Originally Posted by
comcomtech
I'm curious about the incendiary device, Pace. Is there any history of using such devices to bring down planes? Why would a terrorist organization go for an incendiary rather than a bomb with a more certain effect? Why would a terrorist organization want to leave any ambiguity about its role in the disaster?
Yes there is a very public history of such devices - Abdulmutallab's underpants were meant to explode but actually just caused a fire in the cabin wall and his underwear as NW253 was on approach into Detroit.
Improvised Explosive Devices often do not function as expected. But an IED in the forward galley, possibly in a refreshment cart, that caused a minor Abdulmutallab style explosion followed by a severe fire in the area of the avionics bay/cockpit rear wall but completely contained not causing an explosive decompression would fit the 'evidence' so far.