South
Two Injured as Southwest Airlines Flight Dives to Avert ‘Midair Collision’
A Southwest Airlines flight on Friday was forced to swiftly descend over Hollywood Burbank Airport to avert a “midair collision,” according to passengers and the airline.
At least two flight attendants were injured in the maneuver on Flight 1496, which was bound for Las Vegas.
Flight passenger Steve Ulasewicz described feeling a “significant drop,” adding the pilot told the rattled flyers that the crew had to pull off the emergency move to “avoid a midair collision,” ABC News reported.
Southwest Airlines told Newsweek that the flight was forced to “climb and descend” over Burbank after receiving two “onboard traffic alerts.”
Why It Matters
The near miss is the latest in a series of global aviation incidents that have reignited debate over air traffic oversight, pilot training and reliance on automated warning systems.
On Monday, a plane landing in Mexico City almost crashed into a Delta Air Lines flight at Benito Juarez International Airport.
On January 29, a commercial jetliner and Army helicopter collided in Washington, D.C., killing 67 people. Two days later, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing all six people onboard and one person on the ground.
The deadly January crashes led President Donald Trump to announce plans to revamp the nation’s aging aviation safety infrastructure.
What To Know
Passenger and comedian Jimmy Dore said many onboard had been flung out of their seats and had “bumped their heads on the ceiling.”
After the sudden descent, the pilot informed passengers that the maneuver was ordered to avoid another aircraft, and that there had been a temporary loss of contact with air traffic control.
“Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us,” Dore added in a post on X. “Wow.”
Caitlin Burdi, a fellow passenger, described the “terrifying” moment the flight suddenly plummeted.
“It felt like the ride Tower of Terror, where we fell 20 to 30 feet,” she told Fox News Digital. “I just remember [the pilot] saying, ‘What just happened was we almost collided with another plane, and I had to make the emergency attempt to go under because we lost service with the air traffic controller.’”
Southwest Airlines told Newsweek that no injuries had been reported by customers, although the two flight attendants were being medically treated.
The flight was able to continue to its destination of Las Vegas, where it landed “uneventfully.”
“Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] to further understand the circumstances,” an airline spokesperson said.
What People Are Saying
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson also told Newsweek: “We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew and Flight Attendants in responding to this event. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”
Burdi also told Fox News Digital: “The screaming, it was terrifying. We really thought we were plummeting to a plane crash.”
A Hollywood Burbank Airport spokesperson told Newsweek:“There’s no evidence of any incident similar to what you’re describing happening in the immediate vicinity of our airport.”
What Happens Next
Southwest and FAA officials have launched an investigation into the cause and sequence of events that led to the emergency maneuver. They’re reviewing air traffic control communications, radar data and cockpit recordings. The ongoing probes will focus on determining whether procedural lapses or technical issues contributed to the risk of collision.
Augusta, GA
Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University
Augusta, Ga. – A year ago when Quinasia Abercrombie was a freshman, she let her work on the court do the talking as she became one of the top players in the Peach Belt Conference. Abercrombie didn’t have to be a vocal leader since the Jaguars had several upper classmen that handled that role. This year, her sophomore season, Abercrombie is still one of the best players around, but now has become the vocal leader of the team, something that didn’t come naturally.
“I’m just leading my team by voice now, not just leading by example,” Abercrombie said. “Since I don’t really talk, I think they (my teammates) were really surprised, but they’re listening.”
She leads the Augusta women in several offensive categories and has proven to be a major asset to the program.
From Greenville, S.C., Abercrombie was an all-state high school player. She gives part of that credit to her siblings, one older brother and three younger brothers. She had to scratch and claw on the basketball court with them and she’s the first to give them credit for helping make her the player she is today. Abercrombie went as fas as saying she enjoys playing against guys since they’ll push her hard to become better, and she likes the competition.
Now, she’s also being pushed by coach Celeste Stewart. So much so, it’s taking Abercrombie out of her comfort zone. But it’s all for the betterment of her.
“She’s put me in multiple, uncomfortable situations, like talking, being more verbal, and just putting me in positions I wouldn’t normally put myself in,” added Abercrombie.
With the Peach Belt Conference tournament up next for the Jaguars, Abercrombie thinks this team can find another gear and make a run. While she has elevated her game, she knows her teammates can do the same.
Even going forward as a player, Abercrombie knows there’s plenty of room for improvement. One of the most notable for her, her ball handling skills.
“I know I like to pick up my dribble a lot and give it to my point guards,” said Abercrombie. “But I know I can bring it down the court, I just need to work on my ball handling and just being confident handling the ball.”
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.
Washington, D.C
Washington Commanders to pay DC $1M to resolve lawsuit over abusive workplace culture – WTOP News
Brian Schwalb, the District’s attorney general praised the new ownership for rectifying the Commanders’ internal issues.
The former owners of the Washington Commanders will pay the District of Columbia $1 million to resolve a 2022 lawsuit that alleged the NFL franchise misled its fans regarding the team’s toxic and abusive workplace culture in order to protect the its brand.
Dan Snyder still owned the team at the time, and as D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced the settlement Monday, he praised the new owners for rectifying internal issues, including accusations of rampant sexual assault and harassment.
“The Commanders’ current owners have commendably opened a new chapter in the team’s history, committing to ensure all employees are protected from abuse and treated with dignity,” Schwalb said. “I want to thank the victims for coming forward to tell their stories — without their bravery, none of this would have come to light.”
A group led by Josh Harris purchased the Commanders in 2023 from Snyder, who had faced pressure to sell the team after a series of scandals and decades of perceivable mediocrity on the field.
Since then, new ownership has strengthened the team’s human resources department and implemented an anti-harassment policy and an investigation protocol for complaints of misconduct, Schwalb’s office said in a news release.
Under the agreement, the team will maintain those reforms, along with paying $1 million to D.C.
The NFL separately fined Snyder $60 million in 2023 after its own investigation concluded that he personally engaged in multiple forms of misconduct, including sexual harassment.
D.C.’s suit accused Snyder and the team of misleading the public about what they knew regarding the hostile work environment and Snyder’s role in creating it.
The Commanders and Snyder deny all the allegations and are not admitting wrongdoing by reaching a resolution, according to the terms of the settlement.
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Austin, TX
Austin downtown shooting: What we know about the gunman, victims and motive
A gunman opened fire outside a bar in Austin’s West Sixth Street entertainment district shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, killing two people and injuring 14 others, authorities said.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspected gunman drove a large SUV around the block several times before the attack. He then rolled down the windows and began firing a pistol, striking patrons at the bar.
The gunman then parked, exited the vehicle and continued shooting with a rifle, police said.
Paramedics and police arrived within a minute after the first 911 call, Davis said. Officers fatally shot the suspected gunman at the scene.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who were the victims?
Authorities identified the victims as 24-year-old Saditha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, a student at Texas Tech University.
“It is unfair, to say the least, that my little brother was only given 19 years on this earth,” his brother, Reed Harrington, wrote on Facebook. “Watching the man he had become, and seeing all the lives he touched, leaves me certain that this world was robbed of a great future.”
Three people injured during the shooting remained in critical condition Monday, though one is expected to be taken off life support later today, Davis said during a Monday news conference.
Who was the gunman?
Austin police identified the gunman as Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old man originally from Senegal.
The Department of Homeland Security said Diagne entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2000, became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 after marrying a U.S. citizen and became a naturalized citizen in 2013.
In 2017, Diagne legally purchased the guns he used in the shooting in San Antonio, Davis said.
Diagne was arrested in 2022 on a misdemeanor charge of “collision with vehicle damage,” typically issued when a driver leaves the scene of a crash.
The New York Post reported Diagne was arrested for “illegal vending” in New York City in 2001. Citing unnamed sources, the tabloid said he was arrested in New York three other times between 2008 and 2016, but those records are sealed. The Post did not report on whether he was convicted of any crimes.
Authorities said they expect to release more information on Diagne’s criminal history on Thursday as well as body camera footage and other details related to the officer-involved shooting that led to Diagne’s death.
What was the motive?
Investigators have not announced a motive. However, Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of FBI San Antonio, said there were indicators that the shooting could be related to terrorism.
Diagne wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “Property of Allah” and a shirt with a design of the Iranian flag, according to the Associated Press. The shooting came hours after the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes in Iran.
What are elected officials saying?
Reactions from Texas politicians have largely fallen along partisan lines. Democrats are calling for stricter gun laws, while some Republicans have focused on the gunman’s immigration history.
After Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico called for proposals such as universal background checks, red flag laws and closing the gun show loopholes that allow for the private sales of firearms at gunshows, Gov. Greg Abbott said the problem wasn’t gun laws but with “unvetted” immigration.
Disclosure: Facebook and Texas Tech University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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