U.S. Teen Arrested In Plane Hijack Plot

(CBS/AP)  Authorities believe a teen accused of plotting to hijack a plane was suicidal, and a judge was scheduled to decide Friday whether to keep him in custody.

The 16-year-old, who has not been identified by authorities, was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday night at Nashville International Airport. He was being held at a juvenile detention facility.

FBI spokesman George Bolds told The Associated Press the teen had handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag, and was believed to be traveling alone.

"His plan had a low probability of success," Bolds said.

The teen was calm during the flight from Los Angeles and made no apparent attempt to commandeer the plane, Bolds said. He could not comment further on the teen's mental condition because he is a minor.

Authorities searched the boy's home in California and found a mock cockpit, he said.

The tip to police likely came from his parents; he supposedly used his mother's credit card to buy the airline ticket, reports CBS affiliate WTVF-TV in Nashville. Sources said he may have made similar threats to do something like this in the past.

Juvenile Court Administrator Tim Adgent said a hearing scheduled Friday afternoon would determine whether the teen should remain in custody or "if there other avenues for his release."

A message left with the juvenile public defender's office was not immediately returned.

The boy is currently facing only state charges. Nashville District Attorney General spokeswoman Susan Niland would not release the nature of the charges because the suspect is a minor.

Federal prosecutors were still reviewing the case and had not filed any charges as of Friday morning, said David Boling, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Middle Tennessee.

The FBI dismissed broadcast reports Thursday night that the teen was planning to crash the plane into a "Hannah Montana" concert in Lafayette, La.

[gunownerdan]

There are bullets specially made to not do much damage inside of an airplane. The fact remains:
You won''t be able to hijack a plane using box-cutters if a pilot, air marshall, or responsible citizen are armed and capable of protecting themselves.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[Krazcarl]

No one has explained how a 16 year old was going to beat up and subdue 2 grown men with ductape and ropes grab them when they were rolling in laughfter on the cockpit floor. This is beyond stupid and not real on any level....You don''t subdue mem with ductape your have to get them first he was looking for a stay in detox at best.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.

[bubba986]

We should carefully listen to the lessons of the WWII veterans before they''re all gone. Arm the pilots, stewardesses, air marshals, and consider allowing people with concealed carry permits. The ones with concealed carry permits would have to have an airline certification so they knew to use ammunition that would disintegrate after the first impact so as not to be capable of damaging fuel tanks, etc. This would do another thing - protect passengers from security checkpoint entry to the gate. This is a gaping hole right now... everyone is disarmed by definition... Finally, I ask the gun haters... when was the last time you were afraid of a law abiding gun owner and changed your plans? Whether it be to go shopping, to the movies, etc? Answer: Law abiding gun owners are not the ones to be afraid of... the lack there of is something to have concern over.