Breaking Tweets » Transportation

Swine flu challenges airline travelers

Nicole Hernandez — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:02:10 +0000

The push to prevent others from being infected with swine flu is causing conflict between airline travelers.

Tampa Bay Online reports the staff at United Airlines suspected passenger Mitra Mostoufi had the flu and forced her to get off the plane and stay in Tampa as she was trying to return to her home in Hawaii on Monday.

Mostoufi and other sick travelers are finding it difficult to travel by plane if airlines know they may potentially have the disease.

Twitter users question if what airlines are doing is appropriate and are scared of catching the disease on planes:

KGMB9 (Honolulu, Hawaii) Would you have appreciated being kicked off the plane? Even if you were accused of having Swine Flu? 11 Nov 2009 from web

Mucx (Barcelona, Spain) Hope they let me on the plane, still got this flu, sweating, shaking, standing at check in…that joke about swine flu has me worried now 07 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

authorchristine (Cyprus) I’m worrying about coming home with all this swine flu about, hope I don’t catch anything on the plane! 05 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

bossbev (Undisclosed) These ppl are coughing on this plane. I am so scared of Swine Flu! Y don’t they cover mouths when coughn?????? 04 Nov 2009 from Echofon

snoopysnowcone (Massachusetts) On the plane and holding my breath so I don’t get swine flu… 06 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific

Juno_Is_Boring (Yakima, WA) About to board the plane to Denver. Then on to Kansas City. Hope we don’t get Swine Flu. 03 Nov 2009 from txt

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Google offers free airport Wi-Fi for the holidays

Lisa Wyczesany — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:45:27 +0000

Google announced that they have started to offer free Wi-Fi in 47 airports in the United States now through January 15, 2010. Crunch Gear helped explain the holiday “gift” which includes Google’s charity matching – An initiative which results in the winning airport having $15,000 to donate to the local charity of their choice.

A list of the participating airports as well as other FAQ’s regarding the free Wi-Fi is offered through Google’s site.

Most Twitter users happily react to Google’s holiday spirit giveaway…

meaghanryan Thank you Google for free WiFi at my 2 favorite (and 45 other) airports through the holidays! Love them! 10 Nov 2009 from txt

Mona Google’s Giving Us Free WiFi for the Holidays! #gogoogle #worlddomination http://post.ly/CMCJ 11 Nov 2009 from Posterous

flutesUD @suneilmohan ‘Cause Austin is on the list! Its unbelievable how this tech-oriented city doesn’t have free wifi @ the airport normally. 11 Nov 2009 from web in reply to suneilmohan

bmqmen “Google, I salute you (for free airport wifi)” and related posts: Rex Hammock's RexBlog.comLong-time re.. http://bit.ly/1TNpjb 11 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed

Alan_Wolf Free airport wifi in select cities compliments of Google through the holidays. Madison is one the towns! http://bit.ly/3RVmW5 11 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

…while some are frustrated with Google’s timing and their decision making with which airports to include.

alexdrovna um…the WiFi was always free at McCarren in #Vegas…do not understand the point of “Google Free WiFi” 11 Nov 2009 from Echofon

theonetruebix Not sure why I care that @google has free wifi at the PDX airport for the holidays. There’s free wifi there year-round anyway. 11 Nov 2009 from web

jvchuy Chicago doesn’t seem to get any free wifi http://www.freeholidaywifi.com/ what’s the deal? 11 Nov 2009 from Twitterrific

NicBall How did Google hookup free wifi in Toledo airport but not Columbus, Dayton, or Cincinnati? 11 Nov 2009 from SocialScope

gam007 i heard on the news that google is giving away free wifi at airports.wtf.i could have used that during hurricane ike aftermath 1 yr ago 11 Nov 2009 from web

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London train driver shortage upsets Twitter users

Nicole Hernandez — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:13:23 +0000

According to BBC, travelers have faced long delays after a driver shortage led to the cancellation of an entire rail route into London’s Kings Cross station on Sunday.

The weekend shifts are staffed voluntarily by drivers willing to work overtime and the First Capital Connect (FCC) confirmed that not enough staff had volunteered to work.

FCC says it was offering travelers free parking and running bus replacement services.

Twitter users are outraged by the inconvenience:

ChaiBENTO (Hemel Hempstead, UK) Uggh. Been on my way home from Brighton since 5. What normally takes 2 hours has spanned into 5 due to rail replacement. Thankyou London 08 Nov 2009 from API

jaygeearchitect (London) All trains from hastings to london delayed due to engineering works. A good start to the week. thank you Network Rail. 09 Nov 2009 from mobile web

mc_potts (London) Now in Newbury park. WTF?!?? Rail replacement randomness continues. 08 Nov 2009 from Echofon

LondonHam (London) Replacement rail service sucks. And …. You pay the same…. What we put up with 08 Nov 2009 from twibble

henrypipe (London) Furious that FCC have cancelled all rail services from Palmers Green today. Not enough drivers apparently. 08 Nov 2009 from web

MarinaLouca (Hemel Hempstead, UK) Rail replacement service. Oh gosh this has been a longggggg journey back and I’m still not home 08 Nov 2009 from Echofon

veritech (London) You know your in for a crappy trip when you see the words “rail replacement service” at a train station. 08 Nov 2009 from Tweed

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Etihad voted world’s best airline

Fahad Zuberi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:21:45 +0000

Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways has been named the best airline in the world at this year’s World Travel Awards.

Gulf News reports, Etihad was voted the world’s leading airline by more than 180,000 travel industry professionals from over 175 countries. In addition to being named world’s leading airline, Etihad also picked up the award for leading First Class for the second year in a row.

Many Twitter users feel other airlines deserved the award.

kishorcariappa (Bangalore, India) News: Etihad voted the world’s best airline (Whatever happened to Emirates?) 09 Nov 2009 from web

mikezelin (Phooenix, Arizona) Not jazzed about seat pitch RT @Plane_Talking: Etihad voted the World’s Best Airline http://bit.ly/2QMGET 09 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

S3eeD (undisclosed location) RT @UAENews: Awards recognise Etihad as worlds best airline60: Etihad Airways was named the Worlds Leading Airline 09 Nov 2009 from UberTwitter

Etihad__Airways (undisclosed location) Etihad Airways has taken the top award at this year’s World Travel Awards, being voted World’s Leading Airline!!!! CONGRATULATIONS EY! 09 Nov 2009 from web

tn_comment (Abu Dhabi, UAE) Sky high: In the six short years since its launch, Etihad has not just shaped up it has flexed its muscles an.. http://bit.ly/1qqGtB 09 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed

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12 die in Karachi train collision

Nicole Hernandez — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:39:47 +0000

CNN reports, a cargo train collided with a passenger train in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi on Tuesday, killing 12 people and wounding 19 others, police said.

The crash was caused by a technical error and the death toll will most likely rise as emergency workers continue to help those on board.

Twitter users are upset over this tragic event:

Mirza9 (Kerachi) damn, train collision in karachi… 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

HawkesBay (undisclosed) #karachi train wreck? i guess it’s symbolic of the state of the country? what the f next? 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

james_frinzi (Austin, Tx) Train crash in Pakistan! I’ve been to India numerous times and I’ve managed to never ride a train there. I don’t plan on ever. 03 Nov 2009 from web

berbaroo (Kerala) FAtal train collision in pakistan….they never seem to have peace 03 Nov 2009 from web

sm63 (India) Really feel sorry for Pak.. everyday tragedies. If not terror, now there’s train collision.. going through serious bad luck 04 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

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Somali pirates demand $7 million ransom for British couple

Nicole Hernandez — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:15:06 +0000

Radio Netherlands reports, Somali pirates are demanding seven million U.S. dollars in ransom for a British couple kidnapped over a week ago as they were crossing the Indian Ocean in a yacht.

The couple was sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania and the UK Foreign Office says the British government is not accepting the Somali pirates’ offer, per Radio Netherlands.

Twitter users are very upset:

jmsbond007 (Undisclosed) Why can’t someone just BLOW up those Somali PIRATES and teach em a lesson ? 31 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

kill_ross (London) wow with the somali pirates again. seriously we need to drop a bomb on the entire somali coast and be done with them for good. 31 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

player112345 (Undisclosed) What’s brown, nasty and floats on water? Somali Pirates……. 31 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Earthgirl42 (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) @TomMcLaughlin76 oh yes..me likes me pirates..not that fond of the somali ones tho.. 31 Oct 2009 from Brizzly in reply to TomMcLaughlin76

Other Twitter users said are disappointed about the British government’s decision:

DavidGoliath09 (Undisclosed) Poor Brits snatched by Somali pirates; no one can/will pay the 7 mill dollars set. Why doesn’t UN act on the piracy plague in Indian Ocean? 31 Oct 2009 from web

profitoffdoom ( South Africa) THE Government will NOT pay a $7MILLION ransom demanded by Somali pirates for the safe release of Paul and Rachel Chandler. Bunch of cunts 31 Oct 2009 from web

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Baby born on flight named after Air Asia

Nicole Hernandez — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:55:43 +0000

Thestar.com reports the baby boy, who created national headlines when he was born on an AirAsia plane, has been named Asia Liew Ya Hang.

His mother Liew Siaw Hsia said the Chinese name ‘Ya Hang’ means ‘AirAsia’ in Mandarin.

The airline has presented Liew and the baby free flight tickets for life to celebrate the birth.

Twitter users buzz about how they wish to have free flights if they have their babies born on a plane:

SocialiteJacque (undisclosed) Baby boy born on plane gets to fly free for life and his moms …I’m jealous of them both lol. AirAsia flight ak 6506 27 Oct 2009 from Echofon

Eyesiie (Undisclosed) ‘baby born on plane has lifetime free flights’, what,so good! i want it too!!! 25 Oct 2009 from web

peardoll (California) a baby was born in mid air on an Air Asia flight. that’s even more awesome than being born at midnight. oh god, I’m crying a little. 23 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

eaporter (Undisclosed) Air Asia smart PR move to give baby just born onboard flight, free flights for life! 23 Oct 2009 from web

RushTime (Toronto, Ontario) Baby Born on Airplane Gets Free Flights For Life// I would like my kids to have birth on a plane as well, lol! 27 Oct 2009 from web

xixiangg (singapore) i hoped that next time my baby gets born on a plane. free flights for life for baby and me! wow how about that! 24 Oct 2009 from web

misschina322 (Boston) Baby born on plane gets free flights for life..I was born in a hospital..where’s my free health care dammit!?! 23 Oct 2009 from TwitterRide

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Rescue operations begin after 22 die in India train accident

Nicole Hernandez — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:47:45 +0000

Dailyindia.com reports, resue operation begins after at least 22 people died in Muthra after a New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura on Wednesday, officials said.

blog.taragana.com states, senior railway officials and platoons of Indian army went to oversee the rescue operations while those injured were sent to nearby hospitals.

Many Twitterers were saddened by the collision:

Joy_Dutta (Chennai, India) Depressed after seeing the images of train crash in Mathura, 21 Oct 2009 from web

Ssparshita (New Delhi, India) @ndtv Mathura train mishap is a real sad incident!!!!!!!!! 21 Oct 2009 from web in reply to ndtv

subybanu (Undisclosed) I feel sad about the 22 people who died in the train accident near Mathura yesterday. Really sad thing to happen. 22 Oct 2009 from web

nikhilchopra (New Delhi) Had a good meeting in Agra……..but was terrified witnessing the Train accident midway in Mathura 22 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Other Twitter users could not believe the incident:

rubeshvp (Kannur, Kerala) how could a train jus ram in2 another from behind? (referring 2 the mathura incident) 21 Oct 2009 from web

harishragun (India) Shocked by the Mathura train accident..when are we going to learn? 21 Oct 2009 from web

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Four dead after plane crash in Manila

Bryan Simpson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:05:13 +0000

Per BBC News and the Associated Press, a propeller-driven plane crashed Saturday into an abandoned warehouse killing four people in the Philippine capitol of Manila.

AP reports that the plane, a DC-3, departed Manila airport for Puerto Princesa city in Palawan province southwest of Manila. However, the pilot almost immediately after takeoff asked permission to make an emergency landing.

Twitter users from the Philippines expressed their concern; one even recalls possibly seeing the plane prior to crashing:

naga_jolokai (Manila, Philippines) thankful i’m home safe, a plane just recently crashed in las pinas city, a city away from home.. 17 Oct 2009 from web

patrickpineda (Las Piñas City, Philippines) Walked from school to home. It was so traffic due to the plane crash in Villa Fidela. BTW, four are dead. 17 Oct 2009 from web

remsbandiola (Manila) While on my way to Cavite, I saw a shadow of and heard a plane flying in low altitude. when I came to GMA, I found out a DC3 plane crashed. 17 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

JeromeGotangco (Quezon City, Manila) A DC-3 plane crashed in Las Pinas – that’s a very old plane! Why is it still being used during that time? 17 Oct 2009 from web

glennong (Manila, Philippines) oh no! A private plane crashed in an abandoned warehouse in las piñas! 17 Oct 2009 from mobile web

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World tired of balloon boy story

Nicole Hernandez — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:55:22 +0000

Speculation is rampant that the story of Falcon Heene, a six-year-old Colorado boy who went missing and was suspected of being on board a wayward helium balloon, was fabricated.

News outlets worldwide have covered the story and the New York Times recently wrote about the many reasons it could be a hoax, including the fact the boy had toys and snacks with him in the attic he was allegedly hiding.

Regardless, most international Twitter users are sick of hearing about the “balloon boy”:

TreatYourself (London, England) everyone’s getting a bit carried away with this balloon boy story LOL! 16 Oct 2009 from web

exschoolnerd (Nigeria) okay when will this balloon boy story die!!! 17 Oct 2009 from Mobile Tweete

THE_Fatin (Soshifield, England) I cant believe people are still talking about Balloon Boy. Anyways,I still hate his dad.Which is a jerk. Publicity jerk.That is his own son! 17 Oct 2009 from web

robbieb08 (Dublin, Ireland) them balloon boy parerents are attention seakers 17 Oct 2009 from web

BelleSade (Sydney, Australia) Stop talking about balloon boy! It’s a hoax, get over it! 17 Oct 2009 from web

Cledyston (Brasilia, Brazil) This whole balloon boy story is hilarious but in Brazil a priest did have a ‘brilliant idea’ a few years ago involving helium balloons… 16 Oct 2009 from mobile web

mlynchwarsaw (Warsaw, Poland) Save the Balloon Boy . . . from his parents. 16 Oct 2009 from web

YuyaUeki (Nagoya, Japan) What’s all the fuss about Balloon? Father wanted to attract attention? http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/10/16/colorado.balloon.boy/index.html 17 Oct 2009 from web

HaikalS (Jakarta, Indonesia) The moral of the balloon boy story: only network tv is allowed to make fake reality tv 17 Oct 2009 from mobile web

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