Mid-air terror sparks fresh security warning

FBI agents are continuing to question an air passenger said to have tried to detonate explosives packed in his shoes.

The transatlantic passenger was travelling on a British passport.

The man, using the name Richard Reid, was tackled by passengers and crew after a flight attendant smelt sulphur, and saw he was attempting to start a fire.

The 6ft 4ins man was restrained and belted into his seat by passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami, then two doctors sedated him.

The plane was then escorted to Boston's Logan International Airport by two US F-15 fighter jets.

The incident prompted a fresh warning from terrorism expert Mike Yardley that airport security still needed to be improved.

Mr Yardley said: "This is another example of how the low-tech approach has defeated airport security systems.

"It appears the man smuggled the explosives past security in his shoe and was attempting to detonate it with a simple box of matches."

The heels of the man's shoes were later found to be filled with what appeared to be explosives.

The man's passport was issued in Belgium three weeks ago.