In brief: U.S. apologizes for flag mishap
MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. government said Sunday it made an “honest mistake” when it displayed an inverted Philippine flag – which wrongfully signified that the Southeast Asian nation was in a state of war – in a meeting hosted by President Barack Obama.
The Philippine flag was displayed upside down behind President Benigno Aquino III when leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met Obama in New York on Friday.
“This was an honest mistake,” U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said in a statement, adding, “the U.S. treasures its close relationship and close partnership with the Philippines.”
The American embassy will find out how the “unfortunate” incident happened, she said.
Philippine foreign affairs department spokesman Ed Malaya said the government understood that it was “an honest error” that “should not detract from the true significance of the summit.”
NEW YORK – With a flight attendant yelling “heads down, stay down,” passengers cowered and prayed on a tense descent into Kennedy Airport as malfunctioning landing gear sent sparks flying and left one of the plane’s wings dragging along the tarmac.
No one was hurt Saturday evening when Delta Connection Flight 4951, operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, made its emergency landing on its way to White Plains, N.Y., from Atlanta, said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Steve Coleman.
The right gear of the plane was stuck and would not deploy, the pilot told air traffic control, according to a recording.
All 60 passengers exited safely through the main door onto the tarmac and were bused to the terminal, said Atlantic Southeast Airlines spokesman Jarek Beem. The airline was working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the landing gear problem, he said.
Helicopters took dip in Lake Tahoe
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Military officials say an investigation is under way after two U.S. Navy helicopters dipped temporarily into the waters of Lake Tahoe before righting themselves and landing at a nearby airport.
San Diego-based Naval Air Forces media officer Lt. Aaron Kakiel said a YouTube video filmed by tourists represents authentic footage of the Sept. 13. incident, the Nevada Appeal reported.
Kakiel said two pilots were returning from a cross-country tour when they attempted a “hover” maneuver with MH-60 Romeo helicopters a few feet above the water in Emerald Bay.
The aircraft had insufficient power to sustain the hover and slowly descended into the water, he said. Both were able to regain altitude and land.
The helicopters suffered some damage, but no one was injured and no fuel leaked into the lake, Kakiel said.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Navy wouldn’t identify the pilots or say whether the helicopters were supposed to be hovering over Lake Tahoe. The Navy did, however, say the entire Sept. 13 flight is under investigation.