ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

TV/JACKSON "FLASH" TO BE REVIEWED: The US Supreme Court has ordered a re-examination of a ruling that threw out a fine over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during 2004's Super Bowl. Federal regulators had initially fined CBS TV $550,000 in September 2004 for airing the glimpse of Jackson's breast during the broadcast. But an appeals court quashed it in July last year saying the watchdog acted arbitrarily in issuing the fine. Some 90 million viewers saw the incident during the half time show. Jackson was performing alongside Justin Timberlake when he reached for her bra and the "malfunction" occurred. About 542,000 complaints were received by CBS. Now the high court has directed the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to consider reinstating the fine imposed by the FCC. The order follows a high court ruling last week that upheld the FCC's policy that subjects broadcasters to fines against even single uses of swear words on live television. Last year, the appeals court threw out the fine against CBS, saying that as the incident lasted 9/16 of 1 second, it should have been regarded as "fleeting". The appeals court said CBS could not be held liable for the acts of Jackson and Timberlake, now that ruling will be reviewed in view of the Supreme Court's order in the case. Lawyers for CBS had urged the Supreme Court to reject the FCC's appeal.

TV/NBC ANNOUNCES PART OF FALL SCHEDULE: NBC announced a portion of its Fall primetime plans today, but has left several questions unanswered until later this month. NBC has officially picked up new dramas "Trauma," "Mercy," "Parenthood" and "Day One" (which will air as a limited-run event) and new comedies "Community" and "100 Questions." NBC also gave a go-ahead to returning shows "Southland," "Heroes," "Parks and Recreation" and another round of Thursday night "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update" episodes. Missing from the pickup list so far: "Chuck," "Law & Order," "Medium" and "My Name Is Earl." The original "Law & Order" is still expected to get a reduced order for midseason, while insiders have already said that "Medium" is on its way back but an episodic number must still be hammered out. "Earl," on the other hand, saw its fortunes decline greatly when NB opted to once again pick up the Thursday night "SNL Weekend Update" episodes. NBC said it will announce its additional pickups and renewals on May 19, when it holds a comedy event for advertisers. They also plan to announce their full fall schedule that night. NBC is expected to split its year into 2 halves, using the Winter Olympics as a natural mid-way point. Previously announced pickups include Thursday night comedies "The Office" and "30 Rock," as well as drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and reality franchises "The Biggest Loser" and "Celebrity Apprentice." Then there's the still unofficially titled "The Jay Leno Show," which airs across the week at 10:00pm starting in the fall. NBC also has new alternative series that had previously been announced, which include "Breakthrough with Tony Robbins," "The Marriage Ref" and "Who Do You Think You Are?" Among the pilots still in contention are the new dramas from David E. Kelley and Dick Wolf. Full details on NBC plans, including plot outlines for the new shows, can be found on multiple websites, including Variety, TV Guide, and NBC.

THEATRE/"HAIR" TO TOUR NEXT YEAR: The current Broadway revival of “Hair” will send out a national touring production during the 2010-11 season. After scoring strong reviews, “Hair” has become one of the season’s top-selling Musical revivals, along with “West Side Story.” The Musical is expected to garner several Tony noms, which will be announced tomorrow. The current Broadway show opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theater in March. Producers have yet to name cities or venues for the tour.

SPORTS/ MINE THAT BIRD IS PREAKNESS BOUND

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is headed to the Preakness. The trainer of the gelding that won the Derby on Saturday at 50-1 odds said his horse will run in the May 16 Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Mine That Bird, ridden by Calvin Borel, won the Derby by 6 3/4 lengths over Pioneer of the Nile, the largest margin of victory since Assault in 1946. Mine That Bird will be shipped to the Baltimore for the 1 3/16 mile Preakness on May 11 or 12. Other Derby horses expected to take on Mine That Bird are 4th place finisher Papa Clem and possibly Pioneerof the Nile, 3rd place Musket Man, 7th place Join in the Dance and 10th place General Quarters. Potential newcomers include Delta Jackpot winner Big Drama, Withers winner Mr. Fantasy, Take the Points and Miner's Escape. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. The big question, of course, is whether Mine That Bird can win the Preakness and set up a Triple Crown attempt in the Belmont Stakes on June 6. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Last year, Big Brown won the Derby and the Preakness, but finished last in the Belmont after being pulled up on the turn for home.

WORLD NEWS/ MEXICO LOWERS FLU ALERT

Mexico lowered its health alert level today, citing improvements in the battle against swine flu. The level was lowered from red, or "high," to orange, or "elevated." But US health officials cautioned that the H1N1 virus is still on an "upswing" in the United States. And the World Health Organization warned that after the number of cases begins to subside, the swine flu could return this year "with a vengeance." The number of confirmed cases worldwide was expected to cross reach 1025 cases across 20 countries. There were 26 reported deaths, including 1 in the United States. Mexico reports 727 confirmed cases, and 1922 suspected case. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 286 cases across 36 states. In Mexico, where the worldwide outbreak began, officials said the wide-ranging closure of public venues might be lifted by Wednesday. As hard as they are pushing to contain the outbreak, health officials in the United States and worldwide are working around the clock to develop a vaccine.They're learning from the swine flu pandemic of early last century. "In 1918, the Spanish flu showed a surge in the spring and then disappeared in the summer months, only to return in the autumn of 1918 with a vengeance," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said yesterday. "And we know that that eventually killed 40 million to 50 million people." It is unknown whether the current swine flu would come back in a more dangerous form. But health officials said they are not taking chances.

AVIATION/ FIRE BREAKS OUT ON KLM 747

European media have reported that a KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES Boeing 747 experienced a fire while inflight last week. KLM Flight 785 was on Scheduled International Service from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, when the incident took place last Thursday, April 30. Flight 785, with 399 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency reporting a fire in the passenger cabin, shortly after departure from Curacao. The aircraft landed back at Curacao without incident or injury. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repairs according to officials in Curacao. According to media reports, passengers onboard Flight 785 reported that they were told that there was a fire in the internal wiring near the TV screens in the lower deck, around the seating area of Row 51. Passengers also reported that flames were visible behind the overhead panels. Flight Attendants used fire extinguishers and were able to put the fire out. The media reports today said that KLM has yet to respond to queries regarding the incident.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

FLAPS STUCK ON PINNACLE CRJ: PINNACLE AIRLINES Flight 5800 was on Schedule Domestic CRJ900 Service from Atlanta, Georgia, to Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, on behalf of DELTA CONNECTION, when it had to make an emergency landing in Greenville, yesterday, May 3. Flight 5800, with 19 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency on approach to Greenville due to the left hand flaps becoming stuck. Emergency Services were deployed, however the CRJ landed without incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repair.
ENGINE FAILS ON THOMAS COOK A330: THOMAS COOK AIRLINES Flight 915 was on Scheduled International A330 Service from Glasgow, Scotland, to Dalaman, Turkey, when it had to make an emergency diversion, yesterday, May 3. Flight 915, with 322 passengers and 11 crew members onboard, experienced an engine failure, followed by a slat failure, while climbing thru 16000 feet on takeoff. The crew declared an emergency and were diverted to Manchester, England, where the A330 landed without incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. According to local media, the Airline has said that it believes that a bird was ingested into the engine during climb out from Glasgow.
GEAR TROUBLE ON EASTERN JS41: EASTERN AIRWAYS Flight 4235 was on Scheduled Domestic Jetstream 41 Service from Newcastle to Isle of Man, UK, when it had to make an emergency landing at Isle of Man, yesterday, May 3. Flight 4235, with 6 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, received an unsafe gear indication while on approach to landing at Isle of Man. The crew declared an emergency, aborted its approach, and circled the Airport to troubleshoot. The crew performed a low flyover the tower, who reported that the gear was down. The Jetstream landed without incident about 60 minutes after the emergency was declared. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and possible repairs. The Airline reported that although the gear was down, the unsafe gear indication remained.
ALERT FORCES JET 777 TO DIVERT: JET AIRWAYS Flight 122 was on Scheduled International Boeing 777 Service from Delhi, India, to London Heathrow, when it had to divert while enroute, on Saturday, May 2. Flight 122, with 262 passengers and 15 crew members onboard, was about 4 hours into its flight, when the crew declared an emergency due to smoke detector alert from a cargo hold. The 777 was diverted to Baku, Azerbaijan, where it landed without incident. Post flight inspection revealed the alert was false, thus the aircraft was allowed to continue on its flight to London, where it arrived late on Saturday, without incident.

SNAPSHOTS

A RAINBOW WAS CAPTURED AFTER AN EARLY AFTERNOON RAINSHOWER, TODAY, NEAR INVERARAY, ENGLAND.

LUXE MEN/ CANDID SHOTS (#44)

5 SHOTS OF AMATEUR MEN FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

MUSIC/DYLAN TOPS UK ALBUMS CHART: Bob Dylan has topped the UK album chart today for the 7th time in his career, nearly 40 years since his last #1 album. "Together Through Life" is the folk music legend's 33rd studio album. He last topped the UK chart with "New Morning" in 1970. His 1st, in 1964, was "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan". Dylan now holds a record, previously held by Tom Jones, for the longest gap between solo #1 albums. "Together Through Life" was recorded late last year and is Dylan's 1st studio album since 2006 and is his 53rd album, including compilations and soundtracks. The album chart's other highest new entry was The Enemy's 2nd album, "Music For The People," which went straight in at #2. "The Fame," the debut album by Lady Gaga, fell 2 places to #3. In the singles chart, Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" claims the top spot for the 2nd week running. La Roux remains at #2 with "In For The Kill" and the highest new entry was "Tiny Dancer," a collaboration between UK hip-hop artists Ironik and Chipmunk and Elton John, which went in at #3.

WORLD NEWS/ H1N1 "HAS PEAKED" IN MEXICO

Swine flu in Mexico, the epicenter of the world outbreak, has peaked, the Mexican health minister has said. Jose Angel Cordova said the virus, blamed for at least 19 deaths in Mexico, appeared to have peaked between April 23 and 28. "The evolution of the epidemic is now in its declining phase," Mr Cordova told a news conference. World Health Organization officials said authorities should remain vigilant as the virus could return. Asked about Mr Cordova's comments, WHO official Gregory Hartl said the current "round of activity" could have peaked. But he added: "We cannot lower our guard. There is a high possibility that this virus will come back, especially in colder periods."The WHO says it has found swine flu in 787 people in 17 countries, while collated national figures give a tally of more than 900. Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in 6 countries. In Mexico, just over 100 people are thought to have died from the virus, though only 19 cases have been confirmed. The 1st cases surfaced at the end of the northern hemisphere's winter flu season, and experts fear that infections could accelerate in the autumn. In other key developments today:
1. Confirmed sickened worldwide, 903: 506 in Mexico; 226 in US; 85 in Canada; 40 in Spain; 18 in Britain; 8 in Germany; 4 in New Zealand; 2 in Italy, France, Israel, and South Korea; 1 each in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Hong Kong, Denmark and the Netherlands.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 1/3 of confirmed US cases are people who had been to Mexico and likely picked up the infection there.
3 Hong Kong, where severe acute respiratory syndrome killed 299 in 2003, ordered weeklong quarantine of downtown hotel where a Mexican tourist was confirmed to have the illness, trapping 350 guests and employees inside. The tourist was in stable condition today.
4. 3 wild boars at Baghdad's zoo were killed because of swine flu fears, an Iraqi health official said today. Iraq has no documented cases of swine flu. Egypt ordered slaughter of all the country's 300,000 pigs.
5. World Health Organization said slaughtering pigs unnecessary because virus is being spread through humans, and it says a swine herd in Canada likely was infected by a farm worker who returned from Mexico.

AVIATION/ ROSTO ANTONOV CRASHES IN RUSSIA

An ASK ROSTO Antonov 2 was on a Positioning Flight from Lensk to Yakutsk, Russia, when it crashed near the Yakutsk Airport, on Thursday April 30. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations informed the media of the accident today. According to media sources, witnesses near the Airport reported the Antonov attempted to land 3 times in poor weather conditions, including heavy snow. At 5:48pm, on the 3rd attempt, the aircraft clipped power lines and crashed. All 3 crew members onboard the Antonov were killed in the crash. Russian aviation officials have opened an investigation into the accident.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

ENGINE FAILS ON SAS NORDE 737: SAS SCANDANAVIAN AIRLINES NORWAY Flight 1452 was on Scheduled International Boeing 737 Service from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Oslo, Norway, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, May 2. Flight 1452, with 122 passengers and 6 crew members onboard, declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, due to the the failure of the right hand engine while climbing to cruise level above 14000 feet. The 737 was diverted to Gothenburg, Sweden, where it landed without incident about 30 minutes after its initial departure. Local media reported that passengers stated that the right hand engine shook the whole aircraft and produced strong vibrations before it was shut down. The 737 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs.

FLU FORCES COPA 737 TO DIVERT: COPA PANAMA AIRLINES Flight 279 was on Scheduled International Boeing 737 Service from Panama City, Panama, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, had to divert enroute, on Tuesday, April 28. The incident was just reported by the press yesterday. Flight 279 was diverted to Lima, Peru, due to the H1n1 outbreak, after a 29 year old female passenger fell ill with symptoms of influenza. The passenger, who was hospitalized in Lima, tested postive for H1N1 the next day. She had been enroute from Mexico to Buenos Aires, via Panama. The other passengers on Flight 279, who were examined and provided with Tamiflu, were allowed to fly on to Buenos Aires on Wednesday, April 29. Argentina announced later in the week that it was closely following and assisting 8 passengers and crew who had close contact with the passenger. No one else has yet to fall ill.

SNAPSHOTS

A VIEW OF YOSEMITE PARK TAKEN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON NEAR MARIPOSA, CALIFORNIA.

LUXE MEN

LUXE MEN

MUSIC HISTORY/ 30 YEARS AGO

BILLBOARD TOP 10 SINGLES FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 2,1979:
1. HEART OF GLASS--BLONDIE
2. REUNITED--PEACHES & HERB
3. KNOCK ON WOOD--AMII STEWART
4. MUSIC BOX DANCER--FRANK MILLS
5. I WILL SURVIVE--GLORIA GAYNOR
6. STUMBLIN IN--SUZI QUATRO & CHRIS NORMAN
7. WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES--DOOBIE BROTHERS
8. I WANT YOUR LOVE--CHIC
9. GOODNIGHT TONIGHT--WINGS
10. IN THE NAVY--VILLAGE PEOPLE

TOP DEBUT ON HOT 100: #61--SHE BELIEVES IN ME--KENNY ROGERS

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

TRAVEL/"THE LEDGE" COMING TO CHICAGO: Visitors won't have to crane their necks to see straight down from Chicago's Sears Tower Skydeck when the building adds 4 glass-bottomed balconies, nicknamed "The Ledge," to its 50-mile views in June. The Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the building that is changing its name to Willis Tower, opened in 1974, and has always provided a view of 4 states. But to see what's directly beneath them, visitors always had to get as close to the building's windows as possible. The Ledge is scheduled to open next month, according to a spokeswoman for the Skydeck. The addition of the boxes is part of a larger, multimillion dollar renovation of the Skydeck, according to a spokeswoman. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architecture firm that designed the tower, also designed The Ledge, whose 4 1.5 inch thick glass boxes are being placed on the building's west side. The retractable boxes will extend 4.3 feet out from the side of the building at 1353 feet above street level. Each of the 4 Ledge boxes is comprised of 3 layers of 1/2 inch thick glass. They are designed to hold about 5 tons, much more weight than they are expected to have to carry when they have a full group of visitors, and also higher than the 2 tons required by city code.

SPORTS/ MINE THAT BIRD WINS THE DERBY

Longshot thoroughbred Mine That Bird plowed down a muddy track at Churchill Downs to win the 135th Kentucky Derby today by several lengths. "50-to-1!" jockey Calvin Borel exulted after the race, referring to the odds on his mount at post time. "It's all in the head." Borel and Mine That Bird worked their way up from the middle of the pack in the home stretch to finish with a 6 and 3/4 length lead over 2nd place finisher Pioneer of the Nile, a 4-1 pick. Musket Man, at 20-1, finished 3rd. It was the largest margin of victory in the Derby since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946. Mine That Bird covered the 1.25 miles in 2:02.66 and paid $103.20 to win. The payout was the 2nd largest in Derby history behind Donerail ($184.90) in 1913. It was Borel's 2nd time riding a Kentucky Derby winner, having won the 2007 race aboard Street Sense. And it was a bad day for favorites, with top overnight pick I Want Revenge scratched after trainers found a problem in its left front ankle and post-time top pick Friesan Fire finishing 18 in a 19-horse field. I Want Revenge wrenched its ankle while training on the wet track yesterday morning, race officials said, and trainer Jeff Mullins said the horse is also not likely to run in the Preakness, the 2nd event in horse racing's Triple Crown, on May 16.

WORLD NEWS/ THE UK'S OWN LIBRARY CAT

A UK library, in Kent, has been visited almost every day for 2 years by its own "puss in books", the council has said in a news release. Fidel, an 8 year old black cat, turns up at Deal library almost every day while his owners are at work. He spends the day on his favorite blue chair, only leaving the building when he sees his owners arriving home. Staff say they have never tried to encourage Fidel with food and even used to put him outside when he first began to visit them, but he always came back. Heather Hilton, district manager for Deal Library, said: "Fidel certainly seems to like coming here and he's very popular with our customers. I think he's a bit of an art critic too because we sometimes see him examining the pictures on the gallery wall," she added. A spokeswoman for Kent County Council which runs the library said Fidel was such a "dedicated customer" that he sometimes arrived before staff and could be found waiting at the front door. Fidel is a rescue cat, whose owners chose him from a local sanctuary after he was found abandoned in a flat in Deal. The story is reminiscint of Dewey, the library cat from Iowa. "Dewey" is the worldwide bestseller that tells the story of how Dewey came to be a library cat.

WORLD NEWS/ H1N1 FEAR EASES SLIGHTLY

There is no evidence of the swine flu virus spreading in a sustained way outside North America, a top World Health Organization official says. Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Director of Global Alert and Response, praised European nations' handling of cases and said events did not seem out of control. Mexico has cut its suspected death toll by 75 to 101, indicating the outbreak may not be as bad as initially feared. The country has ordered a 5 day shutdown in a bid to contain the virus. Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said that based on samples tested, the mortality rate was comparable with that of seasonal flu. The WHO's Ryan told a daily press briefing: "We have no evidence of sustained community spread outside of North America." And he said the emergence of more cases in Europe did not mean the WHO would necessarily need to raise its global pandemic alert level. "I think it would be, at this stage, unwise to suggest that, in any way, those events are out of control or spreading in an uncontrolled fashion," he told a daily press briefing. "I think the next few days will tell as this develops." Dr Ryan added: "At the present time I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we see the disease spread." The WHO was still trying to establish the severity of the swine flu virus, he added. Italy reported its first case today, bringing the number of countries affected to 17. In other key developements today:
1. Deaths: 16 confirmed in Mexico, 1 confirmed in the US.
2. US confirmed cases: New York 50; Texas 28; California 24; South Carolina 16; New Jersey 7; Massachusetts 8; Maine 6; Arizona 4; Delaware 4; Wisconsin 3; Indiana 3; Illinois 3; Kansas 2; Colorado 2; Virginia 2; Michigan 2; Florida 2; New Hampshire 1; Utah 1; Iowa 1; Ohio 1; Connecticut 1; Kentucky 1; Missouri 1; Minnesota 1; Nebraska 1; Nevada 1. There are hundreds more suspected cases in states across the country.
3. Leader of an international team helping Mexico face down the swine flu outbreak said it should soon learn whether epidemic is stabilizing. President Barack Obama voiced hope yesterday that virus may turn out to be no more harmful than average seasonal flu.
4. Airlines have canceled or greatly reduced service to Mexico.
5. In Asia, Singapore announced a weeklong quarantine for anyone arriving from Mexico. A Hong Kong hotel was sealed after a Mexican tourist who recently arrived fell ill with confirmed case of swine flu.
The Photo above was taken this week in Mexico City. Someone had been a face mask on a statue of St Jude Thaddaeus, the Patron Saint of Impossible Causes.

AVIATION/ NTSB REPORTS ON AE FL3008

The NTSB have released their final report into an incident involving an AMERICAN EAGLE Saab 340 on January 2, 2006. On that date, AE Flight 3008 was on Scheduled Domestic Service from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, California, with 25 passengers and 3 crew members onboard. The Saab departed controlled flight while climbing thru 11500 feet, after taking off from Santa Maria. The aircraft fell 5000 feet, before the crew managed to regain control on the aircraft. No one onboard was injured in the incident. In their final report, the NTSB concluded that the crew lost control of the aircraft due to ice accretion in supercooled liquid droplets conditions and due to the crew's failure to maintain the specified minimum airspeed in icing conditions. Contributing was the flight crew's decision to use an autopilot mode contrary to that specified in the Airplane Operations Manual for climbs during periods of ice accretion or when ice was present on the airframe despite climbing the airplane in known and forecast icing conditions. The report notes that due to gusty winds during departure the Captain decided to fly the departure himself and hand the airplane over during the climb. After liftoff, the Captain engaged the autopilot in "Medium Climb Mode". Shortly after handing the airplane over to the First Officer, the First Officer engaged the autopilot in vertical speed mode (holding a fixed vertical speed, sacrificing airspeed for maintaining the vertical speed) at around 2500 feet, while the only authorised mode in icing conditions was speed hold permitting the autopilot to sacrifice climb rate for maintaining speed. When the aircraft climbed through 11700 feet, the Captain noticed light ice accumulation on the windshield wiper blades and about 1/2 inch wide area of ice on the left wing. At this time the crew failed to notice a decaying airspeed due to the accumulating ice - the airspeed dropped below 141 KIAS, the specified minimum speed in icing conditions. When the Captain reached up to activate the deice boots, he felt a heavy vibration of the airframe and the windshield turned suddenly completely white. The Saab's nose dropped, the left wing dropped and the autopilot disconnected. The Captain grabbed the yoke to control the aircraft, the clacker sound (indicating imminent stall) started and the stick shaker activated, the ground proximity warning system issued a "bank angle" aural warning. The airframe vibrated again, less violently as the first time, then the Captain was able to bring the wings level and began pulling back on the yoke, instructing the first officer to manually operate the deice boots. The engine condition levers were pushed to maximum, the power levers were brought to idle. The airplane stabilised in roll. The Captain heard chunks of ice shed off and hit the airframe. He kept the airplane in a 500 fpm descent until the aircraft was below freezing level at 6500 feet. The crew continued to their destination in Los Angeles. The report also notes that after departing controlled flight the airplane rolled left to 86 degrees, then went through a series of roll and pitch movements. The airplane rolled right to 140 degrees reaching a pitch angle of 48 degrees nose down, then rolled to 75 degrees left bank angle and 31 degrees nose down, rolled to 94 degrees right bank, pitch angle 40 degrees nose down. 48 seconds after the begin of the onset at a speed of 219 KIAS the pitch went through 0 degrees at an acceleration of 2.5G. The pitch reached 23 degrees nose 12 seconds later, the minimum airspeed recorded was 105 KIAS another 11 seconds later at an altitude of 7840 feet. Thereafter the parameters began to stabilize. 4 Safety Recommendations were released by the NTSB as result of the investigation and 2 earlier Safety Recommendations were reiterated. A full copy of the report, along with Safety Recommendations can be found on the NTSB website.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

BMI APOLOGIZES OVER MAPS: British Airline BMI has apologised after in-flight maps on its London-Tel Aviv service did not identify Israel. The inflight moving maps marked Islamic holy sites but showed only the city of Haifa in Israel, identified by its Arabic name, Khefa. Israeli officials accused BMI of trying to "hide the existence of Israel". But BMI said it was a technical error, the maps had not been changed since the planes were taken over from a former Airline which flew to the Middle East. "If BMI had any political agenda in order not to anger neighbouring countries, it would not have invested so much in the Tel Aviv line," a BMI spokesman said. BMED, which was taken over by BMI in 2007, had flown from the UK to many Muslim countries in the Middle East and so the maps had pointed out sites which were relevant to passengers. A BMI spokesman said the maps should have been deactivated before the planes were deployed on the new route but "due to a technical error this did not take place". BMI has withdrawn the 2 planes from service while new maps are installed, but said larger planes had been scheduled to take over the route anyway. The spokesman said there had been "quite a bit of upset" from customers but that it had been a genuine error and the Airline was sorry for any offence caused.
POSSIBLE FLU DIVERTS UAL 777: UNITED AIRLINES Flight 903 was on Scheduled International Boeing 777 Service from Munich, Germany, to Washington Dulles, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, May 1. Flight 903, with 245 passengers and 14 crew members onboard, was diverted to Boston Logan, after a female passenger fell ill with flu symptoms. Once the aircraft landed in Boston, the passenger was taken to hospital. It is not known if she was ill with the H1N1 virus. The aircraft was allowed to depart for Dulles after a 2 hour delay.
ENGINE FORCES AEROGAL 757 RETURN: AEROGAL Flight 900 was on Scheduled International Boeing 757 Service from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Miami, Florida, when it had to make an emergency return to Guayaquil, yesterday, May 1. Flight 900, with 128 passengers and crew onboard, had just lifted off from runway 03, when the right hand engine suffered repeated compressor stalls and lost power. The crew declared an emergency, reduced thrust on that engine to idle, levelled off and returned to Guayaquil without incident, about 13 minutes after its initial departure. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repairs. According to local media, residents in the area reported hearing repeated explosions and saw a low flying aircraft with smoke trailing an engine. Many of the same residents stated that they called city emergency services reporting an airplane crash.
SMOKE FORCES KLM 747 RETURN: KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES Flight 875 was on Scheduled International Boeing 747 Service from Curacao to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, when it had to make an emergency return to Curacao, yesterday, May 1. Flight 875, with 399 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency shortly after departure reporting smoke in the passenger cabin. The aircraft returned to Curacao without incident or injury. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and possible repair.
SAUDI 747 DIVERTS OVER LANDING GEAR: SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES Flight 839 was on Scheduled International Boeing 747 Service from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it had to divert while enroute, on Thursday, April 30. Flight 839 declared an emergency about 2 hours before its scheduled arrival in Jeddah due to a burning smell onboard. The crew was directed to divert to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft landed without incident in Dammam and was removed from service for inspection and repair. According to local media sources, passengers reported that they were told the aircraft was being diverted due to problems with the landing gear. Tower staff told the same media that it was problems with the nose gear.

SNAPSHOTS

THE LATEST FOR THE DOG WHO HAS EVERYTHING: A WELL EQUIPPED AIRSTREAM TRAILER HOUSE.

LUXE MEN

LUXE MEN

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

PEOPLE/DANNY GANS DIES AT 52: The legendary Las Vegas Strip performer Danny Gans died this morning at age 52. A Wynn Hotel spokeswoman says Gans died early today at his Las Vegas-area home. The spokeswoman said the death was sudden. She says she doesn't know details yet about how or why Gans died. In a statement this morning, Steve Wynn said the death was unexpected and devastating. "Elaine and I and all of us in the Company are devastated at the loss of our brilliant, talented and loving friend. One of the most unique human beings and entertainers in the world has been taken from us in an unexpected moment. A profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless". After stints at the Stratosphere and the Rio and 8 years at the Mirage, where he reigned in his self-titled theater, Gans recently moved across the street and into the new Encore Theatre. The Encore sits between the Wynn and Encore Hotels, both owned by Wynn. Gans was a quick-change artist, using his supple voice, elastic face and body English to jump from character to character. In his 90-minute-plus program, Gans delivered a buffet of impressions: Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, in self-duet with Jerry Lewis, and the inevitable Elvis and George Burns. Gans had been voted Entertainer of the Year multiple times over the last 2 decades. He is survived by his wife and 3 children.

FILM/ABDUL "PUNKED" BY "BRUNO": American Idol judge Paula Abdul has admitted she was fooled by Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy character "Bruno," as part of his forthcoming movie. Appearing on US radio's Johnjay and Rich Show, the star said she was told she had won an award in Germany and was interviewed by Baron Cohen's alter ego. Abdul said she had no idea it had been a set up until weeks later. "At 2 in the morning, I woke up in a sweat and I went: 'Oh my God' And I'm dying, because you don't expect it." Recalling the incident, she said: "I'm greeted by this futuristic dude with a mohawk, and he's flaming. I walk in and there was no furniture except a chair. And this guy Bruno introduces himself. He snaps his fingers and says, 'Gardeners'. And these two Mexican guys come in, and they drop down to all fours. I see him paying them like 10 bucks." The singer said things turned "uncomfortable" when Baron Cohen kicked one of the Mexicans. "I said, 'Get me out of here. This is crazy. This is not funny, this is discrimination. This is abusive stuff going on here'." Early reviews of the film, based on Baron Cohen's gay fashion TV reporter character, have been largely positive. Like Baron Cohen's hit film Borat, Bruno takes the style of a faux documentary, with the comedian putting unsuspecting interviewees through a string of awkward situations. Others caught out this time are rumoured to include Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ben Affleck.

THEATRE/CROWD-PLEASING "9 to 5": While the reviews were not raves, "9 to 5," the new Broadway musical based on the film, opened last night to reviews signaling a new crowd pleaser has been born. Music and Lyrics are by Dolly Parton, the show is directed by Tony winner Joe Mantello, and stars Allison Janey, Stephanie J Block and Megan Hilty. Variety said: "The principal asset in "9 to 5: The Musical" is unquestionably the beloved screen property on which this eager-to-please adaptation is based. The popular 1980 fem-powerment farce about three renegade secretaries who turn the tables on their chauvinistic boss was driven by three iconic performances, and the women who step into those heels here do dandy work re-creating those characters with enough freshness to rise above mere imitation. If the material showcasing the trio is an uneven cut-and-paste job that struggles to recapture the movie's giddy estrogen rush, plenty of folks will nonetheless find this a nostalgic crowd-pleaser". The New York Times said: "Give some credit to “9 to 5” the overinflated whoopee cushion lodged at the Marquis Theater for bucking this spring’s fashion trends. Can this gaudy, empty musical really be part of the same Broadway season that gave us the minimally decorated, maximally effective “Exit the King,” “God of Carnage,” “Next to Normal,” “Hair,” “Mary Stuart” and “Norman Conquests”?" They went on to say: "The musical “9 to 5,” which overmilks and overmikes tuneful songs by Ms. Parton (who wrote the movie’s popular title number, which is the opener here), is at least blessed with the presence of Allison Janney. This deliciously droll actress is known for playing exceedingly competent people (“The West Wing” on television, “Present Laughter” on Broadway) with much more than mere competence, and her game but dignified professionalism is the show’s biggest asset". "9 to 5" runs 140 minutes and is playing at the Marquis Theater on Broadway.

THEATRE/ RAVES FOR "GODOT": The Broadway revival of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," opened last night on Broadway to rave reviews. The play is about a pair of lead musicians, Vladimir (Bill Irwin) and Estragon (Nathan Lane). The dusty, bowler-hatted tramps convene each day by a sickly tree to kill time while waiting for the arrival of the ever-elusive, possibly divine Godot and, more obliquely, for a reason to go on living. Variety said: "Aside from its title, there's no more perfect summation of "Waiting for Godot" than Estragon's complaint "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful." But there's no trace of that monotony in the perversely gripping non-drama and fine-grained emotional textures of this haunting revival. Samuel Beckett's 1953 play has been absent from Broadway for more than 50 years, and the current climate of pervasive anxiety makes the timing ideal for a comedy of existential despair -- even better when it comes wrapped in Anthony Page's transcendent production, showcasing four distinctive actors at the top of their game". The New York Times said: "When “Waiting for Godot” first arrived in New York 53 years ago, critics and theatergoers were divided on that question. (It ran for 59 performances, with a revival the following year that lasted less than a week.) But in 2009, Anthony Page’s smart, engaging production for the Roundabout Theater Company makes it clear that this greatest of 20th-century plays is also entertainment of a high order. It seems fitting that “Godot” — which also stars Nathan Lane, John Glover and John Goodman, returns to Broadway in an interpretation that emphasizes the irresistible rhythms achieved by Beckett’s radical literary surgery, that of cutting basic theatrical diversions off at the knees". "Waiting for Godot" runs 130 minutes and is playing at Studio 54 on Broadway.

US NEWS/ SOUTER RESIGNS FROM COURT

US Supreme Court Justice David Souter has submitted his resignation to the President. President Barack Obama said he will replace retiring Souter with someone who shares the president's respect for "constitutional values" and hopes to have "him or her" seated on the nation's highest court by the start of the next term in October. Obama thanked Souter for his dedicated service, and quickly looked ahead to the nomination of a replacement. "As I make this decision," Obama said, "I intend to consult with members of both parties, across the political spectrum. And it is my hope that we can swear in our new Supreme Court justice in time for him or her to be seated by the 1st Monday in October." Since the court has only 1 woman among its 9 justices, most observers have predicted that Obama will select a woman for the 1st court opening. There is no obvious successor to Souter, and the administration has had just 3 months to sift through potential nominees. Souter informed Obama of his plans in a brief letter Friday. Obama praised Souter and thanked him for his service.The 69-year-old justice is leaving after nearly 2 decades in Washington. Souter had been named to the court by George Bush, a Republican. However, Souter, a Republican at the time of his nomination, became a key vote on the liberal side of the court. Souter's retirement is not likely to change the court's ideological balance. He has been a reliable liberal on all of the major issues decided recently, including abortion, civil rights, religion, Guantanamo Bay detention and the death penalty.

US NEWS/ HOUSE PASSES HATE CRIMES BILL

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, was passed by the US House of Representatives this week. The bill expands federal hate crime laws to include crimes where the victims were targeted on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, and disability. It means the federal government could step in to prosecute in states that request it or in those who choose not to prosecute. The Senate version of the bill is to be introduced soon by Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat. President Obama has indicated that if the bill comes to his desk he will sign it, releasing a statement prior to yesterday's vote. He said: "I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance." He added it would "enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association." The bill, which passed 249-175, has been dubbed the Matthew Shepard bill after the gay teenager who was brutally murdered in 1998. A North Carolina congresswoman was forced to apologise this week after she called the murder a "hoax" to justify passing the bill, saying Mr Shepard had died in a robbery. Republican representative Virginia Foxx later said she had used "a poor choice of words," adding that his killers deserved their punishment of life imprisonment terms. Opponents have argued that the bill is divisive and could cause religious leaders to be prosecuted. Representative Lamar Smith, a Texas republican, said the bill "divides America" by protecting special groups. "We should focus on the opposite, uniting America," he said. "The bill is probably unconstitutional and will be struck down."

WORLD NEWS/ SWEDEN BEGINS GAY MARRIAGE

A gender-neutral marriage law in Sweden has come into force today, meaning gay couples can now marry in the country in religious or civil ceremonies. However, they cannot yet get married in church ceremonies. The Lutheran Church, which was the state church until 2000, has said that while it supports the new law, it will not formally decide whether to perform gay marriage ceremonies until October. The church's interim secretary general, told the news provider: "The marriage act reflects a certain view of marriage, and the liturgy needs to be altered to reflect that change. He added that only a small number of gay couples had applied to marry in the church, saying: "No, we've seen no indication of huge demand. We believe the message has gotten through to the public that same-sex couples can't get married in the Lutheran Church yet." In January 2007 the Church, which was disestablished in 2000, began offering religious blessings to gay unions and actively welcomed LGBT clergy. 6 of the 7 parties in Swedish parliament backed the proposal to introduce a gender-neutral marriage law. The proposal passed with a 261 to 22 vote and 16 abstentions. The only party to oppose the ruling were the Christian Democrats, stating that the party wanted to maintain "a several hundred-year-old concept" of marriage.

WORLD NEWS/ H1N1 CONTINUES TO SPREAD

Today's key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and government officials:
1. Deaths: 15 confirmed in Mexico and 1 confirmed in US.
2. Confirmed sickened worldwide, 562: 343 in Mexico; 146 in US; 35 in Canada; 13 in Spain; 10 in Britain; 4 each in Germany and New Zealand; 2 in Israel; 1 each in Switzerland, Austria, China, Denmark and the Netherlands. Mexico is no longer releasing "suspected" numbers; the number of suspected cases was 2,498 before the tally was halted.
3. US confirmed sickened, by state: 50 in New York; 28 in Texas; 18 in California; 16 in South Carolina; 5 in New Jersey; 4 each in Arizona and Delaware; 3 each in Indiana and Illinois; 2 each in Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, Michigan and Massachusetts; and 1 each in Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska and Nevada.
4. About 400 schools close nationwide.
5. Mexico's chief epidemiologist accuses the World Health Organization of being slow to respond to the country's warning. Dr. Miguel Angel Lezana said his center told a regional branch of WHO about a spike in illnesses April 16 but no action was taken until 8 days later.
6. The World Health Organization says it will stop using the term "swine flu" to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. It will instead refer to the virus by its scientific name, "H1N1 influenza A."
7. White House says aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu apparently got sick helping arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico but never posed a risk to the president.
8. Public health emergency declared in US; millions of doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile being delivered to states; US buying more anti-flu drugs to replenish stockpile. CDC also shipping test kits to state labs so states can do their own testing.
9. Scattered cancellations or postponements of sporting events in U.S., including all high school sports competitions in Texas and Alabama state track and field championships. Also canceled: Fort Worth's annual Mayfest, which usually attracts 200,000 people over 4 days.

AVIATION/ 787 TEST FLIGHTS SCHEDULED

The long-awaited, long-suffering, much-delayed Boeing 787 program seems to be heading for the home stretch. Boeing management confirms that they are intent on flying the Dreamliner by July 1, and that the program seems destined to make a target date in can meet. Boeing's Chief Project Engineer has confirmed that some 60% of the required certification package is now in FAA hands. When the 787 taxis out of its home at Paine Field for its 1st flight, it will start a test program that is expected to consume 3500 hours, spread over 8 airframes (2 of which will never fly). The 1st flight will probably require some 3 hours and will terminate at Boeing Field, where a celebration is planned. The actual flight test program is expected to be completed in less than 9 months from 1st flight. The 787 was originally expected to fly back in the summer of 2007, but has been dealing well-documented delays due to the unique demands associated with new materials and construction/fabrication techniques as well as a multi-month mechanic strike. The 1st version of the 787 Dreamliner, the "Dash-8" will carry 210 to 250 passengers on routes of 7650 to 8200 miles, while the upcoming 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 to 290 passengers on routes of 8000 to 8500 miles. A 3rd 787 family member, the 787-3 Dreamliner, will accommodate 290 to 330 passengers and be optimized for routes of 2500 to 3050 miles. 57 customers from 6 of the world's continents have placed orders for 886 airplanes, currently valued at $149 billion. Airlines could be lining up to receive the 787 by the spring of 2010, nearly 2 years its original target.

AVIATION/ EMIRATES FL407 TAKEOFF DETAILED

Australian media sources have released articles today that details what went on in the cockpit of EMIRATES AIRLINES Flight 407 on March 20, 2009. On that date, Flight 407 was on Scheduled International A340 Service from Melbourne, Australia, to Dubai, UAE, when it suffered a tail strike on takeoff, and had to make an emergency return to Melbourne. None of the 275 passengers or crew were injured, however the aircraft suffered substantial damages. Since the incident, it has been detailed by investigators that the aircraft barely became airborne, and came very close to crashing. Earlier this week, the ATSB released a report stating that Pilot Error was to blame for the incident. Both Pilots were forced to resign 2 days after the incident in Melbourne. The ATSB is continuing its investigation into the incident. Details on the flight, from the cockpit, are as follows:

As the A340 prepared to takeoff from Melbourne on March 20, there were 4 Pilots onboard for the trip, 2 in the cockpit, the other 2 resting. On the flight deck, the First Officer and the Captain fed routine information, including the plane's weight and fuel load, into a computer. Procedure was for them to check each other's work to avoid mistakes. At 10:31pm, the First Officer opened the throttles and headed down the runway. As the plane gathered speed, its engines roaring, the Captain told the First Officer to ease it off the runway. But when the First Officer tried, the jet stayed grounded. The First Officer tried again. This time, the nose came up, but the rest of the Airbus stayed glued to the tarmac. The jet's rear hit the runway with a bang. Spewing a trail of sparks, it hit the runway twice more, puncturing the skin of the jet, tearing off a panel and breaching the air pressurisation. Frightened passengers saw a flash and the sparks. Soon, they smelt burning. The cabin crew could not tell them what was happening. As the jet reached the end of the 3657-metre runway, it was travelling at more than 290 km/h. Now the Captain switched the thrust levers, overriding the other controls to give full power to the engines. The jet began climbing. But it was still too low, hitting a runway light, then antenna equipment on the ground. Twice more, the tail scraped across the grass at the end of the runway. With barely seconds to spare, the jet rose over the grassy slopes outside the Airport and finally reached a safe height. After the Pilots told ATC of their "ground strike", they circled over Port Phillip Bay, dumping most of their fuel over the bay. With smoke in the cabin, the plane was given emergency clearance to land. It was only when the Pilots checked their instruments that they spotted their potentially fatal mistake. Before takeoff, their fuelled-up jet weighed 362 tonnes. But they had accidentally keyed in that it weighed 262 tonnes, resulting in too little engine power. Only the Captain's rapid reactions averted a fiery crash.

AVIATION/ NTSB UPDATES ON KALITTA FL625

The NTSB has released a preliminary report into an incident involving a KALITTA AIR Boeing 747 on April 19, 2008, at Newark, New Jersey. On that date, Kalitta Flight 625 was on Scheduled Cargo Service from Newark to Liege, Belgium, with 5 crew members onboard. The crew reported that engine No.3 was on fire while climbing to 4000 feet out from Newark. The crew shut the engine down, discharged 1 fire bottle, the fire indication however continued. After the crew discharged the 2nd bottle, the fire indication stopped. The crew dumped fuel for 25 minutes, and returned to Newark for a safe landing. In the NTSB report, it states that the engine No.3 was removed from the aircraft and tested for leaks. Indications of various fuel leaks were found at the right hand side of the engine in the area of the accessory fuel "race way". Leaks were established on the total temperature sensor fuel supply and return hose and the engine driven hydraulics pump supply inlet hose. Those parts were removed and sent for lab testing. It could not be established, which of the 3 hoses was the initial source of the leak. Maintenance guidelines did not limit the lifetime of either hose, only a visual inspection was required coninciding with "A" checks as well as a leak test whenever the hose was dis- and reconnected. The investigation continues.

The aircraft involved in the April 19 incident, N704CK, was destroyed 35 days later, in an accident at Brussels, Belgium on May 25, 2008, as seen in photo above. On that date, Kalitta Flight 207 was a cargo flight from New York JFK to Bahrain, with a stop in Brussels. It carried 76 tonnes of cargo. The 747 was cleared for takeoff from runway 20. The initial phase of the take-off run was uneventful. The speed increased under a constant acceleration until one of the engine experienced a momentary loss of power. This phenomenon was accompanied by a loud bang, heard by the crew and external witnesses, and by flames, seen from the control tower. The bang and the loss of power occurred around V1 speed. 2 seconds after the bang, all 4 engines were brought back to idle, and braking action was initiated. The thrust reversers were not deployed. The aircraft came to a stop 300m after the end of runway 20, above a railroad embankment. The aircraft was severely damaged; it broke in 3 parts. The 5 crew members onboard all survived with only minor injuries reported. It is not known if the 2 incidents are related at all. This incident is also still under investigation.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

PORTER PLANS EXPANSION: PORTER AIRLINES, which operates out of Toronto's controversial island airport, said this week that it is spending $45 million to build an expanded new passenger terminal as it goes ahead with plans to double its fleet to 20 planes by the end of the year, boasting that it is creating hundreds of jobs in the middle of a recession. Although no tax money is said to be involved in the project, the Canadian Government appears to approve of the expansion. This is to the consternation of several local residents who say that the Airport is a noisemaker that is disrupting their lives, and the enviroment. The Toronto Port Authority, which runs the Toronto City Centre Airport, is conducting a noise management study, although it says noise complaints have declined so far this year. Porter's plans include a new, 150,000 square-foot passenger terminal which includes retail, restaurants, U.S. and Canadian customs and 2 passenger lounges. The Airline also said it would be expanding service to Montreal, Ottawa, and Thunder Bay.

BMI CONSIDERS IRAQ SERVICE: BMI AIRLINES is interested in opening a link to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, from the UK, and has met with Iraqi Government representatives with a view to establishing a connection. Neither UK nor Iraqi Airlines fly between the 2 countries and BMI says any service will depend on security, regulatory and operational considerations. But BMI says it is "ready, willing and ideally-placed" to operate between London Heathrow and Baghdad. Chief executive Nigel Turner says the carrier has put forward a formal communication to the Iraqi transport minister. He says that extending its network to Iraq makes "both geographical and economic sense" given that BMI already operates to neighbouring Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Jordan. While there are no direct links between the UK and Iraq, Star Alliance member BMI carries Baghdad-bound passengers to Amman where connecting services are available. IRAQI AIRWAYS, which used to serve London, has indicated that it also wants to re-establish links between the cities but there are no firm plans in place.

RYANAIR MULLS "FAT" TAX: Irish Airline RYANAIR, says it will only go ahead with a "fat tax" on overweight passengers if it does not lead to flight delays. "We are not going to introduce a fat tax unless it is easy to administer. If it is going to slow down either our check-in or our turnaround time then we won't do it," CEO Micheal O'Leary said. Last week the Airline announced it was looking at how it could introduce a "fat tax" after 29% of the more than 100,000 people who responded to an online poll on cost-reduction measures voted in favor of the measure. 25% of respondents voted to charge travellers 1 euro to use toilet paper adorned with a picture of O'Leary's face and 24% voted to charge passengers 3 euros to smoke in a converted toilet cubicle. Ryanair, which already charges separately for services like food onboard, launched the online poll after O'Leary caused a storm earlier this year by suggesting passengers could be charged to use toilets onboard. It is now asking travellers online how any "fax tax" could be levied. The 4 options include charging male passengers who weigh over 130kg or females over 100kg for every extra kilogramme they carry. Another alternative is charging for a 2nd seat if a passenger's waist touches both armrests simultaneously. The proposed measure sparked a fresh controversy with some suggesting it would be discriminatory and illegal if it is adopted, a charge O'Leary rejected. "It is not against the law, we can make it a safety issue," he said.
WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON LUFTHANSA A319: LUFTHANSA Flight 3117 was on Scheduled International A319 Service from Helsinki, Finland, to Munich, Germany, when it had to divert while enroute, early this morning. Flight 3117, with 91 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency while overhead Germany, due to the cockpit windshield cracking. The aircraft was diverted to Berlin Tegel, where it landed without incident. Multiple aircraft had to perform go-arounds due to the incoming Lufthansa aircraft. Th A319 has been removed from service for repair.

PAN PAN PAN ON AC A320: AIR CANADA Flight 101 was on Scheduled Domestic A320 Service from Toronto to Vancouver, Canada, when it had to make an emergency return to Toronto, yesterday, April 30. Flight 101 had just lifted off from the runway, when tower staff noticed black smoke trailing the aircraft. The crew declared PAN PAN PAN stating that the right hand engine was on fire while climbing through 1600 feet for 5000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the crew reported that the engine fire was out, and the engine was still running at idle thrust. The A320 levelled off at 3000 feet and was vectored for a return to runway 05, the approach however was abandoned due to debris left on the runway. The A320 landed without incident on runway 15L, about 20 minutes after its initial departure. Inspection of runway 05 revealed some metal debris from the engine on the runway. The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repair. Both the Canadian TSB and the Airline are investigating the incident.

BOMB THREAT TO EASYJET A319: EASYJET Flight 3869 was on Scheduled International A319 Service from Paris, France, to Marrakech, Morocco, when it had to divert while enroute, yesterday, April 30. Flight 3869, with 149 passengers and 6 crew members onboard, diverted to Nantes, France, due to a bomb threat the Airline received while the aircraft was inflight. A search of the aircraft, luggage, cargo, and passengers, revealed no trace of explosives. After a 4 hour delay, the aircraft and passengers were released to continue their flight to Morocco. The French Police and the Airline are investigating the incident.
SMOKE FORCES SAUDI ERJ RETURN: SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES Flight 1925 was on Scheduled Domestic ERJ170 Service from Wadi Ad Dawasir to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it had to make an emergency return to Wadi Ad Dawasir, on Wednesday, April 29. Flight 1925, with 60 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency when smoke originating from the air conditioning system entered the cabin shortly after takeoff. The ERJ landed back at Wadi Ad Dawasir without incident or injury. The aircraft has been removed from service for a full inspection and repair.

EXIT DOOR FALLS OFF SAUDI MD90: SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES Flight 1905 was on Scheduled Domestic MD90 Service from Riyadh to Taif, Saudi Arabia, when it suffered a strange incident upon landing at Taif, on Tuesday, April 28. Flight 1905 had just touched down at Taif, when one of the overwing exit doors opened and fell into the cabin missing a child and the child's mother sitting in that exit row. No one onboard was injured. Saudi Arabian said it is unclear how the door mechanism opened. The differential pressure between outside and cabin air during flight kept the door shut during flight, so that the door fell off only after the landing. The Airline is investigating the incident and the aircraft has been removed from service for inspection and repair. The Airline is also being questioned about why a child was seated in an exit row, which is against multiple aviation rules.