Was there really a plot, or is this an attempt to tie up investigators in a wild goose chase? Or perhaps there is something else going on. From [1] Reuters, with thanks to Sr. Soph:

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police are holding an Iranian who claimed to be involved in a plot to bomb a passenger plane in Belgium but have found no evidence to corroborate his story, the federal prosecutor's office said on Thursday....

Pellens said the man alleged he had been involved in a plot to bomb a flight that evening from Charleroi to Dublin after he was denied boarding because his visa had expired.

``I must stress no explosives were found,'' she said, adding that police had so far found no element to substantiate the existence of a plot....

The man, aged about 40, describes himself as a businessman. He was charged on September 28 with participating in terrorist activities and attempting to blow up an airplane.

The suspect told police he was approached by a man who had asked him to carry out an attack. Police are searching for the alleged mastermind.