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UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Delta Co-pilot arrested at SFO
Passengers reported that a co-pilot was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport after the flight landed, on Saturday. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 28 (UPI) -- Passengers reported that a co-pilot was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport after the flight landed. The incident occurred on Saturday after Delta Flight 2809 landed in San Francisco from Minneapolis as a passenger named Sarah, who only identified herself by her first name, said about 10 federal agents boarded the plane. "They barged through and stormed the cockpit," Sarah told NBC Bay Area. "They removed the co-pilot, cuffed him, presumably arrested him, and brought him back down the aisle to deplane A Homeland Security investigator spokesperson said, "HSI was assisting the Contra Costa Sheriff's office with an arrest warrant." "The remaining pilot and the flight crew also appeared stunned and shocked and said they didn't know what was happening," Sarah said. "It was scary. It was traumatic to watch," she told ABC 7 News. "As soon as my husband picked me up from baggage claim, I jumped in the car and cried. Because who knows what's happening to that poor person, why that happened, what did we just see?" The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office summary reports showed an arrest warrant at SFO was responded to during the time of the incident.
UPI
2 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Boeing machinists who build fighter jets reject contract, plan strike
A large American flag is hoisted behind a Boeing F/A-18 E1 Super Hornet jet before dedication ceremonies at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Mo., on August 3, 2024. Machinists at three plants in the St. Louis area the product fight jets rejected a contract. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 27 (UPI) -- Several thousand Boeing union workers at three St. Louis-area plants who build fighter jets are planning to go on strike after rejecting a proposed contract Sunday that would pay an average of than $100,000 per year. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at Boeing factories in St. Louis and St. Charles in Missouri and Mascoutah in Illinois voted against the new contract that included a 20% wage increase over four years. The contract for District 837 members will expire at 11:59 p.m. CDT at which point there is a seven-day cooling-off period before a strike could start. In all, there are 16,000 employees at the three locations, according to St. Louis Business Journal Research. "IAM Union members delivered a clear message: the proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce," the union said in a news release. "Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future." Boeing and the union representing the machinists on Thursday reached an agreement on a four-year contract that would boost annual salaries to $102,600 with an 8% increase in the first year and 4% for the other three years. "This contract puts money in members' pockets, protects healthcare access, and ensures our members have a voice in future health decisions all while respecting the skill and dedication IAM workers bring to Boeing's critical defense programs," IAM Union International President Brian Bryant said after the tentative contract. The total increase would be 40% when including other benfits. There was a $5,000 ratification bonus. Boeing said the current average hourly pay of $35 is $6 higher than three years ago. "The IAM Union remains committed to achieving a fair contract that meets the needs of our members," the union said. "The IAM Union looks forward to returning to the bargaining table with Boeing's leadership to deliver meaningful improvements that support the well-being and livelihoods of IAM members and their families." IAM, with approximately 600,000 active and retired workers, is one of North America's largest and most diverse industrial trade unions. They represent workers in aerospace/airlines, defense, shipbuilding, railroads/transit, healthcare and automotive in the United States and Canada. "We're disappointed our employees voted down the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities," Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice President, said in a statement, obtained by KSDK-TV. "We've activated our contingency plan and are focused on preparing for a strike. No talks are scheduled with the union." Last year, Boeing machinists in the Pacific Northwest were in a 54-day strike that shut down airplane production. Ultimately, they agreed to an immediate pay boost of 13% and a total of 44% over four years when compounded. Boeing has more than 170,000 employees worldwide. The vote came two days before Boeing plans to announce its second-quarter earnings.
UPI
6 days ago
- General
- UPI
L.A.'s Union Station hosting 2-day train trip through time
The Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy Steam Locomotive pulls into Kirkwood, Mo., on August 2021. It is similar to the Santa Fe 3751 steam locomotive that will be on display at this year's train festival in Los Angeles. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 23 (UPI) -- Los Angeles' Union Station will give visitors a closer look at Southern California's railroad history during Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion in September. The free two-day event is scheduled Sept. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT and will feature railroad equipment tours, displays, model train exhibits and interactive information booths. Visitors also can enjoy live entertainment and giveaways during the family-friendly event that is sponsored by Metro, Amtrak and Metrolink and celebrates Los Angeles' "vibrant rail history and its revolving role in the city's future." "Transportation is ... about the people, places and stories that compel us to move," Metro Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins said. "We're proud to make those connections possible," Wiggins added, "and there's no better place to see that in action than Los Angeles Union Station." She called the event a "celebration of the journeys we embark on, the history that grounds us and the communities we build through shared travel." Visitors can learn about nearly a century of rail history and tour and view displays of railroad equipment dating from 1927 to now. Among featured exhibits will be the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society's Santa Fe 3751 steam locomotive, which pulled the rail station's first named passenger train more than 85 years ago. "Many kids grow up reading about steam trains in their history books but will never actually see one in person," SBRHS President Alex Gillman said. "Santa Fe 3751 offers families ... the chance to experience what a working, 874,000-pound steam locomotive looks like as they climb into the cab, meet the engineer and learn what it takes to keep this rare icon of American history operating today," Gillman added. Amtrak, Metrolink, and the Pacific Railroad Society also are scheduled to display their respective train equipment during the event. So will several of Southern California's model train clubs. Young attendees can visit the kids' zone and receive a train conductor hat that they can keep and wear while taking selfies next to Travel Town Museum's restored Railway Express Agency delivery truck. More event information is available at Union Station's Train Festival 2025 webpage.
UPI
20-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced sanctions against Mexico for violating a trade deal at Mexico City's international airport. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 20 (UPI) -- The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. "Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market," a release from the Transportation Department said. "The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments." Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the release continued. The "America First" actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. "Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize," the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations.
UPI
20-07-2025
- Health
- UPI
The hidden dangers of feeding wild animals
Researchers at the University of California San Diego say feeding wild elephants can lead to serious harm. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Feeding wild elephants might seem kind or exciting, but a new study warns it can lead to serious harm. Researchers at the University of California San Diego say that giving food to wild animals -- especially elephants -- can change their behavior in dangerous ways. "Many people, especially foreign tourists, think Asian elephants are tame and docile, like domestic pets," lead author Shermin de Silva, a conservation scientist and professor of biological sciences, said in a UCSD news release. "They don't realize these are formidable wild animals and try to get too close in order to take photographs or selfies, which can end badly for both parties," she added. The study, published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence, looked at 18 years of data from elephant tourism areas in Sri Lanka and India. In Sri Lanka's Udawalawe National Park, researchers found that dozens of elephants had learned to "beg" for food near fences and tourist vehicles. One male elephant, nicknamed Rambo, became a local celebrity for this behavior. The impact? Tragic. Several people were killed or injured in elephant encounters, the news release said. At least three elephants were killed, and some animals ate plastic bags or other waste while trying to get food. In India's Sigur region, researchers tracked 11 male elephants who were fed by people. Four of animals later died, likely because of humans. "Food-conditioned animals can become dangerous, resulting in the injury and death of wildlife, people or both," the researchers wrote. "These negative impacts counteract potential benefits," they added. Feeding wild elephants may cause them to lose their natural foraging skills, especially if they start relying on sugary snacks or processed food, researchers said. It may also raise the risk of disease spreading between people and animals. While most tourists mean well, experts say the best thing to do is never feed wild animals, no matter how safe it seems. Feeding animals might feel like helping a friend, the researchers explained. "But this encourages wild animals to seek food from people, attracting them to areas that can put themselves or people at risk," de Silva said. "It can be a conduit for disease transfer between species," she said. "Such feeding can also cause animals to lose their ability to forage for themselves if the behavior becomes prevalent, especially with young animals." More information The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has more on the potential harm in feeding wildlife. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
