A plot by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to blow up a US-bound passenger jet has been foiled, AFP reported Tuesday (May 9th).

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the explosive appeared to be a revamped model of a bomb used in the 2009 Christmas Day plot in which an explosive device that was hidden in a man's underwear failed to detonate on a plane bound for Detroit.

The scheme was uncovered at an early stage and at no point was the public in danger, officials said.

AQAP has also been suspected of orchestrating a 2010 attempt to blow up cargo planes heading to the United States with explosives that were concealed in printer cartridges.