“The discovery of a Sept. 11-style al-Qaida plot to hijack several planes simultaneously and crash them into U.S. targets is behind the recent rash of airline groundings and increased security during the holidays, WorldNetDaily has learned from U.S. intelligence sources.
“Other potential targets included the Valdez oil terminal in Alaska, closed last week as a precautionary measure, and New York and Los Angeles tourist sites. British Airways, Air France and Mexico’s national carrier, AeroMexico, were the airlines to be used by the terrorists, according to the plan discovered a week before Christmas.
“Some of the terrorists were planning to use shoe bombs, according to WND sources. Briton Richard Reid in December 2001 tried to ignite an explosive device hidden in his shoe during a flight from Paris to Miami. He was overpowered and later jailed for life.
“The hijackers were planning to use legitimate UK, U.S. or other European passports in an attempt to evade stringent security checks. There was also a sub-plot in which a terrorist infiltrated the ranks of airline pilots.
“Nearly a dozen international flights to the U.S. were canceled during the New Year holiday weekend. The Bush administration has ordered sky marshals be placed on all airlines.”