Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle

Police move in, some hostages leave Philippine bus

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police stormed a bus Monday evening after shots were heard from the hostage-taker of 15 Chinese tourists, and at least four of the hostages crawled out of the back door.
The hostage-taker was killed, said Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut.
There was no immediate confirmation of any … Original source on Gaea Times at : Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle.

Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard

Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage

MANILA, Philippines – A dismissed policeman armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus in the Philippine capital Monday with 24 passengers, most of them Hong Kong tourists, in a bid to demand his reinstatement, police said.
Six hostages, including three children, were subsequently released, and appeared to be unhurt.
Police sharpshooters … Original article on : Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard.

Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O’Keeffe share

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Nashville judge has rejected Fisk University’s proposal to sell a joint share in a 101-piece collection donated by late artist Georgia O’Keeffe to an Arkansas museum.
Fisk argued that its precarious financial state prevents the historically black university from maintaining and displaying the collection.
Judge Ellen …. Original article  : Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection.

Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir

Mud delays efforts to extract WWII plane from lake

SAN DIEGO – Divers worked through the day Thursday to extract a rare World War II dive bomber from the bottom of a reservoir but were unable to finish removing thick silt and mud from the plane to enable it to be lifted out of the water.
Former …. Read the original article  : Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir.

AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY

AP sources: Phone was about hijacking threat

WASHINGTON – A source close to the investigation says a New York-bound jetliner was stopped from taking off from San Francisco after someone threatened to hijack it.
American Airlines Flight 24 was halted just before its scheduled takeoff Thursday morning at San Francisco International Airport after someone called in the … Read : AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY.

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

NEW YORK – In a story Aug. 19 about American Airlines new seat fees, The Associated Press reported erroneously that elite frequent fliers can reserve the first few rows of coach for no charge. Elite fliers have access to other preferred seats without a fee but must pay $19 to … Read more : Correction: American Airlines seat fee story.

Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir

Divers work to lift WWII plane from Calif. lake

SAN DIEGO – Salvage divers gently cleared away silt and mud covering a WWII dive bomber buried in the bottom of the San Diego reservoir, carefully working Thursday to lift the rare plane from the water 65 years after it was ditched during a training run.
Bob Metz, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir.

NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year

Hole in Southwest jet blamed on metal fatigue

DALLAS – Federal investigators say metal fatigue caused a hole to rip open in the roof of a Southwest Airlines jet as it cruised at 35,000 feet last year.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the 14-inch crack developed in a spot where two sheets of aluminum skin were … Read more >>.

American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin

American Airlines to charge for front-row seats

NEW YORK – American Airlines has found another fee.
The Fort Worth, Texas, airline said Wednesday it’s now charging between $19 and $39 for “Express Seats” – those spots in the first few rows of coach that include bulkhead seats.
American said the price of the seats includes getting on the … Original source on Gaea Times at : American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin.

Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards

Website aimed at hometown tourists
BOISE, Idaho – My family will travel halfway around the world to see a koala bear sitting in a eucalyptus tree, but for some reason it took us four years in Boise to see the city’s spooky old 19th century penitentiary, a local favorite just a few miles from our house.

The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.