Family Life

12.28.09 | FL News Team

The Homeland Security Department is putting significantly more air marshals aboard flights following a failed terrorist attack on Christmas Day. The report comes from CNN, citing an unidentified source within that department. On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told CNN's "State of the Union" program there is no indication the incident was part of a larger terrorist plan. Umar Abdulmutallab [[ ahb-dul-moo-TAH-lob ]] allegedly tried to set off an explosive device on Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas. Security screening has been increased at various airports since the attempted attack.

 Napolitano says air marshals are put on flights randomly, but current and formal marshals say they're assigned largely based on terrorist-related intelligence. Abdulmutallab was on a security watch list but Napolitano says there was no specific evidence to bar him from flying. However, New York Congressman Peter King says there was "a clear failure of judgment" by Homeland Security in not having an air marshal aboard the same Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit yesterday. The crew had to request police help due to an unruly passenger when the plane arrrived in Detroit.