Remembering Iran Air 655

Iran Air flight 655 was a scheduled passenger flight from Tehran (IKA/OIIE) to Dubai Airport (DXB/OMDB), United Arab Emirates, via Bandar Abbas Airport (BND/OIKB), Iran and was shot down on the 3rd of July 1988 by two SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles fired by the USS Vincennes, a guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy.

The flight departed from runway 21 at 10:17 local and climbed straight ahead. At 10:23 the missiles were fired from the USS Vincennes and hit the aircraft, an Airbus A300, while it was flying its usual route over Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, shortly after the flight departed its stopover location, Bandar Abbas International Airport. The tail and one wing broke off as a result of the explosions.

All 290 people, 274 passengers and 16 crew, on board were killed. The attack occurred during the Iran–Iraq War, which had been continuing for nearly eight years. Vincennes had entered Iranian territorial waters after one of its helicopters drew warning fire from Iranian speedboats operating within Iranian territorial limits.

The official report stated that 10 attempts were made to contact Iran Air Flight 655: seven on military frequencies and three on commercial frequencies, addressed to an "unidentified Iranian aircraft" and giving its speed as 350 knots (650 km/h; 400 mph), which was the ground speed of the aircraft their radar reported. Flight 655's crew, however, would have seen a speed of 300 knots (560 km/h; 350 mph) on their cockpit instruments, which was their indicated airspeed, possibly leading them to conclude that Vincennes was talking to another aircraft.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Iran Air

Code: IR/IRA

Aircraft: Boeing 717-2BD

Registration: EP-IBU

Serial number: 186

Engines: 2 x GE CF6-50C2
First flew: 16/03/1982
Age: 6.4 Years

Woman dies on Qantas flight

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPJ (MSN 0712)

A young woman from Melbourne has tragically passed away on an international Qantas flight. Manpreet Kaur, aspiring to be a chef, embarked on her journey from Melbourne to Delhi on the 20th of June, eager to reunite with her family after more than four years. Tragically, she did not make it. A friend revealed that the 24-year-old student felt unwell hours before the flight yet managed to board without difficulty.

As she attempted to fasten her seatbelt, Ms. Kaur collapsed and passed away instantly. This occurred while the aircraft was still docked at the Melbourne gate, prompting cabin crew and emergency personnel to respond swiftly.

Her friend Gurdip Grewal recounted to the media, "She struggled with her seatbelt as she boarded the plane. Right before the flight commenced, she collapsed in front of her seat, fell to the floor, and died immediately."

Media reports suggest that Ms. Kaur likely succumbed to tuberculosis, a lung-affecting infectious disease. Her roommate, Kuldeep, shared that Ms. Kaur balanced her studies in cookery with a job at Australia Post, nurturing a dream to become a chef someday.

Described as kind and honest by her roommate, Ms. Kaur enjoyed exploring Victoria with her friends. She was on her way to India to visit her parents, whom she hadn't seen since moving to Australia in March 2020.

A representative from Qantas conveyed their condolences, stating, "Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time."

QF69 was due to depart Melbourne at 9.30am but didn't get away until 4.10pm

   THOUGHTS AND PRAYES GO OUT TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

United Airlines kicks passenger off plane after confusion of flight attendant gender

UNITED BOEING 787-9 N29978 (MSN 66137)

A passenger, accompanied by her 16-month-old son and mother, alleges she was removed from her United Airlines flight after mistakenly using the incorrect pronoun for a flight attendant. 

Jenna Longoria, attempting to board a Texas-bound plane from San Francisco International Airport, repeatedly addressed a United crew member with the wrong pronoun.

Longoria, a health and hormone specialist, recounted that the flight attendant, who identifies as female, had issued the family their boarding passes.

"I said, ‘Thank you, sir.’ That was all," Longoria stated.

According to her, the attendant became upset. "As I proceeded down the plane's aisle, she detained my mother and barred her from following me past the gate," Longoria shared with the media.

Onboard, Longoria sought assistance from another male flight attendant to reunite with her mother. However, in referencing the first attendant, she again used the pronoun "he."

"He asked, 'He?' and I confirmed, ‘Yes.’ He then pointed out, ‘She is wearing a dress’," Longoria explained.

Holding her crying son, her focus was on boarding the plane safely, not on the correct pronouns. The family was denied boarding, and the plane left with their belongings and medications.

United claims the family was barred from boarding due to excessive carry-on items, a point Longoria strongly contests.

But, in an online video, a United representative named Gabriella stated, "Due to the verbal altercation with our staff, you were removed from this aircraft."
"I need to gather more statements, but I was informed of some derogatory transgender-related comments and accusations of bigotry, which led to your removal," Gabriella added.

Longoria expressed her shock and described the experience as traumatic.
Subsequently, the family purchased new tickets with another airline to continue their journey.

Two separate light plane crashes in one day in Adelaides state's far north

Authorities have confirmed the death of a 22-year-old man in a light aircraft accident in the far north of South Australia early Thursday morning. The man, who was the pilot and only person on board, crashed near Mulgathing around 9:30 am. The crash site is located at a sheep station approximately 700 kilometers north of Adelaide and 200 kilometers southwest of Coober Pedy. Major Crash Investigators, Forensic Crime Scene officers, and personnel from the Far North Local Service Area were dispatched to the site.

Safework SA has been informed, and a report for the coroner will be compiled by the police. An ATSB spokesperson stated, "The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has initiated an investigation into the terrain collision of a Cessna 172 during mustering operations at Mulgathing, in rural South Australia, on Thursday morning."

Subsequently, emergency services addressed a second light plane incident on Thursday afternoon. Preliminary reports indicated that a pilot incurred minor injuries at Evelyn Downs, 170km north of Coober Pedy.

A call for assistance was received by police and emergency services around 2 pm.

An RFDS spokesperson reported, "Today, RFDS teams provided aid to a patient at Evelyn Downs Station in Far North SA, after a light plane crash – marking the second such event in the area today." The RFDS Remote Area Clinic team from Marla attended to the patient on-site before transferring him to an RFDS aeromedical team en route to Adelaide.

The adult male patient is seriously but stably conditioned and will be transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for further evaluation and care.