Guv, TATP is not the benign explosive that you imply, as if a detonation would merely have tickled Shoeman's toes. Neither you nor I have knowledge as to how much explosive material was in the two high-top sneakers. If an FBI agent is willing to state under oath that the amount was sufficient -- if exploded adjacent to the cabin wall -- to rupture the fuselage skin and cause an explosive decompression, then I will rely on his analytical judgment at this point. Assuming Shoeman is charged with attempted murder, then it will be the prosecutor's burden at trial to demonstrate there was sufficient TATP to produce such a consequence and support an attempted murder conviction.
TATP was allegedly the explosive of choice on a Philippine Airlines 742 in 1994. The device was placed under a seat, subsequently exploded, killing one passenger, injuring others, and blowing a hole in the cabin floor. This particular terrorist incident was supposedly masterminded by an al-Qaeda terrorist who is now imprisoned for life in the United States. (This 747 bombing is also thought to have been a prelude to his more audacious scheme of simultaneously hijacking/bombing 12 US airliners throughout the world.)
lomapaseo, Shoeman was not upgraded. He was in coach, sitting in row 29. I have seen no reports that there was a commotion beforehand about his changing his seat. He did attract the attention of the cabin crew during meal service by declining both food and drink.
Additional miscellaneous information from today's newspapers: the ticket price was $1,800, paid in cash, and the routing was Paris-Miami-Antigua. Taken from Shoeman's person on the airplane was a box of matches, plus several lose matches. In early 2001, Shoeman had applied for a new British passport in Islamabad, Pakistan, but for reasons unknown, it was not issued.
On the missing pages from the expired passport. It is unclear when they were removed. If one were to speculate, the most likely time would have been prior to his July trip to Israel, where the appearance of certain visa stamps might have made the Israeli's even more suspicious of him, and resulting in a denied boarding. If as the Israeli's believe, Shoeman was testing El Al security and vulnerability, then a denied boarding would have frustrated his recon.
[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: SaturnV ]</p>