Official: E-Mail Warned of Items on Planes [Student ID'd here]

ABC Online ^ | October 18, 2003 | The Associated Press

[aculeus]

WASHINGTON Oct. 18 — The man suspected of hiding box cutters on two airline flights warned the government in an e-mail of his intention to conceal similar suspicious items on six planes and provided dates and locations for the plan, but was not considered a threat, a senior Bush administration official said Saturday.

Federal authorities "reviewed the correspondence and determined this individual did not pose an imminent threat to national security," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

No charges have been announced, the man's identity has not been disclosed by the government and FBI statement said legal proceedings were expected Monday in federal court in Baltimore.

A congressional official and two senior law enforcement officials, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said the perpetrator was a college student from North Carolina.

A student at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., said he was questioned by the FBI on Friday.

"They were pretty quick. I wasn't surprised," Nataniel T. Heatwole, 20, was quoted as telling the Greensboro News & Record, according to a story on the newspaper's Web site Saturday. Heatwole, interviewed from his home in Damascus, Md., said he has not been charged with any crime and has no connection to the airline industry.

"I'd love to speak to all of this. I have a ton of stuff I'd like to say, but now is not the time," according to the report. "I have to work with government before I work with the media."

A Guilford administrator said in a statement that the FBI on Friday inquired about a student in connection with the investigation.

"We had no reason to suspect that a student was engaged in this reported activity," according to Randy Doss, vice president for enrollment and campus life, whose statement was posted on the college's Web site.

Plastics bags hidden on the two Southwest Airline flights contained box cutters and other suspicious items. The discovery of the bags Thursday on planes in New Orleans and Houston triggered a nationwide inspection of the U.S. commercial air fleet.

By Friday night, after consulting with the FBI, the Transportation Security Administration rescinded the inspection order.

The agency said officials were able to track down the man as a result of a database search that linked the bags to an e-mail the agency received last month.

Government officials have stressed that no terrorism was involved and said the incident appeared intended to demonstrate gaps in aviation security.

The e-mail to the transportation agency indicated that six bags were going to be hidden on planes and it gave dates and locations, according to the administration official.

No other such bags were found in the inspection of the U.S. commercial air fleet. That checking was ordered after maintenance workers found the suspicious bags hidden in lavatory compartments on the Southwest flights.

In addition to the box cutters, the bags each contained notes along with bleach, matches and modeling clay, according to a law enforcement official.

The clay was formed to look like a plastic explosive, while the bleach could have been used to demonstrate how a corrosive or dangerous liquid could be smuggled aboard a plane.

The discovery aboard the Southwest planes was a chilling reminder of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The 19 hijackers used box cutters to take over four jets that day. Box cutters and bleach are now are among the items that cannot be carried onto planes.

[Walkingfeather]

sounds like the little snot is an arrogant bastard. He will be slapped by every airline for damage and I think the Judge will make wingnut here an example. Fine and Jail time. He ignored FAA warnings about not bringing these things on board and he had no authority to "test " the system. This is no different than some idiot pointing a BB gun at the president to "test" the secret service. He is lucky he wasn't shot. Throw the book at him.

[sourcery]

You can't keep the script-kiddies out of other people's computers, you can't keep drugs out of the hands of those determined to abuse them, and you can't keep box-cutters from being smuggled aboard planes.

Security measures are always "hackable" or "crackable." They do make it more difficult to casually commit a crime, but they don't make it impossible for those with sufficient skill and determination.

[Catspaw]

"I'd love to speak to all of this. I have a ton of stuff I'd like to say, but now is not the time," according to the report. "I have to work with government before I work with the media."

It's all about him.

[lelio]

He ignored FAA warnings about not bringing these things on board and he had no authority to "test " the system.

And the Sept 11th hijackers would obey FAA warnings?

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Thats it i've had enough from now on when i fly im doing it "naked" I'm ugly enough no one will notice!

Who knows maybe it'll catch on !

[CapnMcK]

Sounds like this little snot-nose has grandiose plans for a book/movie deal in mind. But people have gone to jail for a whole lot less than he's done already,and he should be made an example of before it becomes a fad.

[SouthernFreebird]

Seems like it was way to easy for him to smuggle these onboard. I can't imagine why your anger isn't aimed a little at the airline industry who still refuses to make flying as safe as possible.
Hell, who knows our towers might still be standing if the bottom line for these companies wasn't always about money.

[Joe Marine 76]

You're right! Therefore, a portion of the PUNISHMENT exacted should be NO ROYALTIES for book and/or movie deal. As well, he should not be allowed a sit-down with O'Reilly or Oprah to tell how he accomplish the CRIME! No First Amendment Right here as it would endanger all air travellers and air crew.

[ijcr]

I am all for him "testing" the Federal Pen for at least 20 yrs.

[GOPcapitalist]

He ignored FAA warnings about not bringing these things on board and he had no authority to "test " the system.

What he did was stupid and without authority, but its results should not be ignored either simply because of that. The system is obviously flawed so this should be a wakeup call. I don't think we should have a parade in this guy's honor but neither should we string him up on the hanging tree. Let the punishment fit the crime and that includes considering all circumstances. A firm but not excessive penalty should be applied here - perhaps a strong fine or brief jail time - just enough to scare the crap out of the guy so he doesn't do it again.

[Azzurri]

I am all for him "testing" the Federal Pen for at least 20 yrs.

That might test his ability to sleep standing up. Then again, he might enjoy that aspect of the Pen.

[Pedantic_Lady]

One of my relatives is an executive at Southwest Airlines. I hope they sue the hell out of that little snot for all the bad press. Southwest is a domestic airline that flies exclusively short-haul flights in 737s. Why on earth did he select THAT airline to make his little statement? Ugh!

[aculeus]

One of my relatives is an executive at Southwest Airlines.

A great airline ... and I hope this snotty jerk gets a little "reality therapy."

[Pedantic_Lady]

A great airline ... and I hope this snotty jerk gets a little "reality therapy."

Me too. I'll pass the compliment to my cousin. :-)

[aculeus]

Me too. I'll pass the compliment to my cousin. :-)

Please do ... and welcome to FR!!!!

[Pedantic_Lady]

Please do ... and welcome to FR!!!!

Thanks! I'm surrounded by British people...it's nice to chat with some good ol' Americans once in a while!

[SouthernFreebird]

Why on earth did he select THAT airline to make his little statement? Ugh!

Hopefully they were the only airlines slack enough to let boxcutters thru after 9-11. Seems people really have forgotten and we haven't learned a darn thing. I'll just bet terrorist think Southwest is a great airline also. People are in danger and your worried about your cousins reputation.... if that don't just take the cake.