Carolina Panthers players, coaches and staff members were unharmed after their Delta Airlines flight veered off the taxiway and got stuck in the mud while making its way to the gate at Charlotte Douglas International Airport Friday morning. The team was returning from a 17-3 preseason loss at New England on Thursday night and arrived safely around 2:35 a.m. on the runway. But as the plane was making its way to the terminal it veered off the taxiway and got stuck and was unable to move, forcing passengers to have to deplane via stairs and be transported to the terminal. Charlotte Douglas Airport said airfield lighting and the taxiway was fully operational and the plane was later towed. According to Delta, “the right main gear of Delta 8860 exited the taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport following a normal arrival.” No injuries were reported. It’s unclear if wet weather from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which rolled through the area earlier in the day dumping several inches of rain and causing some power outages, might have played a factor. The Panthers confirmed Friday it was their team charter and that coaches, staff and players were on the plane, and that no one was injured. Panthers coaches and players have an off day Friday following the game, but are expected to resume practice Saturday.<br/>
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Korean Air is enhancing measures to protect passengers and crew from turbulence, as such incidents increase globally due to climate change. According to Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, flag carriers have reported more than 6,000 cases of turbulence in the first quarter of this year, up nearly 80% from a year earlier. Research by the University of Reading also noted that severe clear-air turbulence has increased by 55% over the North Atlantic since 1979 because of the impact of climate change. Clear-air turbulence is regarded as more dangerous as it is invisible and undetectable by in-flight weather radar. To counter the lurking threat, Korean Air last year signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association to use the Turbulence Aware Platform, which enables safer operations even in unexpected turbulence. The platform enables Korean Air to tap into real-time turbulence data gathered from millions of flights operated by 21 member airlines worldwide, helping to ensure passenger safety. In December last year, Korean Air remodeled its Operations & Customer Center (OCC) with the latest technology. The OCC monitors flight operations around the clock, ensuring aircraft reach their destinations safely and respond to any abnormal situations. It also oversees weather conditions, flight routes, takeoff and landing times, and even tracks the latest developments in international affairs.<br/>