Hot Pants

Or, as Don Surber calls them, Fruit of the Boom (h/t Hot Air):

The plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was organized and launched by al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently sewed bomb materials into the suspect’s underwear before sending him on his mission, federal authorities tell ABC News.

Investigators say the suspect had more than 80 grams of PETN, a compound related to nitro-glycerin used by the military. The so-called shoe bomber, Richard Reid, had only about 50 grams kin his failed attempt in 2001 to blow up a U.S.-bound jet. Yesterday’s bomb failed because the detonator may have been too small or was not in “proper contact” with the explosive material, investigators told ABC News.

Investigators say the suspect, Abdul Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian student whose birthday was last Tuesday, has provided detailed information about his recruitment and training for what was supposed to be a Christmas Day suicide attack.

Thankfully the bombmaker was apparently incompetent, and a passenger jumped into the fray and stopped the guy from proceeding with his attack.

Still, a little too close for comfort. And I hear that bomb-laden underwear really rides up on you.

In addition to the new restrictions on leaving your seat during the last hour of the flight, or not being able to get your carry-on until the plane's at the gate, you will also not be allowed to play with your Official Mr. Wizard Chemistry Set while the airplane is on final approach.