And other travel stories you may have missed last week.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: an American Airlines plane caught fire in Denver; United Airlines banned a passenger after he allegedly punched a gate agent; and an American tourist caused fury in Australia after snatching a baby wombat from its mother.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
AMERICAN TOURIST TAKES WOMBAT FROM MOTHER
An American influencer faced backlash after a video of her taking a wombat from its mother and running away went viral online. Sam Jones was in an undisclosed location in Australia when she spotted a baby wombat and its mother by the side of the road. She picked up the baby, and the now-deleted video showed the mother chasing after her as she exclaimed, smiling, “I caught a baby wombat.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed anger at her actions, and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said her visa would be reviewed to determine if she violated any terms of her stay. It was later confirmed that Jones left the country amid backlash, which included a petition to ban her from returning.
Jones has since released two statements on Instagram, where she has 96,000 followers. She apologized for the incident, saying she wanted to ensure the baby was okay. “I was concerned it may have been sick or injured, and made a snap judgment to pick up the joey and see if this was the case,” she said, explaining that she reunited it with the mother. In another post, she said she had been threatened and discussed animal cruelty in Australia.
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NO.2
SINGAPORE AIRLINES BANS PASSENGERS FROM USING POWER BANKS ON FLIGHTS
Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, will prohibit passengers from using power banks on flights starting April 1. Passengers can bring power banks up to 100Wh on board without special approval, but they cannot charge their devices or the power banks using in-seat sockets during the flight. For power banks with a capacity over 100Wh, special approval will be required. As with other airlines, power banks cannot be checked in.
This move follows a series of incidents involving lithium batteries overheating on planes. In January, an Air Busan flight caught fire, likely due to a portable power bank, causing injuries and an evacuation.
Related: These Items Are Causing Fires on Planes
NO.3
FIRE ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT FORCES EVACUATION
An American Airlines flight with 172 passengers and six crew members caught fire in Denver after the crew reported an engine issue. The flight, traveling from Colorado Springs to Dallas, was diverted, and the incident occurred while taxiing. Smoke was seen rising from the Boeing 737-800, and videos show passengers evacuating onto the wing and using the emergency slide.
No one was seriously injured, but 12 people suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
NO.4
WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR 41 COUNTRIES
The Trump administration is considering travel restrictions for citizens of 41 countries, divided into three groups. Countries on the full ban list include Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea. Laos, Haiti, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Myanmar are recommended for partial bans, while Pakistan, Bhutan, Saint Lucia, Chad, Gambia, and Cambodia are among those recommended for partial suspension if deficiencies are not addressed.
The list and restrictions have not yet been approved, according to Reuters, which accessed the memo outlining the countries.
Sweeping changes to visa rules and guidelines are also underway. The Trump administration has revoked visas for several students and immigrants. One high-profile case involves legal permanent U.S. resident Mahmoud Khalil, who has been detained by immigration officers.
NO.5
UNITED BANS PASSENGER AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED GATE AGENT
A 54-year-old Maryland man, Christopher Stuart Crittenden, allegedly assaulted a gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Thursday. The incident, captured on video, shows the passenger confronting a staff member and attacking him without provocation.
Crittenden’s flight had been canceled, and on his rebooked flight, he was assigned a middle seat. After ranting, “I’m done with this bulls–t,” he struck the agent, who collapsed to the floor. The agent was later taken to the hospital.
Crittenden was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. United Airlines confirmed that he has been permanently banned from future travel with the airline.
