Airline security

KANEOHE, Hawaii, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said a "systemic failure" in security measures contributed to an attempt to bomb a U.S. airliner.

Obama, speaking Tuesday in Hawaii, took a tough stance on the apparent failure along the line of communication that allowed a Nigerian man to board a U.S.-bound jet Christmas Day despite warnings that man may have violent intentions against the United States.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, is being held as a suspect in an attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253. He allegedly tried to set off explosives hidden in his underwear. However, the device failed and caused a fire that alerted other passengers and crew members who subdued the suspect.

While Obama administration officials at first claimed the anti-terror system worked, Obama by Tuesday was taking a different approach, pointing out that information about the suspect should have led authorities to bar Abdulmutallab from boarding the plane in the Netherlands.

"A systemic failure has occurred and I consider that totally unacceptable," Obama said. "There was a mix of human and systemic failure that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security."

Obama said he wanted a report by Thursday regarding a snap review of U.S. security measures.