A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Airlines</a> flight was forced to turn around this week after plummeting 28,000 feet in a matter of minutes after taking off to Rome from New Jersey.
Data from FlightAware said the plane dropped from about 37,000 feet down to just 9,000 feet in the span of eight minutes just after 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday night, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/united-airlines-flight-drops-pressurization/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. The airline said that the plane returned &#8220;to address a possible loss of cabin pressure.&#8221;
&#8220;United Airlines Flight 510 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport around 12:25 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 14, after the crew reported a pressurization issue,&#8221; the Federal Aviation Administration <a href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;The Boeing 777 was headed to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport.&#8221;
The CNN report said that the flight with 270 passengers and 14 crew members landed safely.
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The FAA Is investigating the rapid descent of a United Airlines jet that was traveling from Newark, New Jersey to Rome. Pilots on the flight reported a possible pressurization issue about 50 minutes into the flight and had to circle back to the airport for an emergency landing. <a href="https://t.co/Y43oApBaSk">pic.twitter.com/Y43oApBaSk</a>
&mdash; CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSEveningNews/status/1702471555970638062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In December, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-separate-incident-from-hawaii-flight-five-people-go-to-hospital-after-severe-turbulence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least five people</a> went to the hospital for injuries sustained during “severe turbulence” on a United Airlines flight from Brazil headed to Houston.
“The flight experienced severe turbulence that resulted in five passengers being transported to the hospital once it landed in Houston,” public information officer Augusto Bernal said.
According to United, the injured included two passengers and three crew members.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the plane — a Boeing 767 — reported experiencing turbulence as it traveled over Cancun, Mexico.
The incident comes after a similar situation also occurred in December on a Hawaiian Airlines flight that resulted in 20 people going to the hospital. In total, 36 people on the Hawaiian Airlines flight were hurt. The plane touched down at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Sunday morning. Eleven people were admitted with serious conditions, while nine others were stable.
“Injuries included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness,” Shayne Enright, a Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman, said, per The New York Times.
“We are also very happy and we feel fortunate that there were not any deaths or other critical injuries,” Jim Ireland, director of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, said.
“It’s the holidays, everybody’s trying to come here for vacation or come back home,” he added. “It’s generally a time when people are happy. And so this is obviously something that they didn’t plan for in their journey here.”
Jon Snook, the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Hawaiian Air, told reporters that the “fasten seatbelt” sign was illuminated when the incident took place.
“Sometimes, these air pockets occur with no warning. It’s rare to have that level of extreme turbulence. It was a very extreme case of mid-air turbulence,” Snook said. “We’re very thankful the extent of the injuries was not critical. It could have been worse.”
Charlotte Pence Bond contributed to this report.

Nashville, Tennessee, International Airport scenes

United Airlines Flight Plummets 28,000 Feet After Leaving New Jersey For Rome, Forced To Return

Air Travel

General

New Jersey

U.S.

United Airlines

Airport workers backed by one of the biggest labor unions in the nation protested at LAX Airport this week for stricter airline emissions regulations to combat “environmental racism.”
The protesters are members of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/service-employees-international-union-seiu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Service Employees International Union</a> United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) organization, Airport Workers United (AWU).
The protest occurred in front of a departures terminal at the airport. Protestors used the phrase, “No justice, no peace,” a popular chant in Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and riots, as well as the environmentalist alternative, “No clean air, no peace.”
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No justice! NO PEACE! No clean air! NO PEACE! Standing up to hold the airlines accountable for their emissions’ impacts on black and brown communities. <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodAirports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoodAirports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHenryStern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenHenryStern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LAANE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAANE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LN4S?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LN4S</a> <a href="https://t.co/IILT080Sfo">pic.twitter.com/IILT080Sfo</a>
&mdash; SEIU USWW (@seiuusww) <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww/status/1697324018880360826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The protestors called on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) — which approved California’s gas-powered car <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-regulators-approve-banning-new-gas-car-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban</a> — to regulate airline industry emissions like other industry emissions during their next <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ma091423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meeting</a> on Sept. 14. CARB will consider increased regulations on the airline industry by adding jet fuel into the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
LCFS regulation currently doesn’t <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/basics-notes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apply</a> to conventional jet fuel, aviation gasoline, deficit-generating fuel used in military tactical vehicles, and certain credit-generating fossil compressed natural gas or fossil propane fuels.
In a press release, SEIU-UWW said that the airline industry is the fourth-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, causing “extreme heat” and disproportionate levels of respiratory disease among minorities.
“Airline emissions also contain various particles and chemicals that contribute to drastically increased levels of asthma and other respiratory diseases in airport workers and the predominantly black and brown communities surrounding LAX,” stated the press release.
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Featured speakers at Thursday’s protest included workers JoVann Houston and Oscar Antonio, as well as Democratic California State Senator Henry Stern.
Houston <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedServiceWorkersWest/videos/260444366886187" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> that environmental racism was to blame for her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inflammatory disease which causes breathing issues.
“Environmental racism is a disproportionate impact of environmental hazards of people of color,” said Houston. “Communities of color are more likely to live in polluted neighborhoods, and as a result we suffer the highest rates of asthma, cancer, and heart disease.”
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Airline emissions are killing black and brown communities! So airport workers are standing up against the powerful airlines to HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE!<a href="https://twitter.com/LAANE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAANE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LN4S?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LN4S</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HenrySternCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HenrySternCA</a> <a href="https://t.co/OXAOec9Yan">pic.twitter.com/OXAOec9Yan</a>
&mdash; SEIU USWW (@seiuusww) <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww/status/1697316838307410067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Houston has been a featured face of SEIU advocacy for stricter emissions regulations since March 2020, as well as <a href="https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2023/06/california-minimum-wage-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increasing</a> the minimum wage to $25 or more an hour.
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Cities like Los Angeles are run by hard working airport Black workers like Jovan Houston. Listen to her speak about the harmful impact of an expansion at LAX 
If you care about Jovan, sign our petition now: <a href="https://t.co/w1Kr8PZbMK">https://t.co/w1Kr8PZbMK</a> <a href="https://t.co/0iLRenBXrW">pic.twitter.com/0iLRenBXrW</a>
&mdash; SEIU USWW (@seiuusww) <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww/status/1457840034875248646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
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&quot;Our health is impacted at LAX by airline emissions. LAX is trying to add 2 more terminals, meaning more planes int he air, dumping fuel and pollution. We are not allowing airlines to this expansion without US in mind.&quot; &#8211; Jovan Houston of <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seiuusww</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FireDrillFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FireDrillFriday</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Solidarity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Solidarity</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ec6TBlBGYd">pic.twitter.com/Ec6TBlBGYd</a>
&mdash; STAND-LA (@STAND_LA) <a href="https://twitter.com/STAND_LA/status/1236017847907676160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In June, Houston was invited to testify on behalf of the SEIU before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Biden administration’s <a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-new-carbon-pollution-standards-fossil-fuel-fired-power-plants-tackle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> changes to carbon pollution standards.
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Jovan Houston, an airport worker in Los Angeles and member of <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seiuusww</a>, testified on the second day of hearings about how climate pollution disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities, and worsens both her COPD and her son&#39;s asthma. Thank you for testifying, Jovan! <a href="https://t.co/Qcleom31a8">pic.twitter.com/Qcleom31a8</a>
&mdash; Climate Action Campaign (@actonclimateUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/actonclimateUS/status/1671617172425125888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Antonio claimed that he and his co-workers developed various breathing ailments due to working at LAX. He echoed the union’s advocacy for airlines to lower the carbon content of the jet fuel they use.
“Since working at LAX, I developed pneumonia. My coworkers have developed chronic respiratory diseases,” said Antonio.
Featured in the protest was a poster that read: “Airline Emissions Are Killing Black and Brown Communities.”
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“Since working at LAX I developed pneumonia. My coworkers have developed chronic respiratory diseases. Let’s show the world what we can do when we fight together!” &#8211; USWW member Oscar Antonio <a href="https://twitter.com/LAANE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAANE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHenryStern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenHenryStern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LN4S?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LN4S</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodAirports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoodAirports</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sdy0didtMe">pic.twitter.com/Sdy0didtMe</a>
&mdash; SEIU USWW (@seiuusww) <a href="https://twitter.com/seiuusww/status/1697317914003779972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Stern said that airlines have too much of an emission impact under their present practices that even a drastic measure like shutting down every Los Angeles highway wouldn’t make a difference. Stern fully <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/not-all-environmentalists-pleased-with-push-to-ban-gas-powered-cars-in-california/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supported</a> California’s total vehicle electrification through its ban of new gas-powered cars. The EPA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-epa-gives-california-special-authority-to-phase-out-heavy-duty-gas-trucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave</a> California special permissions for the ban in March.
“We have to hold jet fuel to the same standard that we hold all other fuels to,” said Stern. “If we have to clean up, they have to clean up.”
A month after approving California’s gas car ban, the EPA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-unveils-proposal-for-landmark-nationwide-crackdown-on-gas-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a similar crackdown nationwide.
Regulations of the airline industry in the name of combating climate change have resulted in drastic policy changes with outsized economic impacts.
Last October, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pledged during its <a href="https://www.icao.int/Meetings/a41/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">annual assembly</a> to reach net zero emissions by 2050; during that same assembly, the United States was <a href="https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Council/CouncilStates/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> to join ICAO’s Member Governing Council as one of 10 states of chief importance in air transport. W. Brent Christensen serves as the nation’s representative on the council; Christensen formerly served as the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy from 2018 to 2021.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-kerry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Kerry</a>, the nation’s first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, applauded the ICAO pledge. Kerry, a member of the Forbes family, was former President Barack Obama’s secretary of state, and the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.
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Thrilled to see international aviation commit at <a href="https://twitter.com/icao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@icao</a> 41st Assembly to a sustainable future with a long-term climate goal and an ambitious CORSIA to help put aviation on the path to net zero by 2050.
&mdash; Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateEnvoy/status/1578406843566755840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In April, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-19/aviation-s-near-term-carbon-fix-to-pass-price-hikes-to-consumers%23xj4y7vzkg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> Bloomberg panelists that proposed “sustainable” aviation fuel would result in steep airline ticket prices. In May, France <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/european-nation-bans-short-domestic-flights-over-climate-worries-private-jet-flights-still-allowed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banned</a> short-haul domestic flights to make headway on its goal of carbon neutrality. Like the U.S., France was <a href="https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Council/CouncilStates/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> one of the ICAO Member Governing Council states of chief importance in air transport last year.

Airplane

Airport Workers Backed By Major Labor Union Protest At LAX To Combat ‘Environmental Racism’

Airport Workers Backed By Major Labor Union Protest At LAX For Stricter Airline Emissions Regulations To Combat ‘Environmental Racism’

Climate Change

Environmentalism

Labor Unions

Social Issues

According to a new report, flight delays and cancellations will plague the airline industry for the next ten years due to the shortage in the aviation industry of commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers.
ACBS News analysis of data from the FAA, U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Labor found that the current situation will only worsen with time, as the industry is 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers short of what is necessary to perform smoothly. Some estimates <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-training-program-aviate-academy-pilot-shortage-graduating-class-women-minorities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">say</a> that airlines worldwide could run 60,000 pilots short by 2030.
The number of delays that arose from issues that air carriers can control soared from 5.2% in 2018 to 7.6% in 2023, resulting in thousands of delayed flights. As recently as June 24-27, 31,850 flights, representing one third of all flights nationwide, were delayed, 25% higher than the year before for
Between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, 2022, Southwest Airlines canceled 14,042 flights, 72.3% of all canceled flights nationwide, the Department of Transportation acknowledged.
A spokesperson for Airlines-4-America, which represents seven of the nation&#8217;s biggest carriers, stated, ‘U.S. airlines recognize the importance of securing a pipeline of new employees—pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others—and have established new pilot training programs, enhanced recruitment efforts and implemented programs to address financial hurdles.”
“They are leaving planes on the ground because they don&#8217;t have enough people to fly them for ground crews or anything like that,” Wichita State University emeritus associate professor Dean Headley, who has published the <a href="https://airlinequalityrating.wichita.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airline Quality Rating</a> since 1991, told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-future-of-flying-more-delays-more-cancellations-more-chaos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a>. “The airlines are doing about as much as they can [to improve staffing levels]. They can train about 1,500 to 1,800 pilots a year.”
“Some of the predictions I&#8217;m hearing is that the pilot shortage won&#8217;t be resolved until 2032 or something like that,” he concluded.
“That is the big unsung shortage that nobody talks about,” Kathleen Bangs, spokeswoman for flight tracking website FlightAware, said of the shortage of mechanics. “Most people don&#8217;t understand that about half of all airline maintenance is done overseas. So, we outsource a lot of that maintenance and I think it&#8217;s going to be challenging. We have to figure out a way — how do we attract young people to become mechanics, which are critical, but also at the same time they&#8217;re outsourcing more and more of their work?”
The aviation industry is running roughly 3,000 fully-certified air traffic controllers short, CBS News analysis found.
“The shortage is real, it&#8217;s impacting everyone who engages in air travel, and it&#8217;s an issue we have to address or ticket prices are going to continue to go up and the delays will continue to plague us,” said Joel English, the vice president of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM).

United Airlines Cancels Hundreds Of Flights Thursday As Chaotic Week Of Air Travel Continues

Delays, Cancellations Could Plague Airline Industry For Ten Years: Report

Canceled flights

Delay

A woman on an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/american-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Airlines</a> flight was recorded over the weekend having a bizarre moment on the plane in which she wanted to be let off because she claimed that a passenger was &#8220;not real.&#8221;
The incident, which has gone viral on social media over the last few days, was apparently recorded at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
&#8220;I’m telling you, I’m getting the f*** off and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it,&#8221; the woman said as she addressed the entire plane.
&#8220;I don’t give two f***s, but I am telling you right now – that motherf***er back there is NOT real,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;You can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I’m not going to.&#8221;
A spokesperson for the airlines said in a statement that the plane returned to the gate due to a &#8220;disruptive customer.&#8221;
&#8220;The flight was met at the gate by local law enforcement and the customer was removed from the flight,&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2023/07/04/american-airlines-passenger-claims-fellow-traveler-was-not-real/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;We thank our customers for their understanding and our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation.&#8221;
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WATCH:
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Unhinged. <a href="https://t.co/P82le0BG0O">pic.twitter.com/P82le0BG0O</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1675965225760362496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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American Airlines Unveils New Logo

Woman Disrupts Flight In Meltdown Over ‘Not Real’ Passenger

Woman Disrupts Flight In Meltdown Over 'Not Real' Passenger

American Airlines

Texas

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/28/business/air-travel-woes/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Air Travel Woes</a>
U.S. air travel was thrown into disarray this morning as there were nearly 2,000 flight delays and at least 700 cancellations on the east coast. The Federal Aviation Administration blamed a range of issues—weather, overcrowded airports, and issues with staffing—for the headaches. The FAA says that Thursday, June 29 will be the heaviest travel day, so prepare accordingly if you’re flying somewhere for the Fourth of July.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/28/titan-sub-debris-implosion-wreckage-oceangate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debris From Titanic Sub Returned</a>
Debris from the lost submersible Titan has been brought back to the surface after a fatal implosion during its voyage to the wreckage of the Titanic. Officials say the submersible debris will be investigated in hopes of finding out what caused the implosion. The Coast Guard is leading that investigation. On June 22, just days after the vessel went missing, officials announced that the submersible had imploded and all five people on board had died.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-hate-speech-bill-would-make-it-a-felony-to-make-someone-feel-threatened" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michigan Hate Speech Bill Advances</a>
A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michigan</a> hate speech bill that has passed the state House and is now in the hands of the Senate is alarming conservatives, people of faith, and legal experts. 
The bill is part of a package of legislation that would <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2023/06/20/michigan-house-oks-new-hate-crime-church-synagogue-cemetery-desecration-penalties/70337842007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replace</a> Michigan’s existing Ethnic Intimidation Act and make it a hate crime to cause someone to “feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.” Under the bill’s framework, “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” are included as protected classes. Violators guilty of a felony could be punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
Many conservatives have voiced concerns that the bill infringes on Americans’ First Amendment rights. Distinguished Professor Emeritus William Wagner, a former federal judge and legal counsel in the U.S. Senate, told The Daily Wire, “Make no mistake about it. Those advocating for this legislation will wield these policies as a weapon capable of destroying conservative expression or viewpoints grounded in the sacred.”
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/daniel-penny-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-over-jordan-neelys-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Penny Pleads Not Guilty</a>
U.S. Marine Veteran Daniel Penny pleaded not guilty today to second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Penny was charged after a viral video appeared to show the 24-year-old place a subway vagrant named Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold. The case continues to receive national attention.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/first-locally-transmitted-cases-of-malaria-found-in-u-s-in-two-decades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malaria Returns To The US</a>
For the first time in two decades, people in the U.S. have contracted malaria from mosquitoes inside the country, prompting the CDC to issue a health alert. Four people in Florida and one person in Texas have contracted the disease in the U.S. from mosquitos, and the CDC said the patients appeared to be in stable condition and health officials were monitoring the situation. Experts say to be mindful of mild symptoms like headaches, fever, and muscle aches, as well as more severe symptoms like changes in mental status, and lung and kidney failure.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sues-e-jean-carroll-for-defamation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump Sues E. Jean Carroll</a>
Former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> is suing writer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/e-jean-carroll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E. Jean Carroll</a> for defamation in their protracted legal fight. Trump’s lawyers <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790/gov.uscourts.nysd.543790.171.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed a counterclaim</a> on Tuesday in New York federal court, listing various instances over the years when Carroll accused Trump of raping her. The court <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/03/11/carroll-trump-lawsuit-rejected/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously rejected</a> Trump’s bid to countersue last year, but the fresh attempt comes after the judge allowed Carroll to amend her <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/13/politics/e-jean-carroll-damages-trump-cnn-town-hall/index.html#:~:text=E.%20Jean%20Carroll%20arrives%20for,2023%2C%20in%20New%20York%20City.&amp;text=A%20federal%20judge%20will%20allow,at%20a%20CNN%20town%20hall." target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> earlier this month with new comments from Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-brings-rigged-election-fight-to-cnn-town-hall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denying that he knew Carroll</a> and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-allows-jean-carroll-amend-pending-defamation-lawsuit/story?id=100052469" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling her allegations</a> a “hoax and a lie.”
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Wednesday

Wednesday Afternoon Update: U.S. Air Travel Woes, Michigan Hate Speech Bill Advances, Malaria Returns

Bud Light

Disease

Donald Trump

Hate Speech

United States

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/france" target="_blank" rel="noopener">France</a> banned short-haul domestic <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flights</a> in a decree published Tuesday over concerns that the trips will accelerate <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.
The new <a href="https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000047571222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decree</a> will prohibit flights when a rail trip of less than two and a half hours is available to travelers, effectively ceasing flights between the cities of Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyons, and the Paris-Orly International Airport. Clément Beaune, the nation’s transport minister, said in a <a href="https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/clement-beaune-salue-publication-du-decret-qui-rend-effective-linterdiction-des-lignes-aeriennes-en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> that he strongly supports the move.
“Achieving carbon neutrality means strongly stepping up our action in terms of decarbonizing transport, which still accounts for 30% of emissions. As we fight relentlessly to decarbonize our lifestyles, how can we justify the use of the plane between the big cities which benefit from regular, fast and efficient connections by train?” the official commented. “This is an essential step and a strong symbol in the policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This measure is a world first which is fully in line with the government&#8217;s policy of encouraging the use of modes of transport that emit less greenhouse gasses.”
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<div class="p-rich_text_section">The decree only mentioned &#8220;regular public passenger air transport services&#8221; as subject to the prohibitions and did not appear to mention restrictions on private flights.</div>
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The new policy stemmed from the work of the Citizens’ Convention on Climate, a panel of 150 randomly selected residents <a href="https://www.conventioncitoyennepourleclimat.fr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meant</a> to be “representative of the diversity of French society” and are charged with creating “measures that will allow to achieve a reduction of at least 40% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030” while maintaining a “spirit of social justice.”
Entities such as the World Economic Forum have cited restrictions on short-haul flights as a possible mechanism to reduce carbon emissions: the organization released a <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/how-to-achieve-net-zero-in-aviation?utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=social_video&amp;utm_term=1_1&amp;utm_content=28374_France_ban_domestic_flights&amp;utm_campaign=social_video_2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> last year which noted that electric or hydrogen aircraft could eliminate emissions over short distances. United Airlines meanwhile <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-airlines-pours-millions-into-decarbonizing-air-travel-with-alternative-to-jet-fuel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> an effort with companies such as JPMorgan Chase and Honeywell to support startups seeking to accelerate “the research, production, and technologies associated with sustainable aviation fuel” with materials such as biomass and waste resources.
Nations in the European Union have adopted ambitious policies in order to conform their economies to the European Green Deal and the Paris Climate Agreement, both of which <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/2050-long-term-strategy_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">call</a> for net zero emissions by 2050. French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/french-president-unveils-massive-green-power-development-proposal-as-energy-crisis-continues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plans</a> to construct offshore wind farms and multiply solar power generation last year. “We need a massive acceleration,” the official said in a speech. “I want us to go at least twice as fast for renewable energy projects.”
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Moves to decrease carbon emissions occur even as the European Union suffers from energy shortages as a result of Russia ceasing energy shipments to the continent, an apparent retaliation for the support of Ukraine. Macron asserted last year that economic turmoil from elevated power prices is evidence that his nation ought to become energy independent, particularly by means of renewable sources.
Opponents of governments managing a transition toward renewable energy have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wall-street-journal-blasts-joe-biden-john-kerry-for-pushing-self-destructive-green-energy-policies-while-china-burns-more-coal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed</a> that increased carbon emissions from China, as well as India and other developing countries, are outpacing emissions declines in the West. China was responsible for 26.1% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions as of 2018, according to <a href="https://www.c2es.org/content/international-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the International Energy Agency, surpassing the 13.4% of worldwide emissions produced by the United States and the 7.6% of worldwide emissions produced by members of the European Union.

United Airlines Boeing 767

European Nation Bans Short Domestic Flights Over Climate Worries — Private Jet Flights Still Allowed

France Bans Short Domestic Flights Over Climate Worries

Environment

European Union

France

World

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tsa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transportation Security Administration</a> is testing the use of facial <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recognition</a> technology at <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">airports</a> across the nation, a move that the federal agency claims will help employees more easily <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identify</a> travelers.
Passengers may soon find themselves in a security screening line where they are asked to place their identification into a slot and look into a camera, after which a small screen will take their picture and flash the words “photo complete,” permitting the traveler to continue through the security process without handing their identification to an employee.
The technology is currently in use at 16 airports throughout the country, such as those in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, according to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/facial-recognition-airport-screening-tsa-d8b6397c02afe16602c8d34409d1451f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Associated Press. Passengers are allowed to opt out of the pilot program conducted by the TSA, which is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
TSA employees in the security lines with the technology, which examines whether the identification is real and whether the identification belongs to the traveler, will nevertheless be present to ensure that the system reaches correct conclusions.
The test of the technology comes despite a February <a href="https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/tsa_facial_recognition_technology_letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> from five members of the Senate, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who expressed concern over reports that the system could be implemented across the United States as soon as this year if deemed successful. The lawmakers contended that facial recognition technology “represents a risk to civil liberties and privacy rights.”
“We are concerned about the safety and security of Americans’ biometric data in the hands of authorized private corporations or unauthorized bad actors,” the letter continued. “As government agencies grow their database of identifying images, increasingly large databases will prove more and more enticing targets for hackers and cybercriminals.”
Federal entities already leverage facial recognition technology in various capacities despite the privacy and security concerns: a <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-106100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published last year by the Government Accountability Office found that 18 out of 24 agencies reported using facial recognition systems in fiscal year 2020, largely for computer access and law enforcement activities, while 14 out of 42 agencies that employ law enforcement officers reported using the technology in criminal investigations.
Americans broadly support the “widespread use of facial recognition technology” by police officers who utilize the systems for law enforcement purposes, according to a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/03/17/public-more-likely-to-see-facial-recognition-use-by-police-as-good-rather-than-bad-for-society/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> from Pew Research Center, in which 27% of respondents said the policy was a “bad idea” and 46% said the policy was a “good idea.”
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), who also endorsed the letter, previously criticized Amazon smart doorbell company Ring after the firm <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-handed-over-ring-doorbell-footage-to-authorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provided</a> law enforcement with videos from user devices in emergency scenarios after making a “good-faith determination that there was an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury” involved in the situation. The lawmaker said that the policy justifies passage of his Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, which would prohibit state and federal entities from accessing Americans’ sensitive data.
Other state and local governments have indeed banned biometric recognition technology. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit last year against Google and Meta for breaches of state laws which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-takes-google-to-court-for-allegedly-harvesting-biometric-data-without-consent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prohibit</a> technology firms from using data such as iris scans, fingerprints, voiceprints, or records of hand and face geometry for commercial purposes without permission.

Airport Surveillance

TSA Rolls Out Facial Recognition Technology Test At Several Major Airports

TSA Rolls Out Facial Recognition Test At Multiple Airports

Department of Homeland Security

National Security

Surveillance

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-transportation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transportation</a> Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pete-buttigieg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Buttigieg</a> announced on Monday that the agency introduced rules requiring <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">airlines</a> to reimburse customers who incur expenses due to certain delayed and canceled flights, a move which comes as the industry faces elevated demand and a constrained labor force.
The proposed rules, which would apply when an airline delays a flight for more than three hours or cancels a flight for a “controllable” reason, would mandate that the firms offer compensation for stranded passengers, as well as a meal or meal voucher, overnight accommodations, and ground transportation between the airport and hotel.
“When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” Buttigieg said in a <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-propose-requirements-airlines-cover-expenses-and-compensate-stranded-passengers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, noting that the proposed reimbursement rules would be the first in American history.
The move comes after Southwest Airlines experienced holiday travel disruptions last year due to extreme winter weather conditions, staff shortages, and an outdated computer system. The carrier canceled thousands of flights days after other carriers had resumed normal operations. Buttigieg <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buttigieg-sends-brutal-letter-to-southwest-ceo-demanding-airline-follow-through-with-reimbursing-travelers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the company, which has since promised to compensate passengers for all expenses incurred during that time, that the disruptions were “unacceptable” and promised that his agency would exercise “the fullest extent of its investigative and enforcement powers” to ensure customers are reimbursed.
The new proposals also occur as the sector faces a severely limited pool of available pilots and frontline staff. Carriers previously encouraged commercial pilots to retire as worldwide lockdowns caused demand for air travel to plummet in the spring of 2020, worsening a previous trend toward a lack of available pilots. Elevated prices for airline tickets and a rapid return in travel demand, however, are now prompting lawmakers to consider the problem.
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Regional Airline Association CEO Faye Malarkey Black told members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last month that more than 50% of current pilots would be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-tsunami-of-commercial-pilot-retirements-is-coming-experts-warn-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forced</a> to retire within the next 15 years because of federal rules mandating that pilots exit their positions once they reach 65 years of age, even as only 8% of pilots are below 30 years of age due to the high cost of flight education. Buttigieg has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buttigieg-slams-airlines-for-flight-cancellations-but-rejects-key-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opposed</a> legislation that would increase the retirement threshold to 67 years of age, contending that “the answer is to make sure we have as many and as good pilots ready to take their place, to have a stronger pipeline.”

Pete Buttigieg

Airlines May Soon Be On The Hook For Delayed And Canceled Flights, Transportation Dept Says

Air &amp; Space

Department of Transportation

A commercial <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flight</a> from Houston to Atlanta was the recipient of significant buzz on Wednesday.
A swarm of bees apparently tried to hitch a ride on the Delta Airlines flight out of Houston&#8217;s George Bush Intercontinental on Wednesday. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/airplane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plane</a> was delayed for about four hours while staff tried to figure out what to do about the hundreds of bees congregating on the tip of an airplane wing. A passenger on the flight live-tweeted the whole ordeal as it happened.
&#8220;My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings,&#8221; author and scholar Anjali Enjeti tweeted at around 12:20 p.m. local time Wednesday. &#8220;They won’t let us board until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings. They won’t let us board until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off? <a href="https://t.co/DhodBz0m5n">pic.twitter.com/DhodBz0m5n</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653813099932135449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
According to Enjeti, the bees swarmed onto the plane as soon as it pulled up to the gate. Officials at the airport were originally going to call pest control; they then said they were going to call a beekeeper to attempt to hive the bees. Airport personnel were perplexed and took pictures of the swarm.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653826284537913357?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">captain</a> later updated the passengers on the flight. The bee keeper could not come because he was not allowed to touch the airplanes; neither could pest controllers, who are not allowed to spray the planes; neither could the fire department, for undetermined reasons; the airport workers did not have a hose to spray the plane, either. Someone did approach the plane later with a hose, but backed off, to the dismay of passengers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Close up of the bees on the wing <a href="https://t.co/XodD4Z2kgi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/XodD4Z2kgi</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653829182692925460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
In a last ditch effort, the pilot said he would <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653826602923335696?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taxi</a> the plane in an effort to shake the swarm off. As soon as the plane&#8217;s engines turned on, the bees left.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Omg y’all. Entire the flight crew deplaned. Delta decided to give our gate to another flight. As soon as our plane’s engine turned on, THE BEES LEFT!!! All Delta had to do was TURN ON THE PLANE <a href="https://t.co/gILlJ8EMZg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/gILlJ8EMZg</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653847715791400960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
Passengers were initially dismayed to learn that the gate was being given to another flight, and <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653855565372616711?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questions</a> swirled as to whether they would be given another flight or if it would be canceled. Fortunately, the plane was <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653866162352971777?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transferred</a> to another gate; the passengers finally boarded the flight around 4:30.
A professional apiarist who has experience removing swarms from airplanes told local news outlet <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/delta-airplane-bees-houston/285-eebd12f2-7d52-4f1a-983d-95cd5138ff1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHOU</a> that the swarm is very common this time of year, and that the bees were simply resting. &#8220;They usually start in the south and they move towards the north,&#8221; Mike Sexton, a.k.a. &#8220;The Bee Man,&#8221; said. “Whenever bee swarms start, they’re going to gorge themselves with a bunch of honey and the old queen is going to take off with a bunch of workers so they&#8217;re not going to eat again until they actually get to a new home, so in the meantime they rest and conserve their energy, so they land on anything.&#8221;
The Houston flight delay came just one day after another un-bee-lievable incident in Florida. More than <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-than-a-million-bees-swarm-florida-highway-after-overnight-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a million bees</a> swarmed a Florida highway Tuesday when a tractor trailer collided with another truck hauling more than five million of the insects on their way to produce honey. The beekeeper is still counting his losses, both financially and numerically, as many of them flew away from the scene of the crash. Fortunately, despite a million potential hazards in the air, no injuries were reported.

Bees

Buzz Off!: Flight Delayed For Four Hours When Swarm Of Bees Latches Onto Wing

Animals

Delta Airlines

Houston

Twitter

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southwest-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southwest Airlines</a> continues to see <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">losses</a> stemming from the holiday <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel</a> meltdown that left passengers stranded across the nation at the end of last year.
The company announced a net loss of $159 million in the first quarter of 2023 as customers booked fewer flights in reaction to the carrier canceling thousands of flights between December 21 and December 31. Even as other carriers resumed normal operations, Southwest continued to delay and cancel an elevated number of flights.
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan confirmed in an earnings <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-reports-first-quarter-2023-results-301808898.html#:~:text=(NYSE%3A%20LUV)%20(the,operating%20revenues%20of%20%245.7%20billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> released on Thursday that the company incurred the losses due to “cancellations of holiday return travel” and a subsequent “deceleration in bookings” in January and February. He added that demand trends for March were strong, resulting in “solid profitability for the month.”
“We expect solid profits in second quarter 2023 and continue to expect solid profits and year-over-year growth in both margins and return on invested capital for full year 2023,” the executive forecasted. “We also continue to expect our network to be roughly restored to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. We remain confident in our low-cost, low-fare business model and our long-term strategy, which is supported by a robust set of strategic initiatives designed to drive significant financial value.”
Southwest has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-reveals-how-much-holiday-flight-meltdown-will-cost-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> that between $725 million and $825 million would be lost in the aftermath of the disruptions. The firm reported a $220 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2022 and previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-airlines-reports-massive-revenue-hit-after-christmas-meltdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> investors that fallout from the holiday disruptions would continue.
Executives <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-messed-up-southwest-executive-testifies-on-holiday-meltdown-chaos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attributed</a> the problems in December to outdated technology systems and announced that Southwest would seek to enhance software used by crew members with a $1.3 billion information technology investment. The internal issues continue to cause disruptions: Southwest <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-sees-massive-number-of-flight-delays-after-technical-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">experienced</a> an unspecified technical problem that prompted a nationwide pause in departures on April 18, resulting in delays for nearly half of the carrier’s flights.
Southwest is unique among other major airlines in that flights are coordinated in a point-to-point system rather than a hub model, an arrangement that allows the carrier to service smaller cities more efficiently but worsens delays when the firm experiences unexpected disruptions.
Southwest COO Andrew Watterson <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23602424-written-testimony-of-andrew-watterson-coo-southwest-airlines-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> members of the Senate Commerce Committee two months ago that the holiday meltdown prompted the company to cancel flights so that crews could position themselves to resume normal operations. The firm has since attempted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-gives-disgruntled-customers-frequent-flyer-points-in-aftermath-of-holiday-meltdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regain</a> the trust of disgruntled customers, granting many impacted passengers reward point vouchers amounting to $300 in value, as well as reimbursements for meals, hotel accommodations, rental cars, and tickets purchased with other carriers as a result of the delayed and canceled flights.
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“Southwest is intensely focused on reducing the risk of repeating the operational disruption we experienced in December,” Watterson asserted. “We are committed to running a great operation each and every day, and I have the utmost confidence that our people, processes, and technologies will do just that.”
The months since December have seen multiple air travel anomalies beyond Southwest. The Federal Aviation Administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/faa-reveals-more-details-on-system-outage-that-grounded-flights-nationwide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grounded</a> all flights nationwide early on January 11 as the agency’s systems failed; officials later determined that “personnel unintentionally deleted files while working to correct synchronization between the live primary database and a backup database.” An international terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fire-power-outage-at-jfk-airport-causes-delayed-canceled-flights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> on February 16 and opened on February 17 due to a power outage.

LaGuardia Airport

Southwest Continues To Take Losses From Last Year’s Holiday Travel Meltdown

Southwest Continues To Take Losses From Holiday Meltdown

Business

Southwest Airlines

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Defense</a> officials extended the organization’s contract with an electric flying taxi company on Tuesday, moving U.S. Air Force aviators one step closer to remotely piloting cargo and people using advanced aircraft technology from the ground.
Joby Aviation, a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced the $55 million extension, raising the contract&#8217;s total value with the USAF up to $131 million.
&#8220;This extension of our contract with the Department of Defense is an important milestone for both Joby and the broader eVTOL industry,&#8221; Paul Sciarra, Joby&#8217;s executive chairman, told <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/25/air-force-evtol-taxi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>.
The agreement requires the company to deliver and operate up to nine of its five-seat, low-noise aircraft that operate on zero emissions to the military branch and other federal agencies, including NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Joby officials said in a news release that Edwards Air Force Base in California would likely receive the first two aircraft by early 2024.
Among demonstrating a range of potential logistic use cases, including cargo and passenger transportation, Joby officials expect Edwards Air Force Base to become the first U.S. military base to station electric air taxis.
Sciarra said the contract marks the first delivery of eVTOL aircraft to customers, the first training of non-company pilots on an eVTOL, and likely the first revenue-generating operations of eVTOL in the U.S. and potentially the world.
&#8220;These are real aircraft deployed in real situations against real use-cases, so we&#8217;ll get invaluable feedback and operational experience far in advance of commercial operations,&#8221; he said.
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Four Air Force pilots became the first Air Force personnel to remotely fly the advanced aircraft from the ground last week, which included transitions from vertical to wingborne flight.
The announcement comes amid Air Force officials working with several eVTOL manufacturers through the <a href="https://afwerx.com/agility-prime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agility Prime</a> program, which aims to transform how public-private partnerships can deliver &#8220;trailblazing technology at speed,&#8221; JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said in a <a href="https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-aviation-to-deliver-aircraft-to-edwards-air-force-base/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a>.
&#8220;As well as allowing us to explore the wide range of potential use cases across the U.S. government, our defense partners have also provided us with high-impact support as we prepare for commercial operations in 2025,&#8221; Bevirt said.
The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps have all expressed interest in the capabilities of eVTOL aircraft since the officials established Agility Program in 2020.
Bipartisan members of Congress penned a <a href="https://panetta.house.gov/sites/panetta.house.gov/files/documents/2023.02.23_DOT_AAM%20Leadership%20Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> in February to the Department of Transportation, calling for stronger U.S. leadership in Advanced Air Mobility.
&#8220;We are at a pivotal time in aviation. In just a few short years, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and other forms of emerging aviation technologies will be operating in our National Airspace System (NAS), changing the way in which goods and people move within rural and urban areas,&#8221; the letter reads.
Lawmakers argue the new era of aviation could usher in an estimated $1 trillion and 400,000 new jobs to economies worldwide.
Last month, the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/032023-National-Aeronautics-ST-Priorities.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> its support for the aircraft technology, identifying clean aviation as a top priority.
Axios reported that Joby is <a class="gtmContentClick" href="https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-completes-second-stage-certification-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-vars-link-text="undergoing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-completes-second-stage-certification-process/" data-vars-content-id="4fcf2047-5590-463b-8581-7944646b97f8" data-vars-headline="Electric &quot;air taxis&quot; are headed to the U.S. Air Force" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link">undergoing</a> an FAA process to certify its aircraft for commercial civilian flights.

Electric Air Taxis To Revolutionize Military, Commercial Flights In Near Future: Report

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Video of an American Airlines flight headed to Phoenix, Arizona, from Columbus, Ohio, bursting into flames in mid-air after a flock of geese collided with it has been released.
The plane, a Boeing 737-800, took off at 7:43 a.m. on Sunday but was forced to make an emergency landing back at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:22 a.m. Although initial reports stated an engine had caught fire, John Glenn Columbus International Airport corrected the report later, <a href="https://twitter.com/columbusairport/status/1650236223972147204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing</a> that “the aircraft experienced mechanical issues, not an engine fire.”
Two passengers, Marni Kallestad and Ryan Brink, recorded the view from the plane as it caught fire, The Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12006963/Terrifying-video-INSIDE-American-Airlines-Boeing-737-caught-fire-midair.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
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Pilots of an American Airlines flight turned the plane around shortly after it took off from the airport in Columbus, Ohio, after an apparent bird strike caused the engine to catch fire <a href="https://t.co/ih45zfGFq1">pic.twitter.com/ih45zfGFq1</a>
&mdash; Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1650418046744313858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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One witness <a href="https://twitter.com/Cbus4Life/status/1650109671900889088" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the collision with the geese caused the plane to emit “wonky, pulsing noises.”
“The flight landed normally and taxied safely to the gate under its own power,” American Airlines reported. “The aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance and our team is working to get customers back on their way to Phoenix.”
“Genuinely, this is the first time in my life that I was ready to die,” Matthew Danek, a passenger on the plane who saw the plane catch fire, told <a href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/reports-plane-headed-toward-phoenix-reroutes-columbus-after-engine-trouble/530-7c257709-447e-4e83-bf22-d5feee99dd8c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WBNS</a>. &#8220;There were extreme rumbling vibrations. The noise was deafening.”
Danek said the fire lasted roughly three minutes while other passengers were panicked, albeit silent.
“Immediately the mood changed,” he continued. “Like everyone stopped talking. We all got quiet. We all kind of did that look around like ‘You hearing this? You seeing this? We in this right now.’”
“All the crew was absolutely amazing. The pilot was even, I dare say, funny during it. He had a good sense of humor. His poise was astounding,” Danek recalled.
&#8220;This is something that airline crews train over and over again, under varying conditions, bad weather, daylight, nighttime,” aviation safety expert Shawn Pruchnicki told WBNS. “So regardless of why the engine failed, it&#8217;s something that as a former airline pilot, it&#8217;s something that we are very, very well trained to handle.”
Last week, an Airbus A321 plane experienced a fire due to mechanical failure just before takeoff from Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina. The plane was headed to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Passengers disembarked safely, and the aircraft was decommissioned, according to <a href="https://simpleflying.com/american-airlines-airbus-a321-returns-gate-mechanical-failure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simple Flying</a>.
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American Airlines A321 experiences an engine fire moments before takeoff from Charlotte Douglas Airport. The crew successfully extinguished the fire and all passengers disembarked safely. 
📹 cuhhlayre <a href="https://t.co/YIjCWU9JZM">pic.twitter.com/YIjCWU9JZM</a>
&mdash; Breaking Aviation News &amp; Videos (@aviationbrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/aviationbrk/status/1649702424758611969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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