May 24, 2017

A mudslide has severely damaged part of Highway 1 in California’s Big Sur, a popular tourist destination.

According to the San Francisco Gate:

The isolation that came to Big Sur this year when wet weather closed several roads has deepened with a giant mudslide across Highway 1, just south of the small community of Gorda (Monterey County).

A quarter-mile-wide wall of mud and rock barreled over an oceanfront stretch of road Saturday night, fortunately on a section of the highway where there was no traffic because the area was already closed due to smaller slides.

The new slide is certain to postpone the opening of Highway 1 at Big Sur’s southern end, a link to the dramatic coastline that was expected to open in mid-June.

The Associated Press reports:

Big Sur is one of the state’s biggest tourist draws in a normal year, attracting visitors to serene groves of redwoods, beaches and the dramatic ocean scenery along narrow, winding Highway 1.

This winter has been particularly rough for Big Sur, state transportation spokesman Colin Jones said. Repeated landslides and floods have taken out bridges and highways, closed campgrounds, and forced some resorts to shut down temporarily or use helicopters to fly in guests and supplies.

Even before the weekend damage, the state had closed the Highway 1 along Mud Creek to repair buckled pavement and remove debris after an earlier slide.

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May 23, 2017

Newark Liberty International Airport has reopened. Earlier this evening, it was temporarily closed due to an engine fire on a United flight headed to San Francisco.

According to the airport’s Twitter account:

#EWR has reopened after earlier incident of plane with apparent engine fire. Reports of 5 minor injuries. Expect delays remainder of night.

WABC-TV is reports:

There was a ground stop for about an hour and a half at Newark Airport after a plane engine caught fire.

United Airlines Flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco was supposed to depart at 9:22 p.m. on Tuesday.

The plane is a Boeing 757 with 124 passengers and seven crew members aboard.

While taxiing, the engine caught fire and the chutes were deployed.

Passengers of the plane were evacuated by using the slide. Five passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.

The passengers were then brought to Terminal C, Gate 71. United Airlines released a statement saying:

“During taxiing of United flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco, the tower notified the crew of what appeared to be flames from one of the engines. The crew immediately deployed the slides and evacuated the aircraft … We are working to get our customers to San Francisco as soon as possible.”

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May 23, 2017

The terror threat level in the UK has just been raised to “Critical.”

According to the BBC:

The UK terror threat level has been raised to the highest level of “critical,” meaning further attacks may be imminent, Theresa May has said.

The move came after investigators were unable to rule out Manchester bombing suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, the prime minister said.

Military personnel would now be deployed to protect key sites.

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber attacked concert-goers at Manchester Arena.

Military personnel may also be seen at other events, such as concerts, Mrs. May said, and would work under the command of police officers.

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May 23, 2017

A suicide bomb exploded outside of the arena in Manchester, England, last night, killing at least 22 people and injuring nearly 60. ISIS is claiming responsibility for the deadliest attack in Britain since 2005.

The UK’s current terror threat level is unchanged. However, in response to the bombing, there will be an increased police presence London.

According to the BBC:

Twenty-two people have been killed and 59 injured in a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

A lone attacker set off a homemade bomb in the foyer at 22:33 BST on Monday, in what Theresa May called an “appalling, sickening” terrorist act.

Armed police have arrested a 23-year-old man in Chorlton, south Manchester, in connection with the attack.

It is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005 in which 52 people were killed by four suicide bombers. So-called Islamic State has said it was behind the attack, via IS channels on the messaging app Telegram.

The blast happened close to the entrance to Victoria railway and tram station. The station has been closed and all trains cancelled.

The Manchester Arena or MEN is the city’s largest indoor venue with a concert capacity of around 21,000.

Reuters is reporting:

Theresa May said police believed they knew the identity of the bomber and police then said a 23-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the attack carried out late on Monday evening as people began leaving a concert given by Ariana Grande, a U.S. singer who attracts a large number of young and teenage fans.

The northern English city remained on high alert.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said more police had been ordered onto the streets of the British capital.

A source with knowledge of the situation said the bomber’s explosives were packed with metal and bolts. At least 19 of those wounded were in a critical condition, the source said.

Britain is on its second-highest alert level of “severe”, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

British counter-terrorism police have said they are making on average an arrest every day in connection with suspected terrorism.

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May 22, 2017

A United Airlines flight from Shanghai to Newark was forced to make an unexpected stop at San Francisco International Airport. Flight 87 was delayed by several hours in Shanghai, because of an unruly passenger. While that passenger deplaned before the flight departed, the delay forced a stop for a crew change.

Reports the Los Angeles Times:

The unidentified passenger was boarding flight 87 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport when he refused to comply with the crew’s instructions, according to United spokesman Jonathan Guerin. When the passenger was asked to exit the Newark, N.J.-bound flight, he “became increasingly disruptive,” according to the spokesman.

“For safety and security reasons, local law enforcement was called to assist and the customer eventually left the aircraft on his own accord,” Guerin said.

Because of the disruption the passengers had to get off the plane – which eventually had to make an unscheduled stop in San Francisco to get a new crew.

The unruly passenger “refused to comply with crew member instructions and became increasingly disruptive when asked to deplane the aircraft,” United said in its statement.

According to the San Francisco Gate:

The man eventually deplaned voluntarily in Shanghai, according to Jonathan Guerin, a spokesman for United Airlines.

But the three-hour delay caused by his behavior meant that the plane had to land at San Francisco International Airport to get a new crew because the one on board had been working too long. Between the delay at takeoff and the added stop in San Francisco, the disruption delayed the already-lengthy flight by more than seven hours, according to airport records.

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May 22, 2017

Late last week, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu appeared to attempt to breach the cockpit. Fighter jets were scrambled to accompany the flight on its descent to Honolulu. The plane landed safely, and the individual was taken into custody.

According to CNN:

The man, identified as Anil Tuvanc Uskanli — a Turkish national born in 1991– was subdued by crew members and passengers, including an off-duty Los Angeles police officer. He is expected to face federal charges for interference with a flight crew, FBI special agent Paul Delacourt told reporters. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the disturbance.

USA Today reports:

The threat of terrorism prompted authorities to scramble two Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor fighter jets to escort the airliner on the last leg of its trip to Hawaii on Friday. American Airlines Flight 31, with 181 passengers and six crew members aboard, landed safely in Honolulu at 11:35 a.m.

Travel Pulse notes that the suspect has had a pattern of behavioral issues at airports:

It was later learned that the passenger was also detained at Los Angeles international Airport earlier in the day for a separate incident in which he breached a “crew only” door leading to the airfield. Although he was arrested, appeared intoxicated and charged with misdemeanor trespassing, he was also released from custody in time to board the flight to Honolulu.

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Thursday, May 18, 2017

Alert: New York – Car Crashes into Pedestrians in Times Square

A car crashed into pedestrians in New York City’s Times Square a short while ago. There are reports of multiple injuries and police have closed off the area.

According to WABC-TV in New York:

Multiple people have been injured after a car crash in the middle of a busy Times Square in New York City Thursday.

The car crashed at west 44th Street and Seventh Avenue, striking multiple pedestrians.

Their conditions are unknown. The car appeared to catch fire after crashing.

Police will close Broadway from West 42nd Street to West 49th Street.

iTV News is reporting:

A speeding vehicle struck multiple pedestrians on a sidewalk in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday, according to reports.

An injured pedestrian told Reuters that the driver’s actions appeared to be “intentional”.

At least 10 people were reportedly being treated for injuries on the ground after the collision at the Midtown Manhattan tourist site.

The witness said at least seven people were being loaded onto stretchers, while another was covered with a blood-stained blanket.

Shoes were reportedly left scattered on the ground after the crash.

The New York Police Department closed off the area.

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May 17, 2017

A passenger on an Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto attacked cabin crew and tried to open the cabin door. The flight was diverted Monday night to the Orlando International Airport.

The Washington Post reports:

An Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto was diverted to Orlando, Florida, after authorities say a passenger became aggressive, attacked the crew with coffee pots and tried to open the cabin door.

A federal criminal complaint says crew members and other passengers secured Brandon Michael Courneyea using zip ties. Orlando television station WFTV reports the FBI was contacted about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The Orlando Sentinel writes:

The incident began after the flight started experiencing turbulence and the pilot turned the seat belt sign on. Passenger Brandon Michael Courneyea, 34, of Canada, started yelling at other people for “looking at him,” according to a federal complaint.

Flight attendants tried to calm him down, but to no avail. He got up and started walking around the plane.

“Courneyea then stated that it would only take one guy to take the plane down and that he wanted to take everyone with him,” the complaint said.

He went to the back of the plane, grabbed a pot of coffee and swung it at flight attendants, the complaint said.

“When confronted [by the flight attendant], Courneyea lunged for the rear cabin exit door and began to pull the door lever up to open the door. [He] then was restrained by crew members and fellow passengers on the aircraft,” a complaint said.

According to the Toronto Sun:

Crew members contacted authorities prior to landing in Orlando, where FBI agents took Courneyea into custody. Courneyea is charged with assault or intimidation of a flight crew member and interfering with the performance of duties.

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May 16, 2017

A general strike will take place tomorrow in Athens, Greece, and will impact all major transportation.

Participating in the strike are air traffic controllers, seaman, and operators of buses, trains, and ferries. Ferry workers will extend their strike, meaning service to Greece’s islands may not return to normal until sometime on Friday.

The U.S. Embassy Athens informs:

The following means of transportation will be on strike:

• • Buses, yellow buses: 05:00 – 09:00 and 21:00 – 24:00
• • Metro and Urban train: 05:00 – 09:00 and 16:00 – 24:00
• • National and Suburban train: 24hrs
• • Ferries: Wednesday – Friday (May 17 – 19)
• • Civil Aviation, Air Traffic Controllers (flights may be cancelled or re-scheduled): 11:00 – 15:00

According to the Athens Airport website:

Due to the participation of the Union of Greek Air Traffic Controllers to the 24 hour national strike on the 17th of May 2017, there will be no flights to/from “Athens International Airport” between 11:00 to 15:00. In addition, flights to several peripheral airports maybe affected from 08:00 to 12:00p.m due to the participation of the Panhellenic Union of Aeronautical Telecommunication Officers in the strike. For further information please contact your airline.

Due to the strike, Suburban Railway and Metro services, from/to the Airport, will not be available on Wednesday, 17th of May 2017.

Public buses will be available from 09:00 to 21:00.

Taxis and Regional buses will be available.

According to Fox News:

Greek seamen and journalists walked off the job Tuesday, a day before a nationwide general strike to protest new austerity measures the government is legislating for in return for more bailout funds.

The seamen’s union announced Tuesday afternoon they would extend their strike, originally planned to last 48 hours, for a further two days, leaving ferries servicing Greece’s islands tied up in port until midnight Friday night.

Journalists were holding a 24-hour strike Tuesday, pulling news broadcasts off the air from 6 a.m. (0300 GMT). News websites were not being updated, and no Wednesday newspapers would be printed. Public bus company employees were also holding work stoppages during the day.

Wednesday’s general strike is expected to affect services across the country, from schools and hospitals to public transport. Air traffic controllers have declared participation with a four-hour work stoppage, leading to the rescheduling of 99 flights and the cancellation of a further nine by Greece’s Aegean and Olympic Air. Another airline, Sky Express, announced the rescheduling of 41 domestic flights between Athens and the Greek islands.

Protest marches have been scheduled for central Athens in the morning.

Workers are protesting a new deal with Greece’s international creditors that impose a raft of new tax hikes and spending cuts beyond the end of the country’s third bailout in 2018. The measures, which are to be voted on in parliament at midnight Thursday, will include additional pension cuts in 2019 and higher income tax in 2020.

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May 15, 2017

Teterboro Airport, in New Jersey, is currently closed due to a small plane crash. The crash took place at 3:30 p.m. while on approach to Runway 1 at Teterboro.

According to ABC News:

A small plane crashed this afternoon in an industrial area in the northern New Jersey town of Carlstadt, police say.

The Federal Aviation Administration said a Learjet 35 that was en route from Philadelphia International Airport to New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport crashed at 3:30 p.m. while on approach to Runway 1 at Teterboro.

The plane went down in a residential area about a quarter of a mile from the airport, the FAA said.

A Learjet 35 can hold up to eight passengers but it is unclear how many people were on board.

The FAA is heading to the scene.

Teterboro Airport has been closed.

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