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Tags: Mistakes / Northwest Airlines / SAN / MSP / Airline News / Pitlots / → All Tags
Hijacking Was Feared In The Case Of The Northwest Plane That Flew Too Far
Have you ever been so engaged in a heated discussion while driving that you completely drive past your destination without noticing, although you've got the GPS on? It's hard to imagine, but that's exactly what two Northwest Airlines pilots are claiming happened to them on Wednesday, when they overshot their destination of Minneapolis by 150 miles, claiming they were distracted by their "heated discussion over airline policy and lost track of their location."
No one was hurt, and the plane eventually did turn back around and safely land in Minneapolis, although behind schedule and with some majorly freaked out air traffic controllers. You see, after the airport tower couldn't get contact with the pilots for over an hour, and then when they did they received vague answers, the controllers feared that the flight had been hijacked. Fighter jets in the area were scrambled and ready to fly, but weren't deployed once the NWA pilots finally got their heads on straight and completed maneuvers to prove that they were indeed in control of their own plane.
Tags: New Routes / Southwest Airlines / MSP / Jetblue / → All Tags
It's Southwest Versus Northwest On Twin Cities Route
Just as Jetblue announced that they'll be dropping their "desert run" between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City on April 30, which is coincidentally the #1 city in America for downloading online porn, Southwest has turned our frown upside down with a new route from Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Infiltrating Northwest's Twin Cities hub is a major coup for Southwest, who will be flying from MSP to Chicago's Midway Airport and taking no prisoners along the way. Today marks the first day of the service, and we've been following the @SouthwestAir Twitter through the morning as the the first passengers receive free backrubs and Southwest CEO Gary Kelley makes the rounds.
Competition is very fierce in the under-served Midwest routes, especially when it comes to secondary airports like Midway. According to USA Today's Today in the Sky blog, "airfares between the Twin Cities and Chicago, which had been as low as $100 round-trip, started to rise as soon as AirTran exited." Add to this Southwest's notoriously low fares, and we could be witnessing the sown seeds of a Northwest and Southwest fare war. Hopefully this means we will soon reap $100 flights once again.
Related Stories
· Southwest Enters Minneapolis/St. Paul "fortress hub" [Today In the Sky]
· New Routes Coverage [Jaunted]
[Southwest at MSP check-in photo via Southwest's Twitter]
Tags: Travel Weather / Delta / Northwest / MSP / Flight Delays / Change Fees / → All Tags
Delta Waiving Change Fees for The Minneapolis-Bound
Heading to the Twin Cities tonight? Don't forget your mukluks: Minneapolis-St. Paul is expecting six-plus inches of snow today, with the storm starting this morning. And freezing rain and sleet for the side dishes!
Delta in its capacity as new owner of Northwest's major business at MSP is waiving all change fees if you had planned to fly in today. We recommend not being re-routed through Chicago (dense fog advisory!) or the Dakotas (same storm), but anywhere else should be fine. And hey, Delta, way to be proactive.
Related Stories:
· Valentine's Day Winter Storm Creating Travel Mess [Jaunted]
· Winter Storm Shutters Las Vegas Airport [Jaunted]
· Flight Delays coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: smohundro]
Tags: Airbus / A380 / MSP / MCO / YUL / → All Tags
Where To Spot the Airbus A380
Airbus is tooling around North America in another of its publicity-loving A380s. And everyone from die-hard plane-spotter to curious soccer dad is out to catch a glimpse of the bird.
After flying into MCO--an airport that won't likely see another A380 anytime soon--the super-jumbo is headed back to France after a stop in Montreal. But don't despair, Minnesota! Your date with the Airbus starts the night of October 26 and goes until the next morning. Just remember: No fooling around!
Related Stories:
· Airbus A380 Visits Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
· Plane-spotters Jetstruck as Big Bird Flies into Town [The Gazette]
· World's Largest Passenger Jet Lands in Montreal [CTV]
· Airbus to Show Off Jet at MSP [Pioneer Press]
· A380 coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: MSP / Minneapolis Airport / → All Tags
Senator Larry Craig Finds A New Use For Carry On Luggage at MSP
Looks like Idaho Senator Larry Craig is being pushed to the brink of resignation. This week the Senator said he regretted his guilty plea in an alleged lewd airport restroom incident at the Minneapolis Airport back in June -- he was bagged in a sting.
According to the police report released this week, the incident in question began with Craig peering into the undercover officer's stall several times through the crack in the door.
Then, the Senator, reportedly, entered the stall next to the undercover officer and blocked the view from the front of the stall with his luggage.
When he was seated, Mr. Craig tapped his right foot in a signal used by people wishing to engage in lewd conduct, the report said.
After the officer moved his own foot up and down, the report said, Mr. Craig moved his right foot so that it touched the side of the officer's left foot under the stall divider. Mr. Craig also reportedly swiped his left hand under the stall three times before the officer held his police identification down by the floor so Mr. Craig could see it.
It is important to note that after his arrest, the Senator denied any sexual intent. It is also important to note that there is Fox News store at MSP International. And it should be noted that WiFi is free at MSP, sort of, which is convenient for these type of travel missed connections stories, though it seems this connection was made.
Related Stories:
· Idaho Senator Says He Regrets Guilty Plea in Restroom Incident [New York Times]
· Minneapolis Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: sarae]
