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Flight attendant's act after touchdown divides social media users

A United Airlines flight attendant has copped some flak online for playing the violin after touching down in California. The unnamed crew member welcomed travellers to the Bay Area by playing a cheery tune as people got up to disembark from the flight, and while his performance was met with a round of applause from passengers, others weren't quite as pleased. “It was a definite pleasant surprise and welcome change compared to all the news we hear from airlines these days,” the Redditor captioned the clip of the performance shared online. While some viewers agreed it was “lovely” and “awesome,” others found the behaviour “unsettling,” calling the flight attendant “self-indulgent”. “What a sly move,” one wrote. “He has everyone sitting, captivated by his music, while he slowly walks down the aisle with anyone in his way and exiting the plane first.” “Just because I’m trapped and sitting doesn’t mean I have any desire to be serenaded,” another commented. “This would be annoying as hell,” wrote a third. “Can’t imagine breaking out into song on any instrument on a flight." “Honestly I’d struggle not to tell him to sit down and shut the f**k up,” commented another. However, others jumped to the flight attendant's defence, saying: “Of course super mean people as usual telling him to sit down and shut up." “My guess is he actually likes the passengers and is very friendly and kind,” another added, praising the crew member for trying to "entertain passengers." “Not like he’s making much with working at one of the lowest paying mainlines. Yet he has a good attitude despite it.” Images: Reddit

Travel Trouble

Travel expert shares top luxury destinations for 2025

More travellers are prioritising luxury holidays than ever before, with a travel expert revealing the top luxury destinations for 2025. Mark Trim, founder and managing director of <a title="Onboard Luxury" href="https://onboardluxury.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Onboard Luxury</a>, said there are a selection of hotspots around the world that keep reappearing in online searches. Whether you're after a city stay or a relaxing resort getaway, Trim shared the top luxury spots with <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/destinations/top-luxury-destinations-for-aussie-travellers-for-2025-in-pictures/d92ae530-7f82-4e49-ab2b-46cbd25758d6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Travel</a>. One destination that Trim said has become a particular hotspot is Sardinia in Italy. "This sophisticated island boasts pristine beaches, charming villages, and world-class golf courses like Pevero Golf Club," says Mark. Blessed with an array of spectacular swim spots, Sardinia has long been a bucket list holiday spot for many eager travellers. Trim said it's best to visit during the months between June to September to make the most of the weather, but be aware that this is the busiest time for tourists. For those looking for more of an adventure, the Okavango Delta in Botswana is a once-in-a-lifetime trip with its array of incredible animals. "This untamed beauty is one of Africa's Seven Natural Wonders, and it offers a unique opportunity to witness incredible biodiversity up close," says Mark. Those in search of a picturesque tiny town holiday should add the Norwegian town of Bergen to their itinerary. "This UNESCO World Heritage City is nestled amidst stunning fjords and boasts colourful wooden houses and panoramic views of the Northern Lights," says Mark. If you're in search of the ultimate beach resort getaway, Trim says you can't go past the Maldives. "If you're dreaming of a tranquil island escape with unparalleled luxury, the Fari Islands in the Maldives should be at the top of your list," says Mark. "With its convenient location just a short flight from Australia, it's the perfect getaway for those seeking a luxurious and rejuvenating experience," he added. For others looking for a beach holiday but wanting to stay closer to home, Fiji is always a popular choice, with many opting to explore the Mamanuca Islands. "This stunning archipelago boasts idyllic beaches, vibrant coral reefs and showstopping sunsets," says Mark. "Plus, with direct flights to Nadi and a short boat or helicopter ride to Malolo Island, it's incredibly convenient to reach for Australians." Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Stranded NASA astronauts close in on their return to Earth

Two NASA astronauts are just weeks away from their much-anticipated return to Earth after a gruelling nine months <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/nasa-astronauts-stranded-in-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stuck</a> on the International Space Station. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are waiting for their replacements to arrive at the ISS before they can depart later this month. They'll be joined on their SpaceX ride home by two astronauts who launched by themselves last September alongside two empty seats. During a news conference on Tuesday, Wilmore said that while politics is part of life, it did not play into his and Williams' return, moved up a couple weeks thanks to a change in SpaceX capsules. US President Donald Trump and SpaceX's Elon Musk said at the end of January that they wanted to accelerate the astronauts' return, blaming the Biden administration for their unfortunate situation. Williams said she can't wait to be reunited with her labrador retrievers, sharing that the hardest part about the unexpected extended stay was the wait by their families back home. <div>"It's been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us," she said. "We're here. We have a mission. We're just just doing what we do every day, and every day is interesting because we're up in space and it's a lot of fun."</div> <div> The astronauts first encountered technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft days after departing for their eight-day trip in June. The trip Mr Wilmore, 61, and Ms Williams, 58, were on was designed to see how the new spacecraft performs before it is used more regularly. However, problems emerged as it made its approach to the ISS, including leaks in its propulsion system and some of its thrusters shutting down. Image credits: NASA </div>

Travel Trouble

Kiwi tourist banned for life after diving into Trevi Fountain

Three tourists from New Zealand have landed themselves in trouble after they were caught wading into the famous Trevi Fountain in central Rome. As they were being escorted away from the popular tourist attraction, one of them, a 30-year-old man wrestled free from the police and jumped into the fountain as authorities chased him, according to a spokesperson for Rome's Capitol Police. He managed to bypass the controlled area by climbing over the marble sculptures lining the fountain basin. "Alcohol was definitely involved," the spokesperson told CNN. The man was fined 500 euros ($832 AUD) and banned from visiting the iconic landmark for life. Each year, about a dozen tourists are fined for dipping things into the fountain, whether it is their toes or a water bottle, according to Roman police. Taking a dip in the fountain has been an aspiration for many tourists, who may have been inspired by Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita, where the main actress waded into the fountain in an evening gown. Other ill-behaved tourists have tried stealing some of the 1.5 million euros worth of coins that are thrown into the water each year. The money, is collected daily and donated to a charity. In 2024, the city introduced a limit to the number of visitors allowed to be in front of the fountain, to 400 at a time, with the access area open from 9 am to 9 pm daily. Image: vvoe / Shutterstock.com

Travel Trouble

Incredible winners of the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards

From thirsty camels and curious seals, to stealthy sharks and ocean-floor discoveries, these photos have been recognised as some of winners of the <a href="https://underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards</a>. More than 6,700 photos were entered into this year's competition by photographers from 28 countries, with the contest capturing all that lies beneath the surface of oceans, lakes and rivers around the world. The winner of this year's prestigious overall Underwater Photographer of the Year prize is Alvaro Herrero for his mesmerising shot of the "special relationship between a mother humpback whale and her newborn calf". Competition judge Peter Rowlands says of the winning photo, "This delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world. We face our challenges, but the increasing populations of humpback whales worldwide shows what can be achieved." Image credits: Underwater Photographer of the Year Awards

International Travel

"Dropping like flies": Cruise passengers ravaged by severe virus

A dream holiday has turned into a floating nightmare for passengers onboard a P&O Cruise after the vessel was ravaged with a severe strain of novovirus. The luxury ship, Iona, was sailing through Northern Europe when the virus struck, affecting over 5000 guests and nearly 2000 staff onboard. Sky News UK reported that the onslaught of the virus has caused hundreds of passengers to fall ill with the company releasing statements providing updates as the situation grows worse aboard the ship. The ship, which is currently located off shore near Belgium, is continuing on with the itinerary as planned, with staff attempting to isolate the affected passengers and restrict their movements both aboard the ship and land-based stopovers. “People were throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins,” one of the passengers told Sky News. “A large number of guests and staff are experiencing the virus symptoms. They're dropping like flies." Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and causes diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain. The symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and can take three days for a person to fully flush the virus from their system. P&O Cruises confirmed that some guests have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness but refused to provide an update on the health of cruise staffers. “P&O Cruises works with global, national and regional public health authorities on approved and proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board,” a P&O spokesperson said. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Couple forced to sit next to dead passenger on international flight

A couple has recalled the distressing moment they were forced to sit next to a dead passenger on an international flight. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were en route from Melbourne to Venice with Qatar Airlines, via the city of Doha, when a female passenger died mid-flight. The crew decided to put the dead passenger's body in Ring and Colin's row for the remaining four hours of the flight, which the couple said left them traumatised. The incident unfolded when a woman walked out of the bathroom and collapsed next to their row. "Unfortunately the lady couldn't be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch," Ring told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couple-forced-to-sit-next-to-corpse-for-hours-on-flight/24d51b24-9a7f-4e6c-be04-ec2dbf6df1c4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "They tried to wheel her up towards business class, but she was quite a large lady and they couldn't get her through the aisle." "They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me, my wife was on the other side, we were in a row of four." "They said, 'Can you move over please?' and I just said, 'Yes no problem'. Then they placed the lady in the chair I was in." The couple claims cabin crew did not offer them a different seat to move to, with a passenger in the row behind them instead offering a spare seat to nervous-flyer Colin. "There were a few spare seats I could see around us," Ring said. Ring spent the remaining hours of the flight in the same row as the corpse, saying he was told to stay seated after the plane landed as medical crews took off blankets covering the body. "I can't believe they told us to stay … it wasn't nice," he said. The couple said they have not been offered any support from Qatar Airways, with Ring saying, "They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff, we should be contacted to make sure, do you need some support, do you need some counselling." "I don't really know how I feel and would like to speak to somebody to make sure I'm alright." Colin said the pair was now trying to make the best of their Italian holiday of a lifetime after the disturbing flight. "I'm trying to make the best of a pretty hard situation, but, you know, we're on holidays so we're really trying to have a good time," she said. Since A Current Affair spoke to the couple, Qatar Airways says it is looking into the situation. Image credits: A Current Affair

Travel Trouble

Summer holidays haven’t changed much since ancient Greece and Rome (except maybe the sand wrestling)

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/konstantine-panegyres-1528527">Konstantine Panegyres</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Imagine a summer holiday at a seaside resort, with days spent sunbathing, reading books, exploring nature and chatting with friends. Sounds like it could be anywhere in Australia or New Zealand in January, doesn’t it? This is also how the Roman emperor <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3508?product=orecla">Julian</a> spent his summers in the 4th century CE. Towards the end of 357 CE, Julian wrote a <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/emperor_julian-letters/1923/pb_LCL157.79.xml?rskey=Sa5rUn&result=1&mainRsKey=pqeNrD">letter</a> to his friend Evagrius, telling him how he spent his holidays at his grandmother’s estate as a boy and young man: <blockquote> Very peaceful it is to lie down there and glance into some book, and then, while resting one’s eyes, it is very agreeable to gaze at the ships and the sea. When I was still hardly more than a boy I thought that this was the most delightful summer residence, for it has, moreover, excellent springs and a charming bath and garden and trees. </blockquote> As Julian got older, though, he had less time for summer holidays. Work consumed him. Even when he was on a break, he couldn’t fully relax. This might sound familiar, too. It seems very little has changed from the days of the ancient Greek and Roman empires when it comes to finding time to unwind – and being on holidays, too. <h2>Finding time for a break</h2> Taking time off was important in ancient Greek and Roman times. Even <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00397677908590731">Greek and Roman slaves</a> were permitted to take a few holidays each year. Not everyone could enjoy their holidays, however. In 162 CE, <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-984">Marcus Aurelius</a>, then emperor of Rome, took four days of holiday at a resort in Alsium, a city on the coast of modern-day Italy. According to his friend <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-1846">Marcus Cornelius Fronto</a> (c. 95-166 CE), though, the emperor could not stop working. In a letter, Fronto <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/marcus_cornelius_fronto-correspondence/1919/pb_LCL113.5.xml?mainRsKey=Q5rXrd&result=1&rskey=fAbCGr">criticises</a> Marcus for continuing to work hard rather than sleeping in, exploring the seaside, rowing on the ocean, bathing and feasting on seafood. Fronto amusingly says that Marcus, rather than enjoy his holiday, has instead “declared war on play, relaxation, good living, and pleasure”. <h2>Going to the seaside</h2> Relaxing by the coast was one of the things people in ancient Greece and Rome most enjoyed doing in the summer. The rich built summer residences on the coast, while people of all walks of life flocked to seaside resorts to enjoy the fresh air and cool water. The orator <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3675">Libanius</a> (314-393 CE) <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/libanius-oration_45_emperor_prisoners/1977/pb_LCL452.165.xml?rskey=EVUxsK&result=1&mainRsKey=ISthry">wrote</a> that the people who really enjoy life the most are those who have the freedom to “drive to their estates, visit other towns, buy land, and visit the seaside”. Health tourism was also a popular reason why people came to the seaside. Many ancient doctors recommended sea water and air as cures for all kinds of health problems, especially those related to the skin and respiratory system. For example, the doctor <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-705">Aretaeus of Cappadocia</a> (c. 150-200 CE) <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=v4gIAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA463&dq=Aretaeus+sea+water&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh-f6OiuCJAxW4dPUHHXQQH5oQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=Aretaeus%20sea%20water&f=false">recommended</a> bathing in sea water, wrestling on sand and living by the sea as therapies for those who get frequent headaches. <h2>Travelling abroad</h2> Visiting foreign places was another of the things people in ancient Greece and Rome most enjoyed doing on their summer holidays. For the Romans, trips to see Greece – and in particular Athens – were especially popular. The Roman general <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3396?rskey=xWdUMg&result=1">Germanicus</a> (15 BCE–19 CE) went on a tour of Greece in 18 CE, travelling from Athens eastward to Euboea, Lesbos, the coast of Asia Minor and then to Byzantium and Pontus. According to the Roman historian <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-6205">Tacitus</a>, Germanicus was motivated by a desire to see famous ancient sites. Like many Romans, he was fascinated by the old stories of the Greek past, so <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/tacitus-annals/1931/pb_LCL249.469.xml">he was</a> “eager to make the acquaintance of those ancient and storied regions”. Another popular destination for ancient Greeks and Romans was Egypt, which had always been regarded as a land of wonder. Roman tourists could catch regular boats from <a href="https://www.romanports.org/en/the-ports/88-puteoli.html">Puteoli</a> to the great Egyptian city <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Alexandria-Egypt">Alexandria</a>. The trip took anywhere from one to two weeks, stopping along the way in Sicily and Malta. Once there, the highlights were typically the great Nile River and Pyramids. Tourists marvelled at the immense temples and walls of hieroglyphic writing. When Germanicus visited Egypt in 19 CE, he was so curious about the meaning of the hieroglyphics that he <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/LCL249/1931/volume.xml">asked</a> an old Egyptian priest to translate some for him. In Alexandria, another attraction was the tomb of <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095401572">Alexander the Great</a> (356-323 BCE). His body was stored in honey in a coffin made of glass. Ordinary tourists were not allowed to visit it, but VIPs like Roman emperors were. Tourists might also have enjoyed the different vibe in Alexandria. According to the Greek orator <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dio-Chrysostom">Dio of Prusa</a> (c. 40-110/120 CE), the atmosphere in the coastal city was relaxed, with plenty of music, chariot racing and good food. <h2>Lazy summer days</h2> We can probably all relate to what the writer <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-5134">Pliny the Younger</a> (61/62-112 BCE) said about his summer break. Writing on a holiday in Tuscany, he <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pliny_younger-letters/1969/pb_LCL059.95.xml?rskey=Mdlmkl&result=1">said</a> he can only work “in the lazy way to be expected during a summer holiday”. Working any other way was simply not possible. Many of us will be able to relate to that!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243367/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/konstantine-panegyres-1528527">Konstantine Panegyres</a>, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/summer-holidays-havent-changed-much-since-ancient-greece-and-rome-except-maybe-the-sand-wrestling-243367">original article</a>.

International Travel

Incredible footage emerges of plane crashing and flipping upside down

Terrified passengers have recalled the moment they were left "hanging upside down like bats" after a plane crashed and flipped during an icy landing. The Delta Airlines plane was landing at Toronto Pearson Airport during snowy conditions, when the plane touched down and immediately caught fire. Skidding along the runway, the plane then flipped upside down with 80 people onboard before coming to a halt. Video obtained by CNN shows the plane landing hard on the runway, with the plane's rear landing gear buckling upon impact with the snow and erupting into a fireball. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGN-pIIOR-G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGN-pIIOR-G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by CNN (@cnn)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to passengers John Nelson and Peter Koukov, the rollover left travellers hanging aloft until they could be freed. "We were upside down hanging like bats," Koukov said. The man was able to unbuckle himself and stand upright on the ceiling of the plane, but some people needed help getting down from their seats. Officials said on Monday 21 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including a child in good condition. All but two of them had been released from hospital on Tuesday morning. US man Pete Carlson was on board and told CBC News that it was "really amazing" he and his fellow passengers were alive. "Everything just kind of went sideways," Carlson recalled. "One minute you're landing, kind of waiting to see your friends and your people, and the next minute you're physically upside down." Koukov, a professional skier from Colorado, told the New York Times that the flight was completely normal up until the final descent. "The second that the wheels hit the ground, then everything happened," he said. "The next thing I know, we're sideways." "We ended up completely upside-down. I unbuckled pretty fast and kind of lowered myself to the floor, which was the ceiling. People were panicking." Image credits: Instagram

Travel Trouble

New Zealand's tourism campaign targeted at Aussies ridiculed

New Zealand's new tourism campaign aimed at getting Aussies to travel across the ditch has been slammed for its simple three-word slogan. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the campaign, which cost $500,000, on Sunday, saying, “My message to Australians is it’s time to swap the thongs for the jandals, the Hunter Valley for the Hawke’s Bay and get the bloody hell over here.” The number of Aussies visiting New Zealand have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, sitting at 88 per cent of what they were in 2019. While the investment into the campaign was largely welcomed, some people were not thrilled about the slogan that reads, "Everyone must go". Labour’s tourism spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel told Radio NZ that “it makes New Zealand sound like we’re in a clearance bin at a sale”. “We’ve had the digital nomad announcement, now we’ve got this – and the attitude of anyone, anytime, anywhere, is concerning,” she said. Meanwhile, Green Party tourism spokesperson Celia Wade-Brown quipped: “I think ‘Everyone Must Go’ might refer to the need for toilets in some of our high-tourist spots. I mean, the queues are ridiculous.” Radio listeners also called up the public broadcaster to criticise the campaign and offer their own hilarious ideas to entice Aussies across the pond. “No crocs, no snakes, no killer spiders, no cane toads, no 50C heat, no red dirt – see you soon,” one person suggested. Other Kiwis across social media claim the slogan better describes the exodus of their own residents, after a record number of people – 72,000 – left the country in 2024, according to Stats NZ. “Everyone is going … to Australia,” one person wrote on the PM’s Instagram announcement, while another added, “Everyone is going, you don’t have to say it." “I think our Aussie mates are getting enough of a Kiwi experience in their own neighbourhood, hiring our nurses, teachers, police, engineers and doctors,” wrote a third. Image credits: NZ Tourism

Travel Trouble

Insane moment a whale briefly swallows kayaker

A huge humpback whale has briefly swallowed an unsuspecting kayaker and then spat him out off the coast of southern Chile. Luckily, the kayaker, Adrian Simancas came out unscathed despite being fully enclosed inside the whale's mouth for a few seconds. Adrian and his father Dell were kayaking in the seas off the town of Punta Arenas, when the whale surfaced and scooped him up in his mouth, with Dell capturing the insane moment on video. "I felt like I was being lifted, but it was clearly too strong to be a wave," he told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-14/whale-swallows-and-spits-out-kayaker-in-chile/104935882" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. "When I turned, I felt something blue and white passing close to my face, like on one side and above. I didn't understand what was happening." "I went under and thought I had been swallowed. I thought I was done for, that I was dead. It was like three strange seconds down there," he said. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzy8-3qp4so?si=gbb1xXz_IAx90s8B" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> "When I came up and started floating, I was scared that something might happen to my father too, that we wouldn't reach the shore in time, or that I would get hypothermia," Adrian added. Adrian's father Dell said it was sheer luck that he captured the moment on camera. "I turned on the camera and heard a wave crash behind me, loudly. When I turned, I didn't see anything," Dell said. "So that was the only moment of real fear because I didn't see Adrian for about three seconds. Then he suddenly shot out without the packraft, and a second later, the packraft emerged, and then I saw the fin of something." Image credits: YouTube

Travel Trouble

200 unexploded WWII bombs found underneath playground

Almost 200 unexploded bombs dating back to World War II have been unearthed from beneath a children's playground in the north of England. The discovery was made in Scotts Play Park in Wooler, Northumberland, with 176 bombs recovered and fears that more could be discovered. The first of the devices, which still contain a charge, were found in January and was followed by much larger finds in the following weeks. It is believed the area was used as a Home Guard training ground during the war, and the explosives were buried at the end of Second World War in 1945. After two bombs were recovered by the British Army, the local parish council was then advised that a full survey of the area was required. “I never thought as a parish councillor I’d be dealing with bomb disposal,” Conservative councillor Mark Mather said, as reported by the <a title="www.bbc.com" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0821yqr4wo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC.</a> “It’s quite something to think the children have been playing on bombs and it’s been a really challenging situation. “We’ve only cleared about a third of all the park and we could still find another pit with more bombs in.” The bombs were first discovered in January after the parish council received a grant to build a fully inclusive playground to be added to the existing area. While digging foundations at the site on January 14th, the first bomb was found, with another 150 explosives being found in the following two days. Experts from the local Barracks confirmed the first device was a training bomb and the UK’s Ministry of Defence said a full site survey was needed. “They are called practice bombs so they’re not live,” Mather said. “But they do still carry a charge and were found with the fuse and contents intact so they could be hazardous." “The story we’re getting from locals is that Wooler was a centre for Home Guard training and officers came here from all over the country. After the war it looked like they just buried all the ordnance in one of the pits.” Image credits: Wooler Parish Council

Travel Trouble

Four travel trends expected to boom in 2025

The way we see the world changes each year as more travel trends come and go. According to a new survey from <a href="http://booking.com/">booking.com</a>, travellers are desperate for unique and new experiences, as four big trends are set to skyrocket in 2025. Noctourism Noctourism, or travelling to experience the night in all its glory, is on the rise in 2025. Noctourism will see travellers seeking out dark-sky zones to marvel at the solar system and engage in things like stargazing activities, constellation tracking and once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events. Others had a different take on noctourism, with 60% of people admitting they want to travel to places less light polluted to experience the wonders of a clear night sky. Aussie travellers are also seeing this type of holiday as a way of avoiding harmful UV rays, with 56 per cent saying they want to reduce their time in the sun while on holiday. Longevity retreats Taking a new twist on the classic ‘eat, pray, love’ holiday is the new phenomenon of ‘longevity and wellness retreats’, where the focus is on the “pursuit of a longer, healthier life”. Booking.com data shows that 60% of travellers are interested in these unique holidays in 2025, with travellers planning health-focused trips around experiences designed to extend their lifespan. These breaks will see the popularity of cutting-edge experiences like red light therapy, cryotherapy and stem cell treatments spill over into the travel industry as people seek wellness breaks that offer long-term benefits beyond in-the-moment relaxation. AI-led holidays While planning holidays can be fun, others can find the experience overwhelming and stressful. Because of this, many are turning to AI to help book their perfect getaway. 60 percent of Aussie travellers are keen to use technology to find less crowded spots or hidden gems, and 29 per cent are interested in utilising AI for trip curation. Multigenerational trips The trend of Spending Kids’ Inheritance (SKI) is set to continue in 2025, as nearly half of travellers would prefer to spend their money on a trip of a lifetime rather than leaving an inheritance. This trend is particularly strong among baby boomers and the silent generation, but it's not all bad news for the younger family members. Multigenerational trips will rise in 2025, with family trips prioritising shared experiences over material wealth, with 80% of boomers happy to fund their children’s and grandchildren’s holidays. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Tourists explain why they love “overrated” capital cities

A group of travellers have explained why they love some capital cities that are often dubbed as “overrated”. On a dedicated travel thread on Reddit, one person asked the question, “Which capital city gets a lot of hate that you loved visiting?” which welcomed an influx of responses. A few capital cities were mentioned several times, one of which being the Greece capital of Athens. One Reddit user said they “avoided” Athens for a long time “because all I heard was negativity about it”. However, when they “finally went”, they say they “loved it” and “can't wait to go back”. Another person said they actually “loved” the city's “gritty feel” adding, “Incredible history at every turn, delicious affordable food, fun bars, cool music venues, neighbourhoods full of character and beautiful viewpoints.” Another capital that was mentioned was the Norwegian capital of Oslo, with one person saying the Scandinavian city was perfect for a short getaway. They wrote, “I’m not advising anyone to go for a long time but for a weekend trip, it’s lovely. The seaside is great with lots of beautiful modern architecture, the old town is picturesque, lots of trendy new places to eat and drink, some old castles to walk to and in general a really nice vibe and very walkable.” Washington D.C. was also mentioned with many people defending the city, with one person claiming “it’s generally other Americans who hate it.” One person wrote of the city, “We have great museums, food, way more nature than you’d expect for a city, and incredible music and dance scenes. It’s not just insufferable bureaucracy and politics.” The Belgian capital of Brussels was also mentioned, with the city often copping a lot of flack amongst travellers. However, many were quick to defend the city, as one person wrote,”I loved Brussels, it’s beautiful in places, has amazing museums, great beer, the EU Parliament is really interesting and the Atomium is awesome.” Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

“What is wrong with people?”: Baggage claims photo reignites age-old debate

A single photo of an airport’s baggage claim area has kicked off a heated debate about travel etiquette. A frustrated traveller snapped the image of a crowded luggage carousel at Melbourne Airport and posted it to Reddit, reigniting the age-old debate about one of people’s most annoying habits when going on holiday. "I returned to Melbourne last night on an international full flight, and the lack of self-awareness from some people was astounding," the post read, accompanied by the photo of a crowded baggage claim carousel. "Despite the clear signs instructing passengers to stay behind the yellow line at baggage collection, many ignored them, standing right in front of it," she continued. "As someone who is on the shorter side, I already struggle to see over a 6ft grown man. After taking this photo, two more people stood directly in front of me.” "At that point, I firmly said in a loud voice, 'Stand behind the yellow line; it's there for a reason'. Thankfully, they moved." "Seriously, what is wrong with people? There's plenty of space around – why stand right in front of me? Rude AF!" The post quickly received hundreds of comments, with plenty of people equally baffled by the act and wondering why the selfish act takes over so many people in airports. "Those two are probably the first to stand up and get their carry-on bags out of the overhead compartments as soon as the wheels touch down," one person commented. "You really triggered them with this one. Imagine asking people to be considerate," another said. But others didn't see an issue at all, with one person writing, "I just say 'excuse me' and reach between people to grab my bag. Most people get out of your way." Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Extraordinary winners of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards

From fiery volcanoes and busy cities, to extraordinary mountains and underwater adventures, the winners of the 2025 <a href="https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sony World Photography Awards</a> have been announced. Over 419,000 images from more than 200 countries and territories were submitted to the 2025 contest overall, this year's awards "celebrate a great diversity of visual storytelling from across the globe". The National and Regional Awards program was set up by Sony and the World Photography Organisation to support "local photographic communities around the world", with the program winners capturing moments of a "crash-landing" penguin in Antarctica, a lava-streaked volcano in Indonesia and an underwater cave on a South Korean island. The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition featuring awarded works will take place in London between April 17th and May 5th. Image credits: Sony World Photography Awards

International Travel

Young woman dies suddenly after international holiday

Christine Visnjic, 24, from western Sydney was eagerly making plans for the year ahead, and had just returned from her dream trip to Japan. On January 10, a month after her overseas trip, the young woman woke up with a sharp pain in her leg and found it swollen and red. Christine was ushered into her father's car so he could driver her to nearby Westmead Hospital to get it checked out, but started vomiting and suffered seizures during the journey. “Westmead Hospital is only about 2km from us, but about 500 meters down the road she told my dad to stop the car to vomit. So he stopped the car, he opened the door, she shifted herself to lean over the side, and then she experienced a seizure," her brother, Jason, told Yahoo News. She fell unconscious not long after, and two nurses who happened to be following in another car came to her aid. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to hospital, but three days later, scans showed Christine was brain dead after she had suffered a bilateral stroke, disrupting blood flow to both sides of her brain. “There was a blood clot in her leg that broke off and travelled up to her lung, then to her heart and then to her brain,” Jason said. With no family history of blood clots, it is believed that the clot was a result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that in rare cases can arise from long-haul plane travel. However, the exact cause is still unknown. “I was talking to a doctor and I asked him ‘how often do you see this?’ and he said to me ‘a case like this, we do know about it in literature…in my career of 44 years in the ICU, this is the second time’ and he started crying,” Jason said. "It's unbelievable, just unbelievable," he told Yahoo News. "Who would’ve thought - 24 years old and getting a blood clot that becomes so fatal." Christine's family had to make the heartbreaking decision of turning off her life support. “We embraced her and watched her pass. For about 20 minutes her heart was independent and we just slowly saw it all go away — and she doesn’t even know,” Jason said. He hopes that his sister's death will "at least echo a message to all the young women and men out there" to be on alert for health issues and cherish life. "Don’t just go chasing work. There are many lessons to take away. Luckily for her, Christine still managed to enjoy her life till her prime, both at career and social level." Christine's family and friends have since created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/headstone-in-honor-of-christine-visnjic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> to raise funds for her headstone, where they have described her as a "young, beautiful, healthy girl, full of energy and love for others, whose life was tragically cut short." Image: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340">Chris James</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Late last week, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-achieves-supersonic-flight">piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier</a> since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003. It’s the first step in Boom’s ambitious goal to have <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/united">supersonic airliners carry passengers by 2029</a>. But what exactly is supersonic travel? There are good reasons why it’s not more common, despite the hype. <h2>What is supersonic flight?</h2> The Mach number is defined as a plane’s speed divided by the speed that sound waves move through the air. To “break the sound barrier” means to fly faster than the speed of sound, with Mach numbers greater than 1. The Mach number is an important ratio: as a plane flies, it disturbs the air in front of it. These disturbances move at the speed of sound. In supersonic flight these disturbances combine to form shock waves around the vehicle. When people say you can see a fighter jet before you hear it, they’re referring to supersonic flight: <a href="https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/top-10-worlds-fastest-fighter-jets">fighter jets can travel at around Mach 2</a>. The sound from the fighter jet is trapped inside its shock wave; until the shock wave moves to your position on the ground, you won’t hear the plane. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=360&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=452&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Illustration of how disturbances propagate in subsonic, Mach 1, and supersonic flow. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transonico-en.svg">Chabacano/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>The allure of supersonic travel</h2> For efficiency reasons, most passenger jets cruise slightly slower than the speed of sound, at around Mach 0.8 (this is subsonic flight). Boom plans to build <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">an airliner called Overture</a> that can fly at Mach 1.7. Flying supersonically can drastically decrease flight times. The company claims a trip <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/summer-travel-trends-future-travel-onboard-overture">from New York to Rome</a> on Overture could take just four hours and 40 minutes, instead of eight hours. Boom isn’t the only company working on this lofty goal. American firm Spike Aerospace is also developing a supersonic business jet, <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/spike-s-512-supersonic-diplomat/">with the tagline</a> “delivering the world in half the time”. This is the value proposition of supersonic passenger travel. In limited ways, it did already exist in the 20th century. However, due to timing, bad luck and the laws of physics, it didn’t continue. <h2>Remember the Concorde?</h2> Designs for supersonic airliners began in the mid-20th century, and by the 1970s we had supersonic passenger flight. There was the little-known <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144">Russian Tupolev-144</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Concorde">Concorde</a>, a Franco-British supersonic airliner operated by British Airways and Air France from 1976 to 2003. Concorde had a capacity of <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-cabin--passenger-experience">up to 128 passengers</a> and cruised at Mach 2. It regularly travelled from London to New York <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-happened-concordes">in around three hours</a>. The flights were expensive, mainly shuttling business people and the rich and famous. <h2>Why supersonic passenger flight didn’t take off</h2> Concorde was designed in the 1960s when it seemed like supersonic passenger transport was going to be the next big thing. Instead, the Boeing 747 <a href="https://www.boeing.com/commercial/747-8">entered commercial service in 1970</a>. Cheap, large and efficient airliners like it blew Concorde out of the water. Designed to cruise efficiently at supersonic speeds, Concorde was extremely fuel inefficient when taking off and accelerating. Concorde’s expensive, “<a href="https://phys.org/news/2019-03-concorde-technical-feat-financial-fiasco.html">gas guzzling</a>” nature was a complaint levelled against it for most of its lifetime. A catastrophic <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/tu-144-crash-puzzle-persists-50-years-after-fatal-paris-display/153782.article">1973 Paris air show crash</a> of the competing Russian airliner, Tupolev Tu-144, also shifted public perception on supersonic flight safety at a time when many airlines were considering whether or not to purchase Concordes. <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/airframe-detail">Only 20 Concordes were manufactured</a> out of the <a href="https://simpleflying.com/concorde-orders/">planned 100</a>. It is still disputed today whether Concorde <a href="http://www.concordesst.com/faq.html">ever made money for the airlines who operated it</a>. <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Illustration of a shock wave propagating from a supersonic aeroplane and hitting the ground to produce a sonic boom. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supersonic_shockwave_cone.svg">Cmglee/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>Noise is a real problem for supersonic flight</h2> Remember the fighter jets? When a plane travels supersonically, its shock waves propagate to the ground, <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104540/sonic-boom/">causing loud disturbances called sonic booms</a>. In extreme cases they can shatter windows and damage buildings. In the early 1970s, sonic boom concerns led the United States government to <a href="https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/supersonic-travel-dead-on-arrival/">ban supersonic passenger flight over land in the US</a>. This hurt the Concorde’s potential market, hence its only two regular routes were trans-Atlantic flights principally over the water. The Concorde was also a very loud plane at take off, since it needed a lot of thrust to leave the ground. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3x9hO7n5WiA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Video footage of the final Concorde takeoff from New York’s JFK airport.</figcaption></figure> <h2>The future of supersonic travel</h2> A future for supersonic travel relies on solving some or all of the issues Concorde faced. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/quesst/">NASA and Lockheed Martin’s Quesst project</a> aims to show sonic boom can be dissipated to manageable levels. They plan to fly their X-59 supersonic aircraft over US cities and gauge responses from citizens. Quesst aims to use the geometry of the X-59, with a long elongated nose, to dissipate sonic booms to a weak “thump”, hopefully allowing supersonic airliners to travel over land in the future. Spike Aerospace’s Spike S-512 Diplomat concept also aims to be a <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/quiet-supersonic-flight/">“quiet” supersonic aircraft</a> with a less disruptive sonic boom. <h2>Can Boom surpass Concorde?</h2> Boom Supersonic don’t plan to fly supersonically over land. Their plan is to fly over land at Mach 0.94, which they claim will allow <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">20% faster overland travel</a> than standard passenger airliners, even subsonically. They also claim the design of their engines will ensure Overture is <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/the-new-sound-of-supersonic-q-a-with-booms-principal-acoustic-engineer">no louder than modern subsonic airliners when it takes off</a>. In terms of gas guzzling, they plan to use up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions and <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-and-dimensional-energy-announce-sustainable-aviation-fuel-offtake-agreement">their carbon footprint</a>. Concorde was made of aluminium using design tools available in the 1960s. Modern design methods and modern aerospace materials such as titanium and carbon fibre should also allow Overture and similar craft to weigh much less than Concorde, improving efficiency. While Boom are currently receiving a lot of interest, <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">with orders from many airlines</a>, Concorde did have similar commitment before it become available. <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-orders-and-options">Most of it didn’t eventuate</a>. Additionally, Concorde was the product of an analogue era when the idea of flying to London or New York for the day for an important business meeting seemed like a necessary thing. In a world of remote work and video meetings, is there still a need for a supersonic airliner in the 2020s? For now, supersonic airliners like Overture are likely to remain in the realm of the rich and famous, like Concorde did. But with modern technological advances, it will be interesting to see whether supersonic passenger travel once again becomes reality – or even goes mainstream. Only time will tell.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248656/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340">Chris James</a>, UQ Amplify Senior Lecturer, Centre for Hypersonics, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Boom Supersonic This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/supersonic-jets-are-making-a-comeback-but-despite-the-hype-dont-expect-to-book-yet-248656">original article</a>.

International Travel

Husband reveals final text from wife on board doomed flight

The husband of a woman on board American Airlines flight 5342 has revealed the final text he received from his wife just minutes before her flight collided with a US Army helicopter at around 9pm on Wednesday night. Hamaad Raza told WUSA9 that his wife had been texting him while she was on board the flight from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC before the plane collided with the military helicopter and plunged into the river. She had texted him: “Landing in 20 minutes” but when his replies failed to send, he realised that something was wrong. “That’s when I realized something might be up”, Raza shared. Raza's wife, who was only 26-years-old, was travelling to Wichita for work had “always had a fear of flying and that she never really was comfortable”. Aviation officials have yet to provide and explanation for the crash, as commercial airlines are supposed to receive a warning of potential collisions through a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). Emergency services have been deployed throughout the night in freezing and icy conditions in attempt to find bodies among the wreckage, with dozens already recovered from the water. “I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river right now, as we speak," Raza told WUSA9 in the early hours of Wednesday. “That's all I can pray for, I'm just praying to God.” Raza is waiting for answers from officials but has been left in the dark on any information about his wife. Image: WUSA9

Caring

Olympic couple identified in horror plane crash

Two world champion figure skaters are among dozens of casualties killed after a passenger plane carrying 64 people collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter in the US. The mid-air crash happened about 9pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday (1pm Thursday AEDT), when the aircrafts collided and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. As officials confirmed that rescue efforts had shifted to a recovery operation, two of the first victims identified were Russian Olympians and married couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Their son, Maxim Naumov, 23, is also feared to have been on board. Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice. It is believed the family were returning home after Maxim had been competing at the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas. Russia’s Mash news outlet published a list of 13 skaters, many of them the children of Russian emigres to the US, who it said were believed to have been on the plane. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed their death to reporter, saying, "Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington." "We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash." The bodies of three US soldiers have also been recovered from the river as the recovery operations remains ongoing. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at this stage it wasn't known why the two aircrafts collided. "I want to express my sincere condolences for the accident that happened at DCA last night," he said. "We're absolutely heartbroken for the family and loved ones of the passengers and crew members, and also for those that were on the military aircraft." According to Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, the helicopter crew "very experienced" and had flown the nighttime route countless times before. US President Donald Trump addressed the devastating crash in the White House, located about five kilometres away from the fatal crash site. "As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly," Trump said. "We'll find out how this disaster occurred and will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again." Image credits: Instagram

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Olympic couple identified in horror plane crash