Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Delta Flight Diverted

Authorities in Shannon, Ireland, report no evidence to validate a note apparently found in the lavatory or a Delta 767 bound from Frankfurt, Germany, to Atlanta. The flight was diverted to Shannon and all 144 people on board (134 passengers and 10 crew members) were deplaned, questioned and searched after the note was found suggesting there was a bomb hidden on board. "The search is ongoing," a police spokesman in Dublin said in an interview with Reuters. "So far nothing suspicious has been found, although the search is likely to continue for some time."

EU Extends Ban Of 'Dangerous' Items On Aircraft

Going to Europe anytime soon? If so, leave your fishing pole at home. That goes for your pool cue, ice skates, ski poles and skateboards. At least, if you're planning to take those items with you into the cabin. The EU has come up with a uniform set of regulations on what you can and can't take with you when flying to or in Europe. "Ensuring that air passengers are safe is a top priority for the EU," said the European commission's UK honcho, Jim Dougal. "This is why we need to ban items that could be used as weapons by terrorists."

'Fessing Up: Northwest Gave Feds Passenger Data

Caught in an apparent -- how should we put this... misstatement -- Northwest Airlines now admits that it provided passenger data to NASA in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. "We do not provide that type of information to anyone," Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch told the New York Times on September 23. But records obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center under the Freedom of Information Act indicate otherwise.

Crew Rage?

We've all heard of air rage. In these days of heightened security, long lines and short tempers, it's no longer uncommon to read about passengers who fly off the handle. But crew members? John McLeod was flying from Charlotte (NC) to Tampa Bay (FL) last month when the flight attendant announced it was time to "stow your tray-tables and raise your seats to their upright and locked positions." When he didn't immediately comply, he got a few sharp pokes in the shoulder from a flight attendant.

Pratt & Whitney Parts Fall Off Truck

As anyone in the Northeast can tell you, you'll find all sorts of stuff along I-95 -- the major north-south interstate in the area. But if you happen to find a box full of Pratt & Whitney parts, David Cleveland would sure like to hear from you. Two boxes containing engine parts destined for Korean Airlines apparently "fell off" a Condor Air Transport truck driving along the interstate near Greenwich (CT) Thursday. Cleveland, the company's president, even rented an aircraft Saturday to fly along I-95 looking for the lost goods.

United Flight Attendants File Grievance Over Health Care

The United Airlines Master Executive Council of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, says it's filed a grievance against the carrier, asking for an expedited hearing to stop airline management from unlawfully seeking to impose devastating cuts to retiree medical benefits by unilaterally changing the agreement reached between the parties in the spring of 2003. The union says United signed a letter of agreement in May 2003 to ensure that flight attendants retiring before July 1, 2003 would have access to health care benefits that were less costly and more comprehensive than those that would be in place for those who retire after that date.