Official: Firecrackers set off on Northwest flight to Detroit

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A passenger aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam set off firecrackers as the Airbus 330 was landing in Detroit Christmas Day, injuring several on board including the person with the explosive, a spokeswoman said.

"Upon landing, a passenger caused a disturbance on board by igniting some firecrackers and he was quickly subdued," said  Susan Elliott, a spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines, which owns Northwest.

She did not know how many firecrackers went off or if other passengers or crew members stepped in after the firecrackers went off. There were 278 passengers on board flight No. 253.

"There were some minor injuries, which included the passenger who ignited the firecrackers," Elliott added.

She did not know how many people were hurt or the extent of their injuries.

The FBI  in Detroit is investigating. Elliott said said the airlines was cooperating.

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Associated Press writers Shelley Adler in Washington and Jim Irwin in Detroit contributed to this report.