, scan them like luggage. Once you reach your destination, a bar code reader will trigger a wake up sequence.

# 51 brm said, on December 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am

WE MUST BAN CROTCHES ON PLANES!

# 52 bobyrne said, on December 27th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

On one flight, from Newark Airport, flight attendants kept cabin lights on for the entire trip instead of dimming them for takeoff and landing.

I thought there was a very good reason for turning off the lights; to make sure your eyes were dark-adapted as much as possible in case of a failure during the takeoff or landing. If there is a failure (like a runway overrun, perhaps?) then seconds matter. If you have to spend seconds waiting until you can see after the lights go out your chances of survival drop.

If that statement about the flight from Newark is true those flight attendants chose not to follow a long-established safety procedure in favor of what? A chance that they might spot something if the lights were on?

Truly this is a case of ‘fear is our greatest enemy’.

# 53 zombieball said, on December 27th, 2009 at 5:47 pm

#3 said:
I’m sorry, but I would not mind if all muslims get profiled and not allowed to board a plane. There, easier & faster airport security.

Dumbest comment I have read yet. How do you plan to figure out who is Muslim and who isn’t? It is equivalent to trying to spot a Baptist vs an Agnostic. Muslim spans many countries of the globe, you can’t tell someone’s religion based upon the colour of the skin or clothes they wear. And the day we have to put our religious beliefs on a passport to get into the USA is the day I stop visiting that country!

# 54 Frequent Flyer said, on December 28th, 2009 at 5:03 am

Why is the public made to suffer for the TSA’s inability to install better detection systems.

In a time when we can detect water vapour on a neighbouring planet, we must be able to build a fool proof explosives detector. I travel internationally every few weeks and have started to take longer routes just to avoid unnecessary American/British stop overs. This must be costing the airlines tons of cash. Although the hand luggage restriction is saving them costs due to the reduced weight on board.

I just want to go through some scanner, in as short a time as possible without undressing or unpacking all my electronics for inspection. I dont want to rely on some person giving me a free grope/pat down.

But at the end of the day, body searches are much cheaper than hi-tech scanners and the TSA is providing employment for many people.

# 55 Benjamin said, on December 28th, 2009 at 6:57 am

If I am flying, I won’t be separated from my novel. There is no good reason to ban books and magazines. Are they going to take the Sky Mall catalogs away as well?

# 56 pedro said, on December 28th, 2009 at 9:35 am

#53 I don’t care if you find the statement dumb. I’m fed up! This whole PC fear of “we don’t want to be perceived as profiling a certain group” is what has brought this upon is.

Screw them. And you if you’re in that bandwagon, your choice.

#54 I wish it were only body searches. It’s also being treated as a prisoner inside the plane. I say better treat #53 like a prisoner than me.

# 57 soundwash said, on December 28th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

The whole thing was rigged to provide a distraction and to allow sweeping new, “more better” security procedures to be added to the Patriot Act upgrade/renewal who’s vote was conveniently delayed on 12/16 so the hand puppets could be marched out and shake a stick “at the broken system” who’s solution is always the same: More government, More Police State, NO Liberty.

Come one people, how many more times will you need to be suckered into believing this BS before you get a clue?

There are plenty of other, “hidden in plain sight” very simplistic memes in this account that apparently, only those who actually know how to learn and think on their own can easily spot.

Think.

The story reeks of another FBI/CIA stooge setup, complete with FULL video “to remove all doubt”

———please…

-s

# 58 astonished said, on January 15th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Don’t even think of taking a carry-on bag from Canada to the USA on Air Canada. It’s “not allowed“!

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