Bojinka plot

Bojinka plot
Company type	Terrorist plot
Industry	Terrorism
Founded	January 1995
Founder	Ramzi Yousef, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Area served	Asia, United States
Products	Planned assassination and bombing attacks

The Bojinka plot ( ; ) was an extensive, three-stage terrorist scheme devised by Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed scheduled for January 1995. The conspiracy included plans to assassinate Pope John Paul II, detonate bombs on 11 passenger planes traveling from Asia to the United States—intending to kill approximately 4,000 people and severely disrupt international air travel—and to crash an aircraft into the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters located in Langley, Virginia.

Despite thorough preparations, authorities uncovered the plot on January 6–7, 1995, when a chemical fire drew the attention of the Philippine National Police. Yousef and Mohammed did not succeed in carrying out any of the three planned attacks. The only fatality resulted from a test explosion aboard Philippine Airlines Flight 434, which caused one death and injured ten individuals. Additional explosive devices were found in a shopping mall and a theater in southern Philippines. Notably, critical aspects of the Bojinka plan—such as employing an aircraft as a weapon against a U.S. government facility—later influenced the tactics used in the September 11 attacks targeting the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Terminology and etymology

This operation is also referred to as Oplan Bojinka, Operation Bojinka, Project Bojinka, and Bojinga. Officials from the FBI characterized Operation Bojinka as "48 hours of terror."

Some media sources, including Time Asia, inaccurately reported that Bojinka translates to "loud bang" or "explosion" in Serbo-Croatian. However, the 9/11 Commission Report clarifies that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed stated "bojinka" is not a Serbo-Croatian term for "big bang," but rather a meaningless word he adopted after hearing it in Afghanistan.

Financing

Financial backing for the Bojinka operation originated from Osama bin Laden, Hambali, and front entities managed by Mohammed Jamal Khalifa (bin Laden's brother-in-law).

Wali Khan Amin Shah contributed funds by laundering money through his girlfriend and several women in Manila, including bar hostesses and an employee at a KFC, who were bribed with gifts and trips to open bank accounts used to hold the funds.

These transactions involved relatively small amounts—ranging from about 12,000 to 24,000 Philippine pesos ($500 to $1,000 US)—which were handed over nightly at locations such as a Wendy's or karaoke bar. The money was directed to "Adam Sali," an alias for Ramzi Yousef. Funds passed through a Filipino bank account owned by Syrian-born Omar Abu Omar, linked to an Islamic group overseen by Mohammed Jamal Khalifa.

Financial support for the Manila cell was also provided through money laundering by the front company Konsojaya. Founded by Riduan Isamuddin (Hambali), leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, Konsojaya had Wali Khan Amin Shah as a board member.

Planning

After arriving in Manila alongside other "Arab Afghans" forming operational cells, Yousef initiated bomb-making activities. Earlier in late 1994, he had secured Philippine visas in Singapore together with Shah.

Following a brief absence, Islamist envoys approached Yousef, encouraging him to target then-US President Bill Clinton during his November 1994 visit to the Philippines. Although Yousef explored numerous assassination methods—including nuclear devices, missile attacks against Air Force One or the presidential limousine, and chemical weapons—he dismissed these plans as overly complicated. Instead, he incorporated an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II into the broader Bojinka scheme.

In 1994, Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed conducted tests on airport security by booking flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as Manila and Seoul. They transformed 14 bottles of contact lens solution into nitroglycerin explosives. To avoid detection, Yousef attached a metal rod to his foot functioning as a detonator and wore metal accessories designed to confuse security scanning equipment. They also carried condoms to support their cover story of meeting women.

On December 8, Yousef took residence at the Doña Josefa Apartments in Malate under the alias "Najy Awaita Haddad," using a forged Moroccan identity. He paid a ₱120,000 deposit for Unit 603. Mohammed assumed the identity of a Saudi or Qatari plywood exporter named "Abdul Majid." Both men had begun orchestrating Operation Bojinka.

The apartment's location was strategic—approximately 200 meters from the Apostolic Nunciature and 500 meters from Manila Police Station No. 9—with a window overlooking the papal motorcade route. Abdul Hakim Murad accompanied Yousef and lodged in the same unit.

Their secretive conduct raised suspicion: they double-locked doors, declined cleaning services, transported boxes filled with chemicals procured locally in Manila and Quezon City for bomb fabrication, and exhibited chemical burns on their hands. They claimed to be students but maintained strict privacy.

Murad later disclosed that he proposed crashing an airplane into the CIA’s George Bush Center for Intelligence; Yousef considered this suggestion but did not immediately act on it before traveling with Mohammed to Puerto Galera for scuba diving.

Test detonations: shopping center, cinema, Boeing 747 aircraft

Yousef conducted his initial functional bomb detonation inside a generator room of a mall in Cebu City, with the device exploding several hours after placement. The incident caused limited damage but demonstrated the bomb’s effectiveness. On December 1, 1994, he carried out another test by placing an explosive beneath a seat at the Greenbelt Theatre in Manila, injuring multiple attendees.

Following these tests, Yousef boarded Philippine Airlines Flight 434 from Manila to Cebu under the false identity Armaldo Forlani, using a counterfeit Italian passport. During the flight, he assembled a bomb in the lavatory with roughly one-tenth the intended explosive power of his future devices and concealed it inside the life jacket pouch of seat 26K. The device detonated above Japan’s Minamidaitō Island, resulting in one fatality and injuries to ten of the 273 passengers onboard. Although the explosion severed control cables, the Boeing 747-200 managed a safe landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa. Importantly, seat 26K was located two rows ahead of the central fuel tank—a configuration inherited from the aircraft’s prior use by Scandinavian Airlines—which prevented a devastating explosion. This successful trial informed Yousef’s preparations for Phase II.

Phase I: assassination attempt on Pope

The first phase aimed to assassinate Pope John Paul II during the 1995 World Youth Day event in the Philippines. The plan involved a suicide bomber disguised as a priest detonating an explosive as the Pope traveled to San Carlos Seminary in Makati on January 15. This assassination was intended to divert attention from subsequent coordinated attacks. Around twenty individuals were trained by Yousef to execute this operation. Investigations into Unit 603 in Doña Josefa revealed evidence connected to Phase I.

Phase II: plot to bomb commercial airliners

Phase II consisted of at least five participants—including Yousef, Shah, Murad, and two additional operatives—who intended to plant explosives on eleven U.S.-bound airplanes making stopovers across East and Southeast Asia between January 21 and 22, 1995. Bombs were to be hidden inside life jackets beneath seats during each flight’s initial leg; operatives would then disembark and repeat this procedure on subsequent flights before regrouping in Lahore, Pakistan. As all travel occurred within Asian flight segments, no U.S. visas were necessary.

American airlines were specifically targeted to maximize damage against U.S. interests. Operatives adopted codenames such as "Zyed," "Majbos," "Markoa," "Mirqas," and "Obaid." The bombs were synchronized to detonate nearly simultaneously over the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, potentially causing thousands of deaths and severely disrupting international air travel. U.S. authorities estimated that casualties could have reached approximately 4,000 had the scheme been successful—exceeding fatalities from the September 11 attacks.

Explosive device

The so-called "Mark II microbombs" utilized Casio digital watches as timing mechanisms, with stabilizing materials resembling cotton balls and a minimal quantity of nitroglycerin serving as the explosive element. Additional ingredients included glycerin, nitrate, sulfuric acid, along with trace amounts of nitrobenzene, silver azide, and liquid acetone. Each device was powered by two 9-volt batteries connected to filaments from light bulbs that initiated detonation. Murad and Yousef incorporated a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) as a switch to activate these filaments. A concealed external socket was hidden beneath the watch face, enabling operatives to wear the watch without suspicion.

During his December 11 test bombing of Philippine Airlines Flight 434, Yousef evaded airport security by concealing batteries inside hollowed-out shoe heels and transporting nitroglycerin disguised as contact lens solution in a small container.

Asia

Kai Tak Airport, located in British Hong Kong
Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines
Chiang Kai-shek (Taoyuan) International Airport, Taipei, Taiwan
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
Gimpo International Airport, Seoul, South Korea
Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

United States

Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City
Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois
San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco

Flights targeted

The operative known as "Zyed" planned to assault a Northwest Airlines flight from Manila to Seoul to Los Angeles, then a United Airlines route from Seoul to Taipei to Honolulu, and finally a United flight from Bangkok to Taipei to San Francisco. After disembarking in Bangkok, escape was intended via Karachi, Pakistan.
"Majbos" aimed at a United Airlines flight connecting Taipei, Tokyo, and Los Angeles with disembarkation in Tokyo; subsequently targeting a United flight from Tokyo through Hong Kong to New York before fleeing to Karachi post-Hong Kong stop.
The target for "Maroka" included a Northwest Airlines itinerary from Manila to Tokyo to Chicago with exit in Tokyo; followed by a Northwest flight from Tokyo through Hong Kong to New York and escape to Karachi after Hong Kong.
"Mirqas" focused on a United Airlines route from Manila through Seoul to San Francisco with disembarkation in Seoul; then a Delta Air Lines flight from Seoul through Taipei to Bangkok with an escape plan via Karachi after Taipei.
"Obaida" planned attacks on United Airlines flights between Singapore-Hong Kong-Los Angeles and Los Angeles-Hong Kong-Singapore (later revised to Singapore-Hong Kong-San Francisco), intending to flee to Pakistan after departing Singapore.

Phase III: CIA headquarters crash scheme

According to Abdul Hakim Murad's confession, Phase III entailed acquiring or hijacking a small aircraft—ideally a Cessna—loaded with explosives for a suicide crash into the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Murad had been trained as a pilot in North Carolina and was designated as the suicide pilot.

Due to challenges in safely testing explosives on small planes, an alternative plan was developed involving hijacking a twelfth commercial airliner instead of using a small aircraft. This alternative is believed to have been proposed by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

A report dated January 20, 1995 indicated Murad's intention to board an American commercial airliner as a passenger before hijacking it and crashing it into CIA headquarters.

Other schemes contemplated hijacking several airplanes aimed at prominent U.S. landmarks including the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, United States Capitol, White House, Sears Tower (Chicago), U.S. Bank Tower (Los Angeles), Renaissance Center (Detroit), and the Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco). Murad acknowledged this broader plan was abandoned due to insufficient manpower.

This strategy eventually evolved into the September 11 attacks, which utilized hijacked commercial airliners rather than small planes packed with explosives. Only the World Trade Center (which was destroyed) and the Pentagon (which sustained partial damage) were struck. The original blueprint involved ten aircraft; one was designated for the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles. The United States Capitol and White House were among the intended targets of United Airlines Flight 93, but passenger resistance caused the plane to crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Discovery and disruption

The scheme was exposed after a blaze erupted in the six-story Doña Josefa apartment building in Manila, Philippines, on January 6, 1995, just days prior to Pope John Paul II's planned visit. Philippine officials indicated that Abdul Hakim Murad ignited a chemical fire inside Room 603 by applying water to a certain substance. Around 11:00 p.m., residents detected an unusual smell, prompting Edith Guerrera, the apartment proprietor, to contact the fire department. Although the fire extinguished itself, Yousef and Murad instructed firefighters to keep their distance before escaping the scene.

The investigation led by Police Major Francisco F. Bautista and watch commander Aida D. Fariscal revealed four hot plates hidden within crates, cotton batting soaked in a beige liquid, and multi-colored electrical wiring. Suspecting a possible trap during a phone call, they obtained a search warrant after consulting with 11 judges.

According to a 2002 Los Angeles Times report, police may have intentionally allowed the fire to occur to expose the perpetrators. Upon discovering incriminating materials, authorities apprehended an individual identifying himself as "Ahmed Saeed," later confirmed to be Murad. Claiming to be a commercial pilot and attributing the fire to accidental firecracker explosions, Murad attempted to escape but was subdued with an elastic cord after handcuffs were misplaced. He offered bribes totaling 110,740 Philippine pesos (approximately US$2,000), which were declined by officers.

While at the police station, Murad denied any involvement and asserted he was visiting a friend involved in chemical import/export; however, he muttered about "two Satans that must be destroyed: the Pope and America."

Fariscal’s role was instrumental in thwarting the conspiracy and forcing Yousef to flee. She earned nationwide acclaim, receiving 33,222 pesos (about $700), a trip to Taiwan, and a CIA certificate recognizing exceptional cooperation. Her contributions were later depicted in the docudrama The Path to 9/11 and in the Mayday episode titled "Bomb on Board."

Items found in Room 603

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on January 7, authorities discovered street maps of Manila detailing the papal motorcade route, a rosary, a photograph of the pontiff, bibles, crucifixes, papal confessionals, and priestly garments inside Suite 603. A telephone message concerning a cassock fitting ahead of the Pope's visit led Police Major Francisco F. Bautista to conclude that an assassination attempt had been prevented. By 4:00 a.m., a search warrant had been secured.

The search yielded large quantities of chemicals including sulfuric acid, picric acid, nitric acid, glycerin, acetone, and sodium chlorate, along with gasoline containers and bottles of nitroglycerin. Equipment such as thermometers, graduated cylinders, cooking kettles, fuses for explosives, electronic firing devices, timers, switches, and circuit breakers were also uncovered. Investigators found one completed remote-controlled brass pipe bomb alongside another nearly assembled device. Additional discoveries included a chemistry textbook, an issue of Time magazine focused on international terrorism, pharmacy receipts, contact lens solution, and completed time bombs incorporating various wristwatches stored beneath the sink.

A significant piece of evidence was an Arabic-language manual detailing how to construct liquid-based bombs. Authorities also recovered twelve counterfeit passports from nations such as Norway, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. A business card and telephone numbers linked to Mohammed Jamal Khalifa were also seized.

Yousef's computer

The investigation uncovered Yousef’s project stored on four floppy disks alongside a Toshiba laptop confiscated two weeks prior to the intended attack. Encrypted documents contained flight itineraries, calculations for detonations, and other pertinent information. One file declared: "All individuals supporting the U.S. government are our targets... We will strike all U.S. nuclear facilities."

A document titled "Bojinka" detailed 11 Asia-to-U.S. flights under five different codenames, including precise timer configurations for assaults on specific aircraft.

The laptop also contained contact details for numerous associates such as Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, information on luxury hotels, a trading company based in London, a Malaysian meat vendor, an Islamic center located in Tucson, Arizona, and records of financial dealings through a bank in Abu Dhabi.

A message signed "Khalid Shaikh + Bojinka" warned of retaliatory attacks due to U.S. support for Israel and asserted the ability to deploy chemical agents and toxic gases against critical infrastructures and water supplies.

The letter additionally threatened the assassination of then-Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos and attacks on airplanes if U.S. demands were not satisfied, claiming responsibility under the name "Fifth Division of the Liberation Army."

The materials seized at Doña Josefa required three police vans to transport.

Murad's confession

Saeed, later identified as Abdul Hakim Murad, was apprehended after being dispatched to recover a computer following a fire incident. Held at Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police, Murad underwent 67 days of rigorous interrogation. Authorities employed severe tactics including physical beatings and waterboarding, which caused him serious injuries. Ultimately, he confessed, reportedly driven by fear of extradition to Israel after an agent impersonated a Mossad operative.

Murad admitted his participation in bomb plots targeting the United States and described the explosives as undetectable by X-ray machines. He acknowledged his role as a hijacker in Phase II of the scheme and cited ideological motivations opposing U.S. policies toward Muslims. On April 12, 1995, Murad was extradited to the U.S., where his testimony was instrumental in securing Ramzi Yousef’s conviction.

Manhunt

Wali Khan Amin Shah was detained on January 11 after authorities traced a pager connected to Yousef through Shah’s girlfriend. Although Shah escaped custody initially, he was later identified as an accomplice via laptop evidence containing details of the plot and contact lists. Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed fled from the Philippines to Pakistan. On January 31, 1995, Yousef attempted unsuccessfully to plant suitcase bombs on Delta and United Airlines flights in Thailand before returning to Pakistan.

Following Murad’s arrest, Yousef rapidly escaped to Singapore and subsequently Pakistan after the Bojinka plot was exposed. Mohammed also moved to Pakistan shortly after. In April 1995, Philippine authorities shared Bojinka-related intelligence with U.S. officials; intercepted communications revealed frequent interactions between Konsojaya and Mohammed Jamal Khalifa’s charitable organization.

After a 23-day pursuit, Yousef was apprehended in Islamabad on February 7 and later boasted about his schemes to agents from the U.S. Secret Service. Shah was captured in Malaysia in December 1995 based on fingerprint identification and extradited to the United States. All three conspirators received life imprisonment sentences; Yousef additionally was sentenced to 240 years for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Sentencing took place in 1998, with Shah cooperating with law enforcement since August that year.

Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, a Saudi businessman related by marriage to Osama bin Laden’s family, operated in the Philippines during 1994 and was arrested in California on conspiracy charges linked to the World Trade Center bombing. Filipino investigators provided evidence implicating Khalifa in funding the Bojinka plot, which was shared with U.S. authorities. He was deported to Jordan in May 1995, acquitted there, then relocated to Saudi Arabia. Khalifa was killed in Madagascar in January 2007.

Aftermath

It was only several years later that U.S. authorities established a connection between Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and al-Qaeda. In his altered scheme, he shifted focus from explosives to hijacking airplanes, a plan that ultimately led to the September 11 attacks. Mohammed was apprehended in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in 2003.

In 2001, Yousef sought a retrial; nevertheless, on April 3, 2003, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the imprisonment of Yousef and his accomplices.

The Bojinka conspiracy has been depicted in numerous documentaries and miniseries about 9/11, including The Path to 9/11 and The Secret History of 9/11.

External links

"Bojinka Jetliners Bomb Plot" – The New York Times
Jury Finds Three Guilty of Plot To Blow Up a Dozen US Planes, John J. Goldman, Los Angeles Times, The Tech, September 6, 1996
Information about Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Information on the attack against the pope