passenger

A passenger from the cruise ship hit with a Hantavirus outbreak has spoken to Al Jazeera from isolation about what took place on board. Three passengers died from respiratory illness on the MV Hondius as it travelled from Argentina to West Africa.

Iranian commander says US military attacked two passenger boats, not IRGC vessels, in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Iran has accused the United States of killing five civilians in the Strait of Hormuz, saying its forces attacked passenger vessels in the waterway rather than boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as claimed.

The claim on Tuesday contradicted a statement by US Admiral Brad Cooper, who said Central Command forces had sunk six IRGC vessels that had attempted to interfere with a US mission to escort stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump later put the number at seven boats.

The US operation, dubbed “Project Freedom”, has shaken a fragile ceasefire reached between Iran and the US on April 8 and renewed fears of a return to war.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB quoted an unnamed Iranian military commander as saying that Tehran launched an investigation following the US claim of attacks on IRGC vessels.

It said while none of the IRGC vessels was hit, the investigation found that US forces had “attacked two small boats carrying people on their way from Khasab on the coast of Oman to the coast of Iran on Monday”.

The attacks destroyed the boats and killed five civilian passengers, the commander said. The US “must be held accountable for their crime”, the commander added.

There was no immediate comment from the US military.

The violence comes as Trump seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blockaded following the US and Israeli attacks on the country on February 28.

The closure of the vital maritime corridor – through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies flow – has sent oil and fertiliser prices surging around the world and prompted fears of a global recession and food emergency.

Iran is now insisting on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and collecting transit fees as reparations for the destruction caused by the US and Israel.

Attacks on UAE, ships in Hormuz

The Iranian military on Monday warned commercial vessels they would “jeopardise their safety” if they attempted to cross the waterway without permission. The military also warned US forces would face attacks if they approached or entered the chokepoint.

Amid the tensions, the United Arab Emirates said Iran launched a drone attack on one of its oil tankers that attempted to transit the strait and said Iranian forces launched 15 ballistic missiles and four drones at its territory.

UAE authorities said the attacks set off a large fire at a major oil refinery in the eastern emirate of Fujairah and wounded three Indian nationals.

A South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the HMM Namu, also reported an attack, saying an explosion had caused a fire in its engine room.

Nonetheless, the US military said two US-flagged ships made it through the strait on Monday with the support of navy guided-missile destroyers.

The IRGC denied the claim as “baseless and completely false”, but the global shipping firm Maersk said the US-flagged Alliance Fairfax exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by the US military on Monday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the events in Hormuz on Monday “make clear there’s no military solution to a political crisis”.

He said in a post on X that peace talks with the US were “making progress” with Pakistan’s mediation and that Washington “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers”.

“So should the UAE,” he added. “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”

Meanwhile, Trump has renewed his threats against Iran.

He told Fox News Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they attacked US vessels carrying out Project Freedom.

“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” he said.

“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases worldwide. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”

Christian Magnuson paid extra for his preferred seat on a Scandinavian Airlines flight, only to find it had been reassigned – moments later, he spotted who was sitting in it

Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or preparing to board a plane for the first time in ages, most of us have our tried-and-tested routines for making the journey as pleasant as possible. This might include wearing a particular outfit, grabbing some food or a drink at the terminal, or pre-selecting your favourite seat on the flight. But when these arrangements fall through or take an unexpected turn, it can throw your entire day off.

This was precisely what happened to one passenger named Christian Magnuson, who, despite being a regular flyer who frequently posts snapshots of his journeys on social media, was left utterly bewildered when his seat was abruptly switched without any warning.

Chris went on to show evidence that he’d reserved seat 17C on his Scandinavian Airlines flight, explaining he had paid extra to secure a seat towards the rear of the aircraft on the route from Stockholm Arlanda airport to Kalmar, a city in southern Sweden.

However, when boarding time arrived, Christian discovered his seat had been unexpectedly switched to 5D. The confusion deepened as he stepped onto the aircraft, only to spot his original seat remaining vacant.

Nevertheless, he proceeded to make his way through the plane to his reassigned seat. It was at that moment something wholly unexpected happened.

“Then a convoy of cars pulled up and the King of Sweden boarded the airplane and sat in my seat,” he revealed in the caption of the post.

The footage captured King Carl XVI Gustav standing on the tarmac as Christian made his way down the aircraft steps after landing. A silver vehicle could be spotted in the distance, presumably waiting to collect the monarch from his journey.

Later that day, the royal family’s official Instagram account, ‘Kungahuset’, posted a photograph of the King alongside his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, clarifying the reason behind the King’s travels.

“Was it fair of them to kick me out of my seat with no compensation? I will say it was cool that he flew on a regular airplane but he took my seat!” Christian added in the caption of the post.

Viewers quickly flocked to the comments section to voice their opinions, with many praising the Swedish King for choosing to fly commercially. “Happened to me too and I’m just proud to have a monarchy not wasting our resources with a private jet,” one person said.

A second user wrote: “I think it’s awesome that the King flies commercial. Also, you have a cool story.”

Others also questioned why Christian should have received compensation, given he still secured a seat on the flight. “Well, the king is… the king,” one person argued. Someone else added: “Airline employee here, yes its fair since they need security personnel onboard. ARN – KLR is also a really short route.

“I would be happy and proud to give him my seat! It’s for his safety. He did not decide himself,” another user chipped in.

Scandinavian Airlines has been approached for comment.

An air passenger found a handwritten note in the pocket of her seat and shared it on social media, as she admitted she “couldn’t stop smiling” after spotting it

A traveller who found an adorable note in the pocket of the seat on their flight admitted she “can’t stop smiling” after posting it online. Taking to Reddit, she shared a snap of the sweet handwritten letter from a “kid who wants to make the world a nicer place”.

“Hello, I don’t know who you are but I sat in this seat before you,” the note began. “I hope you have a good day and a good flight. However, if you are vomiting in this bag I feel for bad for you. I’m writing this message because I am a kid with a goal to make the world a nicer place”.

The child’s note proceeded to request that the “act of kindness” be passed on to create a “chain” of goodwill, meanwhile.

“So please, do an act of kindness today out of the good of your heart and tell the person to pay it forward,” it continued. “This way we can start a chain of good in this world. Have a good day.”

The note clearly struck a chord with numerous other Reddit users.

“This is absolutely adorable, that kid has an amazing goal!” one person declared. “It’s one of my goals too.”

A second exclaimed: “What a great kid! That is the most wholesome note. Hats off to the parents. The world needs more of this.”

A third individual agreed: “Very sweet. Even the kids feel that the world is rotten. Let’s all regardless of our origin heal the world. Let’s all be nice and kind, and it won’t hurt or take anything away from any of us.”

Whilst a fourth gushed: “That’s lovely and also good to see when we live in a world where there is so much selfishness and evil.”

Indeed, the note inspired others to do the same including on Reddit who shared snaps of their own similar gesture.

“Hopefully this helps someone in a bad spot at 30K feet,” they penned. “I was inspired by the internet (thanks Reddit) and wrote a letter on a Barf Bag. Hopefully someone eventually sees this and it makes someone’s day.”

They later added: “It felt really good to put positive vibes out there. Hopefully someone sees it and it brightens whatever mood they are in.”

The note comprised words of wisdom for those suffering difficult times, encouraging any readers to “hang in there”. It continued: “This sucks but will be over soon. Everyone will be able to relate to the misery you are going through. You can do it.”

The airline shared advice for passengers looking for the best deal on their holiday

Jet2 has issued a message for customers, letting them know that holiday prices can go up or down ‘at any time during booking’. The advice could be helpful for anyone looking for a deal on their next getaway, so customers don’t miss out on any offers.

The package holiday provider has explained that it uses a live pricing system, which can be affected by various factors. As such, customers may wish to book without delay when they spot a deal they’re interested in.

One customer took to social media to share their experience when looking at booking a trip, prompting Jet2 to explain its pricing system. In the post, a customer named Phil claimed: “Jet2tweets almost booked a holiday to Portugal, left it overnight, same holiday had increased by £600!”

In response, a Jet2 team member explained that holiday prices may fluctuate and customers are advised to book at a price they are happy with. In a response posted on April 16, Jet2tweets said: “Hi there Phil, thanks for reaching out.

“Please be advised that when looking for a holiday, the price shown next to ‘Holiday price from’ is live and can take some time to update throughout the website.

“We work on a live pricing system, which is affected by a number of variables such as customer demand, availability, and promotions, meaning our prices are subject to change and can fluctuate up or down at any time during booking.”

The reply continued: “Therefore, we’d always recommend booking at a price you are happy with. We apologise for any disappointment caused. Should you require any further assistance in the meantime, then please feel free to send us a DM.”

Given the response, customers who are wondering about the ‘best time’ to book a holiday may wish to book as soon as they find a deal at the price they want. For passengers looking for cheap flights, the airline also offers money-saving tips on its website.

In a FAQ section on Jet2’s website, the airline said: “What’s the cheapest month to fly? Travelling outside of school holidays, bank holidays and peak summer dates tends to offer the lowest fares.

“You can also find some bargains in the shoulder seasons too, like late autumn, winter and early spring. To find the best prices, check our Low Fare Finder and compare months at a glance.”

The woman jumped out of her seat as soon as the plane hit the tarmac and ignored flight crew instructions to return to her seat while the seatbelt sign was still on

A pilot has been praised as a “hero” for ridiculing an entitled woman who rushed down the aisle in an attempt to be the first passenger off the aircraft. A fellow traveller recounted how the woman leapt from her seat the moment the plane touched down and bolted towards the exit.

Despite the seatbelt sign remaining illuminated, she disregarded the cabin crew’s requests to return to her seat until the aircraft had come to a complete stop. Recounting the incident on Reddit, the passenger explained: “The woman in the back unbuckled and darted to the front of the plane to get off first.

“She did not make any eye contact and felt that she was special. I’m talking about going from the very last seat on the plane, down the whole row, and past first class, basically standing at the little kitchen thing in the front.

“The seat belt sign was still on and we were still rolling down the runway. The flight crew had asked her to return to her seat until we reached the gate but she was not even responding.”

The passenger went on to describe how everyone aboard shifted their focus to the woman following the gruelling eight-hour journey. But that’s when the pilot chose to intervene personally.

“Suddenly the captain announced we had a special guest onboard and he would be coming out to greet them after we were settled at the gate,” they continued.

“The woman stood there awkwardly until we did the whole rolling into the gate thing, and whatever planes do when they land, for about 15 to 20 minutes.”

They went on: “Everyone sat there waiting to see what the captain was talking about. Eventually, the captain came out and asked the lady to please move back a little to get to his special guest, then a little more, then a little more.

“He was looking from row to row trying to find a specific person. Everyone is watching and looking around to see who it could be. “

The pilot kept ushering her back one row at a time until she reached the very back of the plane.

Finally, as they approached the rear of the plane he asked her to sit for a second while he grabbed the intercom at the rear of the plane.

The person recalled: “The pilot said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to announce our special guest sitting in seat 42C. Let’s give her a round of applause’. The whole plane went wild with laughter and applause. I loved every moment of that.”

Responding to the pilot’s power move, one user remarked: “That pilot is a hero to the people.”

Another user added: “I was hoping that the special guest was a federal marshal coming onboard to arrest the woman for refusing to follow safety-related commands given by members of the flight crew.”

One passenger said: “Sometimes when a plane is late getting in there are people that have a connecting flight that will be very tight to make. They need to get off the plane quickly to have any chance at their connection.

“The best way to handle that is to inform the stewardess and they can make a general announcement. Of course, sometimes people ignore that announcement and block the aisle for those people anyway.”

If you think people can be disgusting inside planes, flight attendants can confirm they’ve seen things that could well make you rethink how you fly and if you ever want to hop onto a plane again

Flight attendants are no strangers to weird experiences – especially seeing as they spend hours with hundreds of people every day. But in between nice interactions and friendly exchanges are moments that are memorable for all the most disgusting reasons.

Travel + Leisure has featured a video that asked cabin crew about their best behind-the-scenes insight into plane life, and some interviewees reminisced on shocking incidents – including some that show just how unhygienic planes can be.

Joy, a flight attendant of six years, told the story of the worst thing she’s witnessed mid-flight: “The grossest thing I’ve seen is someone putting their feet up on a tray table.”

But it gets worse: “I’ve actually had someone stand up, their pants fall down, and they have sat back down in the seat without pulling their pants back up – on the seat. It gets cleaned in between the flights. Fine. But bare naked bum…”

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She also commented on one common habit she sees: “Please don’t let your toddler go to the lavatory barefoot. There’s pee everywhere in there. It’s not your living room. It’s not – this is a plane. It’s not your house. It’s not your couch.”

Another air steward, Luke, detailed his process of getting his plane seat ready to use. He approaches his seat with Clorox wipes and gives it a good going over, from top to bottom, making sure to thoroughly clean the tray table as well.

Besides these reports of unsavory incidents, the aviation workers mentioned certain moments that they hoped would prompt passengers to reflect on their behavior on flights, since small mistakes can impact both staff and passengers’ experiences.

Amara, who has been working in the industry for three years, said passengers are often keen to tell her that they know how things should be done on a plane, because they regularly fly.

However, often these passengers are the most troublesome and end up doing annoying things like taking phone calls in mid-air.

After four years of experience, Jorge highlighted the biggest mistake he sees passengers regularly making. For him, it’s assuming that flight attendants will help passengers lift a bag into the bins above the seats. On most airlines, they are forbidden from doing so due to the physical risk it would pose to them.

If you realise too late that you went slightly overboard with packing, the crew can arrange for them to be checked in instead, Jorge added.

Recently a flight attendant told eShores about the little lies that they tell passengers, for their own good.

“When a business class passenger asks for a coffee on a night flight, I’ll make a decaf coffee just so that they can fall asleep,” they said.

But that’s not the sole untruth passengers might encounter. Aircraft cabins are notoriously frigid, yet should you request the attendants warm things up slightly, you might well be misled.

They admitted: “When passengers ask to have the temperature of the cabin turned up, we lie and say yes, we will turn it up, but really we don’t because we get warm walking around.”

North Korea and China resumed an international passenger train service linking their capitals Thursday for the first time in six years, with a train spotted crossing the border bridge between the two countries.

A nine-car train traveling from Pyongyang to Beijing was seen by Yonhap News Agency passing over the Amnok River bridge, also known as the Yalu River bridge, connecting North Korea’s Sinuiju and China’s Dandong, at around 4:23 p.m.

Some train cars had closed curtains, while passengers were visible in others.

According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, a five-car passenger train departed from the Chinese border city of Dandong at 10 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang at 6:07 p.m.

The Dandong-Pyongyang passenger line will operate daily in both directions, Xinhua said, quoting a Chinese official as saying the service will serve as a “dynamic link strengthening the friendship between these two nations.”

Also on Thursday, North Korea and China were set to resume a rail route connecting their capitals, Pyongyang and Beijing.

The resumption marks the first cross-border passenger train service between the two countries since operations were suspended in 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, North Korea resumed direct flight and train services between Pyongyang and Moscow, Russia’s capital.

The reopening of the North Korea-China rail services comes as the two countries appear to be aligning more closely as they seek to repair relations frayed by Pyongyang’s military cooperation with Russia, amid speculation that the United States may seek to reengage Pyongyang for talks.

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