Romulus , Michigan ( CNN ) -- A Nigerian man is `` talking a lot '' to the FBI , said a senior U.S. official , after what the United States believes was an attempted terrorist attack on an inbound international flight . The initial impression is that the suspect was acting alone and did not have any formal connections to organized terrorist groups , said the senior official who is familiar with the investigation . The suspect , identified by a U.S. government official as 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab , ignited a small explosive device Friday , shortly before a Northwest flight from Amsterdam , Netherlands , made its landing in Detroit , Michigan . With the aid of the cabin crew , another passenger quickly helped subdue and isolate Abdulmutallab , passenger Syed Jafry told CNN . Abdulmutallab , was placed in custody and is being treated for second- and third-degree burns on his thighs , according to federal law enforcement and airline security sources . The sources told CNN that the suspect flew into Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on a KLM flight from Lagos , Nigeria , and is not believed to be on any `` no fly '' list , although his name does appear in a U.S. database of people with suspect connections . He did not undergo secondary security screening in Amsterdam , an administration official said . The administration official said there was no evidence that Abdulmutallab was a hard-core , trained member of al Qaeda . Abdulmutallab , a Nigerian national , claimed to have extremist ties and said the explosive device `` was acquired in Yemen along with instructions as to when it should be used , '' a federal security bulletin obtained by CNN said . The remains of the device used are being sent to an FBI explosives lab in Quantico , Virginia , for analysis , security sources said . U.S. President Barack Obama , who is spending the holidays in his home state of Hawaii , was briefed on the incident during a secure phone call with aides , and instructed in a subsequent discussion with security advisers `` that all appropriate measures be taken to increase security for air travel , '' White House spokesman Bill Burton told CNN . The president made no changes to his schedule , Burton said . The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Friday saying that air passengers `` may notice additional screening measures put into place to ensure the safety of the traveling public on domestic and international flights . '' Passengers described the brief moments of panic on board , as screams erupted and flight attendants ran for fire extinguishers . Jafry , who was sitting in seat 16G , said the plane was just beginning to descend when passengers heard a pop . `` Everybody got a little bit startled , '' he said . `` After a few seconds or so ... there was ... kind of a flamish light and there was fire '' and people around the immediate area began to panic . One woman told CNN affiliate WDIV that a man threw a blanket over Abdulmutallab 's legs to help put out the small fire . `` It was terrifying , '' Richelle Keepman said . `` I think we all thought we were n't going to land , we were n't going to make it . '' Passenger Elias Fawaz told WDIV that the explosion sounded `` like a balloon being popped '' and said he could smell smoke . Jafry said the incident was under control within minutes , crediting the crew and nearby passengers for the rapid response . One person was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor , hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said . `` All passengers have deplaned and out of an abundance of caution , the plane was moved to a remote area , '' where the plane and baggage were rescreened , the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement . Passengers were interviewed by law enforcement authorities before being allowed to leave the airport . No other suspicious materials were found on the plane or in luggage , the law enforcement and airline security sources said . The suspect had only carry-on luggage . Another passenger on the Northwest flight transferred from the same KLM flight in Amsterdam but officials found no connection between the two , the sources said . The plane , an Airbus 330 , landed shortly before noon ET . It was carrying 278 passengers . Delta is the parent company of Northwest . CNN 's Mike Brooks , Jeanne Meserve , Kevin Bohn , Elise Labott , Ed Henry and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report .
NEW : Nigerian in custody , `` talking a lot , '' U.S. official says , after incident . White House is considering the incident an attempted terrorist attack . Passenger is immediately subdued ; FBI investigating . Flight originated in Amsterdam , Netherlands , ended in Detroit , Michigan .