Items found in the same area Saturday were confirmed to have come from the jet, including pieces of the aircraft's wing section, luggage and a leather briefcase containing an airplane ticket with a reservation code for the doomed flight, Brazilian air force spokesman Jorge Amaral said.

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Among the red flags were that Reid bought a one-way ticket with cash and had no checked luggage.

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Asked about reports that AbdulMutallab paid for his ticket in cash and was flying only with hand luggage, Akerboom said neither would have necessarily raised any alarms.

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He cited the difference between what the airlines think will placate customers--prompt ticket refunds, quoting lowest available fares and retrieving lost luggage--and what's really annoying travelers: flight delays, long check-in lines and the 20-minute wait at the baggage carousel.

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