A United Airlines flight that lost a portion of its landing gear tire is diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, March 7, 2024. — KABC
(SAN FRANCISCO) — A United Airlines flight lost one of its tires during takeoff from San Francisco on Thursday, causing the Japan-bound plane to be diverted to Los Angeles, the airline said.
United Flight 35 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at 1:30 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The flight lost a portion of the landing gear tire during takeoff at approximately 11:35 a.m. PT, according to the San Francisco International Airport. Footage from Cali Planes shows the tire falling off seconds after takeoff.
The tire debris landed in an employee parking lot at the airport. No one was injured and the runway was briefly closed to clear debris, the airport said. At least one car in the parking lot appeared to be damaged following the incident, footage shows.
“We’re grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation,” United said in a statement. “We’re also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival.”
United said it will work with the owners of the damaged vehicles at the San Francisco International Airport “to ensure their needs are addressed.”
The tire was one of 12 on the Boeing 777-200’s two main landing gear struts, according to United.
“The aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires,” United said.
The FAA said it will investigate the incident.
The flight was bound for Osaka. United said it arranged for a new aircraft to continue the trip for the passengers Thursday evening.
There were 235 customers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots on board at the time of the incident, United said.
In this screen grab from a U.S. Army video, Sgt. Korbein Schultz is shown. — U.S. Army
(NASHVILLE) — A U.S. Army intelligence analyst allegedly gave national defense documents, writings, plans, maps, notes and photographs for cash, according to charges unsealed by federal prosecutors in Nashville.
Korbein Schultz was frequently asked by an unindicted co-conspirator to get sensitive documents, including information related to a variety of U.S. military weapons systems, classified information and information related to the United States’ potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack, according to the Department of Justice. It is unclear if he gave over the plans to the unindicted co-conspirator.
Schultz was allegedly paid $42,000 for handing over the documents and the only known information that is mentioned about the co-conspirator is that the person allegedly lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas.
“As set out in the indictment, however, the defendant is charged with entering into a multiyear conspiracy to illegally exploit his access to National Defense information for his own financial benefit. He traded our National Defense information for cash,” Henry C. Leventis, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said at a press conference on Thursday.
“This included documents and information related to advanced fighter aircraft, advanced military helicopters, intercontinental ballistic missiles, high mobility artillery, rocket systems, defensive missile systems and Chinese military tactics. The defendant and his coconspirator also discussed recruiting another member of the US military, to join their conspiracy and to provide additional National Defense information,” Leventis said.
The alleged scheme began in June of 2022, according to the DOJ, and continued up until Schultz’s arrest.
Schultz was arrested at Fort Campbell in Tennessee on Thursday, according to the DOJ.
The three documents he allegedly provided included an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the HH-60W helicopter, an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the F22-A fighter aircraft and an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to the indictment.
“Today, Sgt. Korbein Schultz was arrested for conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, export of technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license and bribery of a public official,” a post on X (formally known as Twitter) from the Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC), said.
Court documents say that by disclosing this information, Schultz’s actions “could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national security of the United States.”
The more classified markings that were on a document, the more Schultz was paid by the co-conspirator, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said in one message to the co-conspirator, Schultz allegedly said he wanted to be the fictional character Jason Bourne, and that he would consider working for the co-conspirator in person in Hong Kong.
Attempts by ABC News to reach an attorney for Schultz or Schultz himself were unsuccessful.
(NEW YORK) — Robert Card, the man who killed 18 in the Lewiston, Maine mass shooting last year, “likely” suffered from traumatic brain injury, according to a report by doctors who studied his brain, and released by Card’s family.
The Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s office had requested the post-mortem study of Card’s brain by the Boston University CTE Center, and the results were shared by Card’s family on Wednesday.
Card had been a U.S. Army Reservist and a longtime instructor at an Army hand grenade training range, and it is believed that he was exposed to thousands of low-level blasts, according to doctors at Boston University’s Concussion Legacy Foundation.
“Robert Card had evidence of traumatic brain injury. In the white matter, the nerve fibers that allow for communication between different areas of the brain, there was significant degeneration, axonal and myelin loss, inflammation, and small blood vessel injury. There was no evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” Dr. Ann McKee, director of the BU CTE Center, said in the report.
CTE is a progressive brain disease caused by repeated traumatic brain injuries. It is associated with significant behavior changes and dementia.
Traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow to the head. Mild injury may only affect the brain temporarily, while more serious injury can result in bruising, bleeding or more serious damage, and “can cause temporary or short-term problems with normal brain function, including problems with how the person thinks, understands, moves, communicates, and acts,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
“These findings align with our previous studies on the effects of blast injury in humans and experimental models. While I cannot say with certainty that these pathological findings underlie Mr. Card’s behavioral changes in the last 10 months of life, based on our previous work, brain injury likely played a role in his symptoms,” McKee said in the report.
On Oct. 25, Card killed 18 and injured 13 after opening fire at a local bar and bowling alley before dying by suicide.
Card’s family is allowing further studies to be done on his brain in an effort to “help prevent future tragedies” from occurring.
Card’s family said in the Wednesday release they are deeply sorry for his actions and are “hurting” for survivors and members of the Lewiston community.
“While we cannot go back, we are releasing the findings of Robert’s brain study with the goal of supporting ongoing efforts to learn from this tragedy to ensure it never happens again,” his family said in a statement. “We know it does not fully explain Robert’s actions, nor is it an excuse for the horrific suffering he caused, but we thank Dr. McKee for helping us understand his brain damage and how it may have impacted his mental health and behavior. By releasing these findings, we hope to raise awareness of traumatic brain injury among military service members, and we encourage more research and support for military service members with traumatic brain injuries. Our hearts remain with the victims, survivors, and their families.”
(PHILADELPHIA) — Eight students were shot, leaving two students in critical condition, after gunfire rang out at a SEPTA bus stop in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, according to Philadelphia police.
Multiple people opened fire as the students were attempting to board a bus at approximately 3:00 p.m., local time, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said in a press conference.
Bethel said three people exited a vehicle parked near the SEPTA bus stop and opened fire, shooting over 30 rounds toward the students as they were attempting to board the bus.
All eight victims were students who attended Northeast High School, and their ages ranged from 15 to 17 years old, according to Bethel.
One of the students in critical condition was shot multiple times, Bethel said.
A SEPTA bus was “caught in the crossfire,” but no passengers on board reported needing medical attention, according to officials with the regional public transportation company.
“Our hearts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” police said.
Wednesday’s shooting is just the latest in an outbreak of gun violence in the city, and the fourth shooting involving a local SEPTA bus in one week, according to Philadelphia ABC station WPVI-TV. Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a public safety emergency in January.
“It is hard to sit here and see, in three days, 11 juveniles shot, who were coming and going from school,” Bethel said.
Bethel said police are investigating whether this shooting today is connected to a shooting on Monday, which also occurred at a SEPTA station, that killed a 17-year-old high school student who attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School.
The 17-year-old student died, and two others suffered graze wounds.
Police plan to increase security efforts “significantly,” throughout the week, specifically near schools around dismissal time, according to Bethel.
“We will not be held hostage,” Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said during the press conference. “We will use every legal tool in the toolbox to ensure the public health and safety of the people of our city.”
Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Tony B. Watlington added that trained crisis professionals will be at Northeast High School for students and families in need.
(WORCESTER, Mass.) — A manhunt is on for a 27-year-old man who is suspected of shooting and killing a mother and her young daughter inside of a parked car in Massachusetts, police say.
The Worcester Police Department in Massachusetts say they are searching for 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, who should be considered armed and dangerous, and wanted for charges connected to the murder of Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella Nunez, on Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m. when police found the two female victims shot inside a parked car.
Belnavis is currently wanted for armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license.
A second individual has been arrested in connection with the homicide, but authorities say that details about that suspect will be released at a later time.
If you have information about this incident, please send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.
Belnavis should be considered armed and dangerous. The investigation is currently ongoing.
(WORCESTER, Mass.) — A manhunt is on for a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a mother and her 11-year-old daughter inside of a parked car in Worcester, Massachusetts, authorities said.
Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella Nunez, were found shot to death shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Worcester Police Department said.
Suspect Dejan Belnavis, 27, should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
A second suspect, 28-year-old Karel Mangual, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, police said.
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista, Mayor Joseph Petty, interim Police Chief Paul Saucier and Superintendent of Schools Rachel Monárrez released a joint statement on the “senseless loss of two Worchester residents.”
“An act of such violence has no place in our city,” they said. “The residents of Worcester deserve better, and we will stand alongside our community in sorrow and solidarity.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651.
(NEW YORK) — New York National Guard troops and New York State Police troopers will be deployed into the subway system to help riders feel safe after a spike in transit crime, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.
The new deployment is in addition to the 1,000 New York City police officers who were ordered to patrol subway lines and do security checks on bags in the nation’s largest transit system last month following an attack on a conductor and other high-profile crimes.
Hochul announced the deployment of National Guard troops as part of a five-point plan to protect subway riders.
“Since taking office, I have been laser-focused on driving down subway crime and protecting New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “My five-point plan will rid our subways of violent offenders and protect all commuters and transit workers. I am sending a message to all New Yorkers: I will not stop working to keep you safe and restore your peace of mind whenever you walk through those turnstiles.”
Hochul said she is directing the New York National Guard to make 750 members, who are currently part of the Joint Task Force Empire Shield, available to help check subway riders’ bags for weapons.
“The service members of the New York National Guard are always ready to assist our partners as they ensure the safety and security of our fellow citizens,” Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, adjutant general of the state National Guard, said in a statement.
Hochul said her plan also includes assigning 1,000 state workers, including 250 state police troopers and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police members, to assist the NYPD in enhanced baggage checks at heavily trafficked areas of the subway system.
“No one heading to their job or to visit family, or to go to a doctor’s appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon,” Hochul said at a news conference Wednesday.
The governor also announced a proposal to amend state law to allow judges to ban people convicted of an assault within the system from using MTA services as part of sentencing. Hochul said there is currently a provision that allows a transit ban as a term of sentencing for individuals who assault transit workers, but under her plan the provision would be extended to include assaults of anyone within the subway system.
Additionally, the five-point plan will seek to improve coordination between law enforcement, transit personnel and the city’s district attorneys on how to best combat crime in the subway system, including initiating regular meetings between the agencies to share information “regarding holding dangerous, repeat offenders within the system accountable.” Hochul said the first meeting is scheduled for next week.
“This will assist district attorneys with their casework and support existing efforts to keep violent offenders off the streets and out of the subways,” according to a statement released by Hochul’s office.
Hochul said she will also hire a new “criminal justice advocate” to assist the victims of subway crime and that the transit police officials will develop a new early warning system to flag recidivist offenders for district attorney offices during booking processes.
The MTA is also speeding up the installation of cameras inside subway cars. Hochul said new cameras will also be focused on conductor cabins to protect workers and assist police investigators in identifying and arresting assailants who target transit workers.
Hochul said she is allocating $20 million to expand the Street Conditions Observation Units or SCOUT team pilot program in partnership with New York City, which includes people trained to handle severe cases of people in the throes of a mental health crisis in the subway system. The governor said the additional funds will help rapidly scale up the pilot program to 10 teams by the end of 2025.
“The transit system is too important to the city and region to allow the perception of safety, or lack of it, to scare people away,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, adding that his agency has already installed thousands of new cameras in subway stations aboard trains, adding to the 10,000 monitoring devices already working in the system and have “proven time and time again to lead to police apprehensions and even deter crime.”
Transit crime fell in February by more than 15% compared to a year ago, but subway crime in January was up 45% mostly due to grand larcenies.
“Rattling off statistics, saying things are getting better doesn’t make you feel better, especially when you’ve just heard about someone being slashed in the throat or thrown onto the subway tracks,” Hochul said, adding that a man was kicked onto the tracks over the weekend at the Penn Station subway stop and that three fellow riders pitched in to pull him out of harm’s way.
NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper said the number of arrests in the subway system rose 45% this year. More than 3,000 arrests were made in the subway system in the first two months of the year, many of them repeat offenders, Kemper said.
As an example of the recidivism problem, Kemper pointed to a 23-year-old woman released by a judge last week after she was charged with attacking a cellist playing in the subway. Amira Hunter was arrested again Tuesday, this time for stealing a $235 Moncler baseball cap at Nordstrom.
Hochul’s tough-on-subway-crime action comes after six people were shot, one fatally, at a subway station in the Bronx on Feb. 13. The shooting victims included four men and two women, whose ages ranged from 14 to 71, were all taken to local hospitals. A 34-year-old man died from gunshot wounds suffered in what police described as a random shooting.
On Feb. 23, a 45-year-old man was fatally shot during a fight that broke out in a subway car in the Bronx, authorities said. Three people were arrested in the slaying.
Hochul’s plan received immediate praise from some New York City prosecutors.
“New York’s subways are the beating heart that keeps our city moving, and the safety of riders and MTA employees is a top priority for my office,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “The comprehensive plan proposed by Governor Hochul will help us achieve that goal and I thank her for the leadership and ongoing commitment to public safety. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of our partners to fight crime on public transportation.”
Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon added, “My team is eager to work with these new personnel and new technologies to both keep repeat violent offenders off our buses and trains, and to build the strongest possible cases against those who break the law and harm our quality of life.”
(SAN ANTONIO) — A Texas mother has been arrested after a drink she made for her son’s bully sent him to the hospital, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Jennifer Lynn Rossi, 45, reportedly mixed lemon juice, vinegar, salt and Gatorade together in a sports bottle on Tuesday and told her son to give it to a classmate who had stolen his drink the day before at Legacy Traditional School – Alamo Ranch, approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by ABC News’ San Antonio affiliate KSAT.
“Upon arriving to the school, deputies learned that the sick child was given a drink by a classmate during P.E. class,” Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said in their statement regarding the incident.
Shortly after the child consumed the drink, he reportedly began experiencing nausea and a headache and was taken to a hospital, sheriff officials say.
“Although, the contents of the drink were non-toxic, the incident resulted in a child being hospitalized,” Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said in their statement. “Hospital staff informed the investigator that the child victim required additional medical monitoring and would eventually be discharged from the hospital.”
Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that the mother of the student who provided the drink “intentionally mixed the contents of the drink to allegedly prevent her son’s drink from being stolen at school by other students,” officials said.
Rossi was arrested and booked into jail where she was charged with injury to a child causing bodily injury.
The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) — Authorities in Texas are searching for clues in the mysterious disappearance of a college student whose family said he went missing after taking his dog out earlier this week.
Caleb Harris, a student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was last seen in the early morning hours on Monday near his off-campus apartment complex, according to police.
His roommates were unable to locate him later Monday morning and his family reported him missing, according to the Corpus Christi Police Department.
Harris’ father, Randy Harris, told ABC Corpus Christi affiliate KIII-TV that his dog returned home but his son never did. He left behind his keys, wallet, and vehicle, police said. He did have his phone but it has since turned off, police said.
His father said there wasn’t anything to lead them to believe the student was in any danger or planning to leave.
“There’s just nothing there that would cause us to believe he was in any danger or leaving,” Randy Harris told KIII. “He had actually ordered in his food for the next day for school.”
There was a large law enforcement presence Wednesday in an area near where he was last seen. The Corpus Christi Police Department said a search party was “looking for any information that can help us find missing person Caleb Harris.”
Corpus Christi Police Officer Antonio Contreras told KIII that Corpus Christi Police Academy cadets were helping search in fields and ditches “for anything.”
“We have not found any clues, no new evidence,” he told the station.
Contreras said they are also using drones to search nearby wetlands and a dive team to search canals in the area.
Ellee Carlisle, a friend of Harris, was among the volunteers who joined in the search effort on Wednesday.
“He means a lot to a lot of people,” she told KIII. “I think that was very evident for how many people tried to share and get the word out, and how many people came to help out today to try to look for him.”
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi said in a statement Tuesday they were made aware of a missing person’s report regarding Harris and urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact police.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our utmost priority,” the school said in a statement.
Harris is approximately 5’11” and 180 pounds with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Corpus Christi Police Department at 361-886-2840 or 361-886-2600.
(PHILADELPHIA) — An assailant who gunned down an 88-year-old Air Force veteran in broad daylight as he sat behind the wheel of his parked car in Philadelphia remained unidentified on Wednesday, according to police.
Richard Butler, who was also a retired driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, was killed Tuesday after dropping off a friend at her home, police and the victim’s family said.
“Why? What is the why? This man did nothing to anyone and he gave to everyone,” Butler’s niece, Minette Finn, told ABC Philadelphia station WPVI-TV, calling Butler “a brother to everyone.”
The shooting occurred at 1:35 p.m. Tuesday as Butler sat in his white Hyundai in the Haddington neighborhood of West Philadelphia, according to a Philadelphia Police Department incident report.
Butler suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
A home security camera recorded a man, considered a suspect, getting out of a silver sedan and walking toward Butler’s car moments before the shooting, WPVI reported, citing police sources.
No weapons were recovered at the scene, according to the police incident report.
Butler had just dropped off his girlfriend at her home and was planning to meet her later for dinner when he was shot, family members told WPVI, saying it appeared that Butler was intentionally targeted.
“Broad daylight, he was out doing his normal routine. Goes to the park everyday, stops at Wawa,” Finn said of Butler. “In his car, defenseless. You waited for him. You waited for this man. This wasn’t a random act.”
Following Butler’s death, Finn posted a video of Butler dancing at a recent family function.
“If you met him, you loved him. That’s all I’m going to say,” Finn said. “Anyone in this neighborhood could tell you, probably he wore his heart on his sleeve and he gave to everyone.”
