April 18, 2017

A Southwest flight from Albany to Chicago Midway was delayed yesterday after one of the pilots was arrested for having a loaded gun in his carry-on bag. The flight was delayed for four hours as the airline scrambled to fly in a replacement pilot and rebook some passengers on other flights.

According to the Albany Times Union:

A co-pilot for a Southwest Airlines flight was arrested on a weapons charge after security at Albany International Airport found a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

New Orleans resident Erick Gibson, 55, on Monday was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon after a TSA officer operating the X-ray machine at the Albany airport’s security checkpoint spotted the .380-caliber handgun in the pilot’s bag, according to Sheriff Craig Apple.

TSA said the gun was loaded with six bullets. Gibson’s bag wasn’t screened before his flight from New Orleans to Albany the previous night, according to a Dallas News report. Gibson has worked with Southwest for nine years, Apple said.

It’s the second time in less than a month that a passenger was caught with a handgun in carry-on luggage. On March 27, a man was arrested after he was caught with a handgun in his bag.

Albany County Sheriff’s deputies who were called to the checkpoint took the weapon. Gibson was released on $200 bail, Apple said.

According to Dallas Police:

TSA officers detected the firearm among the Southwest co-pilot’s carry-on items as he entered the airport checkpoint, the agency said in a news release.

The TSA officer immediately contacted the Albany County Sheriff’s Deputy who was assigned to the checkpoint, who responded, confiscated the firearm and arrested the pilot on a weapons charge. The flight, bound for Chicago-Midway Airport, was delayed for approximately four hours.

While firearms, firearm parts and ammunition are not permitted in carry-on bags, they can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded, properly packed and declared to the airline.

People who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to possible criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000.

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

April 17, 2017

On Friday, a 5-year old boy was accidentally killed at the revolving Sun Dial restaurant atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta. The boy had wandered from his family and became stuck between a rotating portion of the floor and a wall. While the floor automatically shut off, Atlanta’s WSB-TV has indicated that the “restaurant will be closed until further notice.”

According to Time magazine:

A 5-year-old boy died Friday after being crushed to death by a revolving restaurant in Atlanta. The incident occurred at the Sun Dial, a 73-story restaurant at the top of Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel that rotates full circle, offering 360-degree views of the city, police said, USA Today reports.

The child and his family were visiting from Charlotte and had gone to the restaurant for lunch, Atlanta Police Department spokesman Warren Pickard said, according to USA Today. The boy wandered 4 to 5 feet away from his parents’ table when he became entrapped between a rotating portion of the floor and a wall, a space of about 4 to 5 inches, Pickard said.

“We simply think he lost sight of his parents and panicked and found himself in that situation,” Pickard said, according to USA Today. “A small child doesn’t know what to do in those moments, and it crushed his little small body.”

Staff and dining guests immediately tried to give the child first aid, Pickard said. “They were moving furniture, they were pulling chairs — chairs that were bolted to the floor — they were pulling them up to try to get the child out,” he explained.

The hotel manager for the Westin Peachtree Plaza, George Reed, said in a statement that the hotel will continue working with authorities and assist in them in investigation, according to USA Today.

“Words cannot express the depths of our sorrow. Our thoughts remain with the family,” he said.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com. Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

April 14, 2017

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Fantasy encountered a mechanical issue, forcing it to miss the one planned port of call on its 4-night cruise.

Cruise Critic writes:

“Propulsion problems on Carnival Fantasy are forcing the ship to skip its single scheduled port of call and remain at sea for three days.

The four-night cruise was supposed to visit Cozumel on Saturday, but because of the propulsion issues, which are affecting the ship’s cruising speed, Carnival Cruise Line determined Fantasy would not be able to reach the port and return to Mobile in time.

‘Given that this ship is based in Mobile (so pretty far north), combined with the speed limitation, there were no viable alternatives to make an alternate port and then get back to Mobile within a four-day cruise,’ Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz told Cruise Critic. ‘We looked at a variety of options, but there was not a feasible alternative, unfortunately.’

Because foreign-flagged cruise ships that depart U.S. ports are not permitted by the U.S. government to sail cruises to nowhere the cruise line had to ask for special permission from the government. Permission was received late, and the ship departed port at 9:30 p.m.

Carnival gave all passengers the option to cancel and receive a full refund. Those who decided to stay onboard for the cruise to nowhere received a 50 percent refund of their cruise fare, a $50 onboard credit and a future cruise certificate worth 50 percent of the cruise fare paid.

Onboard technicians continue to work on the problem; the line does not yet know if subsequent cruises will be affected.”

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

April 14, 2017

No injuries were reported after a fire broke out on the roof of the Bellagio Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip late Thursday night.

According to KTNV-13 in Las Vegas:

Clark County Fire Department first responded to the fire at 10:50 p.m. local time after receiving the first call at 10:46 p.m. The fire was located on the roof of a building on the north side of the lake.

Officials say battling the blaze was difficult to access given its location, but that they had nonetheless managed to knock down the fire.

A total of 77 personnel responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire has not yet been released.

Las Vegas Boulevard was briefly closed as a result of the fire.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me or the PR team know.

Best,

Hillary

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

April 14, 2017

A British woman was killed today in Jerusalem, while on a tram in Tsahal Square, which was packed with people celebrating Good Friday and Passover.

Two other people were injured in the knife attack. The suspect has been arrested.

The Washington Post reports:

A woman was fatally stabbed on Friday by an apparent Palestinian attacker just steps from Jerusalem’s Old City, where thousands of Jews and Christians gathered for religious holidays at one of the busiest times of the year, Israeli police said.

Thousands of people filled parts of the ancient city: Jews to celebrate Passover, which ends Sunday, and Christian pilgrims for Good Friday. The attack took place inside a carriage of the city’s light rail train not far from the entrance to the Old City’s Christian Quarter.

The woman was treated for stab wounds and later died in hospital, police said. She was not immediately identified, but local news outlets reported that she was a tourist from Britain.

Israel’s Shabak security agency named the suspected attacker as 57-year-old Jamal Tamimi from East Jerusalem, a mostly Arab area. They said he had mental health issues and had attempted suicide earlier this year while hospitalized. Tamimi was arrested at the scene, the report said.

According to the UK’s Independent:

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the man attacked the woman, who is believed to be in her early 20s, as she travelled on the light rail near Jerusalem’s Old City.

She was rushed to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center but died soon after arrival. Local media reports suggested she had been stabbed multiple times and that two others were slightly injured in the attack – including a pregnant woman.

The area was packed with people at the time of the attack as Christians gather to celebrate Good Friday and Jewish people gather to observe Passover.

The city has been on high alert during Holy Week after an increase in knife attacks by Palestinians.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me or the PR team know.

Best,

Hillary

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

April 12, 2017

While Tropical Cyclone Cook has been downgraded, it is still impacting travel throughout New Zealand due to strong winds and heavy rain.

Those traveling to or from Auckland should anticipate flight delays and possible cancellations due to the storm.

According to TVNZ:

Auckland Transport says that public transport services are likely to be disrupted [Thursday] due to the cyclone. Wind gusts up to 140km/h as well as heavy rain could mean ferry sailings will be cancelled and bus restrictions will be in place for the Harbour Bridge. Rail services could be reduced or even cancelled. AT Metro Operations Manager Brendon Main said they are closely monitoring forecasts. “Our advice to public transport users is to follow media reports and look for updates on the AT website, Twitter and Facebook and allow extra time for your commute.”

Stuff.co.nz, an award-winning news website in New Zealand, reports:

Flight delays, cancellations in Auckland.

The forecast has sparked warnings from the Auckland Council, Civil Defence and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

People should expect delays and cancellations to certain train services in the city’s south. Flights in and out of the city are being impacted as well, with cancellations occurring.

Newshub reports: Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

Auckland Civil Defence is warning people to postpone travel on Thursday afternoon. Cook is expected to hit between noon and 6pm.

Auckland Transport warns ferries may be cancelled, restrictions imposed on tall vehicles on the harbour bridge and reduced or cancelled train services.

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

April 12, 2017

In the aftermath of yesterday’s multiple explosions near the team bus of one of Germany’s top football teams, police have made an arrest. One of the players from Borussia Dortmund was injured in the attack.

According to ABC News:

Police have made one arrest following an incident in which multiple explosions went off near the team bus of Borussia Dortmund, one of Germany’s top soccer clubs, as it set off for a Champions League quarterfinal match on Tuesday evening. One of the team’s players was injured in the attack.

Two suspects “from the Islamist spectrum have come into the focus of the criminal prosecution,” according to authorities, and their apartments have been searched.

The chief prosecutor in the investigation also provided more details about the man who was injured in the attack. “One of the passengers incurred serious injuries on his arm from a broken window pane,” the chief prosecutor said in a statement. “The explosive devices were loaded with metal pins. One metal pin embedded itself in the headrest of one of the bus seats. The explosive devices had an explosive effect of more than 100 meters,” the statement added.

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

April 11, 2017

News reports from Hawaii indicate that there is an outbreak of “rat lungworm disease” with nine confirmed cases, including among two visitors to Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Health has issued guidelines for prevention.

According to KHON-TV (Honolulu):

Researchers are calling it an epidemic: a big spike in the number of people infected with rat lungworm disease in Hawaii. The Department of Health says so far there are nine confirmed cases of the disease. Four are Maui residents, two are visitors who contracted it on Maui, and three live on Hawaii Island.

State officials are also looking into three possible cases on Maui, and one on Hawaii Island. The Department of Health adds 11 cases were confirmed on Hawaii Island in 2016.

The disease starts out as a parasitic worm that invades the human brain. The worm is carried by rats, then spread through snails or slugs that crawl onto fruits or vegetables.

University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers say rat lungworm disease is preventable, but only if people are informed. They’re asking for more funding from the state to let people know about the dangers, as well as to find out the most effective vegetable washes so people can continue to eat local and fresh produce safely.

Both researchers want to create a safety campaign on the dangers of eating raw fruits and vegetables that haven’t been properly washed.

Click here for what the state says is the proper way to wash your produce.

They believe the rise in cases is due to a “semi–slug,” an invasive species that spread from Hawaii Island to Maui. Both call it an epidemic.

The Hawaii Department of Health has issued a flier on how to avoid rat lungworm disease. It advises:

The rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, can cause a disease called angiostrongyliasis, which can affect the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms may include severe headache, stiffness of the neck and back, skin tingling, pain and sensitivity, Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

sensitivity to light, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and sometimes coma and death. Symptoms will vary from person to person.

Foods such as raw produce, raw or undercooked snails, freshwater prawns, crabs and frogs can be contaminated by an unseen parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm). Fish are not known to carry this parasite. The rat lungworm is found most often in snails and slugs and has also been found in the flatworm. The worm infects rats, which pass the parasite to snails, slugs, freshwater prawns, crabs and frogs. Humans become infected by ingesting an infected host.

Prevention:

• • DO NOT eat raw foods contaminated with the slime from snails or slugs or visible snail or slugs.

• • RINSE PRODUCE in potable water completely, and boil snails, freshwater prawns, crabs, and frogs for AT LEAST 3-5 MINUTES.

• • Do not handle snails and slugs with bare hands.
• • Control slugs and snails at your residence.

• • Cover your catchment tanks to prevent slugs and snails from having access.

• • Controlling rodents can also help control the rat lungworm.

Visit our website for more prevention methods If you think you may have angiostrongyliasis, see your health care provider and let him/her know of your exposures. For more information call the Hawai‘i District Health Office Disease Investigations office: 808-933-0912 or see CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/angiostrongyliasis/index.htm

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

April 10, 2017

Alert – FCC: Proposal to Terminate Plan Allowing Cellphone Calls on Airplane

Earlier today, the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai issued a statement recommending that the 2013 proposal to allow phone calls during flights be shelved. FCC Commissioners must now vote on Pai’s order to decide whether to permanently ax the plan.

FCC Chairman issued the following statement:

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding his proposal that the FCC terminate its 2013 proceeding that sought to relax rules governing mobile communications on planes:

“I stand with airline pilots, flight attendants, and America’s flying public against the FCC’s ill-conceived 2013 plan to allow people to make cellphone calls on planes. I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest. Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.”

According to CNET:

This is a turnaround from former Chairman Tom Wheeler’s perspective. In 2013, Wheeler emphasized that the ban on phone calls was based on whether cell phones would cause technical disruptions on flights.

If the FCC did end up changing its rule, the final determination would have been left up to the US Department of Transportation — and then to individual airlines — on whether to allow phone calls. Airlines would have needed to install special technology to give their passengers a cell signal while flying much higher than any of the planet’s cell towers.

“The FCC is the expert agency when it comes to technical communications issues,” Wheeler said in 2013. “We are not the Federal Courtesy Commission.”

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

April 9, 2017

Alert – Turkey: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Crash Kills Tourist, Injures Another 7

Today, two different attacks on Coptic Christian churches occurred in Egypt – one in Alexandria killing 16 and another in Tanta killing 29. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the explosions that were timed to coincide with Palm Sunday services.

As a reminder, the U.S. State Department has a Travel Warning in place for Egypt (the Travel Warning was last updated in December), which states in part: “The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of threats from terrorist groups in Egypt and to consider the risks of travel to the country.”

According to BBC:

Two blasts targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt on Palm Sunday have killed at least 45 people, officials say.

In Alexandria, an explosion outside St Mark’s Coptic church killed 16 people. Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending Mass inside and was unhurt, state media reported. An earlier blast at St George’s Coptic church in Tanta killed 29 people.

So-called Islamic State (IS) says it is behind the explosions. The group has recently targeted Copts in Egypt.

Following the attacks, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi ordered military deployments to protect “vital and important infrastructure” across the country, the government said in a statement.

Four police officers, including one policewoman, were among those killed in Alexandria, the interior ministry said. The suicide bomber blew himself up after they stopped him from entering the church.

The first explosion in Tanta, 94km (58 miles) north of Cairo, took place near the altar. The explosions injured at least 71 people in Tanta and 35 others in Alexandria, the health ministry said.

The Egyptian government announced three days of mourning.

The blasts appear to have been timed for maximum impact, as people gathered to mark Palm Sunday. It is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

Egyptian security forces had been put on alert in anticipation of attacks.

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