passenger

Officials say the crash killed the train’s driver and injured at least 50 others, with 25 of them in serious condition.

A passenger train carrying 100 people has derailed in Germany, killing at least three people and wounding dozens of others, according to officials.

The crash happened on Sunday evening in a forested area near the town of Riedlingen in southwestern Baden-Wurttemberg state, roughly 158km (98 miles) west of the city of Munich.

Charlotte Ziller, the district fire chief, told reporters that the three victims included the train driver and an employee of Germany’s state-owned rail operator, Deutsche Bahn.

She said 50 people were injured in the crash, 25 of them seriously.

Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injuries, and said that two train carriages had derailed “for reasons yet unknown”.

Authorities were currently investigating the circumstances of the accident, the operator said, and traffic had been suspended over a 40km (25-mile) stretch of the route.

Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, said severe storms had swept through the region earlier, and that investigators are looking at whether the rains had caused the accident.

“There have been heavy rains here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and a related landslide accident may have been the cause,” he said.  “However, this is currently the subject of ongoing investigations.”

The train had been travelling from the town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when it derailed.

In a post on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.

He added that he was in close contact with both the interior and transport ministers, and had asked them to “provide the emergency services with all the support they need”.

Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow- and grey-coloured train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services tried to get to the passengers.

According to the local television station SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted.

Richard Lutz, the chief executive of Deutsche Bahn, said he would visit the scene of the accident on Monday.

He said the operator was deeply shocked and dismayed by the accident, and thanked all the emergency services and volunteers on the site.

“My heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the relatives of the deceased. I wish the injured a quick and full recovery,” he added.

The rail operator has set up a free special hotline for those affected and their relatives, according to the official DPA news agency. Emergency chaplains and psychologists are also available for affected travellers and employees, it added.

German transport is regularly criticised by passengers for its outdated infrastructure, with travellers facing frequent train delays and various technical problems.

The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years, in particular to modernise infrastructure.

In June 2022, a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, killing four people and injuring dozens.

Germany’s deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people.

Travel by train in Germany remains far safer than travelling by car, with 2,770 people killed in crashes on Germany’s roads in 2024, according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.

July 20 (UPI) — At least three people are dead after a passenger ship carrying nearly 300 people caught fire in Indonesian waters on Sunday, authorities said.

The KM Barcelona ferry caught fire Sunday morning off Gangga, a small island off the coast of North Sulawesi province, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement.

The ship was carrying 280 passengers, according to the agency, which said the number of evacuees was still being recorded. “Search and medical efforts are ongoing for the remaining victims,” it said.

“We have deployed several maritime SAR units and rescue teams to swiftly respond to this incident,” an Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency official said.

“A central command post for search-and-rescue operations has been established at Manado Port.”

Footage of the incident published on social media by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency shows the boat engulfed in flames, spewing smoke into the air, as dozens of people wearing life preservers float in the ocean, waiting to be rescued.

Officials said favorable weather was aiding evacuation operations, but they remained on high alert due to the threat posed by the potential risk of an explosion from residual fuel.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

The incident comes just weeks after at least five people were killed when a passenger ferry sank in bad weather off the coast of Indonesia’s Bali earlier this month.

With plans to expand even further, Heathrow Airport has proposed an expansion, but it will be at the cost of the passengers as ticket prices are set to rise to cover the cost

Heathrow Airport has announced plans for a huge expansion – at the cost of their passengers. Heathrow’s latest business plan suggests that the airport is to take on a further £8bn of debt, leaving their passengers to pay for terminal upgrades in a bid to accommodate an additional 10 million passengers annually by 2031, contingent on an increase in airline fees.

The proposed 10 million passenger increase represents a 12 per cent rise on current numbers, and to do this the airport is exploring the option to raise the average charge per passenger from the current £28.46 to £33.26.

READ MORE: Airport worker shares tip to make your suitcase the first off the plane

Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport, and has been under plans from the government for a long-term vision of a new runway – which isn’t anticipated to be operational until 2035 at the earliest. So this new proposal offers a quicker route and was submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Friday, detailing upgrades to existing terminals as a means to boost capacity.

Now the CAA is set to review the plans, but it comes after the airport is currently under fire for already being too expensive. Heathrow has reportedly been facing claims from airlines for being one of the world’s most expensive, and have urged the regulator to reduce the charges already

IAG, the parent group of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, the Heathrow Airline Operators’ Committee (AOC) and the Arora hotel group have joined together in a coordinated attack on the airport’s regulatory regime.

They hope to “conduct an urgent and fundamental review into the way in which Heathrow, the UK’s only hub airport and the largest in Europe, is regulated, for the benefit of consumers, businesses and the UK economy,” as reported by the Independent.

“Heathrow has become the world’s most expensive airport, with passengers and airlines today paying £1.1bn more each year than if charges were in line with equivalent major European airports,” the partners said in a statement. However, Heathrow argue that this investment will make expansion more affordable and less disruptive.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said in a letter to the Transport Select Committee: “One factor is that the airport’s small physical footprint means a lot of our infrastructure has to be underground or built in a unique way, increasing the cost.

“We are also the busiest two-runway airport in the world, meaning the intensity of our operating environment is comparatively more complex and makes it much harder to make targeted improvements and investment while remaining operational.”

Paul McGuinness (Chair, No 3rd Runway Coalition) said: “The astonishing detail in Heathrow’s Five Year Plan is that only £2bn is of its £10bn cost will be funded by shareholder equity; so adding a further £8bn of debt to Heathrow’s current £20bn of arrears.”

He continued: “Heathrow’s business plans shows their determination to grow irrespective of whether or not expansion takes place. The fact that 80% of this investment will be financed through debt reveals a continuation of a strategy to sweat their assets to their limit which brings with it associated risks and higher costs which will no doubt be passed onto passengers.”

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A man issued his honest thoughts about his flight with low-cost airline Ryanair, after being left staggered by the price of a coffee and ham and cheese croissant

A YouTuber has been left shocked by the prices of Ryanair‘s breakfast items on board. Johnny G opted to travel with the low-cost airline from Sofia to Varna in Bulgaria, after hearing complaints about some its services. Before delving into his review, he told his subscribers: “Today I made it my mission to fly with Ryanair and see for myself how bad this airline really is.”

Once settled onto the plane, Johnny, from Switzerland, said he found the cabin “very basic” as he expected, and wasn’t a fan of the seats. Yet, what truly caught him off guard was the pricing of the airline’s refreshments. Presenting the menu to his viewers, a Lavazza coffee was listed at a cost of €3.15 (£2.72), while croissants and breakfast rolls were priced between €3.25 (£2.81) and €6 (£5.19).

Johnny chose to purchase a ham and cheese croissant, which cost €5.75 (just under £5) alongside a coffee during his 2023 flight. Sharing his thoughts, he said: “For a coffee and a croissant, I pay more than for the flight itself.”

What also left him stunned was how nice the coffee actually tasted, compared to others he’s tasted on flights. He added: “To be fair, I’ve probably never had such good coffee on a plane, but it takes me a while to figure out how this wicked cup works.”

After his flight came to an end, he shared his verdict, adding: “Although Ryanair certainly has its imperfections, I don’t think it’s as bad as everyone says.

“You can’t spend pennies and expect gold for it. The crew were friendly, the plane was in good condition and the flight was on time.”

Since Johnny’s experience, inflation has prompted Ryanair to increase their prices. A Lavazza coffee is now €3.75 (£3.25), while a ham and cheese croissant €6 (£5.19).

To some, these prices might appear steep, but keep in mind that only hot beverages served by Ryanair are allowed on flights.

Ryanair’s clear policy states: “You must not take hot drinks on the plane, or drink your own alcohol when on the plane.”

Passengers are however welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks on board, as long as it does not exceed the hand-luggage weight limit.

In a recent announcement, Ryanair shared plans to expand their “personal bag” allowance by a sizeable 20 per cent, in line with new EU standards for hand luggage.

Under the changes, passengers will be allowed to carry on a bag with maximum dimensions of 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, without any additional fees.

The bag must weigh under 10kg and it has to fit “under the seat in front you.”

These amendments are expected to come into force in the next coming weeks.

Today the UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, has revealed its £10billion, five-year plan designed to turn the “extraordinary airport” into one “fit for the future”

Heathrow has unveiled a huge expansion plan that will see billions of pounds poured into the airport, capacity increased by 10 million passengers, and a terminal demolished.

Today, the UK’s busiest airport revealed its £10billion, five-year plan designed to turn the “extraordinary airport” into one “fit for the future.”

Once complete, Heathrow will be able to serve 10 million more passengers a year—a 12% increase in capacity compared to now. Cargo handling will also get a significant boost, with plans to increase freight capacity by 20%.

A redevelopment of the Central Terminal Area is also planned, with new lounges, shops, and restaurants to be installed in several terminals. Heathrow has said space equivalent to ten football pitches will be opened up to passengers across the terminals.

READ MORE: Wizz Air boss hit with £60 fine by own staff for breaking hand luggage rules

In a major change, Heathrow bosses will seek planning permission to demolish the old Terminal 1, extend Terminal 2, and build a new southern road tunnel to improve access.

In April 1969, Queen Elizabeth opened the new Heathrow Airport Terminal 1 on the site, then the largest airport terminal in Western Europe. It was used by commercial aviation customers until its closure in 2015.

The terminal has played an important role in the running of Heathrow since then. “The building is still maintained to a very high standard, and the entire building has to be kept fit for purpose for safety and escape route reasons,” the airport’s website explains. The site also houses the baggage system for Terminal 2.

The plan will have to account for the loss of Terminal 1’s current functions, presumably by moving these facilities and operations into the expanded Terminal 2.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: We’re making good progress on our strategy to become an extraordinary airport—having become Europe’s most punctual major airport so far this year. But our customers want us to improve our international rankings further, as do we. To compete with global hubs, we must invest.

“Our five-year plan boosts operational resilience, delivers the better service passengers expect, and unlocks the growth capacity airlines want—with stretching efficiency targets and a like-for-like lower airport charge than a decade ago. With Heathrow’s UK-based supply chain, this private investment will create jobs and drive national growth during this Parliament. We are ready to deliver the more efficient, sustainable Heathrow that will keep Britain connected to the world.”

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By the end of the five years, Heathrow aims to have 80% of flights leaving on time and 95% of passengers waiting less than five minutes at security.

“The CAA will now review and evaluate our plan. We will support this process alongside our airline partners and look forward to getting started with delivering improvements to make Heathrow an extraordinary airport, fit for the future,” a statement from the airport read.

Danielle Kelly’s right leg and left arm are now in plaster, having suffered injuries as she and other passengers were forced to flee a Ryanair flight at Majorca Palma Airport

A mum has described how “utter chaos” ensued when she thought a terrorist was on her Ryanair flight.

Danielle Kelly grabbed her daughter Frankie and “feared for her life” amid the mayhem, during which she and other passengers jumped from the plane’s wings as it sat stationary at Majorca Palma Airport. Ms Kelly, 56, knew she was seriously injured once she plummeted to the ground as she was unable to walk.

The Ryanair flight, which was destined for Manchester, experienced a “false fire alarm” as it attempted to take off on Saturday morning. However, amid the confusion and panic, passengers scrambled to flee the plane, and several have reported sustaining injuries. Ryanair says these were “very minor injuries” but Ms Kelly, a self-employed fitness instructor, suffered a broken right heel, fractured left wrist and smashed elbow. The mum’s right leg and left arm are now in plaster.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Ms Kelly said: “It was terrifying, we’ve been left completely traumatised by the experience. I’ve got my foot and arm in plaster and I’ve got to have three different surgeries to pin my foot, wrist and elbow tomorrow, I’m in a mess.”

READ MORE: ‘I booked seat on Ryanair’s cheapest flight and cost of trip left me floored’

The mother, from Bury, Greater Manchester, told Mail Online: “I’m 56-years-old, I didn’t want to jump but I feared for my life. It felt like a life or death situation. I knew as soon as I landed that I was seriously injured, I couldn’t walk but the ground staff were shouting for everyone to move away from the aircraft in case it exploded.

“It was utter chaos, passengers were screaming, ‘open the doors, open the doors’. It was terrifying, I thought there was a terrorist on board, so I grabbed my daughter and got out.”

Ms Kelly was travelling with 26-year-old Frankie, friend Francine Elkinson, 57, and her daughter, Savannah. Savannah, also 26, said: “We got off via the wing. There were no slides. I’ve hurt my shoulder, my friend hurt her knee. Her mum fractured her elbow, wrist and foot. My mum broke her ankle. She’s in a cast. She’s having surgery now. She’s done it in in three places.”

Joanne Baker, who was on the flight with her husband, said the passengers heard a “loud bang” before crew members asked passengers to “brace.” She told us: “The crew was shouting “brace! brace!. We didn’t quite know what we were meant to do. They shouted, ‘get off the plane’, and leave your possessions. The communication was awful, the staff did their best, but they are kids and were obviously frightened as well.”

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “This flight from Palma to Manchester, on July 4, discontinued take-off due to a false fire warning light indication. Passengers were disembarked using the inflatable slides and returned to the terminal.

“While disembarking, a small number of passengers encountered very minor injuries (ankle sprains, etc.) and crew requested immediate medical assistance.

“To minimise disruption to passengers, we quickly arranged a replacement aircraft to operate this flight, which departed Palma at 07:05 this morning. We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”

A member of cabin crew has shared the one thing that you should never do when you’re flying on a plane, with many Brits admitting to using the unhygienic storage

A flight attendant has revealed the part of a plane that should be avoided at all costs.

CiCi in the Sky, who describes herself as a ‘sky ally’ and ‘travel alchemist’, boasts over 300,000 TikTok followers who turn to her for expert guidance on air travel. The aviation specialist recently revealed the dirtiest parts of the plane she’d recommend avoiding.

She strongly advises against using seat pockets, labelling them as “gross” due to the variety of items people shove into them. The cabin crew member then cautioned her audience to refrain from stowing their coats or other loose belongings in the overhead bins, again highlighting hygiene concerns.

“I mean I’ve never seen them cleaned and I’ve seen people’s stuff spill out of their bags and get all over people’s jackets, clothes or whatever so just don’t do it,” Cici said.

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READ MORE: Full list of Europe hotspots that don’t want Brit tourists to visit this summer

A Reddit user going by the name HausofDarling issued a stark warning on the ‘Flight attendants of Reddit’ forum, advising passengers to steer clear of using the seat pocket on commercial jets. They cautioned: “I always recommend you never, ever, ever, ever use or put anything in the seat pocket. They are cleared of rubbish but are never ‘cleaned’.”

The flight attendant went on to describe the unsavoury items they’ve encountered in these pockets: “I have pulled out and seen all sorts being pulled out from there. Dirty tissues, sick bags, knickers, socks, gum, half sucked sweets, apple cores, and then next flight you go and put your phone, laptop or iPad in there.”

Another crew member, choosing to remain anonymous, corroborated these claims with their own grim discoveries, including: “I once discovered vomit outside of the paper bag which spilled through the seat pocket. It was absolutely awful, but what can you do?”.

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Despite such horrors, new research from AllClear Travel Insurance reveals that 7 in 10 (70%) travellers admit to unhygienic habits while flying Topping the list is storing personal items inside the seatback pocket (30%) – one of the most unhygienic parts of the plane – followed by resting your head on the tray table (19%) and using the toilet without shoes or in socks (13%)

AllClear also spoke to an ex-flight attendants about the horrors of the seat pocket. They said: “Sometimes dirty nappies and used sick bags would be left in seat pockets.”

Almost a third of travellers (29%) store their personal items and food in seatback pockets, but these areas are rarely cleaned. Where possible, travellers should try to store snacks in resealable containers and sanitise their hands if they use the pockets.

Shocking video footage shows a woman having a mid-air meltdown thousands of feet in the air and demanding a business class upgrade – before being restrained by passengers and cabin crew

Footage from Aeroflot flight SU734 shows a woman going into a fit of air rage while the plane from Russia to Egypt was mid-flight, frightening other passengers on board.

The clip shows the economy passenger screaming at cabin crew insisting on an upgrade because she was suffering from pain in her “butt and t**s”.

The woman can be seen standing in the aisle and yelling at the cabin crew in broken English: “I’m in pain in my butt, I’m in pain in my t*ts… I want my business class…” reports The Sun.

She even grabs her own breasts while arguing her case, pleading: “But I need a business class because I was working.”

Passengers helped the crew overpower the woman after she allegedly threatened to open the emergency exit and began removing her top in desperation, according to the Telegram channel Aviatorshchina.

READ MORE: List of airlines that have banned popular item from overhead lockers amid safety fears

Although the video doesn’t show her fully undressing, it captures her bizarre gestures and meltdown as shocked passengers watch on during the six-hour flight.

When her rant fails to sway staff, the wild-eyed woman sinks to the floor screaming, “No, no, get out!” as a female voice calmly replies: “You asked for it.”

“The woman tried to push forward, ran around the cabin, approached the emergency exit, and threatened to ‘open’ it,” the report claimed. They also mentioned that the passenger “began taking off her T-shirt” in a bid to get to the desired seat.

“The stewardesses first tried to manage on their own, but the brawler wouldn’t give in,” the channel added. “After she was restrained, the violator was moved to the back of the plane and handed over to the police upon arrival.”

The woman’s identity and nationality remain unknown and Aeroflot has not commented on the incident. However, a fellow passenger described the mood on board as “tense and uncomfortable,” with some fearing the woman might actually reach the emergency exit.

“People were scared. We didn’t know how far she would go,” they reportedly said.

READ MORE: Tense moment Ryanair passengers hastily ‘jump from wings’ of plane after fire alert

The Airbus A330-300 aircraft was carrying dozens of holidaymakers heading to Sharm el-Sheikh, many of whom were left shaken by the strange outburst.

Meanwhile, emergency services were called to Majorca’s Palma Airport after a “false fire alarm” on a Ryanair plane just after midnight today (July 5).

A flight from Majorca Palma Airport to Manchester was “discontinued” due to a false fire warning light indication, according to Ryanair. Eighteen passengers were injured while disembarking the aircraft before returning to the terminal.

Passengers were filmed abandoning the plane via one of its wings before jumping to the tarmac as firefighters and police rushed to the scene. Regional medical emergency response coordinators said 18 people needed assistance with “minor injuries”.

Six had to be taken to hospital. Three were reportedly taken to a private clinic in Palma called Clínica Rotger and the other three to Hospital Quironsalud Palmplanas which is also in the island capital.

A woman was left furious when a fellow plane passenger tried to ban her from using one of the features of her seat on an overnight flight, meaning she struggled to get any sleep

Trying to keep everyone happy on a flight isn’t always easy. Planes are notoriously uncomfortable places, as you often don’t have much space to spread out and relax, and you’re surrounded by strangers for several hours. Not to mention that these strangers can often have bad manners that make the whole trip a painstaking ordeal.

But one woman was left feeling “shaken up” after a recent flight on which she was confronted by another passenger who was furious at her for attempting to use one of the features available to everyone on the aircraft. The other passenger told her she couldn’t recline her seat – despite the flight being an overnight one where almost everyone wanted to sleep.

In a post on Reddit, the woman explained she tried to recline her seat so that she could go to sleep, but her chair “popped back upright” as the other woman behind her was “shoving it forward” to prevent her from reclining.

The woman eventually got her seat to recline, but the other passenger was livid – accusing her of reclining “too far back”.

She wrote: “I tried to recline my seat, and it popped back upright. I tried again and realised the lady behind me was shoving my seat forward. I tried again, and she yelled at me that I couldn’t recline my seat.

“I was very shaken up by the interaction, so I just stayed upright for like 10 minutes until I could see a flight attendant nearby. I was able to quickly recline and have my chair click into place so she couldn’t shove it forward.

“She raised her voice at me again, and I told her everyone on the whole plane gets to recline their seat. She said I was reclining too far back, though I told her my seat was in the same position as the person sitting in front of me.”

The woman said the ordeal made her feel “so uncomfortable” and stopped her from getting much rest on the plane.

She also clarified that the woman was “petite” so shouldn’t have been affected by the reclined seat, especially as a taller man next to her was also telling her to “calm down”.

Commenters on the post were sympathetic to both sides of the situation.

Many said that it’s a “doomed situation” either way as planes often don’t have enough legroom for people to be comfortable when seats are reclined, but conceded that it’s a passenger’s choice whether to recline their own seat or not.

One person said: “It’s such a doomed situation all around. [With] some people, you are literally crushing their legs, and it’s horrifically uncomfortable to sit fully upright if you nod off. Aeroplane hell.”

Another added: “Airlines are responsible for our conflict. Either give all of us more room or remove the reclining seat option.”

While a third posted: “If the seats are able to recline, people are going to recline in them… it’s a pretty simple concept. Sorry you had to deal with that passenger, but I’m glad you kept your seat reclined.”

July 4 (UPI) — Rescuers in Alaska recovered the body of a 62-year-old woman who went on a hike in the mountains near Juneau after leaving the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship.

Marites Buenafe, a medical doctor from Kentucky, was a passenger on the Norwegian Bliss, which was a seven-day round-trip from Seattle. Her body was found on Thursday, the Alaska Department of Public Safety State Troopers announced.

Around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, she texted family members that she was going up going up Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau and would hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak, the troopers reported.

Security footage showed Buenafe at the top of the tramway.

The 4-mile hike is challenging and usually takes three hours, hiking website AllTrails states.

The ship was scheduled to depart around 1:30 p.m. At around 3:15, Buenafe was reported missing.

Juneau Mountain Rescue searched on the ground and used thermal drones to scan the area, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.

Also, an Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopter and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter conducted aerial searches, the department said.

The search continued Wednesday with more than a dozen professional volunteers, as well as Juneau police officers, Alaska state troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue.

Also utilized were drones and K-9s. Helicopter use was limited because of windy conditions.

The search resumed Thursday. At 11:56 a.m., Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew located Buenafe’s body some approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line of Gold Ridge, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.

Crews then recovered her body, which was taken to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy.

Buenafe was listed on the University of Kentucky Healthcare system’s website as a doctor.

DPS spokesperson Austin McDaniel told KYES-TV it is important to inform somebody of hiking plans.

“If you don’t return on time, they can alert first responders, alert search and rescue teams, the troopers, so we can immediately begin formulating a plan and activating resources to help get you out of the field,” McDaniel said.

A shocked mum faced the wrath of an entitled plane passenger who called her a vicious name when he realised she’d booked her three-year-old child a first-class seat

An entitled plane passenger erupted into a sweary rant at a mum who booked her toddler a first class seat.

The foul-mouthed tirade came as a shock to the parent, who insisted her little girl was well behaved throughout the flight.

Every summer, a fierce debate ramps up online over the ‘correct’ flying etiquette with children – with some less tolerant passengers insisting that kid-free flights should exist.

The mum was confident that her three-year-old tot could handle the flight easily, having travelled many times before, but one passenger fumed at the concept of a toddler having a first class ticket, as they hated the thought of sitting next to a child.

Taking to Reddit to share her flight ordeal, the mum wrote anonymously: “My husband, toddler (almost 3) and I were flying across the country for Thanksgiving. Since we could afford it due to a nice pay raise my husband recently got, we decided to splurge on 1st class tickets for the trip.

“My toddler has always been a good flyer and has flown a lot throughout her short life. She’s never been disruptive or cried on an airplane, this flight included.

“She’s good at staying in her seat and tells us when she a needs to go potty, food, a toy, etc. She stayed seated and quietly playing throughout the flight, only getting up when she had to go potty.”

Despite the little one being on her best behaviour and not disrupting other travellers, one passenger was seething at the mum for sitting her child in first class – as he complained to the cabin crew on board.

The mum explained: “The issue was with another 1st class passenger. We boarded early since my husband is disabled and when another 1st class passenger saw us he started glaring.

“We take off and all is good. My kid fell asleep in the middle of coloring [sic], husband is snoozing. I’m listening to music when I get a tap on my shoulder.

“It was the guy that glared at us as he boarded and before I could even get a word out he told me that children weren’t allowed in 1st class and that we needed to move to our ‘real’ seats”.

In a bid to avoid confrontation, the parent asked the flight attendant to deal with the man’s complaint, as she felt ‘uncomfortable’. Things seemed to get cleared up, but the man was still hot with rage.

“The flight attendant came and explained to him that we were in the correct seats that we paid for and asked that he sit back down and not bother us again. He did go back to his seat but as we were getting off the plane he whispered to me that I was a ‘fat c***’ and that he pays too much money for first class to be surrounded by children.”

Desperate for advice, the mum concluded: “My kid was the only kid in 1st class and she didn’t misbehave or even cry so at first I felt like I was in the right, but after talking to family at Thanksgiving many of them told me that we should book economy next time because people pay extra to relax in 1st class. Are we really a******s for flying 1st class with our toddler?”

Many people flocked to the comments section to defend the mum’s decision, as one wrote: “Even if your child did cry, it wouldn’t have mattered because you paid and are entitled to the seats you paid for… if they don’t want to be around children/other people that bad – they should fly private”.

Another added: “I can understand why he would initially be wary and upset, but he frankly should have calmed the f down once it became apparent that your toddler was just sleeping peacefully like anyone else.

“And since you know that your kid is a good flyer, there’s no reason not to sit first class if you can”.

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A plane passenger taught an ‘entitled’ man the importance of planning ahead after refusing to swap seats on a flight so he could enjoy the journey next to his girlfriend

A man has been praised for refusing to swap plane seats so an ‘entitled’ boyfriend could sit next to his partner on a flight. The 29-year-old explained how he was travelling home from a work trip and made sure to pre-book an aisle seat so he could stretch his legs out a little.

However, his peaceful journey was disrupted when another passenger spotted him sitting alone and approached him to ask a ‘favour’. He said on Reddit: “I was flying home from a work trip and had booked an aisle seat because I’m tall and need legroom. As soon as I sit down, a guy comes over and says, ‘Hey bro, can we switch? My girlfriend’s by the window and I’m in the middle back there.’

“I glance at his seat, literally the second-worst spot on the plane. I say, ‘Sorry, I booked this one specifically’. He gets annoyed and says, ‘Dude, I’m just trying to sit next to my girl.'”

He told him he understood why he’d want to swap seats but tried to gently explain he didn’t want to give up his comfort for a stranger.

He added: “He said, ‘You’re sitting alone, man. What do you need the aisle for?’ I replied, ‘Because I paid for it. That’s how seats work’.

“He called me an ‘inconsiderate loner,’ which was cute, considering he tried to guilt-trip me into a downgrade. The flight attendant eventually had to tell him to sit down or be removed.”

Sharing a final message of disgust on social media, he added: “Couples don’t get priority over people who planned ahead. Sorry not sorry.”

While most users praised him for standing his ground, others shared their own stories about ‘entitled’ passengers on planes.

One user said: “This happened on a 12h flight from Korea to Toronto and when the person said no the girlfriend started bawling and eventually someone else nearby traded with her.

“I was so mad they gave into her crocodile tears because now she’s going to do it every damn flight.

“This poor tiny Asian woman was stuck in a middle seat for 12 hours instead of her aisle seat because a pretty young white woman can cry on command.”

Another user added: “In the airplane seat war card game, inconsiderate loners beat inconsiderate losers every time. Especially the ones too cheap to buy an aisle seat.”

A third user said: “This exact thing happened to me! What preceded it was the girl jumping into the window seat in my aisle and laughing cutely at him that she got the good seat first.

“Then she asked if I could trade with him (in the middle seat in another row) so they could sit together.

“I thought, if they really wanted to sit together, she could have given up her window seat to someone for a fair trade.

“I said no. She replied, ‘It doesn’t hurt to ask’. Sure it doesn’t, but don’t expect anyone to take a downgrade to give you an underserved upgrade.”

A Ryanair passenger recently found themselves gazing at a safety card, wondering what two curious-looking symbols in particular could mean. Happily, someone was on hand to explain

An eagle-eyed airline passenger spotted a curious-looking symbol on a safety card.

When wedged into a slim Ryanair seat waiting for takeoff, letting your eyes wander around the cabin is natural. After a quick skim-read of the potential snacks on offer from the in-flight menu, they may end up resting on a small triangle position above windows— a curious symbol that we’ve previously written about.

They then might find themselves looking at the passenger safety card, which, it turns out, is a little confusing on Ryanair planes.

A Reddit user recently snapped one of them and posted it alongside this comment: “I spent a two-hour flight staring at this, and I cannot work out what they mean!?! What is next to the glasses? And is that an ear? If so, what is coming out of it?”

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They circled two parts of the card in particular. To give full respect to their comprehension skills, it is not at all obvious what they’re supposed to show. Happily, someone with knowledge of such things was on hand to decode the curious pictures.

“Top right is supposed to be an ear with an earring and a woman wearing a necklace, bottom right is false teeth – things you should remove before using the emergency escape slide, if you needed to use it,” they wrote.

The explanation surprised some in the comments, who had seen completely different objects after staring at the pictures for long enough. “Oh, it is false teeth! I thought it was a stack of steaks,” one person admitted.

Another added: “An earring? I thought it was someone holding up a severed head!”

A third joked: “There is a legal requirement for passenger safety cards to be issued / available. There is no legal requirement for these cards to make any kind of sense.” And a fourth chimed in: “I’m pretty sure the bottom one means ‘don’t pick up your glasses, you need a spare hand for a slice of black forest gateau’.”

When it comes to the little black triangles, the reasons they’re there is as follows.

These markers, which can be either red or black, are strategically placed within the cabin. If you observe closely, you’ll see they align with the wings outside the aircraft. These triangles serve as indicators for the flight crew when they need to inspect the wings, providing them with the optimal viewing points for the external slats and flaps.

This feature proves particularly beneficial during winter months when ensuring the wings are adequately de-iced is crucial. A cabin crew member, known as @_hennylim_ on TikTok, took to the social media platform to elucidate this system.

“1. Passengers sitting next to the triangles get the best view of the wings. 2. If flight crew need to check the wings, these triangles let them know the best vantage points for the slats and flaps outside,” she explained.

A former British Airways cabin crew member has lifted the lid on the most germ-ridden parts of a plane – and passengers may be alarmed to realise it’s hard to avoid

A former British Airways flight attendant has revealed the dirtiest parts of a plane – and four of them are seat components in the cabin.

Jane Hawkes, a former flight attendant for British Airways, shared the best tips and tricks on how to make your journey as comfortable as possible – and has urged passengers to carry either a bottle of hand sanitiser or a packet of anti-bacterial wipes before sitting comfortably.

She added: “When travelling on a plane, where possible, avoid touching any areas unless you’ve sanitised them.” A small pocket-size bottle of hand sanitiser retails from around £1.22 – and can be bought in advance of from the departures lounge at an airport.

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It’s common to see airline staff racing around the cabin between passengers disembarking and boarding. During this quick turnaround, rubbish is picked up and a clean up is undertaken. This is along with all the routine checks they have to do.

It is a common belief that not every seat is scrutinised for its cleanliness, therefore, Jane has recommended anyone planning to fly this summer to carry hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes in the hand luggage. This is so you can make sure your immediate area is germ-free.

The ‘worst offending areas’

And, according to Jane, she said: “Aircraft are only ever deep-cleaned if they’re taken in for maintenance.” Listing what she claims are the “worst offending areas”, she added: “The worst offending areas are tray tables, armrests, seas and headrests, so always give them a wipe down before using,” she added.

British Airways’ website states the airline ensures that all key surfaces are clean after every flight and all aircrafts are deeply cleaned every day. They explained: “The air on all British Airways flights is fully recycled once every two to three minutes through HEPA filters, which remove microscopic bacteria and virus clusters with over 99% efficiency, equivalent to hospital operating theatre standards.”

Another benefit of carrying anti-bacterial gel and wipes is that it could help prevent the spread of any illnesses – something that is relatively common on a flight due to the close proximity of people.

In Jane’s description of unhygienic practices on-board a flight, she also touched upon travellers who opt to take off their socks and shoes. She said: “Another ‘complete no-no’? Travellers who ‘take off their shoes and socks’ are breaking every etiquette rule in the book. ‘I’ve seen passengers walk barefoot around the cabin, yuck.”

READ MORE: Flight hack hated by airlines can save you £228 but there’s a catch

Natalie Sadler, 43, was travelling from Magaluf, Majorca to Leeds Bradford Airport on May 20 when she was told by a member of staff at the gate to put her suitcase in the baggage sizer

A mum managed to board her Ryanair flight without paying the baggage charge by ditching her suitcase and using a bin bag, leaving a ‘jobsworth’ gobsmacked.

Natalie Sadler was preparing to board her flight from Palma de Majorca to Leeds Bradford on 20 May when she claims a staff member asked her to place her suitcase in the baggage sizer. The 43-year-old caterer had purchased priority boarding for her family holiday to Magaluf, which entitled her to a small personal bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm).

However, Natalie admitted that her 10kg suitcase was a ‘thumbnail’ too big with one of the wheels sticking out. She alleges that a Ryanair staff member then informed her she would need to pay €70 (£58) to take the bag on the flight.

Do you have a Ryanair story to share? Email [email protected]

The mother-of-three claims the same Ryanair staff member told her she had to pay the fee or she wouldn’t be allowed to board the aircraft. Natalie refused to pay the fee, citing the staff member’s ‘rude’ behaviour.

Thinking quickly, she approached a nearby bar at the boarding gate and requested a bin bag. Upon returning to the gate, she emptied all of her clothes from her suitcase into the blue bin bag and left her case behind.

A victorious Natalie boarded the plane with the bin bag and stowed it in the overhead locker, triggering applause of from onlookers. Footage shows Natalie discussing her experience and the blue bin bag containing her belongings.

In a dramatic turn at the boarding gate, Natalie was told by Ryanair staff that her suitcase was a mere thumbnail too wide. She recalled: “It [the suitcase] was literally a thumbnail too wide and the wheel was slightly out, so I’m not going to dispute that.”

A Ryanair staff member then gave her an ultimatum: “She [a Ryanair staff member] was like, ‘if you don’t pay €70 (£58) you’ll get a new flight home. I’ll send the flight without you.’ It wasn’t the money, it was the principle at this point because she was so rude.

“But I said to my husband, ‘open the case’ and I ran over to where the bar was near the boarding gate and I went, ‘have you got a bin bag?’ I opened the case at the door for boarding and she [the Ryanair staff member] was stood next to me and I filled the bag with everything out of the case.”

Determined to avoid the additional fee, Natalie flung it over her shoulder “like Santa” and told the Ryanair crew that they could keep her bag. “And off I went onto the plane. When I got on everyone was clapping, it was hilarious, it was so funny,” she added.

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“Everyone was just laughing. They were clapping as I walked on with this bag. I couldn’t get down the aisle because it was so big. Everyone found it highly amusing. I told them [the passengers on the plane] there was no way after the way she spoke to me was I giving her any of my money. Not a chance.”

Natalie noted that she had used the same suitcase on a Ryanair flight before without any trouble. She claims she had flown out to Palma de Majorca on Ryanair just seven days prior with the same suitcase and experienced no problems.

Natalie, who had received the brand new suitcase as a gift from her parents, was willing to part with it rather than pay the extra fee. She explained: “I was quite happy to forfeit the suitcase. It’s just a suitcase, it’s not the end of the world. I was like, ‘I’m not leaving all my clothes, what am I going to put it in?”.

Natalie decided not to pay the £58 fee for the oversized suitcase, considering it was only worth £45 new.

“It is absolutely ridiculous but I’m glad I stood my ground. There’s so many people who would have just gone, ‘get the card out, pay them’,” she concluded.

A Ryanair spokesperson clarified the airline’s bag policy: “Ryanair’s bag policy is simple; if the bag fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If the bag doesn’t fit within our sizer, it will get charged for. This passenger’s bag exceeded the permitted dimensions, and they chose to repack their items in an alternative bag that would fit the sizer instead. There is a very simple solution to this, which is that passengers simply comply with their agreement at the time of booking and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions.”

WHEN a flight attendant came across a couple on the way to their wedding, she decided the whole flight should help them celebrate.

And rather than the typical trinkets, this thoughtful crew member decided fellow passengers should give the gift of their best advice.

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The unnamed air-hostess asked all the fellow travellers to scribble down their most valuable tip for a successful marriage – and delivered the results to the betrothed pair.

Kirsten and Sam, the happy recipients, shared the heart-warming experience – and the lessons they learned – on TikTok, to the delight of hundreds of thousands.

Kirsten, a pediatric oncologist nurse, said: “The sweet flight attendant helped us ask people for marriage advice.

The pearls of wisdom arrived scrawled on airline napkins, note pads and small scraps of paper – anything passengers could find.

Here are some of the best among them.

A pair of high school sweethearts married 40 years wrote: “Our advice is: Never give up [because] nothing is perfect, don’t sweat the small stuff, never stop communicating, and never go to bed mad.”

Another couple advised: “Keep God at the center of your marriage and have fun together.

“Don’t forget to be best friends [and] laugh at the little things.

“Stick together through the hard times [and] good times will eventually come again.”

Offering a philosophical note, someone wrote: “Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments.

“Be nice, communicate wants and needs.”

Lovers of 43 years suggested: ““Be quick to forgive and say, ‘I’m sorry,’” which was a remarkably similar sentiment to the decades-together couple.

A long and thoughtful message said: “Always respond to your partner’s bids for attention.

“If they say the sunset is pretty, drop everything and enjoy it together.

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“If they ask if they look nice, truly take a moment to take them all in and give them a compliment.

“If they give you a quick hug, hold them longer. These small moments matter for intimacy.”

Kirsten and Sam tied the knot on May 22 in Phoenix, Arizona.

She said the wholesome life advice would serve as a foundation for their relationship, and they were “cherish these forever”.

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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.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: [email protected]

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.

In May 1939, a ship called the St. Louis departed from Hamburg, Germany, with 937 passengers, most of them Jews fleeing the Holocaust. They had been promised disembarkation rights in Cuba, but when the ship reached Havana, the government refused to let it dock. The passengers made desperate pleas to the U.S., including directly to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to allow them entry. Roosevelt never responded. The State Department wired back that they should “wait their turn” and enter legally.

As if that were a realistic option available to them.

After lingering off the coast of Florida hoping for a merciful decision from Washington, the St. Louis and its passengers returned to Europe, where the Nazis were on the march. Ultimately, 254 of the ship’s passengers died in the Holocaust.

In response to this shameful failure to provide protection, the nations of the world came together and drafted an international treaty to protect those fleeing persecution. The treaty, the 1951 Refugee Convention, and its 1967 Protocol, has been ratified by more than 75% of nations, including the United States.

Because the tragedy of the St. Louis was fresh in the minds of the treaty drafters, they included an unequivocal prohibition on returning fleeing refugees to countries where their “life or freedom would be threatened.” This is understood to prohibit sending them to a country where they would face these threats, as well as sending them to a country that would then send them on to a third country where they would be at such risk.

All countries that are parties to the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees are bound by this prohibition on return (commonly referred to by its French translation, “nonrefoulement”). In the U.S., Congress enacted the 1980 Refugee Act, expressly adopting the treaty language. The U.S. is also a party to the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the return of individuals to places where they would be in danger of “being subjected to torture.”

In both Trump administrations, there have been multiple ways in which the president has attempted to eviscerate and undermine the protections guaranteed by treaty obligation and U.S. law. The most drastic among these measures have been the near-total closure of the border to asylum seekers and the suspension of entry of already approved and vetted refugees.

However, none of these measures has appeared so clearly designed to make a mockery of the post-World War II refugee protection framework as the administration’s proposals and attempts to send migrants from the U.S. to Libya and Rwanda.

Although there are situations in which the U.S. could lawfully send a migrant to a third country, it would still be bound by the obligation not to return the person to a place where their “life or freedom would be threatened.” The choices of Libya and Rwanda — rather than, for example, Canada or France — can only be read as an intentional and open flouting of that prohibition.

Libya is notorious for its abuse of migrants, with widespread infliction of torture, sexual violence, forced labor, starvation and slavery. Leading advocacy groups such as Amnesty International call it a “hellscape.” The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has stated in no uncertain terms that Libya is not to be considered a safe third country for migrants. The U.S. is clearly aware of conditions there; the State Department issued its highest warning level for Libya, advising against travel to Libya because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict.

Although conditions in Rwanda are not as extreme, the supreme courts of both Israel and the United Kingdom have ruled that agreements to send migrants to Rwanda are unlawful. The two countries had attempted to outsource their refugee obligations by calling Rwanda a “safe third country” to which asylum seekers could be sent to apply for protection.

Israel and the U.K.’s highest courts found that Rwanda — contrary to its stated commitment when entering these agreements — had in fact refused to consider the migrants’ asylum claims, and instead, routinely expelled them, resulting in their return to countries of persecution, in direct violation of the prohibition on refoulement. The U.K. court also cited Rwanda’s poor human rights record, including “extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture.”

If the Trump administration had even a minimal commitment to abide by its international and domestic legal obligations, plans to send migrants to Libya or Rwanda would be a nonstarter. But the plans are very much alive, and it is not far-fetched to assume that their intent is to further undermine internationally agreed upon norms of refugee protection dating to World War II. Why else choose the two countries that have repeatedly been singled out for violating the rights of refugees?

As in Israel and the U.K., there will be court challenges should the U.S. move forward with its proposed plan of sending migrants to Libya and Rwanda. It is hard to imagine a court that could rule that the U.S. would not be in breach of its legal obligation of nonrefoulement by delivering migrants to these two countries.

Having said that, and despite the clear language of the treaty and statute, it has become increasingly difficult to predict how the courts will rule when the Supreme Court has issued decisions overturning long-accepted precedent, and lower courts have arrived at diametrically opposed positions on some of the most contentious immigration issues.

In times like these, we should not depend solely on the courts. There are many of us here in the U.S. who believe that the world’s refugee framework — developed in response to the profound moral failure of turning back the St. Louis — is worth fighting for. We need to take a vocal stand. The clear message must be that those fleeing persecution should never be returned to persecution.

If we take such a stand, we will be in the good company of those who survived the Holocaust and continue to speak out for the rights of all refugees.

Karen Musalo is a law professor and the founding director of the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at UC Law, San Francisco. She is also lead co-author of “Refugee Law and Policy: A Comparative and International Approach.”