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4 kids found alive two weeks after plane crashes in Colombian jungle
May 17, 2023
Four children, including an 11-month-old baby, were found alive in the Colombian jungle more than two weeks after their plane crashed and killed every adult on board.
The miraculous news was shared by President Gustavo Petro following an intense search carried out by the country’s military, firefighters and civil aviation authority officials.
The doomed plane crashed into the thick jungle on May 1, killing the pilot and two other adult passengers aboard.
The three adults were found dead inside the Cessna 206.
The four surviving children from the country’s Indigenous community are ages 13, 9, 4, and the infant.
Officials believe they escaped the plane and set out on foot to find help before they were found in the Caqueta province.
“After arduous searching by our military, we have found alive the four children who went missing after a plane crash in Guaviare,” Petro said in a tweet. “A joy for the country.”
The plane issued an urgent mayday alert as it was traveling from the Amazonas province to a city in the Guaviare province.
The search for the wreckage included dogs, as well as airplanes and helicopters from Colombia’s army and air force.
Rescuers found discarded fruit consumed by the children and improvised shelters made from jungle vegetation during their rescue effort.
https://nypost.com/2023/05/17/4-kids-found-alive-2-weeks-after-plane-crashes-in-colombian-jungle/
Mutants in Congress!
Just don't make him angry
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
May 18, 2023
WR 134 Ring Nebula
Made with narrowband filters, this cosmic snapshot covers a field of view about the size of the full Moon within the boundaries of the constellation Cygnus. It highlights the bright edge of a ring-like nebula traced by the glow of ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen gas. Embedded in the region's interstellar clouds of gas and dust, the complex, glowing arcs are sections of bubbles or shells of material swept up by the wind from Wolf-Rayet star WR 134, brightest star near the center of the frame. Distance estimates put WR 134 about 6,000 light-years away, making the frame over 50 light-years across. Shedding their outer envelopes in powerful stellar winds, massive Wolf-Rayet stars have burned through their nuclear fuel at a prodigious rate and end this final phase of massive star evolution in a spectacular supernova explosion. The stellar winds and final supernovae enrich the interstellar material with heavy elements to be incorporated in future generations of stars.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
Banner plane crashes, bursts into flames near Memorial Regional Hospital; pilot dead, hailed as hero
May 17, 2023
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - One person has died after a banner-towing plane crashed on a road adjacent to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood and burst into flames.
Video from 7Skyforce showed the aircraft flying low to the ground, at around 12:30 p.m., Wednesday.
Moments later, the plane plummeted and crashed on South Park Road, just north of Hollywood Boulevard, and ignited.
“It was pretty crazy to see,” said witness Maddie Bracy.
The aircraft, a yellow Piper PA-25 Pawnee that was headed toward the beach from North Perry Airport, was owned by Aerial Banners, Inc.
In a distress call to air traffic control, the pilot reported encountering difficulties shortly after takeoff and expressed the need to release the banner being towed.
“Yeah, I’m gonna have to drop this banner. I’m not climbing,” he said.
Moments later, he made the decision to release the banner.
“I’m at 400 [feet], I’ve got to drop this over a lake,” he said.
But the pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft and fell from the sky.
In video captured by 7Skyforce, the plane was seen veering erratically through the air before ultimately crashing.
“We thought it was a car accident. We looked out of our windows, and we saw a huge flame,” said Bracy. “It sounded like two trucks just colliding together.”
Bracy said she was working nearby when she saw the plane engulfed in flames.
“Where it landed, it just missed a car, 20 feet from it,” she said, “so it was really insane to physically watch it, especially being so close, my job, I can see it out the window. It’s unreal, unbelievable.”
Witness Karen Schiff said she could tell the pilot was doing all he could not to hit anyone on the ground.
“Whoever it was, he made every attempt to not hurt anybody else,” she said. “There were people on both sides of the road, but [he was maneuvering the plane] to avoid people.”
Schiff said she was just feet away from where the Piper exploded.
“With another gentleman from across the street, and we were trying to see if we could get anybody out, but the flames were too hot,” she said.
The pilot was the only person on board.
It’s a tragedy that, Schiff said, the pilot prevented from being even worse.
“He’s truly a hero, whoever it was, and his family needs to know that,” she said.
Emergency services, including Hollywood Police and Fire Rescue, promptly responded to the scene to put out the flames. Despite their best efforts, the pilot could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the crash site.
Authorities have shut down South Park Road between Hollywood Boulevard and Johnson Street. Hollywood Police said it will remain closed until at least Thursday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating to determine the sequence of events and factors contributing to this incident.
7News is working to learn the identity of the pilot.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/banner-plane-crashes-bursts-into-flames-near-memorial-regional-hospital-pilot-dead-hailed-as-hero/
Councilman Matthew Reilly resigns as chairman of Cranston Republican Party, says mayor
May 16, 2023
CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston’s Mayor Kenneth Hopkins announced Councilman Matthew Reilly resigned from his position of chairman of the Cranston Republican Party.
The mayor made the announcement in his first public comment following Reilly’s arrest Monday.
“My hope is Matt will get whatever care and attention he needs for his own well-being,” the mayor said in a release.
“I agree with Council President (Jessica) Marino that everyone should allow the court system and judicial process to work towards an appropriate resolution,” he continued.
Marino also issued a statement on Tuesday, saying in part, “The news of Cranston Republican Party Chairman Matthew Reilly/ Ward 6 Councilman Matthew Reilly’s arrest and criminal charges are very concerning and disappointing.”
Reilly remains on the city council at this time.
Police said at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, someone signaled to an officer in the area of Pontiac Avenue and Marine Drive about a man who looked like he was choking.
The officer saw the man, later identified as Councilman Matthew Reilly, appearing to have a medical episode. The officer noticed Reilly, 41, was holding a glass pipe and a lighter
Reilly was charged with one count of drug possession and was arraigned by a bail commissioner and released pending a court appearance on June 15.
https://www.abc6.com/councilman-matthew-reilly-resigns-as-chairman-of-cranston-republican-party-says-mayor/