Today in History: December 25, Northwest Airlines passengers foil underwear bomber

"Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Today is Thursday, Dec. 25, the 359th day of 2025. There are six days left in the year. This is Christmas Day. Today in history: On Dec. 25, 2009, passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 foiled an attempt to blow up the plane as it was landing in Detroit by seizing Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO'-mahr fah-ROOK' ahb-DOOL'-moo-TAH'-lahb), who tried to set off explosives in his underwear. (Abdulmutallab later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.)"

"Also on this date: In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned King of England. In 1818, Silent Night (Stille Nacht) was publicly performed for the first time during the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria. In 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional pardons to every person who directly or indirectly supported the Confederacy in the Civil War."

Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 is Christmas Day, the 359th day of 2025 with six days remaining. Historical anniversaries on this date include the foiled Dec. 25, 2009 attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab; William the Conqueror's 1066 coronation; the 1818 first public performance of "Silent Night" at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria; Andrew Johnson's 1868 pardons for Confederacy supporters; George Washington's 1776 crossing of the Delaware; Hirohito's 1926 accession; the 1989 execution of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife; and the 2021 launch of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Notable birthdays include Larry Csonka, Barbara Mandrell, Sissy Spacek, Karl Rove, CCH Pounder, Annie Lennox, Steve Wariner, Helena Christensen, Justin Trudeau and Jeremy Strong.

Read at www.mercurynews.com