plane

A RYANAIR flight was diverted after a passenger allegedly “ate his passport” and another tried to flush theirs down the toilet.

The passenger jet set off from Milan for Stansted before the two men began acting strangely around 15 minutes into the flight, it is claimed.

1

Sept. 24 (UPI) — Well-known Chinese architect Kongjian Yu died with three others after a plane crash in the Brazilian wilderness.

Yu, 62, was reportedly killed along with three other passengers Tuesday afternoon after their plane crashed in near Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state in the lush Pantanal wetlands near the borders of neighboring Bolivia and Paraguay, according to The Guardian and The New York Times.

The crash of the small four-seater single-engine Cessna killed its pilot and the two Brazilian filmmakers traveling with Yu, Luiz Ferraz and Rubens Crispim Junior, after the plane spiraled after an aborted landing attempt.

Yu and the film crew were on the way to a ranch while shooting a documentary on Yu’s globally-renowned architectural work.

The film styled as Planeta Esponja, or Planet Sponge in English, was to highlight the Peking University professor’s groundbreaking theories on his “sponge city” concept and work on how cities around the world can best cope with flooding and other extreme weather-related events due to widening effects of climate change.

Chinese government data suggested in 2012 that roughly 40% of China’s rivers were seriously polluted and unfit for drinking.

Yu deployed ancient Chinese water system methods to reimagine urban planing and water conservation in hundreds of cities across China as part of the Communist nation’s rapid urban industrialization across its vast national landscape.

He recently took part at an architecture and urbanism conference in Brasilia to speak on “sponge city” planning where he later told cities must “remain water, slow down water,” and “embrace water.”

“It’s important to make friends with water,” the late Yu previously said.

PLANE passengers need to be aware of this one boarding pass code which could land you the worst seat on the entire plane.

Although these tickets are small, they hold a wealth of information about flight details – some of which could impact where you are sat.

2

At the bottom of a typical boarding pass there is often a SEQ number, according to Simple Flying.

This is also known as the “sequence number”.

It refers to the passenger boarding order for the flight.

For example, if your ticket reads SEQ08, it would mean you are the eighth person to check in.

With this information, you may be able to determine what seat you have been allocated.

Some airlines reportedly assign seats in the order of how travellers have checked in.

This means that people who were last to show up may be given a less desirable seat, reports say.

The SEQ code could also cause issues if the passenger is one of the last people to check in and the flight is full. 

In Groups

Other codes on boarding passes include the group number, with airlines like Air Canada and Finnair using these.

This code is designed to help make boarding easier.

It usually reads as something like “Group 1” or “Group 2”, which staff then call out at the gate.

These groups are often assigned based on things like families, passengers with disabilities and seating class. 

Enhanced Screening

Another common code on a boarding pass is “SSSS”.

This stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection – and works as an thorough security check.

It was created by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.

Passengers who notice it on their boarding ticket should expect an “enhanced” screening.

This can take longer than normal security checks.

And it can sometimes cause delays for travellers who don’t anticipate this factor.

Overbooking

Some airlines can also overbook planes.

When everyone turns up without anyone pulling out of the flight, those who check in last are at risk of being transferred to a different flight. 

Another code that appears on boarding passes is the booking reference or reservation number.

The Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on each and every boarding pass. 

This randomly-generated sequence labels you as a unique passenger.

It can help distinguish you in case you share an exact first and last name with another person on your plane. 

Every passenger’s PNR is essentially a detailed travel itinerary which includes a trove of data.

This includes things like flight details to meal preferences and even frequent flyer status.

2

Singer-songwriter Brett James, who penned country music hits for stars including Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean, was one of three people who died Thursday in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced in its preliminary report that three people were on board in a Cirrus SR22T that “crashed in a field” Thursday at around 3 p.m. local time in Franklin, N.C. There were no survivors, the North Carolina State Highway patrol confirmed in a statement.

According to additional information from the FAA, the songwriter was on the plane, which was registered to him under his legal name, Brett James Cornelius. It’s unclear whether he was piloting the plane during its crash, which the FAA said occurred “under unknown circumstances.” The state patrol confirmed the musician’s death, adding that his wife, Melody Carole, and Carole’s daughter Meryl Maxwell Wilson were the other two people on the plane. Wilson celebrated her birthday this week, according to a post on Carole’s Instagram page.

The aircraft had taken off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board said they are investigating the crash.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame shared the news of James’ death Thursday in a social media post. “We mourn the untimely loss of Hall of Fame member Brett James (‘Jesus Take The Wheel’ / ‘When the Sun Goes Down’), a 2020 inductee who was killed in a small-engine airplane crash on Sept. 18,” the post said.

James, born June 5, 1968, is best known for co-writing the 2005 Underwood hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” The ballad, also co-written by Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson, helped propel the careers of “American Idol” winner Underwood and James: It won the country song prize at the 2007 Grammy Awards and was dubbed ASCAP’s country song of the year in 2006.

The Missouri-born musician began his music career in the early 1990s after leaving medical school behind. He signed as a solo to Career Records, a subsidiary of Arista Nashville, but found his calling writing for Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and other country music acts.

“A brilliant songwriter and amazing man. He was the pen behind ‘Summer Nights,’ ‘Love You Out Loud’ and countless songs we’ve all sang along too,” Rascal Flatts said Friday in an Instagram tribute. “He will be greatly missed.”

Aldean also remembered James during his show in Lincoln, Neb., performing their song “The Truth.” The singer said he had “nothing but love and respect for that guy and he helped change my life” in a social media post of that performance.

James also penned Cheney and Uncle Kracker’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova” and Rodney Atkins’ “It’s America.” As a solo artist, James released several singles, a self-titled album in 1995 and the 2020 EP “I Am Now.” ASCAP named James its country songwriter of the year twice, first in 2006 then in 2010.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ever wondered why there’s specific times during your air travel when you can’t use the toilet on-board? Now pilot Steve revealed the ‘dangerous’ reason behind it…

It can be frustrating to sit strapped to your seat on the plane then all of a sudden, nature calls. There are secret areas passengers aren’t allowed anywhere near, but the toilet, surely not?

But if you’re a regular air traveller, you kind of know the deal by now. The cabin crew talk you through the safety, then you’re asked to fasten your seatbelt. This might all be familiar to many, but occasionally what happens is, we need to use the loo. Now one pilot revealed the ‘dangerous’ reason this is not always allowed in a post which went viral on TikTok.

American Airlines captain Steve, who boasts 401,000 followers on the platform, has been doing a Q&A series with his many fans.

Recently one person asked: “Why can’t I pee while the plane is stationary on the ground?”

The pilot explained the reason and it’s mainly because if one person does it, everyone follows…

He said: “Well, LAX tie 23, because if you get up to go to the bathroom, then everybody else is going to get up and go to the bathroom.

“And we’re taxiing on an active runway or taxiway and one of the most dangerous times of flights is actually during taxiing, because if I have to hit the brakes and you’re standing up in the aisle, you’re going to fall.

“You’re going to hit your head on something. If you’re in the bathroom, good things are not going to happen in there.

“Have I had people get up and have to go use the bathroom? Yes, sometimes nature calls and you can’t hold it off anymore.”

He also explained how the pilot would usually have to stop until the traveller comes out of the bathroom and returns to their seat.

“It holds up the entire airport. It’s really a hassle when that happens,” he concluded.

Further on in the video, the pilot then began discussing safety briefings and making jokes with colleagues.

But since he shared the information on the toilet trouble, many people fled to the comments section as the post racked up nearly 2,900 likes.

One said: “Thank you for your wonderful, informative post!” Another added: “I’ll admit I’ve done that before… I was on a Southwest flight and we were holding before the runway and I had to pee…”

A third commented: “Take it from an FA. That’s so true.”

Self-proclaimed adventurer Adam headed to the south west of England where he discovered what he described as possibly the UK’s ‘coolest and quirkiest’ Airbnb experience

A self-proclaimed British adventurer claims he’s discovered one of the “coolest and quirkiest” Airbnb spots in the UK that would make a “unique” staycation getaway. Adam took to TikTok to show off the unique accommodation, which gives guests the opportunity to sleep inside a real airliner.

He began a video by providing a tour of the plane’s exterior, which boasts a hot tub, sauna and shower. “As you can tell behind me, this isn’t just any stay – it is a very large Boeing 727,” Adam continued, indicating that he had lowered the stairs into the cabin ready for him to board.

Understandably, the rooms inside are quite narrow, but Adam pointed out the plane comes with everything you could ever need. Starting with the living area, which includes two rows of seating from the 727’s days as a passenger plane either side of a dining table.

“I believe its from the 1960s,” Adam revealed. “There are so many switches on this plane,” he added as he made his way down a corridor to the master bedroom.

He highlighted the luxury double bed still has includes a “strap for safety” for “night flights”, while noting the room comes with an en-suite bathroom and shower, as well as a sofa, table and two reclining chairs.

“How cool is this?” Adam enthused, passing another bathroom on his way to the “area you will be spending most of your time”.

Here, a second living area is furnished with more sofas and reclining chairs and a TV linked to a mirror enabling guests to watch at either end of the room.

Adam continued with 727 exploration, making his way towards the front of the aircraft where he discovered a single bedroom situated across the aisle from a charming kitchen area, equipped with hob, oven, sink and “everything you might need” – including a dishwasher, fridge and freezer.

He left the “coolest part” until last, however as his journey reached its finale at the very front of the plane. Donning a pilot’s cap, Adam squeezed himself into the cockpit, which remains fitted out exactly as it would have been during the aircraft’s days soaring through the skies.

Meanwhile, the Airbnb, located in Brislington on the city’s outskirts, boasts an outstanding guest rating of 4.82 out of 5 from 103 reviews.

The accommodation, which caters for four guests, is promoted by its owner as “your chance to live like a billionaire at 32”.

“This Boeing 727 airliner has the original 1980’s private jet interior,” it adds. “Walnut panelling, gold details and crystals adorn this exquisite space ideal for nights away. It has two lounge spaces, a king-sized bed, two single beds, three toilets, a shower, full kitchen and a fully-fitted cockpit.”

Meanwhile, the latest review of the Airbnb makes for remarkable reading, with the visitor gushing: “This is a great and special place. You can tell, this property was a passion project and was overflowing with character. Good and clear check in instruction video. Check in and check out was perfect.

“Would recommend staying at a weekend, as its location in an industrial estate wouldn’t have a lot of privacy in the week. Loved it so much, am already thinking of the next excuse to stay.”

The only drawback of this Airbnb, as highlighted by several TikTok users, is its location in the “middle of an industrial estate, lacking nearby amenities other than a McDonald’s”.

Plane spotters in Fort Worth, Texas, caught a glimpse of something rare yesterday, one of the U.S. Air Force’s four E-4B Nightwatch jets flying completely stripped of paint and with much of its skin covered in a green zinc chromate coating. The Boeing 747-200-based E-4Bs are commonly called ‘doomsday planes’ as they serve as secure flying command posts for the president and other senior military officials so they can perform their duties, including directing nuclear strikes, even during the most serious crises.

Aviation photographer Tori Mae Fontana was kind enough to share pictures of the ‘naked’ E-4B with TWZ, which she captured as the aircraft left Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth yesterday. The jet used the callsign Spice 98 for the flight.

“So it was here at International Aerospace Coatings (IAC),” Fontana told TWZ. “They have painted E-4s before. I know they have previously had a Boeing contract. I am assuming it’s still current.”

Boeing, among others, uses green zinc chromate coatings to protect the skins of unpainted planes, typically before delivery. The standard paint scheme for the Nightwatch aircraft, also known as National Airborne Operations Centers (NAOC), is overall white with a blue cheat line on either side of the fuselage, as well as a blue section extending from the top of the nose to above the cockpit. Even without their normal paint job, the E-4Bs are readily identifiable by the large satellite communications (SATCOM) enclosure on top of the forward end of the fuselage, as well as other distinctive antennas on their dorsal spine and elsewhere along the fuselage. The jets also have an aerial refueling receptacle on the nose.

TWZ has reached out to the Air Force for more information, including whether there are any plans for a new paint scheme for this particular aircraft.

“I am also assuming it went back to San Antonio because Boeing has the contract for the E-4 maintenance,” Fontana added.

Online flight data shows that at least one E-4B, with the serial number 73-1676, has been at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, since September 2024. That aircraft was tracked flying on August 23 and again on August 28 using the Spice 98 callsign. Boeing performs depot maintenance on the Nightwatch jets, as well as the Air Force’s two Boeing 747-200-based VC-25A Air Force One aircraft, at Kelly Field, which sits adjacent to Lackland Air Force Base.

E-4B NAOC 73-1676 as Spice-98 is up on its second test flight following programmed depot maintenance at Lackland AFB, aka Kelly Field. It arrived in September of 2024 and the first flight was 5 days ago. pic.twitter.com/ss7S6RRwGh

— MeNMyRC (@MeNMyRC1) August 28, 2025

Ensuring the readiness of the E-4B fleet, as well as keeping their highly sensitive systems up to date, is extremely important given the critical role the jets play as part of the U.S. government’s broader continuity of government plans. Those mechanisms are in place to ensure that national-level authorities, including the ability to launch nuclear retaliatory strikes, remain functional in the face of any contingency, as you can read more about here.

At the same time, sustaining the heavily modified E-4Bs has become increasingly challenging, due in large part to the age of the underlying Boeing 747-200 airliners they were converted from. Three of the E-4Bs started their Air Force careers as E-4A Advanced Airborne Command Posts (AACP), which began entering service in the 1970s. Those aircraft were later upgraded to the NAOC configuration in the 1980s, and were eventually joined by the fourth aircraft. The very last 747-200 rolled off Boeing’s production line in 1987, and few are still flying in any configuration globally today. Boeing ended production of the 747 series entirely in 2022.

The Air Force is now in the process of acquiring E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) jets to replace the aging E-4Bs. The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is converting those aircraft from newer 747-8 airframes acquired secondhand from Korean Air. SNC is doing the SAOC work at a facility in Dayton, Ohio, and announced earlier this month that it had begun some degree of “early risk reduction flight testing” to help “ensure on-time delivery of new aircraft to the USAF.”

When the E-4Cs may begin entering operational service is unclear. Questions also remain about how big the SAOC fleet may be in the end. SNC has previously said it negotiated the purchase of five 747-8s from Korean Air, but past reports have indicated that the Air Force may want between eight and 10 of the jets in the end.

Part of this uncertainty is intertwined with the U.S. Navy’s plans to replace its E-6B Mercury aircraft, which are also ‘doomsday’ planes, but are not configured to act as much more than robust flying command centers like the E-4s. The E-6Bs currently serve as key airborne control nodes for the Navy and Air Force legs of America’s nuclear deterrence triad, mission sets referred to as Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) and Looking Glass, respectively. At present, the plan is for the E-130J Phoenix II aircraft that are set to replace the Mercury jets to be configured for the TACAMO mission only. This, in turn, has raised the possibility that the future SAOC fleet could take on the Looking Glass mission, at least to a degree.

Regardless, until the E-4Cs begin flying operationally, the E-4Bs will need to continue performing their essential role, and will need continued depot maintenance and other work to ensure they remain as ready and capable as possible.

Howard Altman contributed to this story.

Special thanks again to Tori Mae Fontana for sharing the images of the ‘naked’ E-4B with us.

Contact the author: [email protected]

A woman has gone viral on social media after she shared the petty revenge she got on a rude passenger who was sat next to her on a flight – and people are loving it

A woman has been praised after sharing how she got her petty revenge on a rude plane passenger as they got off the plane.

Flying can be a nerve-wracking ordeal, particularly when you’re stuck beside complete strangers for hours at a time. However, this doesn’t justify being rude to your fellow passengers. This lesson was one a woman called Charlotte felt compelled to teach a passenger that had been seated beside her during a recent flight, after he allegedly been ‘rude’ to everyone nearby without any clear reason. Consequently, she decided to get her petty revenge on him in return.

Taking to TikTok to share her experience, Charlotte began by explaining how she boarded her aircraft and made her way to her allocated row, where she’d been given the middle seat. A man was sat in the aisle seat as she got on, so she politely asked he stand to allow her access to her middle seat.

“I said ‘excuse me sir, I just need to get through to that seat cause I’m sitting there’,” she recounted.

Charlotte went on to describe how this prompted the man to glare at her with a blank expression before sighing heavily, remaining silent as he rose to his feet. He retrieved his bag from beneath the seat ahead as he moved to allow her to get through to her seat.

However, since they were sat in the over-wing emergency exit row, most carriers forbid passengers in these seats from storing luggage beneath the seat in front. Instead, any luggage must be placed in the overhead storage compartments. Due to this regulation, a flight attendant requested the male passenger relocate his bag to the overhead locker, causing him to stare at them too before sighing audibly before complying with the instruction.

And whilst the man didn’t utter a single word throughout the entire journey, Charlotte also claimed she could sense him jabbing her repeatedly with his elbow in a bid to make her shift and give him more room. However, each time she looked towards him, he would ‘pretend to be asleep’.

Obviously irritated by his behaviour by the time the flight came to an end, Charlotte ensured she secured her payback as everyone prepared to leave the aircraft.

“When we were getting off the plane, a woman and a child needed to get off before him, as they were sat in the row in front of us,” she explained, as it’s ‘plane etiquette’ to let the people in the rows in front of you get out first.

“He just stood there going [big sighs] so loud so everybody could hear,” she said.

Explaining she knew the man spoke English because she’d spotted his mobile was set to an English language setting, she decided to secure her petty revenge on the passenger.

“Because he was so rude to everybody that he bumped into this morning, I decided to tell him that he had poo on the back of trousers,” she revealed, saying he did in fact not have poo on his trousers. “But now he think he does. And yes, I am that petty when it comes to airport etiquette.

“Nobody really likes travelling anyway, so just be nice about it,” she said.

People quickly took to the comment section of the video, with many praising Charlotte for her actions.

“I love this level of pettiness!” one viewer commented, while another person said: “Gonna start carrying a pot of Nutella on me just to seal the deal.”

Another individual remarked: “I don’t know why people are so rude it costs nothing to be nice. What did he expect you to do?”

“This is amazing. I’m going to remember this,” a fourth person penned.

A mum was left fuming after a recent flight with her two children, as the behaviour of the passenger sitting in front of her completely ruined the experience for her kids

If you’ve ever taken a flight with young children, you’ll know how much of a headache it can be at times. Rushing them through airport security, making sure you all get to your boarding gate on time, and hoping that they don’t cause a scene when you’re on the plane can leave you feeling drained.

Many people have sparked discussions in the past about how they don’t like flying with “screaming” children on board, but the parents of those children are likely even more exhausted – and we should all be more compassionate. But one mum didn’t receive any sympathy on a recent flight she was on with her two children, as the passenger in front of her chose to do something “rude” in the middle of their journey.

Matilda Norton shared a video on TikTok of herself sitting with her two children on the plane, where the family was happily minding their own business. Matilda had her youngest child on her lap, while her older son was standing up in the seat beside her, playing with a toy plane.

But her problem came when the man in front of her decided to recline his seat – meaning she had very little room for herself and her young baby, who was already getting restless and starting to cry.

The mum also explained in her video that the seat next to the man in front of her was empty, meaning he could have moved across and reclined that seat, which was in front of her older child.

Although that still would have encroached on their space, it would have given the mum enough room to properly look after her younger child.

In the video’s caption, she said: “He had an empty seat next to him. He could have moved over and put the other seat back … where there was no baby behind him.

“Or when he lay down across both seats, he could have at least put his seat upright since he wasn’t even using it. I know everyone has the right to put their seat back, but where is the common courtesy? We had no space.”

Commenters on the post were split over the issue. Some said that the mum was right to be annoyed, as even though the man was within his rights to recline his chair, he could have been more respectful of her situation.

Others, however, said the man did nothing wrong. They also argued that the mum could have swapped seats with her son so that she took the window seat and he was in the middle, meaning she would still escape the reclined chair.

One person said: “You could literally swap with your other son, and the issue would be resolved. People are allowed to recline their seats on a flight.”

Another added: “Why do people think they are entitled to special treatment? He’s allowed to recline his seat without any question or explanation.”

However, someone else defended the mum, stating: “This comment section isn’t it. It’s so rude to recline your seat on a short flight. It’s entirely unnecessary, and you know that it makes the person behind you uncomfortable.”

Matilda also later shared in the comments why she refused to swap seats with her son, as she said she would rather make sure he has a good time and enjoys his flight.

Responding to one commenter who told her to swap seats, she wrote: “He likes the window seat and I would rather him happily look out the window than be grumpy in the middle. You’ve clearly never travelled with kids!”

A medical expert has revealed there’s one thing you should never consume before boarding a plane. Pharmacist Seema Khatri explained holidaymakers can risk consequences by doing so

When it comes to travelling abroad, people have all sorts of different rituals; however, experts say there are some things you shouldn’t consume when on a plane. According to an expert, there are “hidden dangers” associated with one common practice, as it could lead to serious health concerns.

If you ever think of taking a sleeping pill before a flight, you may want to think again, as pharmacists are warning travellers that it could be one of the worst things you can do at 35,000 feet. Anyone planning to travel soon has been urged against it, as it poses various threats you may be unaware of.

There are various ways you can try and fall asleep on a plane, but avoiding pills to aid the process is always best. Instead, you may want to try this simple hack that claims to help people fall asleep within minutes.

“People imagine that taking a sleeping pill means they’ll wake up refreshed at their destination,” says pharmacist Seema Khatri at Roseway Labs, which has hundreds of followers on Instagram. “But drug-induced sleep is not the same as natural, restorative sleep, and on a plane it can actually leave you groggier and more jet-lagged.”

One of the biggest risks is circulation, as the expert explained: “When you’re sedated you move far less, and that immobility can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Cabins are already dehydrating environments, and sedatives can thicken the blood further, so the two combined aren’t a good mix.”

Cabin pressure also amplifies the effects of sleeping tablets. At altitude, oxygen levels are lower. Sedatives can intensify drowsiness, confusion or even breathing problems because of that, according to Seema.

“So what might feel like a mild dose on the ground can hit much harder once you’re in the air,” she added. While many passengers reach for sleeping pills to try and “beat jet lag”, the opposite is often true.

Seema explained: “If you take at the wrong time, your body clock becomes even more confused. Instead of easing into the new time zone, you land disoriented and wired.

“Older travellers, people with breathing conditions like asthma or sleep apnoea, and anyone with circulation problems should steer well clear of sedatives on planes. Even a small dose can hit them harder at altitude and, in some cases, it can become dangerous rather than just uncomfortable.”

How can I rest when flying?

Instead of pharmaceuticals, supplements that aid sleep may be a better alternative for travellers. There are all sorts of methods that can be sampled after seeking medical guidance.

“We also recommend magnesium glycinate to calm the nervous system, or herbal teas such as chamomile or lemon balm if you just want to relax,” noted Seema. “It’s also important to stay well hydrated, as dehydration can make it harder to rest and can worsen jet lag.”

Simple travel hacks – like wearing an eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones and cutting out caffeine before departure – can also make a big difference. “These options won’t put you into an unnatural sleep cycle, so you arrive fresher and safer,” she added.

Sleeping pills might seem like an easy fix for long-haul travel, but experts stress they could leave you groggy, dehydrated and at higher health risk. Seema explained: “A sleeping pill before take-off may knock you out, but it won’t give your body the restorative rest it really needs.”

There’s no need to struggle with sleep but, if you do, ensure you contact a medical professional for help. Your GP will be able to assist with any sleep concerns you may have.

Thursday marks the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that saw two planes flown into the Twin Towers in New York, killing nearly 3,000.

Kevin Danni was there. The St. Francis High graduate and father of Golden Knights linebacker Luke Danni reflects back every anniversary on how he escaped from the 61st floor of the South Tower.

“I’m so lucky there were so many who sacrificed to save me,” he said.

Danni told his story to a rapt audience earlier this week at a meeting of the YMCA of the Foothills QB Club, where he is president.

He was 22 years old, a recent graduate of Occidental College and had been sent to Morgan Stanley in New York to begin training at the Twin Towers on Sept. 10, 2001. The next morning, a training meeting ended up being 15 minutes late because a speaker went too long, so during a break, he decided not to go to the observation deck on the 107th floor.

Instead, he looked out a window and saw what he thought was confetti flying around, It was papers from the aftermath of a plane running into the North Tower. Soon he saw a fire. At first, evacuation from the South Tower was not recommended. But Danni said the head of security, Rick Rescorla, overrode orders and told everyone to leave.

When Danni reached the 55th floor walking down the stairs, he heard an explosion. “The walls cracked,” he said.

It was a plane hitting the South Tower.

“I knew it was a terrorist attack,” he said. “I started to descend and passed firefighters going up the stairs. It took 45 minutes to evacuate.”

When he went outside, he said, “I saw both on fire.”

He went to find a pay phone so he could call his loved ones and tell them he was OK. Then the towers started to collapse.

“I heard a rumble,” he said. “It was 57 minutes since the plane hit. I saw the dust cloud. I turned and ran.”

Danni said he learned the security man, Rescorla, after escorting employees outside, went back up to make sure all had been evacuated from the office. The security man and 343 firefighters perished trying to help others.

“I got to see so many acts of heroism,” Danni said.

He was dating his future wife, Helena, at the time. They eventually married and their son, Luke, was born. This week he’ll be having fun watching Luke play quarterback for St. Francis on Friday night against Muir.

“Every 9/11, he says, ‘Dad, I’m glad you’re here,’” Kevin said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean charter plane left for the U.S. on Wednesday to bring back Korean workers detained in an immigration raid in Georgia last week, though officials said the return of the plane with the workers onboard will not happen as quickly as they had hoped.

A total of 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Koreans, were rounded up in the Sept. 4 raid at the battery factory under construction at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant. U.S. authorities released video showing some being shackled with chains around their hands, ankles and waists, causing shock and a sense of betrayal among many in South Korea, a key U.S. ally.

South Korea’s government later said it reached an agreement with the U.S. for the release of the workers.

Korean workers expected to be brought back home after days of detention

South Korean TV footage showed the charter plane, a Boeing 747-8i from Korean Air, taking off at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it was talking with U.S. officials about letting the plane return home with the released workers as soon as possible. But it said the plane cannot depart from the U.S. on Wednesday as South Korea earlier wished due to an unspecified reason involving the U.S. side.

The Korean workers are currently being held at an immigration detention center in Folkston in southeast Georgia. South Korean media reported they will be freed and driven 285 miles by bus to Atlanta to take the charter plane.

South Korean officials said they’ve been negotiating with the U.S. to win “voluntary” departures of the workers, rather than deportations that could result in making them ineligible to return to the U.S. for up to 10 years.

The workplace raid by the U.S. Homeland Security agency was its largest yet as it pursues its mass deportation agenda. The Georgia battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is one of more than 20 major industrial sites that South Korean companies are currently building in the United States.

Many South Koreans view the Georgia raid as a source of national disgrace and remain stunned over it. Only 10 days earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and President Trump held their first summit in Washington on Aug. 25. In late July, South Korea also promised hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments to reach a tariff deal.

Experts say South Korea won’t likely take any major retaliatory steps against the U.S., but the Georgia raid could become a source of tensions between the allies as the Trump administration intensifies immigration raids.

South Korea calls for improvement in U.S. visa systems

U.S. authorities said some of the detained workers had illegally crossed the U.S. border, while others had entered the country legally but had expired visas or entered on a visa waiver that prohibited them from working. But South Korean experts and officials said Washington has yet to act on Seoul’s yearslong demand to ensure a visa system to accommodate skilled Korean workers needed to build facilities, though it has been pressing South Korea to expand industrial investments in the U.S.

South Korean companies have been relying on short-term visitor visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to send workers needed to launch manufacturing sites and handle other setup tasks, a practice that had been largely tolerated for years.

LG Energy Solution, which employed most of the detained workers, instructed its South Korean employees in the U.S. on B-1 or B-2 short-term visit visas not to report to work until further notice, and told those with ESTAs to return home immediately.

During his visit to Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met representatives of major Korean companies operating in the U.S. including Hyundai, LG and Samsung on Tuesday. Cho told them that South Korean officials are in active discussions with U.S. officials and lawmakers about possible legislation to create a separate visa quota for South Korean professionals operating in the U.S., according to Cho’s ministry.

Trump said this week the workers “were here illegally,” and that the U.S. needs to work with other countries to have their experts train U.S. citizens to do specialized work such as battery and computer manufacturing.

Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck, who represents several of the detained South Korean nationals, told the Associated Press on Monday that no company in the U.S. makes the machines used in the Georgia battery plant. So they had to come from abroad to install or repair equipment on-site — work that would take about three to five years to train someone in the U.S. to do, he said.

The South Korea-U.S. military alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, has experienced ups and downs over the decades. But surveys have shown a majority of South Koreans support the two countries’ alliance, as the U.S. deployment of 28,500 troops in South Korea and 50,000 others in Japan has served as the backbone of the American military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

During a Cabinet Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said he felt “big responsibility” over the raid and expressed hopes that the operations of South Korean businesses won’t be infringed upon unfairly again. He said his government will push to improve systems to prevent recurrences of similar incidents in close consultations with the U.S.

Kim and Tong-Hyung write for the Associated Press.

Sept. 7 (UPI) — A senior South Korean official said Sunday that the country will charter a plane for the return of hundreds of workers who were detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai battery factory in Georgia.

Kang Hoon-sik, the South Korean presidential chief-of-staff, said that negotiations with the administration of President Donald Trump had concluded during a speech at a high-ranking ruling party-government meeting, the state-funded Yonhap News Agency reported.

More than 300 workers from South Korea were arrested during the Thursday raid at the factory, which Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution operate. More than 150 other workers were also detained.

The Thursday raid was announced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and included officers from other agencies, such as Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It marked one of the largest immigrant raids in modern American history and it was not immediately clear why the ATF participated in the crackdown.

“There are still administrative procedures left,” Kang said. “Once the procedures are complete, the chartered plane will depart to bring our citizens.”

Kang’s comments came after South Korean officials convened an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss the issue. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said during that meeting that officials were “deeply concerned” about the arrest of the workers.

In additional remarks reported Sunday by the South Korean newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kang added that President Lee Jae-myung stressed that the rights and interests of South Korean citizens and the economic activities of companies investing in the U.S. “should not be unfairly violated” during U.S. law enforcement processes.

“The government will not let down its guard and will do its best until the citizens return safely,” Kang said.

Kang also said that South Korea would pursue measures to improve its visa system and residence permits for business travelers related to U.S. projects in the future.

Hyundai said in a statement Friday that none of the workers detained were directly employed by the carmaker and that it “is committed to full compliance with all laws and regulations in every market where we operate.”

THIS is the moment a passenger is dragged off a Ryanair plane after sparking a bloody brawl.

He reportedly attempted to yank open the emergency door mid-air during the flight from Bournemouth to Girona, Spain, on Thursday.

4

4

4

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Toulouse, France, so the troublemaker could be booted off.

Footage from the runway in Toulouse shows four cops carrying the bloke, who is lying limp and handcuffed in their arms.

They dump him down onto the tarmac as others stand guard.

The man – seen in a white t-shirt and orange shorts – apparently burst out with: “I want to go,” before making a beeline for the plane’s door.

Other passengers – realising he was intent on opening the hatch – jumped to stop him and a scrap followed.

The unidentified man allegedly spat and threw punches at fellow passengers before he was pinned to the floor.

A seatbelt was even bound around his legs to immobilise the troublemaker.

After being plonked back into a seat, he is said to have aimed a headbutt at a pensioner sitting next to him.

Other passengers broke down in tears and even suffered panic attacks in the face of his aggression.

One witness said: “The whole event was very traumatic.

“The man had gone into the toilet and then afterwards was trying opening one of the emergency exit doors.

“He then went to try the other shouting ‘I want to go.’

“That’s when a huge brawl started with a lot more than one man trying to get him away from the doors.

“There was a big punch up and he then finally got taken down in the isle and was pinned to the floor where they then managed to get a seatbelt extender round his ankles to stop him kicking.”

Fellow passenger David Malone said: “They started brawling in the middle of the plane.

“It went on for about 30 minutes and one guy was completely off his head, it took about three people to restrain him.

“It was horrible, there was blood everywhere there were people screaming and crying.

“It was horrible, disgusting really. It made you ashamed to be British to be honest.

“It’s sad really, I felt sorry for the staff. Something needs to be done about the amount of alcohol they allow people to consume at the airport.”

It’s understood the man had been fighting with another person in his group before heading for the doors.

After the man had been removed, the plane continued on to Girona, landing around two hours behind schedule.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “This flight from Bournemouth to Girona (4 Sept) was diverted to Toulouse after a passenger became disruptive onboard.

“Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse Airport and offloaded this passenger before this flight continued to Girona.

“Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”

4

The dry cabin air, dehydration and long periods of sitting after a flight already put our bodies under stress, and a hot shower can put extra strain on your skin and circulation

Brits jetting off on holiday have been warned that jumping straight into a hot shower after a flight could do more harm than good.

A steamy shower can worsen post-flight swelling in the ankles and feet, dry out skin and even affect blood circulation, according to shower and spa experts at Vidalux.co.uk.

It is a fairly common practice, at the end of a long day’s journeying, to head straight home or to the hotel to relax, freshen up and take a shower. However, turning the water on and having a good, steamy soak could in fact leave you feeling worse.

Dry cabin air, dehydration, and long periods of sitting after a flight already stress our bodies, and a hot shower can put extra strain on our skin and circulation. Instead, travellers should opt for a cool or lukewarm shower.

READ MORE: Spain’s cheapest beach city has £3 beers, a huge fortress and beautiful golden beachesREAD MORE: Beautiful UK region boasts some of the ‘most relaxing train journeys’ for Brits

This will deliver similar, if not higher, levels of freshness, while also lowering the risk of drying out your skin and negatively impacting your blood circulation. Taking a milder shower may also help your body regulate its temperature more effectively and reduce fluid retention.

Andy Ellis, shower specialist at Vidalux.co.uk, said: “A lot of us love taking a shower after a flight to help freshen up when we get back home but those taking a hot shower could be doing more harm than good to their bodies.

“After a flight our skin is already pretty dry and dehydrated from the low humidity in the plane. Taking a hot shower can worsen this feeling as the hot water will strip the body of its natural oils. Hot water also causes our blood vessels to dilate, which can worsen existing swelling and blood circulation issues after flying.

“This doesn’t mean you can’t take a shower though. As long as you stick to a cool or lukewarm shower post-flight then you’ll be absolutely fine.”

Swelling in the ankles and feet is common after flying and hot water can make this issue worse by causing the blood vessels to dilate further.

Planes are extremely dry and they can leave you feeling dehydrated. This is because the low humidity levels cause the air to pull moisture from our skin, lips and eyes. Hot showers also strip natural oils from the skin which can worsen dryness or irritation after a flight.

Long periods of sitting and cabin pressure changes can lead to poor circulation. Hot showers, which dilate blood vessels, can also lower blood pressure.

Hot showers can interfere with your sleep schedule, especially if you’re already suffering from jet lag. The hot water raises your body’s core temperature, which can make you feel more awake. Taking a hot shower after an evening flight can disrupt your body’s natural cooling process that signals it’s time to sleep.

The navigation system of a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted due to suspected Russian interference, the European Commission has said.

A spokesperson said the “GPS jamming” happened while the Commission president was about to arrive in southern Bulgaria on Sunday, but she still landed safely.

They added: “We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.”

The Financial Times, citing unnamed officials, reported that von der Leyen’s plane had to land at Plovdiv Airport with the pilots using paper maps.

The European Commission said “threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia’s hostile actions” and that the incident would reinforce its commitment to “ramp up our defence capabilities and support for Ukraine”.

The EU will deploy additional satellites into low Earth orbit with the aim of bolstering its ability to detect GPS interference, the bloc’s Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said following the incident.

The Bulgarian government confirmed that, during the flight, “the satellite signal transmitting information to the plane’s GPS navigation system was neutralised”.

The statement continued: “To ensure the flight’s safety, air control services immediately offered an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the FT that its information was “incorrect”.

The Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority said there had been a “noticeable increase” in GPS incidents, including jamming, since February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of incidents of jamming have been reported by airlines operating around the Baltic coast in the last few years. The three Baltic nations – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – are bookended by Russian territory.

In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying the UK’s then-Defence Secretary Grant Schapps reported a spoofing incident – in which legitimate signals are replaced with fake ones, indicating a false location.

The plane, which had been flying near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits between Poland and Lithuania, was able to continue its journey safely.

The issue has become so prevalent that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) convened a special conference in 2024 to discuss spoofing incidents – warning they could “pose significant challenges to aviation safety”.

Moscow regularly denies accusations of interference or attacks on commercial aviation, and no proven link has yet been established between Russia and the rise in GPS jamming.

But European governments and experts regularly blame Russia, claiming such practices fit with an alleged Kremlin strategy to generally sow disorder and undermine European security.

While planes can rely on other forms of navigation than GPS, jamming it mid-flight can increase the risk of collisions – either with other planes or by causing the pilot to unintentionally fly into the ground, water or other obstacle.

Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme, told the BBC such interference had indeed become a “constant feature” of flying near Russia, disrupting time and positioning services that had “previously been taken for granted”.

“They have gone from isolated incidents to being normalised,” he said, adding that “no one has been willing or able” to convince Moscow to stop an expanding “campaign of interference”.

Von der Leyen was visiting Bulgaria as part of a tour of eastern EU states to discuss defence readiness.

A Commission spokesperson said she had “seen first hand the every day threats from Russia and its proxies” during the tour.

Sept. 1 (UPI) — One person is dead and three others were injured following a midair collision between two planes that were attempting to land at a northeastern Colorado airport over the weekend, authorities and officials said.

The collision involved a Cessna 172 and an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 at about 10:40 a.m. MDT Sunday at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, is investigating the crash.

Fort Morgan, a city of about 11,800 people, is located roughly 80 miles northeast of Denver.

The FAA said there were two people aboard each small plane, and that the planes collided while attempting to land at the airport.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said the Cessna was on final approach when it was struck by the Extra Flugzeugbau.

“Both aircraft crashed and caught fire,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

One occupant of the Extra Flugzeugbau was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was transported to a local hospital, the sheriff’s office said, adding that the two occupants of the Cessna sustained only minor injuries and were released at the airport.

The extent of the hospitalized victim’s injuries was unknown.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragic event,” the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said.

A woman has shared her frustration after an ‘entitled’ passenger tried to steal her plane seat – but she managed to get the last laugh with a cutting response on the flight

A woman has hit out at an ‘entitled’ passenger who stole her plane seat and tried to pull it off with ‘main character energy’. She detailed her experience on a nine-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to Bali, which had two economy sections.

The first section was described as “big and crowded”, but she had the foresight to pre-book a seat in the second section where every seat boasted extra leg room. Taking to Reddit, she shared: “Guess which one I booked? Yep, the smaller one, because I actually planned ahead, paid the higher fare, and got the perks (priority boarding, luggage, and that sweet legroom).

“Boarding finishes, and the woman next to me slides into the empty window seat, leaving the middle empty. Dream scenario: me on the aisle, her on the window, and glorious space in between.

“I’m snuggled up under a blanket, headphones in, hoodie up. Universal ‘do not disturb’ mode activated.”

Once the aircraft reached cruising altitude and the seatbelt sign went off, the woman felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see a woman in her late 20s to early 30s grinning at her.

The woman continued: “She starts with, ‘Wow, you look so comfortable!’ Translation: she’s about to make me uncomfortable.

“She explains she wants me to swap seats with her so she and her friend (currently seated in the sardine can section) can take my aisle and the free middle seat.

“Her seat? Somewhere back in the busy main cabin, absolutely not extra legroom. I just smiled and said: ‘No thank you.’ Her jaw dropped.

“She tried to argue, so I spelled it out, ‘This is a paid extra legroom cabin. I booked it in advance, it wasn’t free, and I’m not giving it up so two adults who didn’t plan ahead can sit together’.”

She says the entitled woman looked at her as if she’d just “slapped her across the face” before walking away with a sour expression.

She added: “I put my headphones back on, hoodie up, and turned toward the window. Curtain closed on that conversation.

“The absolute audacity of people never ceases to amaze me. Pay for your seat like the rest of us.”

Commenting on her post, one user said: “I can’t believe the hide of some people.”

While someone else added: “My brother is tall so he always books the extra legroom seats. He also travels pretty often.

“He has told me that on almost every flight he is on someone will try to get him to swap with them to some squished no no-legroom seat. He has mastered the ‘f*** off’ and ‘what part of f*** off don’t you understand?'”

A third user said: “My come back line as always is….. ‘sure for $1,000 (£743) cash, you can have the seat, that’s my price.'”

Aug. 25 (UPI) — The United States military reported it scrambled a response contingent over the weekend after a Russian spy plane flew close to American airspace.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, reported Sunday it detected an IL-20 COOT reconnaissance aircraft flying through the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ.

NORAD responded by sending two F-16 fighter jets, an E-3 Sentry radar plane and two refueling tankers to intercept and make a visual confirmation.

The Russian aircraft stayed within the ADIZ and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.

The ADIZ is located within international airspace but lies close enough to American and Canadian sovereign airspace to require “the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security,” according to NORAD.

NORAD also noted such activity in the ADIZ is a regular occurrence that does not constitute a threat.

A Russian IL-20 COOT was also detected in the ADIZ last week on Wednesday and Thursday and took the same responsive measures.

An experienced flight attendant has revealed the one thing to avoid doing on airplanes if you don’t want to risk sharing other people’s bodily fluids and germs

A flight attendant who shares her adventures in the sky on social media has provided some insider advice on what passengers should definitely avoid while onboard.

Natalie Magee has been flying for 20 years so certainly knows what she’s talking about. She’s seen the good, the bad and the very ugly during her time looking after airline travellers.

However, there’s one particular freebie that Natalie recommends refusing, especially on shorter flights because the risk of getting up close and far too personal with other people’s germs is horribly high.

Zooming through the clouds can often mean that it gets a bit nippy at times in the cabin, particularly if flying at night when the sun has gone down. So passengers may need a blanket to keep warm and cosy.

Complimentary blankets used to be provided by airlines on most flights for chilly customers but these days because of cost-cutting and environmental concerns it’s usually only international, long-haul and first-class passengers that they are available too.

You may not think that’s such a bad thing though when you discover what could be found on them either. According to Natalie, hair, food, bodily fluids and mould could all be lurking in the folds of the material.

She says travellers use them to wipe their nose, clean up spills and even to catch their toenail clippings but that’s not all. “Probably one of the grossest things I’ve seen is someone using blankets to change their baby’s diaper,” Natalie, who is from Colorado, US, told Travel + Leisure.

That wouldn’t be such a problem if they were laundered after every use but that doesn’t always happen, according to the expert. “Most airlines have contract cleaners that take the blankets off after international flights and wash them in hot water, then seal them in plastic bags to be reused,” she explained. “However, on domestic flights, I’ve had blankets on my flights that we are instructed to just refold and put back in the bin.”

As a general rule she says if they aren’t in a sealed bag, they aren’t sanitary. So if you are someone who feels the cold when flying or needs to be covered to have a snooze, she recommends taking your own blanket. This way you know it’s clean and you won’t be snuggling up with someone else’s germs or illnesses.

Natalie has previously shared some of her many in-flight “peeves” and the most annoying things that passengers do. Along with parents changing babies on tray tables, people walking to the toilet barefoot and clipping their toenails while on board, she reveals one of her biggest pet hates is also hygiene related.

In a TikTok video she said she hates it, “when people don’t shut the bathroom door or leave the bathroom a mess. Also when you can hear it flush but not the sink so you know they didn’t wash their hands.”

Despite the niggles of life in the air with total strangers in a confined space, she reckons most flight attendants think of the aircraft as their own domain, which is why they want people to treat it well. “We would love it if people treated the space as their home and were tidy and respectful,” she said.

Natalie also believes it makes such a difference when passengers are polite and kind. “Honestly, when people say ‘thank you’ when they are getting off the plane (it is really great),” she reveals. “Or when they take the time to look at us when we are doing the beverage service and say please and thank you, we really appreciate it. I also like people who help others with their bags, especially mums and the elderly as we can’t always help everyone when boarding.”