Zurich, 28.12.2009. This Christmas highlighted the brave intervention of passenger Jasper Schuringa while flying on flight Northwest Airlines 253. Schuringas intervention, among many others passengers, helped to stop a likely terrorist attack on this flight. A crystal clear act that helped to save the life of many other passengers. Nevertheless Schuringas act also highlights an obvious information risk and threat related to Wikipedia, that is the inconsistency of the information reported on Wikipedia. If we take the English article of Wikipedia about Schuringa we learn that:
“….Jasper Schuringa, a resident of Amsterdam and passenger on the flight, was widely credited for intervening and physically restraining the suspect. Using a headgrip,[69] he prevented the suspect from further manipulating his explosive device and dragged him to the forward part of the cabin, where the suspect was handcuffed. Schuriga incurred burns in the process. He was later interviewed by a number of news sources.[70][71] Born in 1971, Schuringa is a Dutch film director of low-budget Dutch films, and is credited as the assistant director for National Lampoon’s Teed Off Two.[72] Vice Prime Minister Wouter Bos called Schuringa on behalf of the Dutch government, conveying compliments and gratitude for his part in overpowering the suspect.[73][74] Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders called Schuringa “a national hero” for his actions, and said that “he deserves a royal honor”, which Wilders said he would ask the Dutch government to award.[75][76]…”
We have at least 7 references on the bio of Schuringa, however none of the references contained in Wikipedia do exactly state the birth and activity of Schuringa.
If we take the same Wikipedia, but the Dutch version we learn that Jasper Schuringa:
“….Jasper Schuringa, 1977, Curaçao, eigenaar van een videoproductiebedrijf in Amsterdam, was op 25 december 2009 passagier op vlucht 253 van Northwest Airlines van Amsterdam naar Detroit. Enkele minuten voor de landing poogde een medepassagier, de 23 jaar oude Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, met het chemische middel pentriet een explosie te veroorzaken. De brand die daarbij ontstond werd opgemerkt door andere passagiers, waaronder Schuringa. Schuringa verklaarde onmiddellijk te hebben gereageerd en samen met de bemanning het beginnende vuur te hebben gedoofd, en vervolgens met de bemanning de passagier in bedwang te hebben gehouden. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab werd, met tweedegraads brandwonden, in hechtenis genomen. Schuringa hield lichte brandwonden aan een hand aan het incident over…”
[translated to English with Google] Jasper Schuringa, 1977, Curaçao, owns a video production company in Amsterdam, was on December 25, 2009 passenger on Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit. A few minutes before landing attempted a fellow passenger, the 23 years old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, reed pen with the chemical to cause an explosion. The fire that began while it was noted by other passengers, including Schuringa. Schuringa said immediately responded and together with the crew to have extinguished the fire starting, and then the crew in the passenger restraint have taken. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was, with second-degree burns, in custody. Schuringa was minor burns to one hand on the incident. …”
The obvious information risk, and somehow criticism, is clearly stated by the details on Jasper Schuringa birth (1971 or 1977) and professional activity (past and present). Not a big issue for sure seen that he saved many lives, but the English version of Wikipedia is supported by a wealth of references which give the impression that the information related to Jasper Schuringa is the most factual and real. The dutch version doesnt contain any reference at all. The reader is left to his own, in finding which article on Janish Schuringa contains the most real data. BTW this wouldnt be a problem if the article on Northwerst Airlines Flight 253 would not be the most read article according WikiRage, the tool for researching the most read articles on Wikipedia.
