A retired New York City firefighter flying first-class to Japan allegedly got so drunk, he couldn’t figure out how to get in — or out — of the plane’s lavatory, after which he grabbed a flight attendant, tried to enter the cockpit, and generally became so uncontrollable, the rattled pilot was forced to put the aircraft down in Alaska, some 3,500 miles from its intended destination. When airport police breathalyzed 61-year-old Robert William Solesky, he blew a 0.219, the stage at which blackouts are likely, and one step before potential alcohol poisoning, according to an affidavit filed Tuesday in Anchorage federal court and reported first by The Independent. Solesky, who was released Wednesday on his own recognizance, was unable to be contacted. His attorney, Kevin Roe, was in court on Thursday and unavailable for interviews, his assistant told The Independent. Reached by phone, Solesky’s wife Pam, who was aboard the flight and is listed in court filings as a witness, hung up without comment. The incident took place January 5, on American Airlines flight 167 from JFK to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, the affidavit states. It says Solesky was sitting in the fourth row of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, in a lie-flat reclining seat normally priced just north of $12,000, round-trip.<br/>
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Almost all the passengers on board the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 involved in the Tokyo Haneda runway collision evacuated through the two forward exits after the jet rolled to a halt. Just three of the twinjet’s eight exits – the forward right- and left-hand doors, and the rearmost right-hand door – were opened after the accident, says the Japan Transport Safety Board. While touching down at Haneda on 2 January 2024, the A350-900 struck a Coast Guard De Havilland Dash 8-300 which had strayed onto the active runway 34R. The A350 was transporting 367 passengers and 12 crew members. All survived the accident. Badly damaged by the collision, the aircraft rolled off the right side of 34R and came to a halt on grass, where a fire – which had originated underneath the fuselage during the impact – took hold. One of the cabin crew informed the captain of the fire, but the evacuation command system and public-address system were not available, so the captain’s evacuation order was verbal. The crew proceeded to follow a checklist to shut down the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and activate engine extinguishers, but while the left-hand engine shut down the right-hand engine did not. After completing the checklist the crew left the cockpit to assist with evacuating passengers. Smoke had started rising from gaps between the floor and side walls near the third set of exits from the front, but the cabin crew was unable to communicate over the intercom. Flight attendants at five exits, however, saw fire outside their stations and determined that their doors could not be used. The cabin crew at the two forward exits, L1 and R1, confirmed they were available and opened them just over 4min after the collision.<br/>
Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has apologised to affected passengers on two flights from Nepal and pledged to assist health authorities’ investigation after food poisoning struck travellers on two consecutive days. The latest case involved flight CX640 from Kathmandu, which landed at 3.21am on Thursday with more than a dozen passengers feeling unwell. The Fire Services Department dispatched multiple ambulances to the airport and 12 people were sent to North Lantau Hospital, according to police. On Wednesday, 10 passengers aboard CX640 reported food poisoning. A Cathay spokeswoman said it appeared the source of food contamination was outside the airline’s operation, while also pledging the company would handle the matter transparently and take all necessary corrective actions should the incidents involve food served during the flights. “We sincerely apologise to the affected passengers for any inconvenience caused,” she said.<br/>