In what the White House called an attempted act of terrorism, a Nigerian man–claiming to be linked to al-Qaeda–allegedly tried to set off an incendiary device aboard a transatlantic airplane Friday as it descended toward Detroit’s airport.

According to an airline spokeswoman, the man was quickly subdued and Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam landed safely around noon Friday with several of the 278 passengers receiving minor injuries in the incident. The Transportation Security Administration said that the suspect was being treated at a hospital for burns he suffered while igniting the device.

The incident is being investigated by the FBI. A spokesman said that President Barack Obama, celebrating Christmas in Hawaii, was informed about it and he asked his aides to ensure that all measures are in place to provide security for air travel.

Officials said they are not prepared to raise the terrorism alert level, currently at orange–or the second-highest of five levels–for domestic and international air travel. Passengers, however, “may notice additional screening measures, put into place to ensure the safety of the traveling public on domestic and international flights,” said the Department of Homeland Security late Friday.

(article and photo source: The Washington Post)