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The "Shoe Bomber"
In December 2001, a man smuggled a homemade bomb onto a flight from Paris to Miami. The passenger hid the plastic explosives in his shoes! About one hour and 45 minutes into the flight, he tried to ignite the bomb with a match. The man now known as the "shoe bomber" is identified as Richard Reid. His plan was foiled when a flight attendant noticed him lighting a match and then saw a wire, or detonation cord sticking out of his shoes. The flight attendant tried to stop him, but the man became violent. At that point, passengers and other flight crewmembers leapt into action. After quite a struggle, they subdued the man. It is said that the bomb was powerful enough to have blown a hole in the plane. The plane was diverted to Boston, where Richard Reid was taken into custody. Although the passengers were safe, they were shaken with their run-in with terror. Follow-Up Richard Reid is still in police custody, and officials are examining any possible ties between the "shoe bomber" and Osama bin Laden. 
Kwame James was on that flight, sitting just ten rows ahead of the "shoe bomber." A flight attendant approached him for help—he could see the fear in her eyes and knew that something was seriously wrong. Kwame says that he, along with 6 other men, subdued "an almost possessed" Richard Reid and then guarded him until they landed safely. Kwame asked Reid, "Why would you want to kill all of us?" Reid responded and almost smirked, "You'll see."
Kwame considers this a life-changing event and is still haunted by it every day. "Whenever I see his photo, I still get a chill throughout my body."
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