DETROIT (AP) — A passenger aboard a Christmas 2009 flight to Detroit says there was a loud “pop” after a Nigerian accused of trying to detonate a bomb on the plane returned to his seat following a long trip to the bathroom.
Mike Zantow was the first and only witness Tuesday at the trial of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO’-mahr fah-ROOK’ ahb-DOOL’-moo-TAH’-lahb), who is charged with trying to bring down the plane with a bomb in his underwear.
Zantow says he helped move Abdulmutallab away from his burning seat. The Madison, Wis., man recalled another passenger saying, “Hey, dude, your pants are on fire.”
In opening remarks to the jury, a prosecutor said Abdulmutallab was on a martyrdom mission for al-Qaida. Defense attorney Anthony Chambers reserved an opening statement until later in the trial.
