Cylinder may have exploded in flight
Australian investigators are exploring the possibility that an oxygen cylinder could have exploded midflight on the Qantas jumbo jet that made a harrowing emergency landing in the Philippines with a giant hole in its fuselage, an official said today.
The Boeing 747-400 was cruising at 29,000 feet Friday with 346 passengers aboard when it was shaken by what passengers described as an explosion. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling as the plane descended rapidly and debris flew through the cabin from a hole that suddenly appeared in the floor. En route to Melbourne, Australia, from London, the plane landed safely minutes later at the Manila airport. There were no injuries.
Four specialists from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau inspected the aircraft Saturday. Boeing and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board were also sending specialists to assist.
Meanwhile, some passengers told Australian media that their oxygen masks failed to work properly during the crisis, leading some to nearly pass out.
BERLIN
Drunken passengers force plane landing
Two drunken British women went on a rampage on a charter plane, hitting one flight attendant with a bottle of vodka and trying to open a cabin door as the aircraft was cruising over Austria at 32,800 feet, police said Saturday.
The staff on the flight from Greece to England eventually forced the women back to their seats and the pilot made an emergency landing in Frankfurt on Thursday, police said.
The identities of the women, ages 26 and 27, were not released, but police said the 26-year-old may be charged with attempted assault and interfering with air traffic.
The rampage occurred when a flight attendant denied the women alcohol because they were visibly intoxicated, police said. The 26-year-old took a swipe at a cabin attendant with a bottle of vodka, then attempted to open a cabin door.
ACAPULCO, Mexico
Dead sea turtles washing ashore
Environmental officials in Mexico say dozens of dead sea turtles apparently killed in fishing nets have washed up on beaches in recent days.
Authorities say 59 Olive Ridley turtles have been found on beaches in and around the resort of Acapulco. Environmental protection officer Manuel de Jesus Solis said his agency found 12 dead turtles bearing marks apparently caused by fishing nets. Victor Berdejo said 47 more dead turtles were found by personnel at a turtle-protection area he supervises.
The turtles, once hunted in Mexico for their meat and eggs, were declared a protected species in 1990. Fishermen are required to include turtle escape devices in their nets.