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30 Jun 2009 11:13

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World: Miracle in the Yemen plane crash: A child recovered, alive

  • Most of the other victims haven’t been found yet. Unlike the Air France crash in the Atlantic Ocean, where there was no hope of survivors, Yemenia Airways Flight 626, which crashed in the Indian Ocean, has at least one survivor. Five other bodies have been found so far. The plane the passengers were riding in, the Airbus A310-300, had a number of faults when it was inspected in 2007 in France, but hadn’t been checked since. Fingers crossed that they find more victims alive. source

30 Jun 2009 00:53

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World: The Indian Ocean gets its own deadly plane crash to deal with

  • 160 people were on the plane that crashed in Comoros source

27 Jun 2009 15:58

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U.S.: DC Metro GM John Catoe: The driver killed in the crash saved lives

  • On Monday when we had this tragic loss, she was there not just doing her job, she took an act that I believe, in my judgment, ultimately will determine that she saved lives.
  • DC Metro General Manager John Catoe • On Jeanice McMillan, the driver who died in Monday’s deadly Metro crash. Initially pegged as inexperienced, the words came as reaffirmation of support for a woman whose reputation hinged on it. • source

24 Jun 2009 10:28

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U.S.: D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty: Blame us for the Metro crash

  • We do have an independent train system… [but] let’s not try and disperse the blame. Let’s put it on the decision makers and the leaders.
  • Adrian Fenty • Speaking this morning on “Good Morning America,” taking blame for Monday’s D.C. Metro crash, which killed nine people. The cause of the crash appears to be faulty, outdated equipment which wasn’t replaced when recommended, as the train driver (who was also killed) did press the emergency brake and there were were automatic mechanisms in place that should have prevented the crash. The fact that Fenty is so willing to put his neck out is bold. • source

23 Jun 2009 11:08

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U.S.: Feds: We told the D.C. Metro to upgrade trains; they didn’t yet

  • The trains involved were getting old and outdated. In response to a 2004 crash that injured 20, the National Transportation Safety Board says that it told the city of Washington in 2006 that it needed to upgrade some of its trains or phase them out. It didn’t happen. “They have not been able to do that and our recommendation was not addressed,” NTSB spokeswoman Debbie Hersman said. For Metro riders: this is not good. source

22 Jun 2009 21:34

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U.S.: Survivors note how scary the D.C. Metro incident was

  • It happened so quick. The floor smushed up. It was lifted up. I saw the debris flying toward me. I was choking on the smoke.
  • Brianna Milstead • A 17-year-old high school student who was in the colliding train’s front car when it crashed into a train held up by traffic. The train crashed spectacularly, raising the car Milstead was in on top of the other one and tearing out its floor. Another survivor in the center of the storm, Marcie Bacchus, 30, put it succinctly: “The front of the train just opened up.” • source

22 Jun 2009 19:36

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U.S.: DC Metro General Manager John Catoe explains what happened

  • At 5:02 p.m., one train was stopped waiting to get the order to pass, because the train stopped at a platform. The next train came up behind it, and for reasons we do not know, plodded into the back of that train – the operator of that train was the one who lost her life.
  • Jim Catoe • Explaining the official version of events. It’s still too early to figure out why that train crashed into the other. But as information unfolds, we’ll keep you posted. • source
 

22 Jun 2009 19:22

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U.S.: The death toll in the DC Metro crash: The worst ever

  • 6+ confirmed dead, but people are still trapped in the wreckage source

22 Jun 2009 18:30

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U.S.: Holy God, this DC Metro crash is bad. Very bad.

At least two people have been confirmed dead thus far. And lots of people are injured. This is the scariest thing we’ve ever seen. source

22 Jun 2009 18:10

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U.S.: Scary: If you live in DC and use the Metro, stay off the Red line

  • Metro reports that 2 train collided and one train is on top of the other train. Metro reports massive injuries at this time. The green line and the red line are affected. Further information to follow.
  • A text alert sent by the AlertDC system • Informing commuters of a crash on the DC Metro’s Red Line. Here’s a photo. We’ll keep you posted as more happens. • source