What D-Day Tells Us About How Tech Goes from Niche to Mass
Why? The first and most important decision of D-Day wasn't made on D-Day. It was made two nights before — based on the weather forecast. And the role it played has something to teach us about how revolutionary innovations change the world.
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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
A thunderstorm contributed to one of Toronto's worst plane crashes
Weather played a major role in some of history's worst plane crashes—including one fiery accident in Toronto. A flight from Paris in August 2005 sped off the end of a runway in Toronto after the crew attempted to land the large jet during a heavy thunderstorm. Thanks to the quick thinking and stellar performance of the flight attendants, everyone on board survived despite flames destroying the plane soon after the wreck. DON'T MISS: Multiple errors amid heavy thunderstorms Air France Flight 358 departed Paris on the morning of August 2, 2005 with 297 passengers and 12 crew aboard. Before takeoff, a weather briefing alerted pilots to possible thunderstorms around Toronto that afternoon. After an eight-hour flight across the Atlantic, the loaded Airbus A340 descended toward Toronto-Pearson International Airport amid heavy storm activity in the area. At 3:58 p.m., a plane landing ahead of Flight 358 reported that the slick runway reduced their ability to slow the aircraft. Three minutes later, just as the plane was a few hundred metres above the runway, the pilot in command noticed a small loss in airspeed and added thrust. A tailwind developed at the same time, further increasing the plane's speed. MUST SEE: These two factors ultimately caused the plane to overshoot the point where it should have touched down. Very poor visibility limited the distance pilots could see down the runway. The aircraft didn't touch down until they'd travelled more than 40 per cent down the length of the rain-slicked runway. Further compounding issues is that the pilots didn't set the engines to apply reverse thrust to slow down the aircraft until 12 seconds after touchdown. 26 seconds after touchdown, and amid a cascade of errors, Air France Flight 358 exited the end of the runway at almost 150 km/h and crashed into a nearby ravine. A swift evacuation saved everyone's lives The impact almost immediately sparked a blaze on the left side of the aircraft. Flight attendants began rushing everyone out of the burning plane into the heavy thunderstorm. Thanks to the flight attendants' swift actions, everyone on board made it out of the plane before flames entirely engulfed the aircraft. Although 33 people were injured—12 seriously—nobody died in the accident. RELATED: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSBC) recommended numerous safety changes in the wake of the incident. Investigators urged airports to extend safety zones at the end of runways to protect aircraft that suffer overruns. Officials also suggested that airlines update pilot training to include landing in deteriorating weather conditions. The TSBC also made one observation about passenger behaviour during the ordeal: 'During the emergency evacuation of [Flight 358], many passengers took their carry-on baggage with them.' One final recommendation is one that you may recognize from safety briefings today—if you ever have to evacuate an aircraft, leave your belongings behind. The time saved could save your life. Header image of the plane involved in the crash courtesy Aero Icarus/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). WATCH: What is airplane turbulence, and how do experts spot it? Click here to view the video Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Bloomberg
Storm Floris to Cause UK Travel Disruption as Wind Warnings Upgraded
Storm Floris could cause severe travel disruption on Monday as weather warnings for wind have been upgraded. Amber warnings have been issued for much of Scotland, lasting from 10am to 10pm.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV urges over 1 million Catholic young people to spread faith and enthusiasm
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged more than a million Catholic youths to 'spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith' when they return home to some 150 countries, during a Mass closing a weeklong encounter with the next generation of faithful. 'Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,'' Leo urged the young faithful. 'Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.' The young people camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service for the Jubilee of Youth on Saturday, also presided by Leo who has been ferried to and from Vatican City by helicopter. The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops. The special Jubilee celebration is part of the Holy Year that is expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism. The week has been a joyous gathering marked by bands of youths singing hymns as they move down cobblestoned streets, praying rosaries in piazzas and standing for hours at the Circus Maximus to confess their sins to priests offering the sacrament in a dozen languages. Leo also shared tragic news on Saturday. Two young people who had made the pilgrimage to Rome had died, one reportedly of cardiac arrest, while a third was hospitalized. Rain overnight awakened the faithful but didn't dampen their spirits. 'At least we were a little covered, but we still got a bit wet. We lost our voices a little. It was cold, but we woke up to a beautiful sun and view,'' said Soemil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. 'Despite the difficulties, it was very nice and very special to have been part of this historic moment.' Sister Giulia De Luca of Rome acknowledge that 'waking up was a bit tough,' but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again. 'It will be very nice to conclude a very intense week together. Definitely a lot of fun, but also very challenging in many ways,' she said. ___ Barry reported from Milan
