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United Airlines now flies direct to SFO
Just when you thought of San Francisco as your next revenge travel destination, comes the good news: United Airlines now flies nonstop daily between Manila and San Francisco......»»
Pilot who tried to shut flying plane’s engine on magic mushrooms
The off-duty American pilot who tried to shut down the engines of a plane mid-flight on Sunday had taken magic mushrooms and had not slept for 40 hours, court documents showed Tuesday. Magic mushrooms contain hallucinogenic chemical called psilocybin according to Medical News Today. After being cuffed with wrist restraints and seated at the rear of the aircraft, Joseph Emerson also tried to open an emergency exit “because I thought I was dreaming and I just want to wake up,” he told police, according to a criminal complaint. Emerson told the investigating officer it was his first time taking mushrooms. The 44-year-old was arrested on Sunday evening after the Alaska Airlines flight he disrupted made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. Emerson had boarded the flight — which was operated by Horizon Air — between Everett, Washington and San Francisco, sitting in the jump seat of the cockpit, in line with airline policy for non-working staff. A short way into the journey, after chatting with the pilots “Emerson attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles that would have activated the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines,” the United States Department of Justice said. “After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit.” Alaska Airlines said Monday that pilots had reacted quickly to reverse the handles, and the aircraft with 80 passengers had landed safely. The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon said Emerson faces a federal charge of interfering with flight crew members and attendants. He has also been charged in Oregon with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft. US media reported that he pleaded not guilty to these charges during a brief court appearance in Portland on Tuesday. The post Pilot who tried to shut flying plane’s engine on magic mushrooms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pampered passengers
Adult diapers are getting a “bum” rap and not for the use they are intended. In 2017, morning rush hour passengers on Metro Rail Transit Line 3 were inconvenienced when the train’s southbound service was halted for more than an hour. Commuters could only take the MRT 3 between the North Avenue and Buendia stations. Trains could not run through to the Ayala Avenue Station as power there had been cut following the discovery of an adult diaper hanging from the power line. After the diaper was removed, train safety was restored, and service went back to normal at 7:46 a.m., according to news reports. On 13 October, a Copa Airlines flight from Panama to the United States turned back due to a supposed bomb threat. On the tarmac at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport, 144 passengers were evacuated from the plane and it was searched by an anti-explosives team. The bomb squad discovered a suspicious package inside the plane’s toilet. Bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in and special forces officers gingerly handled the package — only to find a harmless adult diaper, recalled José Castro, head of the airport’s security team. Thereafter, the Copa flight resumed, landing in Tampa, Florida at 6:54 p.m. WITH AFP The post Pampered passengers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rico and Melannie Hizon renew marriage vows
They met each other through a blind date in Hong Kong in 1997. He was a news anchor with CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel) News then and she was a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines......»»
Typhoon triggers evacuations in China, Vietnam
China and Vietnam on Monday started evacuating tens of thousands of people from places in the path of an incoming typhoon. Powerful winds, storm surges and lashing rains were forecast to hammer China’s southern coastline from Guangdong to Hainan provinces when typhoon “Talim” makes landfall on Monday night, the China Meteorological Administration said. The state-backed Southern Daily reported the evacuation of an initial 1,000 people in Yunfu city in south China’s Guangdong province as “Talim” was spotted 280 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong at 2 p.m., the city’s weather observatory said. The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas due to a storm surge and ferries and most bus services in the city were suspended. In Hong Kong, the airport authority said airlines canceled flights of more than 1,000 travelers while the stock market suspended trading. Meilan International Airport and Qionghai Boao Airport, both on Hainan island, have canceled all flights, state media reported. Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong near Macau canceled more than 80 flights, local media said. Authorities in south China’s Hainan island asked ships in nearby waters to return to port after the local marine forecasting station warned of waves of up to six meters, state news agency Xinhua reported. Ferry services between Hainan and neighboring Guangdong province were suspended early on Sunday. In Vietnam, some 30,000 people from Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces were being prepared to evacuate from Monday afternoon. WITH AFP The post Typhoon triggers evacuations in China, Vietnam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Flight freak
Airlines incentivize flying by giving points to frequent flyers. Accumulated points can be used to get discounts on their next plane ticket purchases. Under such frequent flyer programs, the more a traveler flies, the more affordable her or his flights become as points are converted to fare discounts or even free flights. In a recent report by 3AW, an Australian news outlet and complaint hotline, a man had earned at least 500,000 frequent flyer points. One day, the guy identified as Mike received an online message instructing him to claim 150,000 points by clicking a link. After doing so, his 500,000 points vanished in what could have been an online scam, according to 3AW. A safe way to get FFP points and enjoy free flights was demonstrated by Tom Stuker, from New Jersey, USA. Stuker, 69, simply bought a United Airlines pass in 1990 which allowed him to fly as much as he wanted to. A consultant on running auto dealerships and an avid traveler, Stuker racked up so many FFP points that not only allowed him to fly free but also to get no-charge hotel accommodations, cruise ship trips, and even Walmart gift certificates as prizes. In 2019, Stuker took a dizzying 373 flights covering 1.46 million miles, according to WP. The total fare came to $2.44 million but he didn’t have to pay for it as he used the UA pass. By that year, before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and grounded airlines, Stuker had logged a total of 10 million miles since 1990. The jet setter passed the 5-million mile mark much earlier, in 2009, according to The Guardian, citing Simple Flying data. Stuker’s investment of $290,000 for the United pass proved to be the best one he made in his life with the 33 years of free flights he had enjoyed ever since. The flight pass brought him to more than 100 countries, including “more than 120 honeymoons,” according to WP. His travels covered over 23 million miles, or 37 million kilometers, to date, which was many times over the 953,000 miles the Apollo 11 astronauts covered in their trip to the moon and back in 1969. The post Flight freak appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show
European aircraft maker Airbus got the Paris Air Show off to a soaring start on Monday with the announcement of the biggest-ever order for civil aircraft, as the French president joined a big crowd for the event's return after a four-year Covid hiatus. The 500-plane deal with low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo kicked off what organizers have billed as the "recovery airshow" after the coronavirus ravaged the sector and the biennial trade fair was canceled in 2021. Fighter jets and civilian aircraft streaked across the sky while suited and uniformed delegations, including Ukrainian military officials and President Emmanuel Macron, toured the stands. This year's airshow has a new focus on defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with French President Emmanuel Macron arriving in a helicopter partly using sustainable aviation fuel. Macron called for "restraint" to protect the environment but said measures for aviation should be "reasonable" rather than "punitive", adding that the world shouldn't "give up on growth". Huge traffic jams around Le Bourget airport outside Paris were a testament to the interest in this year's show, as aircraft makers field hundreds of orders and airlines brace for a near-record number of passengers this year. The Ukraine conflict has also prompted countries to boost military spending, which could benefit aerospace defense firms. While Russia has been excluded from the event, Ukrainian military officials toured the huge exhibition space at Paris-Le Bourget airport, some taking photos of missiles on display. Passion for air hasn't disappeared Macron announced that Belgium is to be admitted as an observer to the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System program, which is seeking to develop the next generation of air combat technology. Macron, closing a ministerial conference on European air defense, called it a " major development". The FCAS is due to come into service by 2040 but has already suffered numerous delays. Also on the military front, Macron said that France, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium, and Cyprus are to jointly purchase Mistral short-range surface-to-air missiles. "This is a very fine example of sovereign cooperation between Europeans on a range that is entirely relevant and that was not sufficiently covered", the French leader said. There was star turns for the Rafale fighter made by France's Dassault and the American F-35 jet, with hundreds of visitors turning their phone cameras skyward and some plugging their ears against the deafening flypasts. Le Bourget offers a forum to announce deals with some 2,500 firms lining up to show off their latest planes, drones, helicopters and prototypes such as flying taxis. With 125,000 square meters (1,350,000 square feet) of exhibition space -- the equivalent of nearly 18 football pitches -- around 320,000 visitors are expected during the week-long event. "Passion for the air hasn't disappeared, that's good news," said Bertrand Godinot, easyJet's Netherlands and France director. Big deals Along with the Farnborough airshow in England, which takes place in even-numbered years, Le Bourget is a key sales event for the civil and defence industries. Airbus and rival Boeing compete fiercely in announcing orders for aircraft running into the billions of dollars. Monday's IndiGo-Airbus deal covers A320 family planes at a list price of $55 billion. Although closely held actual sale prices are usually lower, it marks the largest ever civil aviation order by volume, hailed by Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury as "an enormous milestone". Airbus and Boeing are also battling to solidify supply chains as they increase production to meet growing demand. The United States has a strong presence with 425 exhibitors, while firms from 46 other nations are present. China, which lifted Covid restrictions only at the beginning of this year, is also represented. However, Beijing is not displaying its first homegrown medium-haul passenger jet, the C919, built to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Flying taxis The airshow also hopes to open a window into the future as projects for flying taxis and other vertical take-off aircraft abound. Several prototypes will be on display as part of a "Paris Air Mobility" exhibition to showcase the latest innovations that developers hope will change how people travel. Macron arrived aboard Airbus' latest helicopter, the H160, in a flight fuelled with 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel before visiting the European group's stand where it laid out its net-zero-by-2050 plan. Macron had on Friday announced $2.2 billion to help develop technologies to reduce aircraft emissions. Air travel accounts for nearly three percent of global CO2 emissions but serves only a small minority of the world's population. With the industry targeting net zero emissions by mid-century, firms are turbocharging efforts to achieve it. The initial focus is on SAF, made from sources such as municipal waste and agricultural waste. But companies are also working to develop battery- and hydrogen-powered aircraft. The post Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Altitude problem
Like jeepney drivers, airlines squeeze passengers into available seat space regardless of their size. Some discomforted passengers are not taking the one-size-fits-all seats sitting down. Airlines addressed the size issue by charging oversized passengers for two seats. Travel blogger and body-positive advocate Jae’lynn Chaney, 26, disagreed and called for a free second and third airplane seat for biggies if needed, News.com.au reported. Jae’lynn is also demanding that airlines refund larger passengers for extra seats they needed to purchase when booking to accommodate their size, according to News.com.au. Skinny passengers also complain of large seatmates who partly occupy their seats. A Continental Airline passenger from Ohio was assigned to a middle seat next to a 500-pounder and asked flight attendants for relief because her seatmate’s weight was on her and she could not bring down her armrest, Express reported. The flight attendants could not transfer either of them to a vacant seat so the “sandwiched” passenger endured an aching neck and shoulder throughout her very expensive flight. Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines’ issue is different. Its new weight requirement became a viral topic on social media as the company threatened to ground those who fail to comply. For those with a height of 5.1 feet, their weight should not exceed 48 kilograms, according to the company. “This is intended to advocate healthy living habits and maintain a good professional image and healthy physique,” Hainan Airlines told CNN. Incidentally, the weight rule does not apply to passengers but to flight attendants. The post Altitude problem appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia seeks Interpol help to track US comedian over MH370 joke
Malaysian police said they asked Interpol on Wednesday to help track down a US comedian after her joke about the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 sparked fury and even an apology from Singapore. Jocelyn Chia told the joke during a set at the Comedy Cellar in New York City, reportedly in April, as she riffed on the historically testy relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, where she was raised. MH370 went missing in March 2014, and is one of Malaysia's deadliest aviation incidents, with all 239 people on board presumed dead. Such was the outrage over Chia's joke that Malaysian police began an investigation under incitement and offensive online content laws. On Tuesday Malaysia's police chief Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said they would ask Interpol to help locate her, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama. The head of police in the southern state of Johor said in a statement that a request had been filed on Wednesday. Kamarul Zaman Mamat said they were seeking "further information regarding the suspect to assist in investigations". Chia is being probed under public mischief laws that carry a jail term of up to two years, as well as communications legislation under which offenders face up to a year in prison. Malaysia and Singapore were briefly one state after the end of British colonial rule, but they separated in 1965. Chia, who has roots in Singapore, said in her routine that the city-state had since become a "first-world country" and that Malaysian "airplanes cannot fly". "Malaysian Airlines going missing not funny, huh," she continued. "Some jokes don't land." It caused an uproar on social media, followed by condemnations by top Malaysian officials including the foreign minister. "I am appalled by her horrendous statements," Singapore's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan tweeted last week. "We treasure our ties with family and friends in Malaysia, and are sorry for the offence and hurt caused to all Malaysians." Chia, however, has stood by her joke despite the intense backlash. The US-born former lawyer told CNN that she had performed that set "more than a hundred times" for more than a year without problems. "I do stand by my joke but with some caveat -- I stand by it in its entirety, when viewed in a comedy club," she told the broadcaster in comments published Sunday. She added, however: "Upon reflection I do see that having this as a clip that gets viewed out of a comedy club context was risky." Chia was defiant even after Malaysia's move to involve the international police body, tweeting: "Would love to see the face of the Interpol officer who received this request." The post Malaysia seeks Interpol help to track US comedian over MH370 joke appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No injuries after planes collide on ground at Tokyo’s Haneda airport–NHK
TOKYO–Some flights were delayed at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Saturday after two planes appeared to have collided on the ground near a taxiway, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing Japan’s transport ministry. No injuries occurred, NHK and one of the airlines said, but the incident led to the closure of one of four runways at the […] The post No injuries after planes collide on ground at Tokyo’s Haneda airport–NHK appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Asiana stops selling some emergency exit seats after plane door incident
South Korea's Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some emergency exit seats following an incident in which a passenger opened an aircraft door mid-air, the carrier said Sunday. A court in Daegu later Sunday issued an arrest warrant for the man, surnamed Lee, for allegedly breaking aviation security laws, Yonhap news agency reported. The incident took place aboard an A321-200 plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southeast of Seoul. The aircraft landed safely but several people were hospitalized. There were no serious injuries or damage. Starting Sunday, the 31A and 26A emergency exit seats on its 14 A321-200 jets -- 11 of which have 26A as their emergency seat while the other three have 31A -- would no longer be offered for sale, the carrier told AFP. "As a safety precaution, this measure will apply even if the flights are full," it added. A court issued an arrest warrant for Lee, Yonhap reported, citing "the seriousness of his case and the risk of flight". He had been detained by authorities in Daegu, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Lee had previously told Daegu police that he had wanted to get out of the plane because he was feeling "suffocated" inside the cabin. "I wanted to get off quickly," Lee told reporters Sunday before the warrant was issued. "I'm very sorry to the kids," he added, referring to at least 48 elementary and middle school students who were on board. He also had been under stress from being unemployed, authorities said. A nearby passenger captured footage of wind blowing through the open door, with fabric seat-backs and passengers' hair fluttering wildly as several people shouted in shock. The post Asiana stops selling some emergency exit seats after plane door incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Passenger opens plane door mid-air on Asiana flight
A passenger opened an emergency exit on an Asiana Airlines flight as it was preparing to land Friday, the carrier told AFP, adding that the plane landed safely but several people were hospitalized. The Airbus A321-200 was carrying nearly 200 passengers as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240 kilometers (149 miles) southeast of Seoul, on a domestic flight. When the plane was still about 200 meters (650 feet) above the ground, a passenger sitting near the emergency exit "opened the door manually by touching the lever", the South Korean carrier's representative told AFP. The unexpected opening of the door caused some passengers to have breathing difficulties, and some people were taken to a hospital after the landing, Asiana said, adding that there were no major injuries or damage. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that nine people were hospitalized. "The passenger has been taken to the police and is under questioning" to find out why they opened the door, Asiana said. A short video of the incident was shared by Yonhap. The footage shows wind ripping through the open door in mid-air, with fabric seat-backs and passengers' hair flapping wildly as some shout in surprise. Another video shared on social media showed passengers sitting in the emergency exit row next to an open door being buffeted by strong winds. The two male passengers, who are wearing their seatbelts, can be seen wincing as the wind whips around them, while they clutch the armrests and try and turn away from the door. The post Passenger opens plane door mid-air on Asiana flight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iran court jails missile crew behind jet downing
Ten members of an Iranian missile battery crew involved in the downing of a Ukrainian airliner in 2020 have been sentenced to prison, Iran’s judiciary has said on its website. The commander of the crew received the heaviest penalty of 10 years imprisonment while nine others were sentenced to between one and three years, Mizan Online reported on Sunday. The 10 members of the Iranian armed forces were not named. The commander of a Tor M-1 surface-to-air missile system “fired two missiles,” “contrary to orders” and without obtaining authorization, at the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 shortly after its takeoff from Tehran on 8 January 2020, killing all 176 people on board, according to Mizan. Ukraine lost 11 citizens in the airline disaster. At the time, Iranian air defenses were on high alert for a United States counterattack after Tehran fired missiles at a military base in Iraq that was used by American forces. Those missiles came in response to the killing in a US drone attack in Baghdad of Major General Qassem Soleimani who headed the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Three days after the Kyiv-bound plane was shot down, the Iranian armed forces admitted there had been a “mistake.” “Given the extent of the effects and consequences of this action, the main defendant was sentenced to the maximum penalty,” Mizan Online added without giving further details. Compensation Iran’s judiciary said in November 2021 that a trial had opened in Tehran for 10 military members “of various ranks” in connection with the jet’s downing. In January last year, Iran said it had begun paying compensation to families of those killed. Arash Khodaei, a vice president of the country’s Civil Aviation Organization, said that “the sum of $150,000 has been transferred” to some families, while “the process has begun” for others. The payment “does not infringe upon (their) right to take legal action,” state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying. In 2020, Iran offered to pay “$150,000 or the equivalent in euros” to each of the victims’ families. Ukrainian and Canadian officials strongly criticized the announcement, saying compensation should not be settled through unilateral declarations. A Canadian court awarded more than $80 million in compensation to the families of six of the victims in a decision made public in January 2022. That same month, an Iranian couple filed a rare lawsuit against three senior Iranian officials over the deaths of their children in the incident, an Iranian newspaper reported at the time. A group of countries led by Canada called in December for an arbitrator to settle claims against Iran, a first step in possibly bringing a case at the International Court of Justice, which victims’ families have long demanded. Iran offered to pay ‘$150,000 or the equivalent in euros’ to each of the victims’ families. The association of families of the victims reiterated Sunday after the verdict that “an impartial, international court” should try the crime. The post Iran court jails missile crew behind jet downing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hopes of survivors in Nepal plane crash ‘nil,’ local officials say
POKHARA, Nepal — Nepali rescue workers scoured a debris-strewn ravine Monday for three missing bodies from the mangled wreckage of a plane that crashed with 72 people on board, with hopes of any survivors now “nil,” according to authorities. The Yeti Airlines ATR 72 plummeted into the steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames […] The post Hopes of survivors in Nepal plane crash ‘nil,’ local officials say appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Nepal finds black boxes of aircraft after deadliest crash in 30 years
KATHMANDU — Searchers found the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder on Monday, January 16, 2023, from a passenger flight that crashed, killing at least 70 people in Nepal’s worst plane accident for 30 years, officials said. The data on the recorders may help investigators determine what caused the Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft, […] The post Nepal finds black boxes of aircraft after deadliest crash in 30 years appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
A pilot couple killed in air crashes in Nepal – 16 years apart
KATHMANDU — In 2010, Anju Khatiwada joined Nepal’s Yeti Airlines, following in the footsteps of her husband, a pilot who had died in a crash four years earlier when a small passenger plane he was flying for the domestic carrier went down minutes before landing. On Sunday, Khatiwada, 44, was the co-pilot on a Yeti […] The post A pilot couple killed in air crashes in Nepal – 16 years apart appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Air traffic system glitch diverts all flights in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — Local carriers have temporarily suspended flights following the power outage at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) on the first day of the year, causing worries to passengers bound to go home after the holiday break. Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines, in separate advisories on Sunday, said their passengers can […] The post Air traffic system glitch diverts all flights in Manila appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
More airlines opening flights to new destinations from MCIA — exec
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — The Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) is looking forward to more airline companies opening flights from the airport to other countries. MCIAA general manager Julius Neri Jr. said that with more relaxed health and safety protocols against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), he hoped that more international flights would open in […] The post More airlines opening flights to new destinations from MCIA — exec appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PAL to open Cebu-Borongan route
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to operate its Cebu-Borongan flights this month, a move that is seen to boost business and tourism activities in the Eastern Samar province. The Lucio Tan-owned airline and the city government of Borongan recently inked a memorandum of agreement to begin the twice-a-week flights on Dec. 19. “With […] The post PAL to open Cebu-Borongan route appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
UFC 277: Amanda Nunes blasts Julianna Pena to reclaim bantamweight title
DALLAS, Texas – Amanda Nunes put on a mixed martial arts clinic to beat Julianna Pena by unanimous decision after a thrilling five-round battle in front of a crowd of 19,442 at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas on Saturday, reclaiming the bantamweight title. Nunes’ five-year reign as bantamweight champ came to an end when […] The post UFC 277: Amanda Nunes blasts Julianna Pena to reclaim bantamweight title appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»