Return to Transcripts main page

Breaking News

Man Arrested on Board American Airlines Flight

Aired December 22, 2001 - 17:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We're following a breaking news story. An American Airlines plane inbound from Paris to Miami diverted to Boston this afternoon. Aviation officials at Logan Airport saying that a man on board American Airlines Flight 63 was apparently trying to ignite explosives that were in his shoes.

There was a scuffle on board the plane. The man was subdued by flight attendants and passengers. Some of those flight attendants injured. The plane was escorted by two F-15 fighter jets to Boston's Logan Airport, where the man was taken into custody by the FBI. This was just before 1:00 Eastern time this afternoon. Logan officials saying 185 passengers and 12 crew members were safely taken off of the plane.

A bomb squad then boarded that plane. They found the shoes, which officials say did include explosives. The shoes were taken to an isolated area where officials say the explosives inside were disrupted. Officials saying that the man in custody was carrying a British passport, identifying him as Richard Reid. They say he is about 28 years old, and was traveling alone with no luggage.

Of course, we are following this story. We will continue to bring you the information as it becomes available.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com