Detroit - (Big Bang Theories): A crude Yemeni explosive device strapped onto a Nigerian student's leg failed to down a Northwest Airlines flight with 278 passengers and 11 crew on board.
Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, a 23 year-old student of pyrotechnics at University College London, may have been trying to upgrade failed Shoe Bomber Richard Reid's own 2001 attempt to blow up a passenger flight.
And just like Reid his firecracking foray ended up mostly a damp squid (sic) with second degree burns to his legs, groin and $250 designer trainers.
US media reported today that passengers had seen Mutallab trying to inject himself with a dodgy syringe after a trip to the onboard lavatory.
A loud bang followed as smoke was seen wafting from the Nigerian's trouser leg.
"Liar, liar, pants-on-fire!" someone in Economy chuckled as Delta cabin crew doused the would be bomber with fire extinguishers before wrestling him to the ground and dragging his pants off.
The semi-naked student was seen to be taped up with numerous improvised devices holding suspicious powders and liquids to his lower limbs.
Mutallab was arrested by Detroit airport police and will be charged later today.
