Latest news with #flightSafety
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Incredibly brave widowed grandma filmed stopping lunatic from trying to open airplane door in mid-air
A brave army veteran on a trip to meet her new grandson flew into action to stop an unhinged plane passenger from opening an emergency door in mid-air. Nicole Pruitt was on the Delta Airlines flight from her home in Georgia to Tucson, Arizona, on July 16 when the terrifying ordeal unfolded. The widowed grandma, who served in the US Army for 26 years, recounted that a female passenger said she needed get off the plane mid-flight after speaking with God, KOLD reported. The unidentified woman made a break for the cockpit and main exit - leading Pruitt to intervene and help subdue the woman. 'Nobody else was doing nothing, so I just knew I had to do something,' she told KOLD. 'I've got to make it home to my kids, my children, my grandchildren.' The disturbance caused the flight to be diverted back to Atlanta one hour after it took off. Footage capturing the aftermath showed the passenger lying on the ground with her hands tied behind her back as Pruitt stood over her. The clip went viral on social media, with many praising Pruitt for her heroism. Her son, Tyrique Perry, was in disbelief when his mom texted him to explain what happened. 'She overtook the stewardess, none of the men wanted to help, so my mom said she had to step in,' Perry revealed in a TikTok video. He told KOLD that he wasn't surprised that his mom saved the day. 'Those are kids on that plane that have a whole life to live, those are grandparents on that plane,' he said. 'Just people full of life and potential.' In a separate video, Pruitt recalled the harrowing experience of seeing the passenger running from the back of the plane toward the cockpit. Pruitt said the passenger was getting aggressive with the flight crew and made an ominous threat that she 'didn't want to be on the plane.' The grandmother said the woman told a flight attendant, 'I have a calling and God told me to do it.' The videos gained traction on social media, with many viewers praising Pruitt's bravery and calling on Delta to give her a lifetime of free flights. 'Come on Delta! She needs life time first class tickets!!!!! She LITTERALLY saved everyone!!' one comment read. 'As a flight attendant it is people like Mama Nicky that we are eternally grateful for!!!!' another wrote. 'You probably prevented a devastating act and saved so many lives!! 'You're the definition of a true hero!!' a third added. Pruitt's son started a GoFundMe for the community to show their support and gratitude for her. 'With panic spreading and flight attendants overwhelmed, my mom, a mother, grandmother, daughter, protector, and retired U.S. Army veteran, stood up, stepped forward, and handled it,' the description read. 'She wasn't asked. She wasn't trained for a moment like this. She just knew someone had to act, and she did.' Delta issued a statement on the incident that read: 'Delta sincerely appreciates the actions of our crew and customers for de-escalating this situation. 'We apologize to our customers for the delay and thank them for their understanding.' Law enforcement was notified of the disturbance, but it's unclear if any charges were filed. There were 180 customers on board, two pilots, and four flight attendants.
New York Times
3 days ago
- General
- New York Times
SkyWest Flight Aborts Landing to Avoid Midair Collision Near Military Base
SkyWest Airlines said on Sunday that one of its passenger jets had aborted a landing in North Dakota last week because another aircraft was in its flight path. After the SkyWest plane landed safely on Friday, the pilot told passengers that he had made an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid hitting a military aircraft, according to a recording of his remarks that a passenger made and shared with The New York Times. The passenger, Monica Green, said in an interview that she was sitting near the front of SkyWest Flight 3788 from Minneapolis to Minot, N.D., when she felt the plane swerve 'harshly' to the right near the end of the trip. The turn was so sharp that she found herself looking out the window, not at the sky, but at the cornfields below, she said. 'My plane keeps circling and not landing,' she texted her husband at the time, according to a screenshot of their conversation. After the plane eventually landed at Minot International Airport, she said, the pilot came into the cabin and told the passengers that he had turned to avoid hitting a military aircraft. She said the mood felt eerily calm. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver,' a man she said was the pilot can be heard saying in the video recording she made from her seat. 'It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Flight attendant reveals why they always ask passengers to open their window for take off and landing
Ever been asked to open the window blind on a flight? While it might seem annoying to have bright light streaming into the plane while you're trying to sleep, a flight attendant has revealed there's a key reason why passengers need to have the blind open during takeoff and landing. Posting on the @backpacking Instagram account, flight attendant @kiravokrugmira reveals that it's all to do with safety. The cabin crew member says: 'Why do cabin crew ask to open window blinds for takeoff and landing? 'For safety reasons. It allows us to evaluate outside conditions as fast as possible in case of emergency situations.' Cabin crew need to be able to see outside during the takeoff and landing, so passenger might want to bring an eye mask if they want to remain asleep for the entire flight. In another post, the flight attendant adds: 'We also ask you to fasten your seat belts, put the armrests down, put your seats to upright position and close your tray tables. Because we care about you.' Flight attendants will always check that passengers are wearing their seat belt before the plane takes off. But the rules don't apply to cabin crew. The flight attendant explains: 'Why can cabin crew walk in the cabin when the seat belt sign is on, but I can't? 'Because we are trained and experienced in navigating the cabin during turbulence. We are also responsible for your safety and know what to do in case of emergency.' Meanwhile, a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant recently revealed the biggest reason why plane passengers get into arguments.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
This Is the Worst U.S. Airport for Flight Safety, New Study Finds
Salt Lake City International Airport has earned a new title, and it's not one travelers will celebrate. According to a recent flight safety study, the Utah hub ranks as the most incident-prone airport in the country, with a risk score of 95 out of 100. The report, released by Good Guys Injury Law, analyzed data from federal transportation records and aviation incident databases to determine which of America's busiest airports pose the greatest risks. It evaluated five key indicators: accidents per million passengers, fatal crashes, wildlife strikes, weather risks, and elevation challenges. Salt Lake City topped the list with a troubling combination of high elevation, over 4,200 feet above sea level, and a record 11 fatal crashes, the most of any U.S. airport in the study. Its 2,903 wildlife strikes and 25 departure accidents highlight additional dangers during takeoff phases, likely exacerbated by its mountainous setting. Related: 7 Hospitalized at Busy American Airlines Hub, Flight Canceled Nashville Metropolitan Airport followed closely with a safety risk rating of 93, fueled by seven fatal crashes and a notable number of arrival accidents. Philadelphia International came in third, plagued by 2,430 wildlife strikes annually, which is among the highest in the country. LaGuardia and Tampa rounded out the top five. While LaGuardia recorded 63 total accidents and nearly 2,000 wildlife strikes, Tampa's ranking was driven by Florida's storm risks and severe weather patterns, giving it one of the highest weather-related safety scores. Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Newark also appeared in the top 10, each with their own distinct challenges, from icy conditions to bird migration routes and high-volume operations. 'High-altitude airports like Salt Lake City face operational challenges from both elevation and regional wildlife activity,' the report noted. 'Meanwhile, coastal hubs battle different risk factors like storms or bird corridors.' Despite the concerning stats, it's important to note that none of these airports are inherently unsafe for commercial passengers. The report's goal is to highlight environmental and operational factors that influence risk—not to discourage travel, but to inform it. With more than 2.9 million people flying daily across the U.S., flight safety is an ever-evolving equation of engineering, nature, and human oversight. And while most travelers never notice, the data suggests some airports face a tougher battle than others. Related: Major U.S. Airport Cancels Nearly 400 Flights Amid Busy July 4th Travel This Is the Worst U.S. Airport for Flight Safety, New Study Finds first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 1, 2025
South China Morning Post
03-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
China flight safety in spotlight after pilot jumps to death over workplace dispute
A failed pilot evaluation that ended with a China Southern Airlines captain stabbing two of his colleagues before jumping to his death in Changchun in the northeast Chinese province of Jilin on Tuesday has renewed public worries about flight safety The pilot, surnamed Li, 31, died after jumping out of a window, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Erdao district branch of the Changchun Public Security Bureau. His colleagues were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said, adding that an investigation was continuing. Citing a person with knowledge of the incident, Guizhou Radio and TV Station (GZTV) reported that Li, a pilot with the company's Jilin branch, had recently failed an evaluation and was not qualified to fly. During a conversation with his superiors about the appraisal, Li attacked the flight department's party committee secretary and a department manager, the insider said. He then smashed a window on the 15th floor of the building and jumped to his death. GZTV reported that the company evaluation determined that Li had a 'lack of understanding of rules and procedures' such as communication failure procedures and the cockpit door electronic lock password, citing an internal report provided by another insider. The source said the internal report had recommended Li undergo 'systematic and comprehensive training' of the flight crew operating manual followed by a comprehensive 'theoretical verification' conducted by the airline's Jilin branch before Li could have his flight qualifications restored.
