Today in History: How Umar Abdulmutallab almost killed 289 people onboard Detroit-bound flight in 2009

December 25, 2009, was a sad day in Nigeria's history as it was widely reported that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian tried to blow up a packed airliner on Christmas Day.

Fondly called the "underwear bomber", the 37-year-old was on board Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

His failed attempt led to his arrest and subsequent trial. in 2012, he pleaded guilty to eight charges, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. In February 2012, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

According to several reports, the bomb hidden in his underwear failed to properly detonate and instead simply caused a fire as the plane began its descent to Detroit.

Passengers and crew members were able to restrain Abdulmutallab and extinguish the blaze, allowing the pilots to safely land the plane.

Dressed in a white skull cap and loose white t-shirt, Abdulmutallab showed no emotion as Judge Nancy Edmunds handed down the maximum sentences for each count.

"The defendant has stated and it is clear that he has enormous motivation to carry out another terrorist attack," Edmunds said.

"This court cannot control the defendant's motivation, which does appear to be unchanged, however, I can control the defendant's opportunity to carry out those actions."

The botched attack, which prosecutors say was a plot hatched by slain Al-Qaeda preacher Anwar al-Awlaqi, sparked global alarm and caused the United States to tighten up both its no-fly lists and airport screening systems.

Abdulmutallab is the youngest of 16 children of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a wealthy Nigerian banker and businessman, and his second wife, Aisha, who is from Yemen.

The father was described by The Times in 2009 as being "one of the richest men in Africa