[cpdiii]

Can C4 be detonated by a fused blasting cap (as one would w/ TNT). Inquiring minds want to know. With a blasting cap or primacord yes. With a match no. I suspect this man was just a nut. However, he displayed actions that could easily have been interpreted as lethal. He is very lucky a passenger did not break his neck. It is not that difficult.

[gorush]

I have ignited a fuse with a match...actually a couple of matches. The fuses with which I have experience took two or three matches to ignite...once done, the blasting cap had no trouble detonating the TNT (and previous responses indicate that C4 would have acted similarily). This alleged terrorist may have been ill-trained (maybe igniting a book of matches and then the fuse...) If the early info can be believed (a rare occurance at best) the good guys dodged a bullet here.