Flying The Unfriendly Skies- What Type of Explosive Device & Why

I have flown a lot since 9/11 and I can't remember a flight where I didn't periodically look around at the other passengers and wonder. Very curious to find out what this was about. Could be someone who acting on their own, could be part of a group. Could be a joke, politically motivated or something done by someone who was mentally ill.

"(CNN) -- A passenger ignited a small explosive device on a Northwest flight Friday from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, according to a federal government bulletin.

The passenger was immediately subdued, according to Susan Elliott, spokeswoman for Delta, Northwest's parent company, Elliott said earlier that the suspect had ignited several small firecrackers. The incident resulted in some minor injuries, she said.

A passenger -- identified in the bulletin as a Nigerian national -- was later placed in custody, the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.

He is being treated for burns he suffered in the explosion, said the bulletin, obtained by CNN from a source familiar with the investigation."