Chinese relatives of those who disappeared on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 Thursday asked to meet the country's prime minister Mahathir Mohamad when he visits China this week. Amid a heavy police presence, about a dozen relatives gathered outside the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing where they handed over a letter addressed to the Malaysian govt. "We ask that Malaysian prime minister Mahathir, or other representatives (of the Malaysian govt) meet with Chinese relatives of those on board MH370 during the official visit," the letter read. Other requests include resuming the search, a monthly meeting with airline and Malaysian officials, as well as for investigators to thoroughly explain the recent investigation report. Relatives had earlier this month expressed frustration with that report. <br/>
oneworld
A regional airliner carrying 53 people narrowly missed a high-speed collision with a van carrying workers to a barbecue at an airport near Branson, Missouri, according to newly released surveillance video. The US NTSB sent an investigator to Springfield-Branson National Airport and the agency is “very interested in the event,” a spokesman said. The video released by the airport shows the plane, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, starting its take-off in June at more than 100 miles an hour just moments after the van passed. The driver of the van and 2 passengers were rushing to make it to the airport barbecue before it ended at 1 pm June 27, and decided to cross over the runway. An air-traffic controller at the airport tower cleared the van to cross the runway, according to the report and air-traffic tapes. <br/>
A pilot of Finnair has been prevented from boarding his scheduled plane for being "under the influence" at Helsinki airport, local media reported Thursday. The incident took place Wednesday when a police test had shown 1.5 per-mille for the pilot. The rest of the crew gave zero levels. Finnair confirming that it was the airline involved. Finnair deplored the incident, but noted that "its system had worked" as the pilot had been reported by other members of the crew. A senior police officer said that the case is legally unclear. As the pilot had not yet entered the aircraft, the incident may not meet the criteria of the Finnish crime "drunken flying". However, Finnair as an airline has a zero tolerance policy and the pilot will be dismissed, a Finnair spokesperson said. <br/>