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Saturday, April 19, 2025

Tag: airplane
April 8, 2025
News

F-16 Executes ‘Headbutt’ Maneuver to Intercept Plane Near Mar-a-Lago.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An F-16 fighter jet executed a “headbutt” maneuver to intercept a plane that breached the restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago.

👥 Who’s Involved: The event involved the U.S. Air Force and the pilot of the intercepted aircraft.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred over Palm Beach, Florida, close to President Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, last Friday.

💬 Key Quote: “The plane was safely escorted from the area,” according to the U.S. Air Force.

⚠️ Impact: No injuries or further incidents were reported after the plane was escorted out of the restricted airspace.

IN FULL:

An F-16 fighter jet intervened to redirect an aircraft that strayed into restricted airspace near President Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The incident took place last Friday when the fighter jet performed a maneuver known colloquially as a “headbutt” to intercept the unidentified plane, which is described as a “general aviation aircraft”—a term used to describe civilian, non-military aircraft.

U.S. Air Force officials confirmed that “the plane was safely escorted from the area” following its interception. However, specifics about the airplane, its pilot, and the reason for its incursion into restricted airspace over Mar-a-Lago remain undisclosed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), which are enforced by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), over airspace where the President of the United States is present. On Friday, President Trump was playing a round of golf near his Mar-a-Lago residence at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

Since Trump’s inauguration on January 21, 2025, there have been several incidents in which civilian aircraft have either entered or wandered concerningly close to the closed airspace over Mar-a-Lago. Notably, pilots are responsible for checking and being aware of any FAA-issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) prior to takeoff and as they traverse American airspace.

None of the incidents above or near Mar-a-Lago have been found to be intentionally malicious in nature thus far.

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January 31, 2025
News

Father of Crash Pilot Claims Black Hawk Crew Made ‘Grave Error.’

The father of one of the American Airlines Flight 5342 pilots, whose plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. says he believes the helicopter crew made a “grave error.” Timothy Lilley, father of American Airlines pilot Sam Lilley, is himself a former military pilot.

Lilley notes that visibility over the Potomac River in the nation’s capital can be difficult at night, especially if the Black Hawk pilots were using night vision goggles. “From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead,” Timothy Lilley said in an interview with local news.

The latest revelations in the deadly air crash—in which all 60 American Airlines passengers, four crew, and three military personnel are presumed dead—suggest the Black Hawk was flying at too high of an altitude as it moved to cross over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport. Video of the crash appears to show the Black Hawk at an altitude of around 300 feet instead of the limit of 200 feet as it turns directly into the commercial flight that was on descent for landing at the airport.

Additionally, there is some speculation that the Black Hawk pilots may have misidentified another plane as American Airlines Flight 5342, leaving them unaware of the actual incoming aircraft—despite warnings from the airport’s control tower. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun investigating the crash, alongside other agencies, aiming to determine the cause. An FAA report disclosed that only one air traffic controller was present at the airport during the collision, which the agency marked as “not normal.”

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The father of one of the American Airlines Flight 5342 pilots, whose plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. says he believes the helicopter crew made a "grave error." Timothy Lilley, father of American Airlines pilot Sam Lilley, is himself a former military pilot. show more
January 30, 2025
News

Staffing at Reagan National Was ‘Abnormal’ During Crash, Says FAA.

The recent collision involving an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport may have been partly caused by staffing issues at the airport’s air traffic control tower. An internal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety report highlighted that the tower’s staffing levels were “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic” during the incident.

On Wednesday evening, a single air traffic controller was responsible for managing both helicopter activity in the vicinity and the movements of aircraft departing from and landing at the airport. Two controllers typically fulfill these duties. This practice is part of a broader staffing challenge that the tower has faced for several years, with the current workforce falling nearly one-third below the ideal number of fully certified controllers. As of September 2023, the tower had 19 certified controllers, many working extended hours to meet needs.

Across the nation, the shortage of air traffic controllers is significant, with a reported shortfall of about 3,000 controllers as of early 2024. During the 2023 fiscal year, the FAA recruited approximately 1,512 new controller candidates. However, it also saw a loss of 1,300, including retirements and attrition at various training stages. Of these, 400 failed the FAA’s academy, and 109 dropped out. The National Pulse reported at the time that the Biden government prioritized the hiring of individuals at the FAA with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.

The collision occurred shortly before 9 PM on Wednesday, as American Airlines flight 5342 was approaching runway 33. The plane collided with a Black Hawk helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, conducting a training flight over the Potomac River.

Tragically, the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the airline and the three soldiers in the Black Hawk are all presumed dead.

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The recent collision involving an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport may have been partly caused by staffing issues at the airport's air traffic control tower. An internal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety report highlighted that the tower's staffing levels were "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic" during the incident. show more
November 26, 2024
AMERICANA

Comedy Legend from Naked Gun, Airplane! Dies.

Jim Abrahams—renowned writer and director—has passed away at the age of 80 from natural causes at his Santa Monica residence, according to his son Joseph. Abrahams earned widespread acclaim for his contributions to the comedic film genre, particularly his work with the Zucker brothers, Jerry and David. This collaboration, commonly referred to as ZAZ, produced some of the most iconic slapstick films in cinematic history.

Abrahams‘s major success came as a co-creator of the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! starring Leslie Nielsen. The film received a BAFTA nomination for Best Screenplay and won the Writer’s Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium. Airplane! became known for its deadpan delivery of clever jokes, famously challenging previously serious actors to perform comedic roles.

In addition to Airplane!, Abrahams co-wrote and co-directed The Naked Gun series, derived from the short-lived television series Police Squad!, also starring Nielsen. The Naked Gun franchise enjoyed significant critical and commercial success, with the first film grossing over $150 million worldwide.

Born in Shorewood, Wisconsin, Abrahams established a lifelong friendship with the Zucker brothers, ultimately leading them to create the Kentucky Fried Theater in 1971 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This endeavor showcased their sketch comedies and laid the groundwork for their first film, The Kentucky Fried Movie, released in 1977. The movie was independently produced and achieved notable financial success.

Abrahams continued to influence the spoof genre with films such as Hot Shots! and its sequel, both directed by him in the early 1990s. His last writing credit was for Scary Movie 4 in 2006. He leaves behind his wife, Nancy, and three children.

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Jim Abrahams—renowned writer and director—has passed away at the age of 80 from natural causes at his Santa Monica residence, according to his son Joseph. Abrahams earned widespread acclaim for his contributions to the comedic film genre, particularly his work with the Zucker brothers, Jerry and David. This collaboration, commonly referred to as ZAZ, produced some of the most iconic slapstick films in cinematic history. show more
October 18, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
UK
War
World

UK Says Russia Planted Bomb on Courier Plane.

Authorities in the United Kingdom suspect that Russia may have planted an incendiary bomb on a courier airplane after the alleged device caught fire at a warehouse in the city of Birmingham, England, this week. British counter-terrorism police say they are investigating the incident, which saw a suspicious fire break out at a warehouse belonging to the courier DHL. The package is believed to be linked to Russia.

The investigation comes just weeks after another case in Leipzig, Germany, in which German domestic intelligence suggested that another DHL air freight package that caught fire could be linked to Russia.

Thomas Haldenwang, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, told German lawmakers this week that the package caught fire before the flight took off. He added that if the package had detonated on board the plane in flight, it would have likely crashed.

Reports suggest that the only reason the device did not explode on board the plane is that it was delayed.

“We are observing aggressive behavior by the Russian intelligence services [that is] putting people’s lives at risk. It affects all areas of our free society,” Haldenwang said.

Western authorities have suggested Russia may have also been behind an attempted assassination plot directed at the CEO of Germany’s Rheinmetall, a major manufacturer of weapons provided to Ukraine. Details of Russia’s alleged involvement in the incidents remain scarce. However, Russia has been accused of election interference and many other plots in the past, some of which turned out to be fake or overblown.

Those plots included the so-called “Russian collusion” hoax linked to President Donald J. Trump or allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

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Authorities in the United Kingdom suspect that Russia may have planted an incendiary bomb on a courier airplane after the alleged device caught fire at a warehouse in the city of Birmingham, England, this week. British counter-terrorism police say they are investigating the incident, which saw a suspicious fire break out at a warehouse belonging to the courier DHL. The package is believed to be linked to Russia. show more
July 1, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
News

Is Boeing Getting Special Treatment?

Boeing is nearing an agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to plead guilty to criminal charges stemming from two fatal 737 Max crashes that occurred in 2018 and 2019, according to attorneys representing the victims’ families.

The aerospace manufacturer is accused of violating a previous settlement related to these tragedies, which resulted in the deaths of 346 people. The crashes took place in Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019.

In January 2021, the DOJ charged Boeing with conspiracy to defraud the United States, alleging that the company misled the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) during the evaluation of the 737 MAX aircraft.

Boeing agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement, committing to pay fines totaling $243.7 million, $1.77 billion in compensation to airline customers, and $500 million to the beneficiaries of the crash victims. Boeing also agreed to cooperate with the government and avoid committing any felony offenses, with the DOJ deferring criminal prosecution for three years.

In May, the DOJ asserted that Boeing had violated its obligations under the 2021 settlement. Now, the DOJ is proposing a new agreement, which would necessitate Boeing pleading guilty to conspiracy charges, paying a fine of approximately $200 million, agreeing to the appointment of an external corporate monitor, and remaining on probation for three years. This deal would prevent the need for a criminal trial.

The families of the crash victims have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed plea deal, criticizing it for lacking accountability and an admission of conspiracy causing the deaths of 346 people.

Several whistleblowers have come forward warning of safety issues with Boeing aircraft, including John Barnett, who was found shot to death earlier this year. Barnett had warned, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide,” although his death was ruled as self-inflicted.

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Boeing is nearing an agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to plead guilty to criminal charges stemming from two fatal 737 Max crashes that occurred in 2018 and 2019, according to attorneys representing the victims' families. show more
April 17, 2024
News

Boeing Engineer Tells Senate It Is Only A Matter of Time Before A Catastrophic Disaster.

An engineer from Boeing, Sam Salehpour, warned members of the United States Senate on Wednesday of a potential loss of hundreds of lives if quality issues at the aviation giant are not resolved urgently.

In testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s investigations subcommittee, Salehpour claimed Boeing’s negligent disregard for concerns raised by employees and hostility to safety endangers passengers’ and crews’ lives. He specifically highlighted faults with over 1,000 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets currently in service that could lead to premature fatigue failure.

When Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) asked if Boeing planes are safe, Salehpour warned that it is only a matter of time before one of the company’s planes is responsible for a catastrophic aviation disaster. “It’s like an earthquake. The big earthquake is coming, and when that hits, the building has to be prepared to accommodate that kind of—let’s say—shake-up. It has to be built properly,” the Boeing engineer responded. Salehpour continued: “Right now, from what I’ve seen, the airplanes are not being built per spec and per requirement.”

Salehpour went on to testify that Boeing’s 787 and 777 lines are especially concerning as the company is “doing stuff” that increases risk factors. “When you increase the risk factors, it’s not just one. You are doing stress concentrations,” the engineer said. He explained that while components might not break initially, after additional stresses, the odds of a failure increase dramatically.

After raising concerns about the production and safety protocols surrounding the 787 and 777 lines, Salehpour told Sen. Hawley that superiors at Boeing threatened him, then sidelined, and finally transferred. Reacting to these allegations, Boeing officials stated that Salehpour’s claims about the Dreamliner are “inaccurate,” maintaining that the 787 and 777 lines continue to be safe.

WATCH: 

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An engineer from Boeing, Sam Salehpour, warned members of the United States Senate on Wednesday of a potential loss of hundreds of lives if quality issues at the aviation giant are not resolved urgently. show more
Biden Cannibals
April 17, 2024
William Upton
News

WATCH: Biden Claims His Uncle Was Eaten By Cannibals.

Joe Biden — while speaking to the press in Scranton, Pennsylvania earlier on Wednesday — delved into a strange tangent about his late uncle, Ambrose Finnegan, possibly having been eaten by cannibals. The 81-year-old Biden described how Finnegan — whom he referred to as “Uncle Bosie” — was a U.S. airman during World War II who crashed near the Melanesian island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean.

The area of the island where Finnegan’s plane was assumed to have gone down, according to Biden, was inhabited by cannibals. Biden also told the press that he saw the wreckage of his uncle’s plane after it was allegedly discovered and moved to Australia late last year. Ambrose Finnegan’s body was never recovered.

While the Democrat President is known for being an almost pathological liar and regaling those in earshot with tall tales, there appears to be at least a degree of truth to Biden’s story about his uncle. Military records show that 2nd Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan, Jr. — hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania — did, in fact, crash in 1944 off the coast of the island of New Guinea.

Additionally, parts of the island were inhabited by cannibalistic tribes at the time, including the Fore and Korowai people. In fact, the Korowai are accused of still practicing cannibalism to this day. The possibility that the airman was eaten by cannibals is underscored by the fact that the bodies of two other airman on the plane were never recovered, but a fourth crewman – TSgt Anthony Zulkus – survived the crash and was eventually rescued by a passing barge.

WATCH:

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Joe Biden — while speaking to the press in Scranton, Pennsylvania earlier on Wednesday — delved into a strange tangent about his late uncle, Ambrose Finnegan, possibly having been eaten by cannibals. The 81-year-old Biden described how Finnegan — whom he referred to as "Uncle Bosie" — was a U.S. airman during World War II who crashed near the Melanesian island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. show more