Drop in altitude on JetBlue flight that forced emergency landing injured at least 15, officials say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Officials say at least 15 JetBlue passengers were injured after a sudden drop in altitude forced an emergency landing in Florida. The Thursday flight from Cancun to Newark, New Jersey, was diverted to Tampa International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration says the flight crew experienced “a flight control issue” and that it is investigating. A spokesperson for the local fire department said Friday that between 15 and 20 passengers were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. JetBlue says it has taken the Airbus A320 out of service for inspection and will investigate the cause.
China's Shenzhou 21 docks with space station, sets the country's own speed record
JIUQUAN, China (AP) — China has announced that its Shenzhou 21 spaceship docked with the country's space station at the country's own record speed. The docking process took around 3.5 hours, three hours faster than previous missions. The spaceship launched Friday night from the Jiuquan center in northwestern China. The crew includes pilot Zhang Lu, who was on the Shenzhou 15 mission, and two first-time astronauts, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. They plan to conduct 27 scientific projects during their six-month stay. For the first time, China is sending mice to the space station to study weightlessness and confinement effects.
70 years after the first sabotage of a US airliner, the 44 killed are finally being honored
LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — A memorial to 44 people who died in the first confirmed case of sabotage against a U.S. airliner is being dedicated on the 70th anniversary of its bombing over Colorado. A farmer who helped recover the bodies of those killed and a woman who lost her father, who have recently become friends, will be among those there for Saturday's ceremony in Denver. Attention on the dramatic details of the bombing, the lack of a federal law making it a crime to attack a plane and the meticulous investigation into what happened has overshadowed attention on the victims and those they left behind until now.
Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and more from YouTube TV as talks break down
YouTube TV viewers have lost access to Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, after contract talks broke down. Other channels like the Disney Channel, FX, and Nat Geo have also disappeared. YouTube TV announced Thursday that Disney followed through on a threat to suspend its content during negotiations. YouTube claims Disney used the blackout threat to push for higher prices, benefiting its own streaming services like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. YouTube TV expressed disappointment and urged Disney to work towards a fair agreement. Subscribers will receive a $20 credit if Disney content remains unavailable for a long time.
Birders going ‘cuckoo’ after unexpected sighting in New York City area
A bird sighting on New York's Long Island has avian enthusiasts flocking to the region in the hopes of spotting a feathered friend who has never been seen before in the state. The common cuckoo is typically found from Europe to Japan, with the majority of the population wintering in Africa. But one was recently spotted in Riverhead on the north shore of Long Island. Once the bird was confirmed as a common cuckoo, birders quickly shared the news in their online communities. The bird has since been spotted more than 200 times. It’s not clear how or why the bird ended up there.
Air traffic controller shortages lead to broader US flight delays as shutdown nears one-month mark
Continued staffing shortages in air traffic control facilities are causing delays at airports as the government shutdown nears the one-month mark. Controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that travelers will see more flights delayed or canceled the longer they go without a paycheck. The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing-related delays on Friday at airports in Boston, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, and Newark, New Jersey. Most controllers are continuing to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown. Duffy says that leaves little time for a side job to help cover bills, mortgage and other expenses unless controllers call out.
The International Space Station marks 25 years of nonstop human presence in orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station is marking 25 years of nonstop human presence in orbit. Nearly 300 people have lived aboard the scientific outpost. The visitors are mostly professional astronauts, but also the occasional space tourist and movie director. With only five years left at the complex, NASA is counting on private companies to launch their own orbiting stations with an even bigger and wider clientele. NASA is paying SpaceX nearly $1 billion to boot the space station from orbit in early 2031. The station's first full-time residents — one American and two Russians — opened the hatch in 2000.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs seeks speedy appeals court hearing while he serves a 4-year sentence
NEW YORK (AP) — Hip-hop producer Sean “Diddy” Combs wants a federal appeals court to quickly consider the legality of his conviction on prostitution-related charges and his more than four-year prison sentence. His lawyers filed papers with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, asking that oral arguments in his appeal occur in April. Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers across state lines to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.
Brad Marchand steps away from the Panthers to help a friend whose daughter died of cancer
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Brad Marchand is stepping away from the Florida Panthers to help a friend whose daughter died last week of cancer. Marchand is serving as a guest coach Wednesday night for the under-18 March and Mill Co. Hunters in his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in place of friend JP MacCallum. The game is a fundraiser for the family after the loss of 10-year-old Selah Panacci-MacCallum and includes a raffle for an autographed Marchand jersey. Marchand missed Florida's game Tuesday night against Anaheim. Coach Paul Maurice expects Marchand to be back when the Panthers face Dallas on Saturday.
The Grand Egyptian Museum showcasing 50,000 artifacts is finally opening
CAIRO (AP) — The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally nearing its grand opening after two decades of anticipation. The museum, located just outside Cairo, is set to open on Saturday. It highlights ancient Egyptian civilization and aims to boost tourism, a crucial source of foreign currency for Egypt. The $1 billion facility will be the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, featuring over 50,000 artifacts. The museum has faced multiple delays, with construction beginning in 2005 and interruptions due to political instability. Officials hope the museum will revitalize tourism and attract millions of visitors annually.
