Wary of Leaks, FBI Quashed No-Fly Info About Shahzad

The FBI identified Faisal Shahzad as the prime suspect in the botched Times Square car bombing within 2 days but specifically notified only certain airlines that he had been added to the no-fly list. His status changed on May 3, but the bureau pressed Homeland Security to limit the number of airlines notified immediately out of fear that leaks to the media would alert the suspect, Newsweek reports.

Under the rules in place at the time, airlines had 24 hours to check names newly added to the no-fly list against their records, but provisions exist for " what amounts to an APB, " Newsweek notes. Emirates Airlines, on which Shahzad tried to escape, was not notified immediately. Shahzad was caught only after the flight manifest went to Homeland Security for a last-minute check.
(More FBI stories.)