2015年4月1日 星期三

TransAsia Flight GE 235, With 58 On Board, Crashes Into Keelung River Near Taipei; At Least 15 Dead

  • Rescuers carry out rescue operation after a TransAsia Airways plane crash landed in a river, in New Taipei City, on Feb. 4, 2015. 

  • Transasia airlines Airbus A321 in flight. 
  • TransAsia flight crash
    Soldiers remove the wreckage of a TransAsia Airways turboprop plane that crashed on the rooftop, on Taiwan's offshore island Penghu on July 25, 2014. 
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Update as of 1:41 a.m. EST: At least 12 people have been declared dead and 16 people injured after TransAsia Flight GE 235 crashed in the Keelung River near Taipei, the city’s government said, according to Bloomberg. Thirty people are still unaccounted for. A BBC report said that many people are still inside the aircraft. 
The plane had just taken off from the Taipei Songshan Airport and was heading to Kinmen islands. Footage taken from passing cars reportedly showed the plane banking sharply, hitting a taxi and clipping a bridge before it crashed into the river.  
Update as of 12:48 a.m. EST: TransAsia Flight GE 235 reportedly lost radar contact after 10:53 a.m. local time (9:53 p.m. EST), media reports said, citing Taiwan's Central Disaster Response Centre. The plane was carrying 53 passengers and five crew members on board.
The plane's pilot radioed a "Mayday, Mayday" distress call shortly before the crash, but did not respond when air-traffic control answered, according to a Straits Times report. The ministry of transportation reached out to the disaster response center about 20 minutes after the plane lost contact with air-traffic control, the Guardian reported.
Weather conditions during the flight were good and the pilot of the plane, which was an ATR72-600, had 14,000 flying hours, according to Lin Zhi Ming, a spokesperson from the Civil Aviation Authority who addressed a news conference according to the China Times, which was cited by the Guardian.
At least nine people have been declared dead so far, while 31 people are still unaccounted for and 18 people were injured, the Guardian reported. Nearly 170 rescue team members are at the accident site, reports said.
Update as of 12:18 a.m. EST: Nine people have been killed after TransAsia Flight GE 235 crashed into the Keelung River near Taipei, Reuters reported, citing local television networks. Earlier, government officials had declared only two people dead. 
Update as of 11:52 p.m. EST: At least two people were killed and 40 more were waiting for rescue teams to reach them, after a TransAsia flight crashed into a river near Taipei, the Straits Times reported. At least 16 people were rescued and sent to nearby hospitals for treatment, according to Reuters, which added that there were 31 tourists from mainland China on board the plane.
This is a developing story...

TransAsia Flight GE 235, with 58 people on board, reportedly crashed into the Keelung River near Taipei, Taiwan, reports said Wednesday citing Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).
The agency reportedly said a dozen people were rescued from the plane while 10 others were waiting for rescue teams to reach them. However, details about others on board or the exact the number of casualties were not immediately available, the Straits Times reported.
The aircraft, an ATR-72 turboprop, was flying from Taipei to the offshore island of Kinmen when the accident happened, the report said, according to the Straits Times. The New Taipei City Fire Department reportedly sent five rescue teams, along with speed boats, to the site, near the Nanyang Bridge in Xizhi district.
Taipei City government spokesman Sidney Lin, said Wednesday, according to Focus Taiwan, that the plane hit an elevated bridge leading to the crash. The plane had taken off from Taipei Songshan Airport for Kinmen Airport, which lies just off the coast of southeastern China. The aircraft was French-manufactured, Bloomberg reported.
Last July, another TransAsia ATR-72 plane, Flight GE222, crashed near the airport at Magong on the Penghu island chain during a rainstorm, killing 48 people and injuring 10 others.

who- TNA
where- TPE
what- GE235 crashed due to engine flame out
why- mechanical error
how- After Take-off from TSA, one of the engines on GE235, the ATR72-600 flamed out, then crashed. 

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2015年3月11日 星期三

W3- Congress Presses Uber And Lyft On Driver Background Checks

Ride-sharing companies are not strangers to Congressional inquiries. This week a group of Congressional Democrats hit the CEOs of Uber, Sidecar and Lyft with another letter, this time demanding the companies conduct more comprehensive background checks on their drivers to better protect customers from sexual assaults.
Although these companies conduct internal screenings, the cohort of lawmakers do not believe they go far enough. The representatives called on the companies to adopt fingerprint-based background checks for drivers, both new and existing. The representatives believe a change to the policy is needed following the alleged string of sexual assaults by ride-share drivers in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Representatives from Uber, Lyft and Sidecar all countered that their companies’ screening processes were actually more safe than those of existing transportation options.
“Safety improvements are one of the main reasons that consumers are choosing Lyft. In addition to using independent experts to screen potential drivers, Lyft also provides consumers with in-app photos of drivers and vehicles, real-time ride tracking, digital receipts, two-way rating systems, and an around-the-clock Trust and Safety team,” Lyft wrote in a statement. “The benefits for passengers are clear.”
The Internet Association, a lobbying group that represents these companies in Washington, also expressed the same sentiment.
“Safety is a top priority for ride-sharing platforms and is built into the service,” said Noah Theran, the association’s spokesman. “Ride-sharing platforms conduct extensive background checks and also feature end-to-end GPS tracking of rides along with a two-way ratings system that provides safety and accountability to both riders and drivers.”
CALinnovates, a group that has been an active participant in the ride-sharing discussion, said that the number of signees of the letter (8) “proves how little support this letter received from Congress and fails to account for the innovations in transparency and accountability brought forth by the app-driven economy.” CALinnovates’ Mike Montgomery says in a statement that the letter is a “political favor for an entrenched industry” and that the “fingerprint issue isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a red herring.”
It’s fair to say that the ride-share systems enable riders to give feedback in real time in a way that wasn’t possible when they were riding in cabs. But the issue at stake is about preventing a driver with a criminal record from ever picking a rider up, not allowing a rider to give negative feedback once he or she has had a bad experience.
Uber also said its system brought “unprecedented accountability and transparency” to the industry. Both Uber and Sidecar cited multilayered background searches they believe are more extensive than criminal background checks with a fingerprint.
But even with these extensive background checks, the suggestion made by members of Congress would prevent potential drivers from using false identities or aliases in these screenings. A biometric identifier is stronger than searching a name.
Uber itself was recently caught in hail storm of controversy after one of its executives floated the idea of doing opposition research into journalists that were critical of its operations.
Following the incident, members of Congress have sent inquiries to ride-share companies regarding customer data, particularly related to tools that allow Uber employees to view passengers’ ride routes.
This is also not the first time Uber has come under fire for failing to adequately screen drivers. The company introduced new screening processes in India following the rape of a woman by a driver who had previously been convicted of sexual assault. The company also introduced a panic button for riders in the country.
But in the United States, progress has been slower.
In related news, a state bill in California has been proposed that would increase the depth of background checks that ride-sharing drivers undergo. The proposed legislation, Assembly Bill 24, would require ride-share drivers to take part in what anofficial summary called a “DOJ finger print background check [sic].”
The California proposal underscores the point that, while Uber, Lyft and Sidecar have done a quick job at muscling their way into markets that have strong incumbent taxi lobbies, there remains a number of questions regarding their collective business model. Certainly, no service that puts its end users at risk can maintain the situation without change.
Uber and Lyft and Sidecar would certainly like to control the eventual settling of the situation in-house, but given government interest at every level, they may not get the chance.
The missive from the Congressional leaders is just a letter. It gives Uber, Sidecar and Lyft the opportunity to get ahead of this before they fall into yet another public relations crisis for not ensuring the safety of their riders.
Also such a shift seems to be in their best interests commercially. For riders, especially female riders like me (Cat Zakrzewski), the practice could add an extra sense of security when using these apps. Usually, taking an Uber or Lyft at night seems like the responsible and safe way to get home, but most of my friends and I can think of times when drivers have said things that have made us uncomfortable. Uber drivers have catcalled me as I exited their cars, and one who showed me an article in the newspaper about an Uber sexual assault in my city and told me to be careful. Knowing that extra precautions have been taken in hiring these drivers would make me feel much better about taking one of these services home.
If they don’t act, it’s possible that we could soon see these CEOs in front of a Congressional committee.
where- all around the world
who- Uber
when - recent years
what- Uber drivers are not well managed 
why- Not well managed Uber drivers post big threat to customers
how- the CEO of  Uber was asked to supervise their drivers, or  they will soon be suited.
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2015年3月4日 星期三

W2-Sydney siege: Hostages held in Lindt cafe

A gunman is holding staff and customers hostage at a cafe in Sydney, Australia.
The Lindt cafe in the city centre is surrounded by armed police. Officers have made contact with the gunman.
Five people have been seen running from the building. It is not clear how many remain inside. A black Islamic flag has been displayed at the window.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was "profoundly shocking" that people were being "held hostage by an armed person claiming political motivation".
He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the national security committee in Canberra.
Earlier Mr Abbott said: "Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society - nothing should ever change that and that's why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual."
Senior police officers say they are on a footing "consistent with a terrorist event".
The incident began as people were arriving for work in Martin Place on Monday. Witnesses saw a man with a bag and gun walk into the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe.
Lindt said about 10 employees and 30 customers were thought to be inside at the time. Nearby offices were evacuated and police asked people to remain indoors and away from open windows.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says an enormous police operation is in place, on a scale few Sydney residents will have seen.



About six hours into the siege, three people were seen running from the building housing the cafe. Two more people followed about an hour later. It is not clear whether they escaped or were released.
New South Wales Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said: "Those people are now being assessed to make sure their health is okay and then police will talk to them."
"Our approach is to resolve this peacefully. It might take a bit of time but that is our priority," she added.
Eyewitness Andrea Proctor: "Many police officers started to come around us"
Police have identified the gunman and he is well known to them, Australian media report.
News organisations also say the suspect has contacted them to issue demands, which police have urged media not to report.
Channel 7, a broadcaster with offices facing the cafe, said lights inside the premises were turned out as night fell.
line
At the scene: Wendy Frew, BBC News, Sydney
The atmosphere in Martin Place itself was surreal. Office workers who had been evacuated from their buildings, construction workers from building sites and tourists packed the pedestrian plaza one block away from the Lindt coffee shop.
Rosemary D'Urso Healion had just come out of the Martin Place subway station and was walking to her office when she saw that it was blocked by police. Then she saw the police close down the subway station.
"I work in that building [where the siege is taking place] and I was just about to go in," she told the BBC, adding that she had been in contact with some of her colleagues who were in the building but not being held hostage.
She remained at Martin Place anxiously watching a police operation that appeared to be aimed at getting some of her colleagues out via a ladder erected on a window ledge on the first floor.
line
An armed man wearing a backpack and a bandana could be seeing walking around inside the cafe.
TV footage showed at least three people, thought to be employees and who were visibly distressed, holding up to the window a black flag bearing the declaration of Islamic faith, which reads: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger."
The flag is similar to those used by jihadist groups, but is different from the one used by Islamic State militants in the Middle East.
Martin Place is home to the state premier's office and the headquarters of major banks.
In September Australia - which has sent fighter jets to join the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq - carried out a big anti-terror raid.
One man was charged with plotting to behead a member of the public in Martin Place.
In October, new anti-terrorism laws, including a provision designed to stop Australians fighting in overseas conflicts, were approved by the Australian parliament.
line
The black flag

  • A black flag bearing the white Arabic text of the "shahada", the basic statement of the Islamic faith, is used by jihadist groups worldwide
  • The statement says: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger"
  • A black flag was the battle flag of the Prophet Muhammad and was carried into battle by many of his companions
  • Today, it is used as a symbol of engagement in jihad, in the sense of holy war, by militant groups including al-Qaeda and Islamic State
  • Islamic State's banner - unlike the flag raised in the window of the coffee shop - bears the first part of the shahada and the seal of the Prophet below it.

where- SYD, AUS
when-15 December 2014
what- Islamist hostage people
who- an Islamist
why-suspected due to ISIS
how- after hostage, the police broke in and shot down the Islamist, successfully gave rescue.
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2015年2月25日 星期三

W1-AirAsia Flight 8501: Pilots Cut Power To Critical Computers Shortly Before Crash: Report

The pilots of AirAsia Flight 8501 cut power to a critical computer system designed to prevent the aircraft going out of control a short time before the plane crashed in the Java sea Dec. 28, according to people with direct knowledge of the investigation into the crash, cited in a Bloomberg report.
The decision to cut power to the computers was reportedly a factor in causing the crash. The sources said that the pilots were attempting to address alerts from other flight control computers, and subsequently cut power to the entire system, which comprises two separate computers that back each other up.
An aviation safety consultant told Bloomberg that Airbus, the manufacturer of the aircraft in question, an A320, discourages pilots from cutting power to systems, as the aircraft is highly dependent on its computer systems, and one component of the system can affect others.
Questions about the flight's final moments still remain, but significant information about those last seconds has come to light in recent days.
Yesterday it was revealed that that Flight 8501's relatively inexperienced first officer was at the aircraft's controls when it made what investigators described as an “unbelievably” steep climb, ascending 5,000 feet in just 30 seconds.
Such a rate of climb is outside the performance envelope of the A320. It is believed that the climb may have slowed the aircraft to the extent that its wings ceased to generate lift.
"It is not normal to climb like that. It's very rare for commercial planes, which normally climb just 1,000 to 2,000 feet per minute," Indonesia's transport minister, Ignasius Jonan, told the BBC. "It can only be done by a fighter jet," he added.
The first officer, Rémi-Emmanuel Plesel, had just over 2,200 hours of logged flight experience, while captain Iriyanto had more than 20,000 hours.
Data from the aircraft's black box recorders has given investigators a “pretty clear picture” of what happened in its final moments, according to Reuters.
Indonesian search and rescue teams recently suspended an operation that was attempting to lift the aircraft's fuselage from the sea floor using balloons. The wreckage is reportedly too fragile to be lifted and authorities believe that no bodies remain inside.
where-Indonesia 
when-Dec. 28,2014
who-Indonesia AirAsia
what-plane crashed 
why- pilots cut of power to the critical system
how- after the power was cut off, the plane went out of control
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