A New York appeals court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of a man who joined a failed plot to firebomb Kennedy Airport.

Kareem Ibrahim was convicted in 2011 of several conspiracy counts. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled Friday that Ibrahim received a fair trial.

The government says he and other men wanted to kill thousands of people and cripple the American economy. It says their goal was to blow up fuel tanks and underground pipelines that run through a neighborhood near the airport.

Defense attorneys argue the case was entrapment.

Two others have been convicted of conspiracy charges and are serving life in prison. A fourth has pleaded guilty to providing material support and was sentenced to 15 years.

(AP)