Latest news with #CharlotteDouglasInternationalAirport
Cedar News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Cedar News
Frontier Airlines A320 Engine Damaged at Charlotte Airport Video
Engine Damage During Ground Operations Frontier Airlines flight F93134 from Charlotte to LaGuardia experienced a serious incident at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when a ground air-conditioning hose was sucked into the Airbus A320's left engine while the aircraft was parked. Passengers were transferred to another plane, delaying departure by nine hours. Watch two videos capturing the dramatic event and passenger evacuation. Quick Response by Airport Personnel Airport personnel responded immediately to secure the aircraft and inspect the damage. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, and airline officials confirmed the plane would undergo thorough maintenance before returning to service. Safety Concerns and Expert Advice This incident raises questions about ground safety procedures and the interaction between ground equipment and parked aircraft. Aviation safety experts stress that such incidents, though rare, highlight the need for strict adherence to airport ground protocols. Passenger Relocation and Airline Statement Passengers were later able to continue their journey safely on a replacement aircraft. Frontier Airlines issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience and thanking airport staff for their prompt response. Ongoing Investigation and Prevention Measures Authorities and airline representatives are reviewing the event to prevent similar accidents in the future. For viewers, the videos provide a clear view of how even parked planes can face unexpected risks at busy airports.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vi Lyles is trying to make Charlotte history. Can she put a final shine on legacy?
Charlotte was in a precarious position in 2017. The city had just gone toe-to-toe with state lawmakers over Charlotte's nondiscrimination ordinance, which allowed transgender people to use public restrooms that aligned with their gender identity. The Republican General Assembly wasn't pleased and passed a controversial bill to nullify the ordinance. A few years before that, the N.C. General Assembly attempted to take control of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport from the city, which would have undermined Charlotte's financial autonomy. And the city had cycled through five mayors in as many years. Their reasons for leaving ranged from a federal appointment under the Obama administration to an arrest on corruption charges. Residents were dismayed by drama unfolding at city hall and antsy for change. Enter Vi Lyles. A quiet leader with decades of local government experience, her conciliatory style offered a sharp contrast with the status quo. Lyles was a gifted consensus builder who could reach across the aisle and build trust in unexpected places. She especially shined behind the scenes and in one-on-one conversations, according to those who've worked with her through the years. Lyles upset incumbent Jennifer Roberts in the Democratic primary and went on to become Charlotte's 59th mayor and the first Black woman in the role. Eight years later, she's pursuing a fifth term in office that would give her sole possession of the second-longest serving mayor in Charlotte history. She is currently tied for second with Stan Brookshire and John Belk. Her campaign comes on the heels of a successful, yearslong effort to place a 1% sales tax referendum on voters' ballots, which could overhaul the region's transportation system. But dynamics have shifted since her first go-around. The same quiet consensus building once hailed as an effective hallmark of her leadership is being challenged in new ways by interpersonal conflicts on City Council and critics who want bolder leadership. A dozen of her friends, colleagues and critics dissected her record thus far for The Charlotte Observer and offered their thoughts on how history will remember the mayor. Lyles did not respond to multiple requests for an interview until after the Observer's deadline. Mayor Vi Lyles' political rise Lyles entered the mayor's office with an unusual amount of experience. She worked as a city budget analyst, budget director and assistant city manager before moving to the nonprofit and private sectors in the early 2000s. She secured her first elected position in 2013 as an at-large city councilwoman. Over time, Lyles accumulated a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable people in city government, driven by process and policy. She can 'push different buttons and move the different levers' to execute her priorities, said former councilman Braxton Winston. Her goals often don't fit neatly with a particular political party or platform. And she's a straight shooter, true to herself and her message, Winston said. People know where she stands when she walks in the room. Outside of meetings, Lyles works tirelessly to garner support from the business community and neighborhood groups, convincing them to back policies she believes in, said former at-large councilwoman Julie Eiselt. She's measured, too, which can frustrate people who want bolder actions. 'The flipside is, I think, slow and steady wins the race,' Eiselt said. 'Whether you agree with her policies or not, she knows how to get things done.' One policy achievement was the council's passage of the Unified Development Ordinance, which is a comprehensive zoning and land development rulebook intended to guide future growth. Lyles also launched the Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative, a public-private partnership with a goal of raising $250 million to address racial disparities and invest in the city's six Corridors of Opportunity. Her political ascent is credited in part to her knack for relationship building — a strength to which even political rivals attest. Lyles is one of the kindest, most intuitive people Libertarian mayoral candidate Rob Yates has ever met, he said. She's a natural diplomat who can read people well, and the few one-on-one interactions they've had have stuck with him. He thinks her policies are all wrong, of course. 'But for what it's worth, I don't think there's some ulterior motive, some massive agenda. I think she's sincere in her desire to help the people of Charlotte and make things better,' Yates said. Repairing relationships in Raleigh The General Assembly traditionally viewed Charlotte as 'too big for its britches' and had little interest in going out of its way to help the city, said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte. Local leaders exacerbated matters. Lyles' predecessor, Roberts, had a hands-on tenure and took controversial stances that landed Charlotte in hot water, Heberlig said. Lyles found ways to accommodate Republicans and lower the temperature. In 2020, she pushed for the Republican National Convention to come to Charlotte, an action that lacked broad support from her base. Unpopular as it was at home, the move was key in demonstrating good faith to state leaders, paving the way for this year's 1% sales tax referendum to support transportation, Heberlig said. If voters approve it, the tax would generate billions of dollars to fund road, bus and rail projects such as the long-anticipated Red Line commuter rail. Lyles understood the ramifications if Charlotte didn't support the convention, said Eiselt, who was mayor pro tem at the time. The General Assembly could punish Charlotte by taking away highway funding or control of the airport, she said. Alternatively, Charlotte stood to benefit economically since the convention would bring jobs for gig workers and patrons for small businesses. 'We could either do things that in the short term we knew would be a poke in the eye to the General Assembly but in the long term it could be more damaging to Charlotte, or you could really analyze things and say, 'What's going to help us the most with what we need to accomplish in Charlotte?'' Eiselt said. 'That is definitely relationship building with the leadership in Raleigh, and I think she's been very good at that.' Charlotte is a moderate city, and Lyles a moderate leader, said David Erdman, the former chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party who briefly served on council in the '90s. She's middle-of-the-road enough that people in both major parties are comfortable with her at the helm. She lacks lightning rod qualities or ultraliberal views that might otherwise motivate the Republican Party to run a strong candidate against her. Though, voting trends suggest Republicans would have a hard time winning the citywide contest regardless. A big name Democrat hasn't run against her, either, since she dethroned Roberts in 2017. 'She makes us comfortable. There's nothing radical appearing about Vi, and she's qualified,' Erdman said. Lyles faces more challengers than ever as frustration mounts Though Lyles' moderate approach has been successful in courting favor in Raleigh, former councilman Winston said he's not so sure the same can be said for the people of Charlotte. Distrust is building in the community, he said, and frustrations with political leaders are bubbling over. Winston sees parallels between today and the political climate of 2017 that swept Lyles into office. She faces the most crowded pool of challengers yet, with four other Democrats, a Republican and a Libertarian in the mix. For much of her tenure, Lyles managed to deflect controversies without much lasting criticism attached to her reputation, said Brendan K. Maginnis, a Democrat in the mayoral race. He cited her support for the RNC, council's approval of $650 million to renovate Bank of America Stadium and her decision to demolish a historic house in the McCrorey Heights neighborhood as a few concerns that blew over with the news cycle. 'She has this, like, little squeaky clean, come and smile in your face situation. It's alluring. It draws people in,' said Democratic mayoral candidate Jaraun 'Gemini' Boyd. She's a savvy politician with enough goodwill among the electorate that they're willing to overlook occasional controversy, Maginnis said. That's why few have tried to challenge her until now. All the while, people in underserved communities have grown apathetic as development centers around affluent areas, he said. 'There's nothing left in the tank for people to want to believe in her anymore,' Boyd said. 'People are just tired of the rhetoric, tired of the talking about what you're gonna do for the marginalized communities, and then you do nothing when you get in office.' Boyd founded Project BOLT, a nonprofit that works with formerly incarcerated people to connect them with opportunities and resources to keep their lives moving in a positive trajectory. He thinks Charlotte is dying to see a more progressive leader who isn't afraid to try new things and visit the underserved parts of town where he works almost every day. Boyd and Maginnis both criticized the transportation tax, which they said would disproportionately benefit rich folks who don't rely on public transit. They expressed disappointment in Lyles' longstanding promise to curb Charlotte's affordable housing crisis, which they both pledged to address. The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area is short more than 53,000 affordable units for extremely low income households, according to 2023 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. 'That's not very effective,' Maginnis said. 'If that is your focus, and that's what you're trying to do, and we still have that kind of deficit with the revenue that's coming in and the initiatives you put in place, that's an issue.' Erdman was more sympathetic. Housing would equilibrate if the city had a static population. But when more than one hundred people are moving here every day, there's simply no way for the city to keep up, he said. Charlotte has made some gains on the issue, though. The Housing Trust Fund, a program that finances developers to build affordable housing, doubled from $50 million to $100 million last year under Lyles' watch. To date, the city says it has created or preserved more than 10,800 units. Navigating transparency and a fractured City Council Lyles faced perhaps the greatest controversy of her tenure this spring when the city approved a deal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings worth more than $305,000 during a private meeting. The details were not clear until after news outlets began reporting on the issue. The controversy triggered accusations that the city was not operating transparently. It was amplified by at-large councilwoman Victoria Watlington in her email newsletter shortly after the deal was made. She called out city government for unethical and illegal behavior, though she didn't name specific actions and later softened her tone. That was the motivating factor behind Maginnis' campaign, he said. Yates, the Libertarian candidate, called the Jennings debacle 'an affront to everybody in Charlotte' and said his top priority as mayor would be 'to drive utter and ruthless transparency.' Closed sessions are sometimes necessary under law, Winston said, but that doesn't always preclude public conversation about a topic. 'Hiding behind laws and lawyers are issues that are convenient and can dissuade, can kind of muddy up public conversation, and those are tactics you learn over time how to use, if that's your desire, from working in the system,' Winston said. Lyles wielded that tactic in June when she cast a tiebreaking vote that decided council would not study ways to improve working conditions for airport employees, Winston said. It was a political decision, he said, to avoid ruffling feathers in Raleigh as state leaders moved the transportation tax bill through the final stages of approval. Transparency concerns are a close cousin of a greater issue at play in Charlotte politics: internal distrust between city leaders. Winston attributes some of the problem to a physical disconnect. Council members' offices are on the opposite side of the building from the mayor and city manager. During his term as mayor pro tem, council members wanted more communication about what the two city leaders were working on, he said. Other former leaders such as Eiselt said trust issues stem from council members who are unwilling to work together to fix the problem — and who don't want to see the mayor succeed. That's a far cry from the days when Cyndee Patterson and Velva Woollen were in office. The beloved councilwomen, who served in the '80s and '90s, said city leaders used to be close friends who did their homework and debated in good faith. They crafted solid compromises. Lyles came out of that political environment. Council today has what Patterson calls 'bomb throwers' — people who stir up controversy and make claims unsupported by data. That's been frustrating for Lyles, a natural coalition builder who leads by getting people together in teams, Patterson said. 'Best I can tell, there's very little trust on city council,' Patterson said. 'There's too much interest in who gets credit.' Woollen, a longtime Republican, became an independent just to vote for Lyles during her first primary election. The two remain close friends today and still meet for dinner or a chat. She sees 'grandstanding' from some city leaders, she said. And when councilmembers leak information or comment on closed sessions, they're only sowing further discord and 'get at' the mayor, she said. The Jennings settlement was a notable example. 'It just upsets me so bad,' Woollen said. 'God love her, that's all I can say. I can't imagine (running) again, but I'm thankful that she is.' What legacy will Vi Lyles leave behind? Lyles is running again because she has unfinished business, Patterson and Woollen said. Assuming voters support the 1% sales tax referendum in November, Lyles wants to be there to implement the transportation plan she helped establish. That's what is driving her decision, they said. Despite the turbulence that has characterized 2025 so far, Lyles will be remembered for repairing relationships with the General Assembly and offering steady, competent leadership during a period of rapid growth, said Heberlig, the political science professor. The transportation bill wouldn't have happened without her longterm efforts, he said. He doesn't see recent controversies such as the Jennings settlement as the sort of galvanizing force that could overthrow an incumbent since it's not an issue that affects voters directly. The economy is doing well. People continue to flock to Charlotte. Crime hasn't skyrocketed. There aren't any major budget issues. 'She gets the credit because things seem to be well-run,' Heberlig said. 'It's hard to beat an incumbent, and if you don't have something to blame them for or beat them up with, your chances of winning are pretty minimal.' Maginnis thinks she'll be remembered for doing a lot of good and starting well-intentioned initiatives during her time in office, which he plans to build on if elected. And Winston thinks she'll be remembered for integrating Queens College, now Queens University of Charlotte, rising through the ranks of city government and becoming the first African-American woman to serve as mayor. He's grateful his daughters have been able to see her in that power position. 'That should not be overlooked. The struggle that Black people have faced in this country have happened in many different arenas, and we have learned to survive and thrive,' Winston said. 'I do think that is a story that will resonate, regardless of how you feel about the decisions that were made. It's a story that should be told.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
7 Hospitalized at Busy American Airlines Hub, Flight Canceled
Seven airline employees were hospitalized Friday night at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after being exposed to a mysterious odor aboard an American Airlines aircraft, prompting concerns over possible jet fuel fumes. The incident happened around 9 p.m. on June 27, just before passengers boarded Flight 2055 to Los Angeles, People reported. According to Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services, six crew members and one gate agent were treated for 'inhalation symptoms of an unknown substance from an aircraft.' All were transported to a local hospital in stable condition with minor injuries. An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the odor was reported before boarding began, adding that the affected crew members were evaluated and released after medical treatment. The Airbus A321 was immediately taken out of service for inspection by the airline's maintenance team. Although emergency responders detected no hazardous readings beyond a possible smell of jet fuel, the situation was serious enough to cancel the flight entirely. Witnesses described a rapid response, with medics and airport staff moving quickly to assess the scene and care for those affected. The timing only added to the airport's already strained that evening, American Airlines had requested a ground stop due to severe weather, and a technical issue further delayed hundreds of flights. By the end of the night, more than 730 flights had been delayed and over 130 canceled at the airline's busiest hub. American Airlines has not yet released the results of the maintenance inspection or provided further details about the substance. The Federal Aviation Administration has not issued a formal statement regarding the event. While the incident may ultimately prove to be minor, it's a reminder that when it comes to air travel, even a strange smell can quickly escalate into a full-blown emergency.7 Hospitalized at Busy American Airlines Hub, Flight Canceled first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2025
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
American Airlines plane makes emergency landing after engine starts smoking
An American Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Las Vegas on Wednesday after smoke and sparks were seen spewing from one of its engines. American Airlines Flight 1665 was forced to return to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical issue, the airline said in a statement. Video from an eyewitness shows dark smoke trailing behind the plane's engines midair. Sparks could also be seen going off from its right engine. Fedex Plane Catches Fire Midair Before Making Emergency Landing The plane, which was scheduled to fly from LAS to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), was carrying 153 customers and six crew members, American Airlines said. The statement reads, in part, "The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power, and customers deplaned normally. "We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team, who are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible. Read On The Fox News App No injuries were reported. Toronto Plane Crash: Harrowing Video Shows Delta Plane Erupting Into Fireball, Flipping Upside Down The aircraft is being taken out of service and will be evaluated by American Airlines' maintenance team, the company said. The aircraft type was not immediately made public. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said it is aware of the incident and that Flight 1665 was an Airbus A321. "American Airlines Flight 1665 returned safely to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas around 8:20 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 25, after the crew reported an engine issue," the agency said in a statement. "The Airbus A321 was headed to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The FAA will investigate." Harry Reid International Airport was previously known as McGarran International article source: American Airlines plane makes emergency landing after engine starts smoking
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Smoke billows from American Airlines flight after leaving Las Vegas airport
An American Airlines jet returned to Las Vegas after reporting an engine issue on Wednesday. American flight 1665, operating on an Airbus A321, was heading to Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 8:20 a.m. local time when it had to return to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's preliminary statement. No injuries were reported, a spokesperson for the airport told CNN. There were 153 passengers on the flight, the spokesperson said. The FAA is investigating.
