A MAN who tried to blow up a transatlantic flight by detonating explosives in his underpants failed because explosives had become “degraded” after he wore the same underwear for two weeks, it has been claimed.
Known as the “underwear bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was caught trying to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in 2009 en route to the US from Amsterdam.
The plane made an emergency landing in Detroit after the bomb failed to go off.
US officials traced the bomb plot to al Qaida and at his trial the Nigerian called the bomb a “blessed weapon” to avenge the mistreatment of Muslims.
John Pistole, head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said the explosive device failed because of the length of time Abdulmutallab wore his underpants.
