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Two blind women say they became only passengers on Southwest flight after airline ‘forgot about’ them

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Two blind women say they became only passengers on Southwest flight after airline ‘forgot about’ them


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Two blind women from Florida recently discovered they were the only passengers aboard their Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando, saying the company needs to improve how it communicates with passengers who have disabilities.

Sherri Brun and Camille Tate were traveling together on Southwest Flight 2637, scheduled to depart New Orleans on July 14. Following a nearly five-hour delay, the two friends finally boarded their flight, only to discover they were the only two people on the plane, FOX 35 reported.

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“You’re the only two people on this flight because they forgot about you,” Brun said the two women were told.

Two blind women from Florida recently discovered they were the only passengers aboard their Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando. (FOX 35)

Brun and Tate said they had waited by their assigned gate, checking Southwest’s app for updates. However, unbeknownst to them, nearly all the other passengers had been rebooked on a separate Southwest flight to Orlando that departed earlier from a nearby gate, FOX 35 reported.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines must provide prompt and effective communication for passengers with visual impairments, especially during delays or rebookings and boarding changes a federal law under the Air Carrier Access Act.

Brun and Tate said that requirement was far from met. “Nobody said a word to us about another flight,” Brun said. “We were just waiting at the gate, checking the app, like everyone else.”

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MOM PULLS OFF SNEAKY AIRLINE SEAT HACK THAT HAS OTHER TRAVELERS IN DISBELIEF

Travelers make their way through Orlando International Airport on September 2, 2023. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“There needs to be some improvement in how they communicate with their passengers, especially those that have disabilities,” Tate said.

“We have seen inaccurate accounts that suggest we ‘forgot’ the two customers, or that we sent a plane back to get them,” a Southwest spokesperson told Fox News Digital in an email. “Neither of these is the case. … The Customers were scheduled on Flight 2637. Although it ran almost five hours late that day, it remained their same flight number throughout.”

FLIGHT PASSENGER’S RANT ABOUT AIRLINE STANDBY PRACTICES GOES VIRAL AS RECORD SUMMER TRAVEL GETS UNDERWAY

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The airline offered each of the women a $100 travel voucher as compensation for the delay.  (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Southwest said it offered each of the women a $100 travel voucher as compensation for the delay.

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“We apologize for the inconvenience,” Southwest told Fox News Digital. “Southwest is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ travel experiences, and we’re active in the airline industry in sharing best practices about how to best accommodate Passengers with disabilities.”

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Texas

Texas A&M’s Regional Final revealed ahead of Sunday night matchup

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Texas A&M’s Regional Final revealed ahead of Sunday night matchup


The College Station Regional has played out almost exactly as projected, and Sunday night’s final comes down to the two teams most expected to be here. Texas A&M vs. USC, with a Super Regional berth on the line.

Texas A&M reached the final in the smoothest way possible, taking care of business early with wins over Lamar and Texas State to secure a 2–0 start. USC’s path was far more chaotic. After dropping their opener to Texas State, the Trojans fought through the losers’ bracket, eliminating Lamar before surviving a wild rematch with the Bobcats.

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USC jumped out to an 8–0 lead, but Texas State clawed back with a four‑run fourth inning to tighten the game. The Trojans ultimately pulled away again late, setting up a scenario where they’ll need two wins Sunday night to advance, while the Aggies need just one.

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A&M enters the matchup with a significant storyline. Head coach Michael Earley confirmed that ace Aiden Sims is out for the remainder of the postseason after re‑aggravating his injury. Trying to push him further, Earley said, would risk long‑term damage to his career. That leaves the Aggies searching for someone to step up on the mound in the biggest game of their season.

First pitch between the Aggies and Trojans is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. CT, with the game streaming on ESPN+.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M, USC set for College Station Regional Final showdown





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Virginia

Deadly crashes on Interstate 95 over 2 days prompt safety concerns along Virginia’s busy corridor

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Deadly crashes on Interstate 95 over 2 days prompt safety concerns along Virginia’s busy corridor


CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. — Two deadly crashes on I-95 in two days are drawing attention to safety concerns along one of Virginia’s busiest corridors.

Stafford Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen authorized felony warrants charging Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Friday’s deadly bus crash in Stafford County. Additional charges are pending.

Investigators say the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed when it slammed into traffic slowing for a work zone on I-95 south, triggering a chain reaction involving at least eight vehicles.

“According to local first responders, five occupants of passenger vehicles in the traffic queue were tragically killed. Numerous other occupants, including the bus driver, were injured and some seriously,” National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said.

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 Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say

Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say

Among those killed was a Massachusetts family of four who were traveling to a wedding in South Carolina. A fifth victim, also from Massachusetts, was killed.

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A total of 44 people were taken to hospitals, including three with critical injuries.

A woman who was on the bus described the scene in the aftermath of the crash.

“You have blood, people bleeding, people screaming, the bus smoking. A stranger came bust the window open and let us all out; I’m thankful for that,” passenger Judy said.

Dong remains hospitalized but is in custody after being served with the felony warrants. Prosecutors say more charges are possible. He will be held without bond, and his first court appearance will be scheduled once he is released from the hospital.

Then on Saturday, another deadly crash closed portions of I-95 in Caroline County.

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WTVR

Christina and Joshua Baker

Christina Baker and her husband Joshua say they witnessed the crash unfold. They told us an SUV was speeding down the left shoulder of I-95 South before striking debris and losing control.

“It went down, and then it went up, and then just flew across the entire median across onto oncoming traffic going the opposite direction,” Christina Baker said. “I started screaming, saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’”

Officials say one person died and two others were hospitalized. At this time, they have not released any more information about those involved.

The crash left the Bakers wanting to remind drivers to stay alert and think of others when behind the wheel.

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“People should just stay in the lanes, drive the speed limit right, and be responsible. Because I felt for a moment, I was obviously concerned for our safety as well,” Joshua Baker said.

While the cause of both crashes remains under investigation, Chapman says the NTSB is noticing many common factors when it comes to crashes on I-95, including traffic backups.

“We also want to look very closely here to issues potentially involving fatigue, driver performance, those sorts of things. And vehicle performance issues. That might include factors such as automatic braking, whether the vehicle was or was not equipped with what’s called AEB. Those are the sorts of things we want to look at here and we might be able to learn some lessons,” Chapman said.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: Fatal I-95 Charter Bus Crash

  • This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.





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West Virginia

West Virginia Rallies in the Ninth to Upend Kentucky

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West Virginia Rallies in the Ninth to Upend Kentucky


Morgantown, WV – The West Virginia Mountaineers (42-15) rallied and scored five runs to force a Morganton regional game seven with a 9-5 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (33-22) Sunday night.

Kentucky starting pitcher Ben Cleaver never found his rhythm in his 14th start of the season. He beaned leadoff hitter, junior Armani Guzman, walked consecutive Mountaineer hitters to load the bases, and hit senior Sean Smith to bring in the game’s first run. Senior Matthew Graveline followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, then reloaded the with his third walk of the inning and it would end the junior’s afternoon.

Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione handed the ball to Ira Austin, and on the 1-1 pitch, senior Brodie Kresser hit an RBI single to centerfield for a 3-0 WVU lead.

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In the bottom of the frame, two errant throws put two aboard for the Wildcats before loading the bases after West Virginia starting pitcher David Hagan issued consecutive walks for Kentucky’s first run of the contest. Then, freshman Braxton Van Cleave worked the opposite field with an RBI single to left field to pull the Wildcats within one, 3-2.

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Kentucky tied the game in the second after Jayce Tharnish hit the gap in left centerfield for a one out double and moved to third on a ground ball from sophomore Tyler Bell before senior Luke Lawrence hit an RBI single back up the middle.

West Virginia reclaimed the lead in the third. Gaveline hit a leadoff to centerfield and moments later, Kresser smacked a one-out single to left field and senior Ben Lumsden hit the top of the left field wall for an RBI single. Junior Tyrus Hall grounded to third to bring a run across and Guzman capped a three-run third with an RBI single to right field for a 6-3 Mountaineer lead.

Kentucky responded in the bottom of the frame after junior Ethan Hindle received a four-pitch leadoff walk, Van Cleave lined a single to left field, placing runners at the corners, and senior Carson Hansen brought in a run with a fielder’s choice to short to close within two, 6-4. WVU sophomore reliever Joshua Suriagao pitched a third of the inning before Sabins turned to senior Carson Estridge, who recorded the final two outs of the inning.

Kentucky took the lead in the fourth when Bell sparked the Wildcats with a leadoff home run. Then, Lawrence doubled to left field, and Hindle lined an RBI single to left field before Van Cleave delivered another RBI for the 7-6 advantage.

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West Virginia loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, but the bottom of the order did not bring a run across, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

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In seventh, Kentucky added some cushion to its lead and did the damage with two outs on the board. Tharnish lifted the 2-2 pitched just over the right field wall for a two-out solo home run, then Bell blasted his second solo shot of the afternoon for a 9-6 Wildcats’ lead.

In the ninth, West Virginia loaded the bases on an Kentucky error, a walk, and a single from junior Tyrus Hall. Then, Guzman received a four-pitch walk to bring in a run, Kelly got the Mountaineers within one with a sacrifice fly and a balk tied the game before senior Paul Schoenfeld blasted a two run home run to give the Mountaineers an 11-9 lead.

West Virginia reliever Ben McDougal entered the game in the fifth and closed the game out for the Mountaineers for the 11-9 decision.

West Virginia and Kentucky will meet for a trip to the Super Regionals on Monday. Time and TV is to be determined.

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