Flight

If you hear this word whilst you are on a flight, it might mean that one of your fellow passengers has died on board – and cabin crews have a whole host of codewords like this

Cabin crews have a lot to deal with as they take care of passengers during their flights. In addition to keeping everyone happy and well-fed, they occasionally have to deal with more major crises, but flight attendants are known to use secret codewords to ensure that they don’t panic any of the other passengers.

One phrase, in particular, can mean, if you hear it whilst travelling, that someone on the plane has sadly died – and the staff are trying to let each other know what’s going on, whilst keeping the situation under wraps from the passengers.

The code words regularly used for a death mid-flight are “Angel” or “Code 300.” These words allow discretion while the crew deals with the sad situation and ensure that no excess attention is drawn or alarm is generated amongst those on the flight.

Travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may encounter on a flight, but do not know what they mean. Whilst most flights go smoothly, on others there can be some issues where flight crews need to communicate with each other secretly, so as not to alert passengers.

There are a number of other in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may hear when on a flight.

If a traveller hears ‘Squawk 7500’ or ‘Hotel’, it means that a hijacking is in progress. As a passenger, if you hear this either mentioned by the flight crew or air traffic control, it signals that there is a potential security threat on the flight. Usually, the aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger.

Another alert is ‘Code Yellow’. A ‘Code Yellow’ indicates a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, it allows crew members to discreetly monitor a situation and assess whether they need any assistance.

If a serious but non-life-threatening emergency occurs while on a flight, passengers may hear ‘Peter Pan’. The phrase indicates that something is wrong onboard the flight, which could be mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but it also signals that the flight is not in imminent danger.

‘Mermaid’ is a nickname used for a passenger who deliberately sprawls across empty seats. This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out to try and claim the extra space. Last year, one passenger got into an argument with another passenger over an empty seat, as she was told she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to sit in it despite nobody paying for it.

The woman needed to move seats because something was wrong with hers, and a flight attendant informed her she could move to an empty seat in the row across from her own. When she tried to sit in it, however, the woman sitting next to the empty chair told her she “wasn’t allowed”—despite nobody having booked it.

‘Code Adam’ is not used onboard planes but in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a ‘Code Adam’, staff will begin searching the airport while securing exits to prevent abductions. At an airport, ‘Code Bravo’ may also be used to signal a general security alert.

Finally, while ‘VIP’ is usually used to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ in the airline industry, it can sometimes refer to a ‘Very Irritating Passenger.’ Crew will sometimes use the code to refer to a traveller who is making excessive demands, complaining a lot, or generally being difficult without violating any specific rules.

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While it can be tempting to close your eyes while you’re waiting for your flight to depart, a member of cabin crew has revealed why you should avoid having some shut-eye

You might think that taking a snooze before your plane takes off is harmless, but a flight attendant has revealed a vital reason why you should avoid doing it on your next getaway.

Catching a flight can be tiring, especially if you’ve woken up at 3am to get to the airport in plenty of time for your long-haul flight. The early starts can quickly catch up with you, and before you know it, you’ve drifted off while waiting for everyone to board the plane.

But flight attendant, Ale Pedroza, who lives in Orlando, Florida, has revealed ‘what not to do’ on a flight – and top of her list is when not to nap.

“Let’s talk about things you shouldn’t do on an airplane – coming from a flight attendant,” she said in a TikTok video. “The first tip is try not to fall asleep before take off. I know travelling can be exhausting and sometimes you just want to get on an airplane and go straight to sleep.”

READ MORE: Terrifying airport near-miss as planes almost crash in view of New York skyline

She continued: “So not only is it not good for your ears to fall asleep before take off but you also want to remember that taxiing is one of the most crucial phases of flights. You want to make sure that you are completely aware and completely awake in case of an emergency or in case you have to evacuate.”

Ale, who has worked in the industry for a decade, then shared tip number two. “Next is do not consume your own alcohol. It is against federal relations to consume your own alcohol because we do need to make sure that you are drinking responsibly.

“And if you are drinking your own alcohol we can’t really track that. It is a federal thing, it is not an airline thing.” Serving your own alcohol on a plane is also banned in the UK.

Finally, she concluded: “One of the most obvious ones is don’t walk around barefoot on any airline or any airplane. If you decide to take your shoes off in your seat, that’s a different story, but do not walk into the lavatory with bare feet. You never know what you are stepping on, and the floor is not always the cleanest!”

It comes after air steward Tommy Cimato urged passengers not to wear shorts on a flight. The aviator turned video creator, who boasts more than 450,000 followers on his account @tommycimato, warned that wearing shorts can potentially pose a risk without you even realising it.

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“Don’t or try not to wear shorts when on an airplane. You never know how clean it’s going to be, so if you’re wearing trousers you’re going to have fewer germs,” he explained.

Sharing other vital first-hand advice with his followers, Tommy went on: “Do not ever push the flush button or lever with your bare hands. It’s honestly just unsanitary and it’s pretty gross, so when you flush use a napkin or tissue. Don’t forget to drink water and stay hydrated! You’re going to want about 16 ounces for every flight that you go on.

“Do not fall asleep or lean your head on the window. You’re not the only person to do that and you don’t know how many people or children have wiped their hands or other things all over the window. Don’t feel afraid to let a flight attendant know that you’re feeling sick. We are there to help so if you need food, water, or an air sickness bag then please feel free to let us know.”

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NEW YORK — In the interest of doing things differently last October, the Dodgers made a subtle, but profound, change in their travel plans.

In previous postseasons — many of which ended with disappointing early eliminations — the Dodgers would use one wide-body plane to shuttle players, coaches, executives, staff, broadcasters and other members of their bloated playoff traveling party from city to city.

Last year, they opted for a different flight pattern.

Players took one plane, as part of a larger effort to promote a sense of togetherness in pursuit of a World Series title.

Everyone else, meanwhile, flew on a second, separate chartered commercial jet.

“I think it’s just [a way for us to make sure] more of the time we spend is together,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said during last year’s postseason. “Making sure we stayed together as a group.”

Given the results, the Dodgers decided to keep the change in place for this season.

What started as a one-month experiment then, has become a permanent routine for the defending champions now.

This year, in a significant shift to the way they travel, the Dodgers are using two planes on a full-time basis for their regular-season road trips: One for players, just like they did last October; and another for everyone else, from manager Dave Roberts and the rest of his coaching staff to the dozens of other team personnel that make up each trip.

“It was driven by them,” Roberts said of the players, noting their interest in continuing the two-plane itinerary this year. “And we facilitated it.”

“It’s reimagining team travel,” added Scott Akasaki, who as the Dodgers’ senior director of travel has overseen the transition. “It’ll be interesting to see what the positive things that come out of it are.”

Indeed, as club officials looked ahead to their 2025 title defense this winter, they quickly warmed to the idea of making the two-plane system permanent.

Already, they had bought into the positive impacts it had on team chemistry during the playoffs, believing it to be a contributing factor to the heightened level of camaraderie players cited as a driving force behind their 2024 championship.

But as they mapped out ways to ease the burdens of a grueling 162-game season, they recognized other logistical benefits that could result from the added travel investment.

“Our ownership was incredibly supportive of the idea,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “And yeah, it seems like it’s gone well so far.”

For starters, players now have more comfortable seating arrangements on flights, able to spread out on an aircraft that includes only a handful of additional clubhouse support staff.

“It’s providing an environment where our players are more apt to get rest and recovery, with just less people on the plane and more room to move around,” Akasaki said.

And after the team experienced several lengthy travel-day delays last year because of mechanical problems with their charter, they now have a “fail-safe” contingency plan, as Gomes described it; always having a second plane available to transport team members to their next city as scheduled.

“In theory, the players and critical staff can hop on the working plane and go,” Akasaki echoed, “while the remaining folks stay behind until the mechanical problem gets resolved.”

Four road trips into this year, however, no trickle-down effect has been as lauded as the changes the Dodgers have made to their actual travel schedule.

In the days of traditional single-plane travel, the Dodgers would typically wait to fly out of Los Angeles if they had an off day between the end of a homestand and the start of a road trip. It meant one extra night at home, but a later arrival into cities on the eve of an away series.

“When you’re spending your off day on the plane,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy said, “you don’t ever feel like you’re as recovered.”

Using two planes for road trips has allowed the Dodgers players to leave right after the final game of a homestand, which so far this season has been followed by an off day. “When you’re spending your off day on the plane,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy said, “you don’t ever feel like you’re as recovered.”

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

With the benefit of a second plane, the Dodgers can do things differently now.

Though each of the team’s first four homestands this year have been followed by an open date, the players’ plane has departed immediately after all four getaway-day games, getting them into road cities the same night (or, in the case of Wednesday’s flight to New York this week, early the next morning) before the rest of the traveling party arrives the following afternoon.

“I think it’s better,” Freeman said. “It gives us actually a whole day off.”

“It’s nice to just have the off day [without having to fly],” Muncy added. “You’re tired on the off day, but then you can get a full night’s sleep to rest and recover. That felt pretty good.”

Sometimes, that extra day affords players with rare additional personal time — giving someone like Muncy, a Dallas-area native, a full afternoon to see family before last month’s Easter weekend series in Texas.

But even for other guys, Muncy added, “it was, let me go lay out by the pool, or let me go grab some lunch somewhere, and then we’ll go get a nice dinner. It just gives you the whole day to kind of recover. I think it’ll be a better change for us.”

Accounting for a second plane, of course, does add complexities to the planning of each road trip. The truckloads of equipment the Dodgers travel with has to be specifically sorted and loaded onto the correct flight. The team has to coordinate between two airline partners, chartering a Boeing 757 from Delta and a Boeing 737-800 from United, to handle travel parties sometimes upwards of 100 in all. Akasaki now even has a bigger team of people who help with the planning process, too.

“From Andrew [Friedman, president of baseball operations] on down, it was like, ‘Hey, this is a big thing, and it’s a lot for one person to handle,” Akasaki said. “So [they asked], ‘What do you need to keep this all organized?’ That’s been very helpful.”

The team also had to account for potential other negatives. There were considerations made over the environmental impact of using a second plane, according to one person involved in the process but not authorized to speak publicly. There were more simple day-to-day changes to the rhythm of the team’s season as well.

“Like, you can’t have that organic conversation in the back of the plane between a staff member and a player like you used to,” Akasaki noted.

But, in the end, the pros outweighed the cons.

“You can still have that [conversation] in the clubhouse,” Akasaki noted.

Plus, for an organization that has long tried to maximize its monstrous financial resources to become a premier destination for star talent in baseball, being able to pitch prospective free agents on the luxury of using two planes certainly “doesn’t hurt” either, Gomes quipped.

With the Dodgers’ new travel system believed to be unique among MLB clubs, Roberts noted that “there’s a lot of other teams already asking about the two planes.”

And to this point, players said, the reviews have been positive.

“It’s still early,” Muncy noted. “I’ve only ever done it the one way since I’ve been here, so I don’t know what the other way is like” over the course of a full season.

But, Freeman joked with a grin, “I haven’t heard one complaint about it.”

DANI Dyer is preparing for the WAG lifestyle as she sported West Ham kit for her second hen do ahead of her lavish wedding.

The reality star, 28, got engaged to West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen last July.

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Dani and her close friends and family jetted to Ibiza on Friday for more pre-wedding celebrations.

The TV star shared Instagram stories of her on the flight with a bottle of Limoncello in her hand.

She flashed a big smile while wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, a veil on her head and a lace garter around the leg.

In a major nod to her future husband, Dani wore West Ham United’s traditional kit, with a claret shirt with blue sleeves, white shorts, and white socks.

On the back of the t-shirt had ‘Mrs Bowen to be’, with Jarrod’s jersey number 20.

This isn’t the first hen party Dani’s had in recent weeks.

In April, Dani took to Instagram to share a peek into her lavish first hen do.

The clip showed her dancing with former Love Island co-star Georgia Steel, while younger sister Sunnie was also in attendance.

Dani captioned: “The most perfect special night with all my nearest and dearest.

“Why do I feel so emotional about it all hahaha…. finally all starting to feel so real and I’m just so excited.”

A follower commented: “You look amazing! Xxx.”

While another penned: “So so happy for you.”

Dani looked stunning as she wore a sheer corset beaded dress at the celebration.

Her off-the-shoulder wedding frock had sleeves embroidered with the words “To Be Bowen”.

She also flashed her huge engagement ring in the snaps, along with a glimpse of the ruched detail on the bottom of the dress.

Meanwhile, the star wore her hair in a classy half updo with loose curls and finished her look with flawless bronzed makeup.

It comes as Dani previously shared her fears over her fiancé’s stag do – as actor dad Danny Dyer revealed racy plans.

The father-daughter duo discussed Dani’s upcoming nuptials – as well as Jarrod’s stag-do on their Live and Let Dyers podcast.

Dani said: “If you can go, Jarrod gets back on the Thursday and we’re married Saturday.”

At this point, Danny, 47, swiftly interjected by cheering: “Strippers!”

His daughter, however, proceeded to disagree with this possibility, saying “no, you’re not.”

She added: “We had a butler in the buff, but we had to draw him. We had to draw the naked man.”

The Marching Powder actor remarked: “That’s what we would do. We’d probably draw the…”

Dani cut in: “It’s different, I’m sorry, it’s so different.”

Dani and Jarrod got engaged last summer on a romantic boat trip in Ibiza, having escaped for a minibreak.

The couple left their one-year-old twin daughters Star and Summer at home with family, along with Dani’s son Santiago, three, from a previous relationship.

Speaking previously to Fabulous, Dani revealed: “We’ve found the venue, which is beautiful. It’s giving Bridgerton vibes. I want violins. 

“I’m just praying it doesn’t rain. We’re getting married in the UK, so you never know!”

She added that their wedding “is very family-focused” with their twin daughters as flower girls.

“Jarrod’s little brother and my little Santi will be page boys,” she continued. 

How Dani Dyer transformed her reputation

The daughter of everyone’s favourite EastEnders geezer Danny, is currently living the high life.

But Dani has had a rollercoaster few years, from her Love Island win back in 2018, to watching her son’s father Sammy Kimmence go to prison for fraud, and now navigating her glamourous new life as a WAG and mother of twin babies.

In recent years, Dani has completely shaken off the ‘chav’ persona, and has become one of the most well-known of the current England WAGs.

Fabulous spoke to celebrity PR expert Ed Hopkins to find out the key steps Dani has taken to reinvent herself, including the tips she has borrowed from iconic WAG Cheryl Cole.

Ed revealed that Dani’s ability to navigate personal challenges, such as the scandal involving Sammy, has greatly played a crucial role in her reinvention.

Ed said: “By openly discussing her struggles and triumphs, she has built a strong, relatable persona.

“Her transparency about her personal life, including solo parenting and dealing with public scrutiny, has garnered significant public support and empathy.”

He also shared that Dani’s openness in discussing the challenges of motherhood, has helped to transform her reputation.

Ed said: “This openness has made her more relatable to a broader audience, particularly young mothers. She balances her public image by sharing both the joys and hardships of parenting, creating a more nuanced and authentic brand.”

Dani is often seen supporting West Ham winger Jarrod, including during England’s devastating loss to Spain in the 2024 Euros.

Her unwavering support for her partner, has cemented her as one of the most well-known WAGS of this generation, according to Ed.

He said: “Her active support for Jarrod, including attending football matches and engaging with fans, mirrors the strategies used by high-profile WAGs like Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham, who also stood by their partners publicly and built their own identities alongside them.”

Not only this, but Ed revealed that Dani has been able to stay relevant over the years due to her candid use of social media.

He said: “Dani has consistently used media platforms to share her narrative, from interviews to social media updates.

“She has managed to stay relevant by engaging with her followers through candid posts and professional collaborations.

“This approach is reminiscent of how Victoria Beckham transitioned from pop stardom to a respected fashion designer, using media to reframe her public image.”

“My brother Arty is going to be a groomsman.

“Then I’ve got six bridesmaids. Knowing Dad, he will be an emotional wreck.

“He’s already planning his speech, too, but I’m not worried. 

“I’m more concerned about Jarrod’s best man. He’s very cheeky.”

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The A-HyM Hypersonic Air Master is designed to carry 170 passengers and cruise at an altitude of 30,000 metres while travelling at speeds of Mach 7.3

A groundbreaking hypersonic airliner could cut London-New York flight times to a mere 45 minutes.

The revolutionary A-HyM Hypersonic Air Master is set to transform air travel by flying at Mach 7.3-over 5,600 mph (9,000 kph). Designed to carry 170 passengers, it could reduce the transatlantic journey from the usual seven hours, making transatlantic travel quicker than ever before.

In comparison, Concorde typically flew from London to New York in just under three and a half hours, compared to about eight hours on a subsonic flight. Spanish designer Oscar Viñals says the A-HyM would cruise at an altitude of 30,000 metres, far above conventional jets, using advanced heat-resistant materials like titanium and carbon fibre to withstand temperatures up to 1,000°C.

Its innovative Sonic Boom Mitigation System aims to reduce the disruptive noise of breaking the sound barrier, potentially allowing supersonic-and even hypersonic-flights over land without disturbing communities below. Powered by a next-generation hydrogen-fuelled combined-cycle engine, the aircraft would blend turbojet, ramjet, and oblique detonation technologies for both speed and eco-friendliness.

READ MORE: ‘Concorde’s final flight was 20 years ago – the supersonic jet was always doomed’

Inside, passengers would enjoy spacious, comfortable cabins equipped with virtual panoramic windows and advanced entertainment systems designed to handle the unique conditions of hypersonic flight.

Although only a concept at this stage, the A-HyM illustrates how rapid breakthroughs in materials science, propulsion systems, and aerodynamics are making the prospect of ultra-fast and sustainable global travel increasingly plausible.

According to Oscar Viñals: “This aircraft concept would allow its users not only to experience a unique flight at dizzying speeds in excellent conditions, but it would also allow them to “master” time, because a trip, for example, from London to Los Angeles would only take an hour and a half, from boarding at Heathrow international airport to disembarking at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport).”

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The A-HyM aircraft’s developers are far from the only ones perusing the dream of commercial super-sonic flight. In January the Boom supersonic jet – dubbed the ‘new Concorde‘ – officially broken the sound barrier.

The Colorado-based company Boom launched its XB-1 test plane from California‘s Mojave Air and Space Port for a test flight in January, reaching a speed of Mach 1.1, or 844 miles per hour while flying at about 35,000 feet.

A plane is classed as having reached ‘supersonic’ speeds once it passes Mach 1. The Boom XB-1 is the first civil supersonic jet made in the US to break the sound barrier.

The goal of crashing through the sound barrier, and the loud bang that happens when planes do, is part of the reason super-fast air travel proved difficult from a business perspective.

As iconic and beautiful as the Concorde’s curved-delta wing shape was, there had always been a fundamental problem with the plane before it was mothballed for good. Smashing through the sound barrier causes a huge bang that has big consequences of those on the ground. During a 1965 test over Oklahoma city by the US Air Force, hundreds of reports of smashed windows were made.

The potential to cause this kind of disruption meant that Concorde could only fly certain routes at supersonic, meaning no high-speed flights over land. This crushed the business case for the aircraft in the US as cities such as Los Angeles and New York could not be linked up effectively.

Climate scientists also began to express alarm about the impact of the Concorde on the ozone layer, specifically the potentially damaging impact its emissions could have while flying at 60,000 feet – something it needed to do to get into air thin enough.

The relatively small number of passengers onboard coupled with the large amount of fuel required to fly so fast (compared to slower air travel), meant fluctuations in oil price hit the airline hard. At points customers were paying close to $12,000 for a single trip, back in 2003. Operators Air France and British Airways had to have reserve planes made as back-ups, which added to the spiralling bill.

Along with vacation necessities such as sunblock and a toothbrush, Southern Californians hoping to get away for Memorial Day weekend will also need to bring a hefty supply of patience to freeways and airports.

A record-breaking number of people across the country are opting to travel rather than stay in for the long weekend— the official kickoff to summer, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California, or AAA.

In Southern California, about 3.6 million are expected hit the road or hop on a plane, the third consecutive year of record-breaking travel for Memorial Day weekend.

“Consumers continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic,” Jena Miller, vice president of travel products for AAA, said in a statement.

Most people will be behind the wheel for their weekend getaways, according to AAA. Roughly 2.9 million people in Southern California are expected to hit the road starting Thursday, about 3.6% more than last year.

About 45.1 million people across the country will be traveling for the long weekend and most of them — about 39.4 million — will be driving, AAA estimates.

The automobile club said drivers will also be paying less with car rental costs expected to be about 8% lower than last year, and gas prices about 50 to 60 cents cheaper than last May.

More drivers means more potential gridlock, but the midmorning traveler has a better chance of being rewarded with a speedier commute. Experts say before noon is the best time for people to get on the road this weekend.

“Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23 are expected to be the busiest travel day,” Gianella Ghiglino, a spokesperson for AAA, said in a statement. “So if you are leaving those days, you want to make sure you avoid that morning rush hour and you still leave before noon.”

In Southern California, the busiest stretch of freeway is expected to be the 5 Freeway from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, where the typical 90-minute drive could take up to three hours during the worst times, according to AAA.

Vacationers looking to hop on a flight this weekend should be prepared for packed airports.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly 54,000 flights are scheduled Thursday, the busiest day of air travel for the weekend and one of the busiest days of the year so far at airports across the country.

That increase will come despite the fact that domestic flights cost about 2% more this year compared with 2024, according to AAA.

The Transportation Security Administration is bracing for the rush of travelers. The agency expects to screen about 18 million passengers and crew members between Thursday and Wednesday.

“TSA is ready for the additional passenger volume, and we look forward to welcoming families traveling during this peak period,” Ha McNeill, TSA acting administrator, said in a statement.

Officials are encouraging air passengers to ensure bags are compliant with TSA regulations and to bring a Real ID or other acceptable identification such as a passport.

A federal judge in the United States has told the administration of President Donald Trump that an alleged effort to deport migrants to South Sudan was “unquestionably violative” of his court injunction.

The announcement from US District Judge Brian Murphy on Wednesday tees up yet another judicial battle for the Trump administration, which has faced repeated criticism that it is ignoring court orders.

Judge Murphy, who is based in Boston, Massachusetts, has yet to announce what he plans to do about the apparent violation. He left that question to another day.

But he indicated that the people on board Tuesday’s flight had not been given enough time to challenge their deportations, in violation of their right to due process — and also in violation of Murphy’s April 18 injunction.

Murphy had ruled that migrants facing removal to a third-party country besides their own had the right to a reasonable amount of time to challenge their deportations.

But the Trump administration has repeatedly dismissed claims that it refuses to abide by decisions unfavourable to its policies, instead blasting judges like Murphy as “activist”.

During Wednesday’s court hearing, a lawyer for Trump’s Justice Department, Elainis Perez, refused to confirm where the deportation flight had landed, saying that divulging the information raised “very serious operational and safety concerns”.

Separately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) held a news conference addressing the issue and defending the deportation flight.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the people on board had been accused of murder, armed robbery, rape and sexual assault.

In the case of one migrant, Lyons said, “his country would not take him back.” He called such countries “recalcitrant”.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), also framed the removals as a “diplomatic and military security operation”.

Standing in front of photos representing eight migrants, she said they were deported alone for safety reasons and confirmed they remain in DHS custody, although they had indeed left the US.

“We cannot tell you what the final destination for these individuals will be,” she added, again citing security issues.

But she did address the possibility that they might currently be in South Sudan, as their lawyers indicated in court filings.

“I would caution you to make the assumption that their final destination is South Sudan,” she said, later clarifying that the flight may make multiple stops: “We’re confirming the fact that that’s not their final destination.”

In Tuesday’s court filings, lawyers for the migrants said their clients hail from Myanmar, Vietnam and other countries. They also explained that their clients speak little English but were provided no translator to understand their removal notices.

They allegedly were deported with less than 24 hours’ notice. On Tuesday morning, as one lawyer tried to locate her client, she said she was informed he had been removed to South Sudan, a country with a turbulent history and a record of human rights abuses.

Judge Murphy had previously ordered the migrants to be given at least 15 days to challenge their removals on the grounds that they could face dangers in the countries they were deported to.

In the wake of Tuesday’s flight, he has also ruled that the US government must keep the migrants in its custody and ensure their safety while hearings proceed.

McLaughlin, however, accused the “activist judge” of “trying to protect” the migrants, which she described as “some of the most barbaric, violent individuals”.

“While we are fully compliant with the law and court orders, it is absolutely absurd for a district judge to try to dictate the foreign policy and national security of the United States of America,” she said.

McLaughlin and the other officials also argued that the Trump administration was exercising its right to find “safe third countries” to remove these individuals to.

“No country on earth wanted to accept them because their crimes are so uniquely monstrous and barbaric,” she said.

“Thanks to the courageous work of the State Department and ICE and the president’s national security team, we found a nation that was willing to accept custody of these vicious illegal aliens.”

The Trump administration has been accused of amping up fears of criminality among immigration populations, as part of its justification for its “mass deportation” campaign.

Police in South Sudan have told The Associated Press news agency that no migrants from the US have arrived in the country so far. The New York Times has reported that the plane is believed to have landed in the East African country of Djibouti.

The Ibiza resident posted a video of unruly passengers aboard an easyJet flight from Luton to the Spanish island which ended with police meeting the plane on the runway

A woman has laid into English tourists after she was stuck on a flight to Ibiza with unruly passengers.

Posting online, the Ibiza resident shared footage of the boisterous Brits online, insisting that they shouldn’t have been allowed on the easyJet plane in the first place.

In a no-holds-barred message alongside a video of the packed plane where passengers could be seen banging on luggage compartments above them and yelling ‘Come on Ibiza’, the Spanish speaker said: “My flight from London to Ibiza was absolutely horrible. I was scared.”

She added that people were “standing, screaming, guys hitting each other, drinking bottles of alcohol one after the other and stopping the flight attendants from doing their job. Real hell. This video is just the end because I couldn’t film what happened during the journey.

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“It was a really wild 2.5 hour flight. This shouldn’t be allowed.” Erika said that those who had drunk too much alcohol should not be allowed on flights.

“We don’t want this type of tourism in Ibiza, they should stay at home. I had a very bad time and the flight attendants unable to do anything,” she added.

The woman added in comments to a local Ibizan newspaper that she had complained to the flight attendants: “I’m not afraid of flying because I’ve flown around the world but I had a panic attack because it was like being in a pub, in a nightclub, but in the air,” she continued.

She claimed the two male air stewards and an air stewardess on board had asked some passengers for their documentation, but were met with shouts of ‘f** off.’

A spokesperson for easyJet said: “We can confirm that flight EZY2307 from Luton to Ibiza on 16 May was met by police on arrival due to a group of passengers behaving in a disruptive manner. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority. Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour onboard.”

The footage was posted on Saturday, a day before thousands of people marched in the Canary Islands’ cities as part of a new anti-mass tourism protest. Locals in the Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, are due to stage their protest on June 15.

Over the weekend, fed-up locals made their frustrations clear in the Canary Islands as peak tourism season nears, with an estimated 7,000 people marching through the streets and promenades in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, alone. The massive protests have been echoed on each of the territory’s six other islands, including Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with organisers saying the sun-kissed Spanish islands, which are extremely popular, especially with British tourists, “have a limit”.

There have been long-running tensions in holiday destinations across Spain due to the pressure large numbers of tourists put on local resources and property prices.

Jersey is called the ‘new Cornwall’ – an idyllic UK island with crystal clear waters and sandy beaches, and it is just a short 30-minute flight away from London

The picturesque UK island of Jersey has been dubbed the “new Cornwall“, offering a peaceful getaway without the crowds that often flood the popular British holiday destination. A mere half-hour flight from London, Jersey boasts crystal-clear waters and pristine coastlines, presenting the perfect sanctuary for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Despite its compact size of just 45 square miles, Jersey surprises visitors with its varied landscapes, featuring vast sandy beaches and winding country lanes as the largest of the Channel Islands. Discovering Jersey uncovers charming towns along its shores, each with their own distinct allure.

READ MORE: Nutritionist says special coffee ‘elevates energy’ and ‘manages stress’ without crash

St. Brelade’s, the island’s most frequented beach resort, entices guests with its south-facing beaches and a revitalising onshore breeze – an idyllic spot for sun worshippers and those keen on seaside delights.

Heading north, dramatic cliffs provide cover for hidden bays, while Bonne Nuit harbour is a quaint haven for enjoying fresh seafood against a backdrop of gently swaying boats.

For thrill-seekers, St Ouen’s Bay stands out as the top surfing destination in the Channel Islands, offering excellent conditions and a choice of surf schools.

Wine lovers can also explore La Mare Wine Estate and Distillery in northwest Jersey, where guided tours and tastings of local Jersey Wines await, reports the Express.

History enthusiasts will relish Jersey’s rich past, showcased by Mont Orgueil Castle and Elizabeth Castle, both brimming with centuries of history and offering sweeping views of the island.

Yet, perhaps the most touching part of Jersey’s history is its wartime resilience, honoured at the Channel Islands Military Museum and the Jersey War Tunnels.

For a more light-hearted excursion, Durrell Wildlife Park offers a haven for a diverse range of primates, including the adorable baby gorilla.

Return flights to Jersey from Gatwick Airport start at roughly £70. Alternatively, there are ferry services from Poole or Portsmouth costing around £270 and £170 respectively for a couple and car.

When Pan Am Flight 103 set off from Heathrow to New York, its passengers and crew were looking forward to returning home to celebrate Christmas – but tragically, they never made it

The Lockerbie bombing where 270 people sadly lost their lives is still the deadliest terror attack in the history of the UK, even though it took place more than 30 yeas ago. It was 21 December, 1988, when the Pan Am Flight 103 from Heathrow to New York exploded just 38 minutes into its flight while travelling over Lockerbie, with the wreckage of the plain raining down on the houses below.

And it wasn’t just the passengers who lost their lives – the small Scottish town lost 11 residents, including a family of four, Jack and Rosalind Somerville and their children, Paul, 12, and Lindsay, 10, who died when a section of the aircraft fell on their home in Sherwood Crescent.

In Lockerbie, residents opened their front doors to see 259 bodies dropping out of the sky, landing on the street in front of them. After the bomb exploded, everything went dark and eerily quiet in the town.

READ MORE: ‘My teen son is missing after being spiked – I’m shocked at huge police mistake’

The 243 passengers boarding their pre-Christmas flight at London Heathrow or via Frankfurt in Germany came from 21 countries and ranged in age from two months old to 82. Forty per cent of the 270 total victims were aged 25 or younger, many of them children, while two-thirds were American.

Of the 16 crew onboard the plane, called ‘Clipper Maid of the Seas’, some were returning home to spend the festive season with their families, while others were set to enjoy some last-minute Christmas shopping in New York. They included senior purser Mary Murphy, who hailed from Twickenham and had been flying for over 25 years, and junior purser Milutin Velimirovitch, who had kindly rearranged his schedule to help a friend.

The ill-fated plane heading for New York had landed at noon at London Heathrow that day from Los Angeles, parking at Gate K-14 before pushing back for its flight at 6.04pm and taking off from runway 27R at 6.25pm. Just after 7pm, an air traffic controller at the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre tried to make contact with the plane to no avail, before a loud noise was heard on its cockpit voice recorder.

Bunty Galloway told The Guardian she had been watching TV just like any other night when she heard a strange noise and opened her front door to see two young women fall in front of her house, with the body of a child already lying at the foot of her steps.

The bomb had exploded at 7.03pm, when the plane was 31,000 ft above Lockerbie. Radar showed that eight minutes after the explosion, the plane’s wreckage had spread to one nautical mile, with a British Airways pilot flying from Glasgow to Carlisle contacting the Scottish authorities after seeing a huge fire on the ground.

Investigators later found signs of an explosion on one of the baggage containers from the forward hold. Scottish police and FBI agents would learn the bomb, containing 350 to 450 of Semtex, had been concealed in a Toshiba radio cassette player inside a brown Samsonite suitcase, which also contained various items of clothing purchased in Malta.

Records in Frankfurt suggested an unaccompanied bag had been routed from a flight from Malta to Frankfurt, where it had been loaded onto the feeder flight to London and onto the subsequent ill-fated flight to New York. After a painstaking investigation in 2001, Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was found guilty of 270 counts of murder in connection with the bombing and sentenced to life in prison. He was released on compassionate grounds in 2009 and died from prostrate cancer in 2011, always denying his involvement in the bombing.

In December 2020, the US Attorney General announced new charges against Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a former Libyan intelligence operative, for his role in the bombing, with a trial set to take place in Washington in May.

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth premieres on Sky and NOW today

One flight attendant has taken to social media to shed light on why crews always greet passengers at the plane doors prior to take-off – and it goes beyond just simple politeness

A flight attendant has shared insider information about why passengers are welcomed at the doors of a plane during boarding. Frequent flyers will be familiar with the standard boarding protocol that includes a warm welcome at the plane doors – usually consisting of big smiles and gentle direction to the correct aisle to find your seat.

Naturally, this is assumed by many to be a show of basic politeness, considering flight attendants are the face of any airline. Another common assumption is that the greeting is meant to lay the groundwork for a pleasant flight experience or even, to simply check boarding passes for one final time.

However, one working flight attendant alleges that hospitality is not the primary motivation for the warm reception. The real reason for the greeting is to give flight attendants the opportunity to conduct a visual assessment of passengers before take-off.

In a now-viral TikTok video, MrsMiva – who claims to work for TUI out of Stuttgart airport – has explained flight attendants use the boarding process to check if passengers are able fliers. According to the creator, flight attendants need to determine if passengers are “too drunk or sick to fly”.

In the caption for the video, MrsMiva explains that the pause at the door helps attendants see who might be able to assist in the unlikely event of an emergency. The video – which has been viewed over 18 million times – started a lively conversation in the comments section, with many seconding MrsMiva’s claim.

Many commenters confirmed they’ve certainly experienced the attendant greeting and that the reason behind it is valid and logical. One commenter who also claimed to be a long-time attendant confirmed the policy, writing: “FA (flight attendant) of eight years – or to check if they could be an ABA (able-bodied assistant).”

The comments took a turn as users began to explain the different types of flight attendants they had encountered in their travels. Some said they had “really chill” attendants, while others added theirs were helpful when they were in poor condition to travel.

Being able-bodied and physically fit is a requirement of passengers wishing to sit next to emergency exit doors, which may be why attendants double-check this at the door. Emergency exit seats are often coveted for their extra legroom, though they can cost extra.

Passengers that sit near the emergency exit doors must be willing and able to assist flight attendants in the unlikely event of an emergency. For this reason, Ryanair’s terms and conditions state that it “can change your allocated seats at any time, even if you had reserved it, if we need to do this for operational, safety or security reasons.”

The airline’s guidelines stipulate that passengers who wish to sit in rows 1, 16, or 17 where emergency exits are located must meet certain criteria, including being over 16 years old, capable of assisting in an emergency, travelling without an infant, not requiring airport special assistance of any kind, not requiring a seat belt extender, and not having an extra comfort seat booked.

Many flight attendants have begun sharing trade secrets on social media, letting passengers in on the reason for many common behaviours or practices. Another TikTok account recently revealed why flight attendants sit on their hands while they’re in jumpseats.

Another cabin crew members also shared when it is – and isn’t – acceptable to recline your seat on an plane. And how you can ensure you have a more enjoyable flight and be a considerate passenger.

Texas psych-Americana band Lord Buffalo has canceled its upcoming European tour after it claims that drummer Yamal Said was taken off a plane by border patrol agents on Monday.

“We are heartbroken to announce we have to cancel our upcoming European tour. Our drummer, who is a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States (green card holder) was forcibly removed from our flight to Europe by Customs and Border Patrol at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday May 12,” the band said in a Wednesday social media post.

According to the group, Said has not been released from custody.

“We are currently working with an immigration lawyer to find out more information and to attempt to secure his release,” the band continued in its post. “We are devastated to cancel this tour, but we are focusing all of our energy and resources on Yamal’s safety and freedom. We are hopeful that this is a temporary setback and that it could be safe for us to reschedule this tour in the future.”

Lord Buffalo later updated the message to announce that Said has secured legal representation.

According to a CBP spokesperson, Said was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while aboard a May 12 flight heading outside of the U.S. due to allegedly having an active arrest warrant. He was subsequently turned over to local law enforcement.

The Times has reached out to Lord Buffalo for comment.

The Texas band is not the first musical act to claim they have needed to postpone or cancel shows due to immigration issues in recent months.

In April, British singer FKA twigs announced in an Instagram post that she had to cancel series of concerts for the month in North America — including a slot at Coachella 2025 — due to “ongoing visa issues.”

Earlier this month, Chicago’s Michelada Fest, a Spanish-language music festival that had acts scheduled from across the globe, was canceled due to concerns over artists’ visas.

“Due to the uncertainty surrounding artist visas and the rapidly changing political climate, we’re no longer able to guarantee the full experience we had dreamed up for you with all your favorite artists,” the festival’s organizers explained in a statement. “Although we tried to push through, it became clear that we wouldn’t be able to deliver the full lineup as planned.”

The organizers would go on to write that, as an independent outfit, Michelada Fest “can’t afford to take on a big risk with so much uncertainty ahead.”

Grupo Firme, Anitta, Danny Ocean, Tokischa and Luis R. Conriquez were scheduled to perform at the July festival.

The travel experts at luggage storage network Bounce.com have put together a list of the most unusual things that have been fished out of bags while passengers move through security

A live goldfish and a chainsaw are among the strangest items discovered by UK airport security.

It’s not just oversized liquids and uncharged phones that can get you stopped at security. There are plenty more unusual objects that can and have ended up with security staff raising their eyebrows and conducting an extra thorough search.

The travel experts at luggage storage network Bounce.com have put together a list of the most unusual things that have been fished out of bags while passengers move through security. Here are some of the strangest.

A sweet jar containing live goldfish at London Stansted Airport

Security officers were stunned to find a jar of sweets containing a pair of live goldfish swimming inside. Transporting live animals in hand luggage is strictly prohibited, especially in unconventional containers.

READ MORE: Europe’s overlooked ‘undertourism capital’ that only a handful visit each year

A snow glo

Though it may seem silly, snow globes often exceed the liquid limit for carry-on luggage and are, therefore, not allowed through airport security. One passenger’s snow globe souvenir was flagged during screening, reminding travelers that even decorative items can violate airport rules.

A chainsaw at East Midlands International Airport

One traveler at East Midlands Airport thought it would be fine to pack a chainsaw in their hand luggage. It obviously didn’t make it past security, as tools and sharp equipment like this are forbidden in cabin bags. Remember – don’t try to bring a chainsaw with you in your hang luggage with you the next time you head on holiday.

A suitcase full of pork pies at Leeds Bradford Airport

Border staff were surprised when an entire suitcase was found packed exclusively with pork pies. Transporting large quantities of food, especially meat products, can raise questions from airport security officials, as bringing meat into Great Britain from the EU is illegal.

Pickled gherkins in vinegar (680g) at London City Airport

Pickled gherkins might be some travelers’ guilty pleasure, but it’s not something security staff will be happy to see if brought on in such large quantities. Hopefully they didn’t ask the passengers to down the errant liquid.

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Looking outside of the UK, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also confiscated some unusual items. Items such as a boa constrictor, antique cannon balls, and maggots in a suitcase are among the more uncommon things confiscated in US airports like Tampa International, Kahului, Regional, and LaGuardia

When it comes to airport security, most confiscated items are exactly what you’d expect. Despite the 100ml liquids rule being in place for almost 20 years, this is the number one offender of the most frequently seized belongings at UK airports.

The most binned items at UK airports include:

• Perfume, aftershave, and fragrance bottles that are more than 100ml
• Toiletries over 100ml, including toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner
• Drinks that are more than 100ml, such as bottles of water and energy drinks
• Condiments and spreads, including jam, peanut butter, and Marmite
• Makeup and skincare products that are classified as liquids, e.g., lip gloss, face masks, and sun cream
• Razors, scissors, and multi-tools, which are often left in carry-on luggage by accident
• Cigarette lighters often, passengers are unaware of the rule that you can only carry one per person. At East Midlands Airport, staff confiscate around 300 items a month, whereas Manchester Airport once seized almost 400 items in a single morning, including 284 cigarette lighters.

UK airport security officials aren’t permitted to take confiscated items home for personal use. UK airports have strict policies on this, and security areas are usually monitored.

Liquids, perishables, and anything that exceeds the 100ml rule are generally binned and destroyed on-site at the airport due to safety and hygiene reasons. These types of items are treated as waste and aren’t usually recycled due to the risk of contamination. They’re auctioned off or donated to charity.

Gadgets such as hair curlers, power bank chargers, and multi-use tools are often kept to be auctioned off or donated to charity if left unclaimed. For example, John Pye Auctions regularly lists confiscated airport items in bulk, such as electrical goods or even designer accessories.

Some third-party auction houses also group together these confiscated items into mystery bundles to sell to the public.

To ensure nonhazardous items are disposed of more sustainably, some UK airports have partnerships with recycling management companies. For example, London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports have a partnership with Grundon Waste Management. Also, Gatwick is home to the UK’s first airport-based waste plant.

May 13 (UPI) — Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board in 2014, the U.N’s International Civil Aviation Organization ruled.

The ICAO Council voted that Russia had failed in its duties under the international laws of the sky in the shooting down of flight MH-17 after finding in favor of the Netherlands and Australia, both of which lost citizens in the tragedy, after they brought a case against Moscow, ICAO said in a news release Monday.

The council agreed that claims by the two countries were “well founded in fact and law,” saying Russia’s alleged conduct in the downing of the Boeing 777 aircraft by a surface-to-air-missile breached the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which mandates states “refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.”

ICAO said the finding had been reached after reviewing written submissions and oral hearings at multiple meetings of the 36-member-country governing council and that a formal document setting out the facts and points of law leading to its conclusion would be released at a future meeting.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a post on X, welcomed the win in what she said was Australia and the Netherlands’ “historic case” against Russia, saying it was a significant step in their fight for justice.

“We remain unwavering in our commitment to the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their loved ones,” she wrote.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the ruling was a strong signal to countries around the world that “states cannot violate international law with impunity.”

In a joint statement, the two countries said Russia must now take responsbility and “make reparations for its egregious conduct” as required under international law.

“Our thoughts are with the 298 people who lost their lives due to Russia’s actions, incuding 38 who called Australia home, their families and loved ones,” the statement said.

“While we cannot take away the grief of those left behind, we will continue to stand with them in that grief and pursue justice for this horrific act.”

MH-17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over Ukraine’s Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control.

Britons, Belgians and Malaysians were also killed in the disaster but the majority, 196, were from the Netherlands.

In November 2022, a Dutch court trying two Russian nationals and a Ukrainian rebel fighter in absentia, found the trio guilty of murder and sentenced them to life in prison.

However, Russians Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, who were fighting for the pro-Moscow Donetsk People’s Republic separatist movement at the time, remain free as the Netherlands was unable to extradite them.

A Joint Investigation Team made up of experts from five nations impacted by the diasaster — Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the United States — later ruled after a eight year probe that there was “concrete information” that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely approved the transfer of the BUK missile that brought down MH-17.

However, the team said that while they had evidence of Putin’s role in signing off on the transfer of the missile to separatists, it fell short of the prosecutorial standard of “complete and conclusive evidence.”

Jonathan Arthur, 34, and wife Xun Sun, 35, were flying from Shanghai Pudong Airport to London Heathrow for a family wedding when they were told they couldn’t board their British Airways flight

A family was barred from their flight due to suspicions over insect bites on their toddler’s leg.

Jonathan Arthur, 34, and his wife Xun Sun, 35, were travelling from Shanghai Pudong Airport to London Heathrow for a family wedding when they noticed some insect bites on their one-year-old son Joseph.

Upon clocking the bites, they asked British Airways staff at the desk where they could purchase some allergy medication as a precaution.

The couple alleges that the check-in desk assistant called a medical advice hotline who advised them not to board the flight, fearing that the rash around the bites might be a reaction to Joseph’s mild peanut allergy which could worsen during the flight.

The airline staff insisted that the child needed a ‘fit to fly’ letter from a doctor and escorted the family away from the boarding gate, making them feel like criminals.

Have you been blocked from a flight? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Martin Lewis’ warning to Brit holidaymakers over common luggage item

After being turned away, they spent the entire day at the airport before re-booking flights with another airline, which didn’t require a letter, for that evening.

The bites, no larger than 1cm in diameter, vanished within 10-15 minutes of applying a bite cream and caused no further discomfort to the child, the parents claimed.

Jonathan, a marketing and sales professional from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, currently working in Hangzhou, said: “It was nothing more than swollen bites.”

He added: “At the desk they asked loads of questions after they saw the bites and so we told them about his mild peanut allergy.

“The medical staff at the airport said to apply some ointment and wait 10 minutes – which we were happy to do. But the BA staff said we needed to call their medical advice line.

“They thought his peanut allergy was the cause – so they didn’t want to take the risk. His bites were actually going down by this point, and my son was completely fine. But as we were speaking, staff were already unloading our suitcases. We were treated like we had done something wrong.”

The dual-nationality family had booked return flights at a cost of £3,000 two weeks prior, with the intention to fly back on May 1 for a family wedding on May 3.

Upon discovering four itchy welts surrounded by a pinkish rash and slight swelling on their son’s legs, back and arms during their holiday, parents sought online medical advice.

An e-doctor confirmed that the marks were indeed bites and suggested purchasing antihistamines to reduce the inflammation.

Before heading to the departure gate, the couple queried if they could purchase these medications at an airport pharmacy.

However, the sight of the marks and the mention of medicine linked to allergies prompted the boarding gate staff to summon the airport’s medical personnel and to consult BA’s medical hotline.

Jonathan explained: “The bites just came out red because of the heat, and because he had a nappy on rubbing against them.”

The family hypothesised that their son’s reaction might have been caused by bedbugs or mosquito bites at their accommodation and simply planned to acquire some allergy relief as a precaution.

Jonathan revealed that the airport’s on-site medical team, who were not BA employees, asked if they had any bite cream in their luggage – which they did – and instructed them to use it.

He stated that they informed him that if the bites began to subside within ten minutes, they would be cleared for flight – however, he alleges that a BA medical adviser over the phone vetoed this.

Despite arguing that the bites and rashes were unrelated to his mild peanut allergy, Jonathan and Xun were informed they could not board without a fit-to-fly certificate.

Jonathan said: “BA simply told us we couldn’t fly, gave us a case number and someone to contact about a fit-to-fly letter. We knew the rash had nothing to do with the peanut allergy – the bite was already subsiding after we applied the bite cream.”

They are now liaising with BA and their third-party booking agency to seek a refund. Jonathan expressed: “We felt like criminals – as if we had done something wrong.

“I find it odd that someone else in a different country can speak to an airport staff member who isn’t a medical professional, diagnose and refuse boarding, without seeing the rash.

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“When you pay for a service you expect to be treated like a customer, not like a nuisance.It felt like they thought ‘they’re not flying, just get rid of them’.”

A spokesperson for BA commented: “We take the safety and well-being of our customers very seriously and do everything we can to support them when issues like this arise.

“This includes accessing specialist medical advice to assess an individual’s suitability to travel, which is what happened in this case. Whilst we appreciate our customer was disappointed with this decision, we never compromise passenger safety.”