White said the man's passport, issued in Belgium three weeks ago, was "questionable." He boarded the plane without luggage or additional identification and was apparently traveling alone.
The suspect was being interrogated at the airport by the FBI. The other passengers also were questioned, White said, and the aircraft and luggage were searched. The passengers then boarded another American Airlines flight to Miami just before 1am yesterday. The plane landed in Miami around 6am, American said.
"People are very tired," said Peter Ensink, a 35-year-old Swiss salesman and one of 185 passengers onboard the plane. "This will be the best Christmas ever."
"I don't care. I'll fly again," said nine-year-old Azner Dahan.
The intervention on the flight "appeared to have prevented something very serious from occurring," Kinton said.
An official with the British Foreign Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "We are seeking normal consular access as we would with any UK citizen."
C-4 is a military plastic explosive. Its main ingredient is RDX, which is also used in fireworks. The whitish, puttylike substance can be easily molded by hand. Although large amounts of C-4 can explode if they are burned, small amounts are unlikely to be detonated without a blasting cap.
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