Despite Manhunt, Passport Not Flagged, Ticket Bought With Cash

May 4, 2010—  Accused Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad admitted his involvement in the terror plot to FBI agents who arrested him late Monday at New York's JFK airport, federal officials tell ABCNews.com.

Shahzad, who had been the subject of a huge manhunt, almost made it out of the country on a Emirates flight to Dubai, with a planned connection onward to Pakistan, according to the officials.

"He appeared real close to getting away," one federal official said. "The plane was buttoned up. Backed away from the jetway."

Authorities said that despite the manhunt, his passport had not been flagged and he was able to buy a ticket with cash and clear airport security.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, while refusing to criticize any agency Tuesday morning, said Shahzad was "clearly on the plane and shouldn't have been."

FBI agents discovered Shahzad's car parked in a short-term lot at JFK airport Monday evening and searched for his name on airline passenger manifests.

The flight had begun to taxi for takeoff when FBI agents ordered it to return to the gate where Shahzad and two others were taken into custody. The other two were later released, authorities said.

Authorities said they found a 9 mm handgun in Shahzad's car and two loaded ammunition magazines. Read more ...

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Another Law Enforcement Official Said Shahzad Was Not Known To The U.S. Intelligence Community Before The Failed Bombing Attempt