I want to know how he was allowed to get that particular seat. Next to the skin of the airplane and just in front of the engine. I always had to book very early to get my choice of seats.
When did he book the flight?
When did he book the flight?”
The terrorist could have asked for that particular seat at the point of departure in Lagos, Nigeria, assuming he obtained a ticket at the counter, which I believe he did as a report was generated that the terrorist used cash. If he used a credit card or debit card, he could have ordered the ticket on-line, any number of days prior to departure, in an effort to better ensure that he got the seat of his choice. Or, he could have asked for the seat of choice, once he landed in Amsterdam. The aisle seats, bulkhead seats and seats near restrooms or the galleys tend to go first, due to the proximity to basic human needs, or for factors of comfort. A last minute cancellation may have provided a window of opportunity (no pun intended) for the seat that he eventually occupied. There is also the possibility that once the doors were closed, passengers were permitted to move to seats that appealed more to the individuals, often due to reasons of comfort or due to the desire to sit next to someone of interest, such as a family member or coworker.
Sometimes passengers reach a mutual decision to relocate their seats by switching with one another, once the seat belt sign is turned off, for various beneficial reasons, known only to the passengers, and often sanctioned by the flight attendants.
It would be interesting to know, as you posited in your post, when the seat was first obtained.
Yes. And I want to know why ANY person on a terrorist watch list isn't stopped, frisked and interviewed. I want Obama himself to answer that question.
December 16 or later:
DECEMBER 16, 2009 : (MUTALLAB TRAVELS TO ETHIOPIA AND THEN GHANA WHERE THE RETURN TICKET FOR HIS TRIP TO DETROIT IS PURCHASED- BUT THE RETURN DESTINATION IS CHANGED FROM ACCRA IN GHANA TO LAGOS IN NIGERIA) The return ticket for his trip to Detroit, via Amsterdam, was bought at KLM’s office in Accra on December 16 for $2,831 (£1,770). Unusually for a potential suicide bomber, he took the trouble to change his return destination, replacing Ghana with Lagos. He arrived in Nigeria on Christmas Eve. .------------ "Abdulmutallab's bomb plans began with classroom defence of 9/11," Times Online ^ | 12/27/2009 | Dominic Kennedy
Good question. I wondered the same thing.