February 21, 2017

Alert – New York: JFK Airport Security Breached on Monday

Yesterday at New York JFK Airport, as many as 11 people were able to pass through an unattended TSA

checkpoint at 6 a.m. Local authorities are at odds over what occurred. New York Daily News reports that the

breach happened at the JetBlue terminal (Terminal 5).

According to CNN:

A security incident at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday has

federal and local authorities at odds over what happened. The Port Authority says that

11 people went through an unattended TSA PreCheck security checkpoint at the airport

around 6 a.m. Monday.

The TSA alerted Port Authority about the lapse roughly two hours later, according to Joe

Pentangelo, the senior police public information officer at the Port Authority of New

York and New Jersey. By that time though, they could not find the 11 people as the

“travelers in question boarded various flights,” Pentangelo said in a statement.

Port Authority police identified three of the passengers who went through the

unattended checkpoint through video and sought to identify the remaining eight.

Meanwhile, the TSA called the incident a “possible security incident” and said it had

affected just three passengers.

Out of the 11 people walking through the unattended checkpoint, three of them set off

the metal detector, reported CNN’s affiliates WCBS and WABC.

The TSA said in a statement: “Early reports indicate 3 passengers did not receive

required secondary screening after alarming the walk through metal detector. All

personal carry-on bags received required screening. A K9 team was present at the

checkpoint at the time of the incident.”

A TSA official said it had been determined that the measures taken concerning the three

passengers were “all that was necessary.”

“TSA works with a network of security layers both seen and unseen. We are confident

this incident presents minimal risk to the aviation transportation system,” the agency

stated on Monday.

The TSA said it would “take appropriate action” once a review was complete.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 20, 2017

Alert – United Airlines Flight 306 (ORD to RSW) Blows Tires on Takeoff, No Injuries

The tires from a United Airlines 737 aircraft blew out as it was taking off today. UAL 306 was taking off from

Chicago O’Hare for Fort Myers. All 150 passengers and 6 crew members are safe.

According to WGN (Chicago):

A United Airlines flight bound for Fort Meyers, FL blew two tires during takeoff at

O’Hare Airport Monday afternoon.

According to United Airlines, it’s too early to tell if anything on the tarmac caused the

issues with United flight 306, but all 150 passengers and 6 crew were taken off of the

plane safely. Video shows both passengers and crew deplaning on the runway in O’Hare.

Passengers are being put on another flight and will continue on their way shortly, the

airline said.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 20, 2017

Alert – South Africa: Two Passenger Trains Collide in Pretoria; More than 100 Injured

Two passenger trains have crashed head–on in Pretoria, South Africa, injuring over 100 with 20 believed to be seriously hurt.

According to The Sun:

MORE than 100 people have been injured after two trains collided in a “head-on” crash in Pretoria, South Africa.

Speaking to local press, Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Johan Pieterse said they were still dealing with the crash, but there were around 100 and 150 injured people.

20 are believed to be in a serious condition after the incident at the Lynn Ross station in Rosslyn, Pretoria. He said: “Twenty people are in a serious condition. No one is in critical condition‚ and there are no deaths.”

At the scene, Care Ambulance Service spokesperson Xander Loubser told Times Live the crash was caused by two colliding coaches.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 19, 2017

Saturday morning, a passenger aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas was airlifted off the ship to Norfolk, Virginia, after experiencing diabetic shock. The U.S. Coast Guard transported a 75 year old female to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

According to ABC News:

A 75-year-old woman experiencing diabetic shock was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday morning from a cruise ship located approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

The Coast Guard said its 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, was notified at about 9:55 a.m. that a passenger in distress was on board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Anthem of the Seas.

“An HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, launched to assist,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “Upon arrival, the Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the woman to the helicopter and transported her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, arriving at about 1:50 p.m.”

The unidentified woman’s rescue was captured in the following video, which was released by the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Lt. Courtney Wolf, the command duty officer for the case, said, “Cases like this highlight the importance of cooperation between the Coast Guard, cruise ship personnel and local hospital staff. Today’s hoist went seamlessly due to the coordination between all involved parties, and as a result we were able to transport this individual quickly and safely.”

Diabetic shock — or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) — is a diabetes complication that can lead to unconsciousness, during which the individual has dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 19, 2017

A train derailment occurred as a passenger train departed Leuven station for Brussels, leaving at least one person dead and another estimated 20 injured, although BBC reports that the number of casualties is not clear.

According to BBC:

At least one person has been killed and about 20 injured when a train carriage fell on to its side following a derailment close to the Belgian capital Brussels, railway officials say.

The accident happened as the train was departing Leuven station at a slow speed heading towards the capital.

Emergency services are at the scene. The number of casualties is unclear.

Photos on the internet showed one damaged carriage on its side next to a downwards slope.

Services between Leuven and Brussels have been suspended, officials say.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 15, 2017

Alert – American Airlines Flight 5320 (CLT to GPT) Hits Deer on Takeoff, No Injuries

A commuter flight for American Airlines, Flight 5320, struck a deer on the runway during takeoff at Charlotte

Douglas International Airport. The Gulfport-bound plan immediately returned for landing. None of the 44

passengers were injured.

According to WRAL (Raleigh, NC):

No injuries were reported Wednesday afternoon when an American Airlines flight from

Charlotte to Mississippi struck a deer while attempting to take off.

Flight 5320, bound for Gulfport, hit the deer on takeoff from Charlotte Douglas

International Airport and then immediately returned for a landing, according to WCNC.

Officials say the plane was leaking fuel after the collision. Forty-four passengers were on

the plane during the incident, and all were safely removed from the plane, according to

American Airlines.

The airline said the passengers were taken back to the terminal and will be put on a new

plane.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 14, 2017

Alert – Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Cleared to Sail from Port Canaveral After Experiencing Safety Delay

The U.S. Coast Guard says Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas has now been cleared to embark from Port

Canaveral after a day-long delay due to a series of safety violations.

The ship was scheduled for a four-night sailing, with stops in CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas. It’s unclear

how the schedule will be altered to accommodate the overnight stay in Port Canaveral.

According to Florida Today:

Travel plans for more than 2,000 people were stymied since Monday evening after the

Majesty of the Seas cruise ship failed a Coast Guard safety inspection before its

scheduled departure from Port Canaveral.

The cruise ship was being held from leaving Port Canaveral following a safety inspection

Monday, partly because of the condition of some of its life jackets.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson, a public affairs specialist, said

Coast Guard inspectors just before 4 p.m. cleared the ship to sail after “they fixed all

their discrepancies.”

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 13, 2017

Half Dozen People Treated for Smoke Inhalation from Fire at Disneyland’s Main Parking Garage

According to ABC News:

Several cars caught fire in the main parking structure Monday at Disneyland, and about a half-dozen people are being treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said.

The fires that broke out at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure were extinguished about 30 minutes after they were reported, and firefighters were working to clear smoke. The structure had been evacuated and shut down, but five to seven people are being treated for smoke inhalation, police said.

Gray smoke could be seen pouring out of the structure when the blazes were first reported on the level 3 “Mickey” section, but it was slowly starting to dissipate.

There was no immediate word on a cause.

The Mickey & Friends Structure, with sections named for Disney characters and trams that take visitors to the entrance to the Disney Resort’s two theme parks, is a familiar spot for millions of visitors who pay $18 to park then return to their cars exhausted after long days.

“A lot of people are just tired, they’ve been here all day. It’s more of a nuisance than anything,” Darren Clark, whose family of four couldn’t get to their car because of the shutdown, told KNBC-TV. “I’m kind of hoping it’s not my vehicle.”

The Disney parks themselves remain open. Disney representatives referred questions about the blaze to fire officials.

February 13, 2017

Alert – French Alps: Avalanche Causes at Least Four Deaths

An avalanche hit the French Alps resort town of Tignes today, leaving at least four people dead. Tignes is located

in eastern France and is close to the Italian border.

According to The New York Times:

“The avalanche — about 100 meters (330 feet) wide and 400 meters (1,300 feet) long —

struck the mountain about 2,100 meters (6,900 feet) in altitude in an off-piste sector

known as Toviere. The area is popular for its extensive slopes and stunning views.”

BBC News reports:

“The group was buried after the wall of snow swept through an off-piste area, police say.

Some reports say there were nine in the group, including a guide, and that the other five

remain missing, trapped in the snow.

However, local police have told the BBC that the other five may have failed to show up

for the session.

The 400-metre (1,300ft) wide avalanche occurred at an altitude of 2,100 metres, and

struck at a particularly busy time during half-term holidays.

The resort is popular with British holidaymakers, but local police said the four dead

skiers were all French nationals.

The avalanche appeared to have been set off by a group of skiers higher up, the ski

station said in a statement.”

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

February 11, 2017

Thessaloniki Evacuated after Unexploded World War II Bomb Found

According to BBC:

Greek WW2 bomb forces huge Thessaloniki evacuation

At least 70,000 people in the Greek city of Thessaloniki are being evacuated so that a 500lb World War Two bomb can be defused, officials say.

It is thought to be one of the largest wartime bombs to be found in urban Greece in addition to being one of the largest mass evacuations. The bomb was discovered during road works last week and is due to be disposed of on Sunday.

Officials say it is too degraded to tell if it is German or an Allied bomb.

Residents within a radius of about 2km (1.2 miles) of the bomb will be compelled to evacuate the area between now and Sunday morning, security officials have said.

The operation has been described by one blog as the biggest evacuation of Greek civilians in peacetime. However, it is not possible to verify such a claim.

The military says an operation of this size and complexity is the first of its kind in a densely populated area of Greece and the disposal operation should take about eight hours – but may take as long as two days.

About 1,000 police officers and 300 volunteers will be deployed ahead of the disposal operation. People in the city were warned to vacate their homes several days in advance.

The evacuation is expected to cause considerable disruption in Thessaloniki, with about 450 residents of a refugee camp due to be among thousands of others being evacuated to schools, sports halls and cultural centres.

The bomb was discovered last week near a petrol station during work to expand fuel storage tanks.

A state of emergency has been declared in the three municipalities affected by the defusion operation, Thessaloniki’s Deputy Governor Voula Patoulidou told the Associated Press. news agency.

“It is the first time something like this is happening in Greece,” he said. “The transfer of all residents is mandatory and we will go door-to-door to make sure everyone leaves.”

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.