The aircraft, carrying the country’s Mines Minister, Louis Watum Kabamba and his delegation, was coming in to land at Kolwezi Airport at around 11am on Monday.

As the chartered Embraer flight touched down it suddenly failed to stop before skidding on its belly off runway 29. 

Within seconds the tail section immediately went up in flames, according to local reports. The entire back half of the plane was ignited as footage showed the horrors as they unfolded.

Huge clouds of smoke shot up into the sky at the airport as rescuers frantically rushed over to try and extinguish the flaming wreckage.

Armed with water hoses, some of the safety crews battled the flames as others desperately tried to get those trapped on board out.

The steps at the front of the aircraft managed to open up with some passengers near the exit making a swift escape.For the officials stuck in the middle or now badly burnt out back end they had no choice but to leap out of the centre exit.

Several could be seen jumping down onto the wing before falling to the ground below clutching onto their bags.The minister’s communications advisor, Isaac Nyembo, confirmed the aircraft “ran off the runway during landing”.

Footage from inside the plane as it comes in to land shows the panic for those on board.

One passenger films the landing as he shows how the wing scraped across the ground for several seconds at high-speed.

Those inside rushed to their feet just as the tail first ignited.

Miraculously, no deaths or major injuries were reported.

Investigations into the chartered flight, operated by Airjet Angola, are ongoing.

It remains unclear what caused the failed landing.

The plane is said to have been left completely decimated by the fire.

Minister Kabamba, 63, was headed to the Kalondo Mine near Kolwezi, to work with the community following a separate disaster over the weekend.

A bridge by a mine shaft suddenly collapsed on Saturday reportedly triggered by heavy rain and a surge of panicked workers.

Over 30 semi-industrial copper mine worker were killed in the tragedy.

The collapse was “caused by panic, reportedly triggered by gunfire from military personnel securing the site,” Congo’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service said.

The Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights called for an independent investigation into the deaths.

The judge sentenced Joseph Emerson to credit for time served and supervised release for three years at a hearing in Portland, Oregon.

“Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” Judge Amy Baggio said. “They are people, and all people need help sometimes.”

Emerson was off-duty at the time of the October 2023 flight and blamed his behaviour on a mental breakdown caused by hallucinogenic mushrooms. He had pleaded guilty in September to a single federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.

The former Alaska Airlines pilot had already pleaded no contest to state charges of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of endangering another person. For those charges, he received five years of probation and 50 days in jail.

The deal with federal prosecutors allowed him to avoid a sentence of up to 20 years behind bars.

Before the sentencing was announced, Emerson spoke and said he regretted the harm he caused to society.

“I’m not a victim. I am here as a direct result of my actions,” he told the court, according to the Associated Press. “I can tell you that this very tragic event has forced me to grow as an individual.”

He hugged his lawyers and shared a tearful embrace with his wife after the judge announced his sentence, the AP reported.

The flight on 22 October 2023 was on its way from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, with 80 passengers aboard. It was then diverted to Portland, Oregon.

One pilot cited in the criminal complaint said he had to wrestle with Emerson until he stopped resisting. The entire incident lasted about 90 seconds.

After being subdued, Emerson said to the flight attendants, “You need to cuff me right now or it’s going to be bad” and later tried to reach for the emergency exit handle during the plane’s descent.

One flight attendant told investigators they had observed Emerson saying “I messed everything up” and that he “tried to kill everybody”.

Emerson had argued that the drugs made him unaware of his actions at the time, that he had been grieving the death of a friend, and that he did not intend to harm passengers.

He added that he had not slept for about 40 hours before the flight, and felt that he needed to “wake up”.

“I had no intention of crashing an actual aeroplane,” Emerson, 46, told CBS News in an interview. “I wanted to wake up.”

Lawyers for Emerson had argued that no prison time was warranted because he had been “already adequately punished”.

He lost his licence to fly after his arrest and is now working part-time as a pressure washer, according to The Oregonian newspaper.

He has also paid $60,000 (£46,000) in restitution and is visiting schools to become a substance abuse counsellor.

He and his wife have also started the group Clear Skies Ahead, which intends to bring attention to mental health struggles among pilots.

The dramatic incident occurred aboard Flight EZY609, which had taken off from London’s Luton Airport just an hour earlier. According to witnesses, the suspect — a 41-year-old man — emerged from the restroom and began shouting “Allahu Akbar!” before threatening to bomb the plane.

“I’m going to bomb the plane! Death to America! Death to Trump!” the man screamed, prompting panic among passengers.

Fellow travelers quickly subdued him. “One guy grabbed him from behind and pulled him down, then everyone jumped on top of him,” an eyewitness told The Sun. “He was fighting a bit on the floor, but at that point, he knew he’d messed up.”

The passengers held the man down until the aircraft safely landed in Glasgow. Police and airport authorities boarded the plane and took the suspect into custody. A subsequent search confirmed that no explosives were on board.

Video footage from inside the plane captured passengers rebuking the man, with one calling him an “idiot” for threatening innocent lives. As police led the suspect down the aisle, he asked about his missing phone and wallet — prompting a passenger to shout, “F–k off!” — drawing laughter from others on board.

The suspect’s alleged motivation appeared to be linked to then-President Trump, who was staying at the Turnberry golf resort about an hour away at the time of the incident.

Police Scotland confirmed the arrest and said the case remains under investigation. Officials believe the man acted alone and posed no wider threat to the public.

In a statement, easyJet said: “Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow this morning was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behavior onboard. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”

Source: nypost

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WorldInLast24Hrs | Ankesh Tiwari (@worldinlast24hrs)

“Our flight UX045 bound for Montevideo has been diverted to the Natal airport (in Brazil) due to strong turbulence,” Air Europa said in a post on X.

“The plane has landed normally and those who sustained different types of injuries are already being treated.”

The aircraft hit by turbulence was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. The plane has the capacity to hold up to 339 passengers, according to Air Europa’s website.

One of the passengers, Evangelina Saravia, told the Uruguayan news outlet Teledoce that there had been about 20 minutes of mild turbulence before the plane suddenly dropped 400 meters at a speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour – catching some passengers, who had ignored the seatbelt warnings, off guard.

“(Before the drop) there were people walking, people without belts. There were children sleeping without belts,” Saravia said. “People were thrown from the seats and hit the ceiling, that’s why the ceiling broke,” she added.

Another passenger, Daniel Montañez, told CNN he and his wife had been sleeping with their seat belts on when the turbulence hit and awoke to see some of their fellow passengers hitting the ceiling of the cabin and falling back down.

“People who did not have their seat belts unfortunately suffered consequences, injuries,” he said. “There were people broken, people on the floor, people screaming, people who felt bad, people bleeding … A rather chaotic image. As you can imagine, the nerves at that point start to play after you come to your senses about what happened, because at that moment you don’t really notice anything, only movements and madness.”

Another passenger, Stevan, told Reuters: “There are passengers with fractures and injuries to their arms, faces, and legs. There are about 30 people injured. It was a pretty horrible feeling; we thought we were going to die there, but thank God it didn’t happen.”

ALSO READ:

Half of my ministers will be NPP and NDC members –..

Economics teacher arrested for poaching in Mole National Park

A female plane passenger was left mortified after a vibrator began buzzing in her suitcase shortly before takeoff, with crew ordering her to disembark the aircraft and reveal the noisy contents of her carry-on.

The embarrassing ordeal was filmed by the flyer’s friend and posted to TikTok, where the footage has clocked up 12.5 million views.

“When the whole plane wants to know why your suitcase is vibrating,” a caption on the viral video reads.

According to Jam Press, the passenger in the clip is influencer Amanda Diaz Rojas, who boasts 250,000 followers on social media.

In the footage, Rojas’ suitcase starts buzzing, with flight attendants asking her to take it down from the overhead locker to see what was amiss.

In the uproarious clip, the red-faced brunette can be seen squatting over her silver suitcase as she laughs with embarrassment.

Then, heeding crewmember instructions, Rojas departs the airplane and opens the suitcase on the jetway.

The clip concludes with her switching off the automated pleasure provider — one of several in her bag — as the airline staff collapses into giggles.

The TikTok commentariat was amused by the incident, with one saying they would be “mortified.”

“She makes sure she packs the essentials,” another quipped.

“I love how the plane crew was laughing with them,” a third tickled viewer wrote.

Meanwhile, one pundit urged Rojas to “take the damn batteries out” of the X-rated electronic item before boarding next time.

According to guidelines outlined by the Transportation Security Administration, electronic sex toys are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, but the “final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.”

Either way, it’s important to take special precautions to avoid embarrassing situations such as the aforementioned.

These include removing batteries before the flight, checking sex toys rather than carrying them on and opting for smaller, less conspicuous sexcessories that won’t stand out on the security monitor, per a recent piece by Travel and Leisure magazine.

It’s also important to play it cool to avoid arousing suspicion.

In the event that a TSA agent finds their device in the bag, passengers should remain calm and, well, “own it,” per the mag.

“The best thing you can do is tell the truth,” they write. “Traveling with a vibrator says that you’re comfortable with your sexuality and there is nothing wrong with that. Be confident and comfortable, and you’ll save yourself from any more questions or probing.”

Lastly, certain countries like India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates impose restrictions on adult toys.

Therefore it behooves travelers to do research before flying to avoid having one’s sex toys confiscated.

The footage, captured on Tuesday, shows flames roaring out of the right engine of a Southwest Airlines plane travelling from Texas to Mexico.

It was climbing out of William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, when the flames erupted and left passengers panic stricken.

Passenger Coale Kalisek, who filmed the incident, said he thought ‘Damn, it’s gonna go down!’ after realising something wasn’t right.

He told the KHOU media outlet: ‘All I know is it started swinging like left to right, and I thought, I’ve been on a lot of flights.

‘I think I fly once or twice a month and I knew that wasn’t normal and so I opened up my window and I’m sitting next to the engine and that whole engine you see like fireballs coming out of it.’

Mr Kalisek, from San Antonio, was travelling to Cancun, Mexico, with his girlfriend when it happened.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the flight ‘returned to the airport’ and was checked for a ‘potential mechanical issue’.

A spokesman said a different airplane was used to continue the flight to the Mexican holiday destination.

It added: ‘We appreciate our Customers’ patience as we work to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible.’

The plane made an emergency landing and safely returned to the airport in Houston.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the plane had a “mechanical issue shortly after take-off” and has been grounded.

The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incident.

Erasmus, who obtained his commercial license in 2016, was flying from Worcester in the Western Cape to Nelspruit with four passengers when he felt a strange sensation on his body. Upon investigation, he saw the cobra putting its head back underneath his seat.

Erasmus kept his cool and immediately declared an emergency with Johannesburg. As soon as the aircraft came to a stop, the passengers and Erasmus quickly got out, trying not to cause a panic. Erasmus later said,

“I had a moment of stunned silence, not sure if I should tell the passengers because I didn’t want to cause a panic. But obviously they needed to know at some point what was going on.”

Erasmus and his passengers were lucky to land safely in Welkom, and according to Aviation specialist and SA chief air show commentator Brian Emmenis, Erasmus displayed “the greatest skill in aviation.”

He added, “He could have panicked. He could have put that aeroplane in an uncontrollable spin. He could have rolled the aircraft with passengers falling all over the show, and with the bad weather, he could have lost sight of the ground and crashed, not only killing those on board but also people on the ground.”

Finding the Cobra

The snake was not found immediately and experts were called to the scene. Emmenis arranged for a snake catcher to come and they worked until last light to catch the snake. They even put mealie meal around the aircraft so that if the snake came out, they would see the tracks in the morning. However, the snake could not be located and the passengers opted to drive back by road.

Erasmus will fly the plane out on Wednesday and is hoping the snake found its way out. The group had opened the cowlings of the aircraft earlier in Worcester, but the snake was not found and they assumed it had slithered away. Erasmus said, “This was definitely a first and not something you get trained to handle to be honest.”

In one such horrific video that has since gone viral on social media, two people were seen falling off a giant plane that had reportedly taken off from Kabul minutes ago.

Locals near the Kabul airport told local media that they saw three men hiding next to the wheels of the aircraft and later falling on the rooftop of nearby houses.

Another video showed hundreds of people running alongside a US Air Force aircraft that was about to take off and a bunch of people sitting on the wings of the plane, trying to hold on to its body desperately.

There were desperate scenes at Kabul’s airport on Monday as people tried to board the few flights available. “We are afraid to live in this city,” a 25-year-old ex-soldier was quoted as saying by AFP as he stood among huge crowds on the tarmac.

“Since I served in the army, the Taliban would definitely target me.”

No evacuation flights are leaving Kabul airport at the moment because desperate people trying to flee the country are blocking the tarmac.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country on Sunday night as the insurgents encircled the capital, capping a military victory that saw them capture all cities in just 10 days. “The Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honour, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” Ghani said afterwards.

Government forces collapsed without the support of the US military, which invaded in 2001 after the September 11 attacks and toppled the Taliban for its support of Al-Qaeda.

After police and other government forces gave up their posts in Kabul on Sunday, Taliban fighters took over checkpoints across the city and entered the presidential palace.

Militants with rifles slung over their shoulders also walked through the streets of the Green Zone, the formerly heavily fortified district that houses most embassies and international organizations.

Video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial)

An Airbus A330-243, owned by Middle East Airlines with registration number OD-MEA, ran into another airplane with registration number TC-LJC.

The Middle East airbus ran into the cargo flight, which was parked at the international airport apron, according to the Daily Sun.

The cargo plane was said to be parked at the tarmac when the MEA airbus which was taxiing ran into it, ripping off part of the empennage of the aircraft

The plane had to disembark its passengers who were already on board.

Earlier this week, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, spoke about the efforts of the federal government towards the resumption of international flights in the country.

Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, said talks are currently ongoing between PTF and the Aviation Ministry.

While the Nigerian government gave a green light for the commencement of local flights, international flight was still restricted.

According to President Nana Akufo-Addo, the operation is expected to bear Gyan’s nick-name Baby Jet Airlines.

President Akufo-Addo was speaking Wednesday at the launch of the African Airshow at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

The President said he has been “reliably informed that the captain of our senior national team, the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan has obtained a carrier license and is working feverishly to establish an airline obviously called ‘Baby Jet Airline’’.

The African Airshow is an aviation industry fair that brings together players in the sector to network.

The Expo also provides an opportunity for manufacturers and service providers in the sector to explore and meet potential customers.

Also, it will highlight the importance of infrastructure within the aviation industry to discover first-hand the range of new technologies and solutions that the industry has to offer.

The event would also showcase what Ghana offers in terms of aviation. Leading media group EIB Network is offering Gh¢2 million worth of airtime to promote the Expo.

The African Airshow is the first aerospace and aviation exhibition and conference of West Africa and is being organised by Dubai-based 4M Events, organisers of the successful Abu Dhabi Air Expo for the past three years.

Ghana continues to attract a number of operators in the aviation industry due to its stable democracy its fast developing tourist hub, President Akufo-Addo noted.

“The number of international airlines operating in the country has increased marginally from 35 to 37 this year…other domestic airlines will hopefully follow suit soon,” he said.

The video shows the phone not only survived the fall, it remained in working condition when it was found by a pair of men next to a home.

“Here’s your phone,” one man says.
The other picks up the device and inspects it, wondering how it ended up in the yard, before declaring: “This ain’t my phone. Mine’s in my pocket.”
The two men quizzically examine the phone and wonder as its origins while noting the fact that its currently recording video.
Ryan praised the “plastic construction” of the Samsung Galaxy S5 with helping it to survive the fall “in great shape with nothing really broken.”

But some airlines offer more unusual amenities to keep customers coming back, and sometimes they’re even available to the people in the back of the plane.

Here’s a look at some noteworthy fringe benefits some global airlines offer. Check them out while you’re traveling the world.

1. BIKINI BABES

“I’ve spent a rather large amount of time traveling the world,” said Travis Bennett, chief operating officer and co-founder of Ya3, which offers an artificial-intelligence-driven travel app of the same name. “There’s a few rather unusual perks I’ve personally come across. If you fly on VietJet, they’ve got bikini-clad stewardesses that often do performances during flights.”

Not all the Vietnamese airline’s attendants wear bikinis in flight, but the company plays up the perk through calendars and ads, which seem to be working. VietJet launched a successful initial public offering in February 2017 and is now Vietnam’s largest private airline.

2. NANNIES FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES

Crying kids are no fun for either their caregivers or other travelers sharing space on a packed plane. People traveling with children on Etihad Airways can get a helping hand from its Flying Nanny program during long-haul flights, a great travel secret to keep your kids happy. The nannies assist anyone traveling with kids, regardless of seat location, by doling out arts and crafts supplies or simply helping get kids settled en route. The nanny won’t take your kids out of your hands completely, but even a brief assist with childcare duties on a long trip is a welcome break.

3. MORNING MIMOSAS AND COOLING PILLOWS

In addition to its selection of beer, wine and spirits, United Airlines offers its Polaris business-class travelers Bloody Marys and Mimosas on early flights. Then they can settle in for a mid-morning nap after enjoying a few breakfast beverages.

“United also has a cooling memory foam gel pillow only available by request in business class,” said Brian Karimzad, director of the reward travel site MileCards.com. Who needs to carry those cumbersome neck pillows on board when you have the memory foam gel pillow?

4. AN ONBOARD COFFEE HOUSE AND CHEF

If you prefer your breakfast beverages caffeinated, consider Austrian Airlines, which features a Flying Coffee House stocked with 10 classic Viennese brews for business-class travelers on long-haul flights. The carrier also puts a Flying Chef from the catering company DO & CO on board extended trips. The chefs put finishing touches on business-class meals.

5. TERRIFIC TERMINALS

Some airlines offer their first-class passengers exclusive access to their own lounges, and Lufthansa even operates a first-class terminal at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport. Not many people know this airport secret.

“The first-class terminal is a separate terminal from the main Frankfurt airport, and it includes a full bar and restaurant among other amenities,” said Lou Haverty, who operates the site The First Class Travel Guide. “They escort travelers directly to their flights in a black sedan.”

Other perks include valet parking upon arrival, a coat check for travelers flying to warmer climates, a personal assistant, shower rooms and a cigar lounge.

6. JEDI JETS

ANA (All Nippon Airways) operates a handful of jets with “Star Wars”-themed paint jobs through a partnership with The Walt Disney Co. The planes are painted to resemble droids, including R2-D2, and also feature Star Wars-themed cups, napkins and headrest covers. In-flight entertainment on international flights includes films from the franchise, of course. What better way for a “Star Wars” fan to travel?

7. SCRUMPTIOUS SWEETS AND EATS

One of the signatures of JetBlue’s Mint premium travel program is its carefully curated culinary offerings. For instance, Mint menus include tapas-style courses planned by the New York City restaurant Saxon + Parole and offerings from some of America’s best vineyards, specially selected by the airline’s wine expert Jon Bonné. Most recently, JetBlue launched a regional ice cream program that includes partnerships with five ice cream makers from around the country. For instance, Mint flyers might get local licks from The Frieze, based in South Florida, or Coolhaus, which got its start in Los Angeles.

8. FREE MICROBREWS AND VINO

Adult passengers aboard Alaska Airlines’ sister carrier Horizon Air can get one complimentary beer or glass of wine on flights longer than an hour. The drink selection includes wines and microbrews from California, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, such as Pyramid’s Outburst IPA or the Ross Andrew Winery Glaze Cabernet Sauvignon.

9. NO BAGGAGE FEES — FOR THE WHOLE CREW

Many airline credit cards offer a free checked bag or two among their list of benefits for the cardholder, but some extend that offer to several travelers on the same booking. That makes airline cards great options for groups who love to stock up on souvenirs. For instance, a number of Delta SkyMiles credit cards allow up to nine people on the same booking to check their first bag free, as long as the fares were purchased with the card and the cardholder provides his or her SkyMiles frequent-flyer number. That can add up to some serious savings.

10. FRIENDS FLY FREE

Earning a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass requires a little work, but the effort is worth it for frequent flyers.

“I don’t think many people realize how easy it is to earn and that it allows one person to fly free — aside from the $5.60 government fees per way — with you for up to two years,” said writer Lyn Mettler, who offers a guide to getting the pass at her site, Go to Travel Gal.

Members of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program earn a pass after racking up 110,000 qualifying miles. And if you earn the pass early in a calendar year, your designated companion can fly nearly free with you for that year and the following one. Signing up for Rapid Rewards credit cards is one of the easiest ways to pile up points. For instance, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa currently offers 40,000 bonus points if new customers charge $1,000 within their first three months as a cardholder.

Twenty-two-year-old Tun Sein was on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to New Bern, N.C., when he stood up after the flight had left the gate.

Sein ignored a flight attendant, then bit her and fought with two passengers before running to the plane door and jumping off the plane, which had already pulled away from the gate. An airport worker was able to stop him from running onto the runway.

Investigators said Sein did not speak much English, but had been on two previous flights before the arrest, according to The Associated Press.

Sein has been charged with interference with a flight crew.