An ongoing investigation by the Irish Aviation Authority has revealed that a Ryanair flight from Manchester Airport could have crashed when its pilots tried to make up lost time.

The Authority is looking into findings by German air safety officials who claim that pilots tried a new manoeuvre in a bid to regain time and only just managed to pull the jet up at one point around 150m from the ground with 141 passengers on board.

Although the airline strongly denies the claims, the investigation continues.

Scotrail staff to cause festive travel misery by striking on Christmas Eve

Rail passengers in Scotland are being warned to expect major disruption on the tracks this festive period as Scotrail staff prepare to strike on December 22 and Christmas Eve.

Scotrail has slammed the RMT union responsible, citing the dates chosen as “cynical in the extreme” and “a clear attack on the travelling public across Scotland at Christmas”.

It’s thought that the action is in support of former Scotrail employee Scott Lewis, who was sacked earlier this year after reportedly reducing a customer to tears.

Freezing fog halts flights at Heathrow and London City

More than 60 flights have been halted at Heathrow because of freezing fog and ice.

London City Airport is also affected by adverse weather and further delays are expected after the Met Office issued a yellow fog warning this morning (Friday, 14 December).

Travellers are being advised to check with individual airlines before confirming travel plans.

Up to 340 struck down with Norovirus on notorious ‘sick’ ship

Around 340 passengers are thought to have fallen ill with a winter vomiting bug on a pre-Christmas cruise aboard the P&O-owned Oriana.

It’s reported that they have contracted the same Norovirus which, this year, has closed primary schools and hospital wards until they were deep cleaned and given the all-clear.

Passengers are expected to land substantial compensation after a similar outbreak struck P&O cruisers on board the same ship last November.

The post Travel news round-up of the week appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

The company, which was based in Kent, sold short and city breaks direct to consumers as well as flights through travel agents, who are now seeking legal advice after paying for special airline fares, which never came to fruition, in advance.

But, without a written ATOL agreement, travel agents fear they will not be reimbursed.

Second aircraft to experience cabin smoke within the same week
Jet2 flight LS177 has become the latest aircraft to make an emergency evacuation after smoke was detected in the cabin prior to take-off from Glasgow Airport.

The flight, which was bound for Alicante, is the second to experience an emergency of this kind in recent weeks.

Another flight – a Thomas Cook aircraft which flew from Dalaman to Glasgow Airport – had to be evacuated via emergency chutes only six days ago after the cabin also began to fill with smoke.

There have also been a number of other emergencies over British airspace in recent weeks – including two flights bound for JFK which both experienced difficulties over the Irish Sea.

Gatwick proposes second runway to increase passenger capacity
Gatwick Airport could be paving the way for a second runway in a bid to become a major international hub to rival Heathrow.

The airport is keen to increase passenger numbers and it’s thought that a second runway at Gatwick would have a lesser environmental impact than that of a third at Heathrow.

However, in line with a legal agreement between the airport and West Sussex City Council, no work can begin until 2019.

Sick joke gone wrong at US international airport
A US airport was evacuated and closed for three hours after a practical joker pretended he was carrying a bomb.

Travellers were escorted out of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport after a fellow passenger, who was checking in for an Alaskan Airlines flight, made a joke about carrying a bomb.

Although the airport re-opened around 3am, the man in question was arrested and is being held on $5,000 bail.

The post Travel news stories of the week appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Rides and attractions will be based on film themes such as Titanic, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, Sponge Bob Square Pants and Transformers.

Plans also reveal that the park will host hotels, Europe’s largest indoor water park and music venues – all of which are scheduled to open in 2018.

Terrorism suspects held in London
Police are searching two addresses in East London in relation to terrorism following two arrests at Heathrow Airport.

Scotland Yard are investigating the alleged terrorist activities of a man and woman, both aged 26, who flew in from Egypt this week.

Although the suspects’ nationalities are not known, their arrests are in connection with travel to Syria to support terrorist activity.

Cruise crew hospitalised after meningitis outbreak
Four crew members of a cruise ship on a seven-day Mediterranean voyage have been struck down by meningitis.

They have been hospitalised in Italy following an outbreak of bacterial meningitis on board the MSC Orchestra – a cruise liner capable of carrying up to 3,000 on board.

Their colleagues and passengers have been given antibiotics as a precautionary measure while MSC Cruises say no one else has developed any symptoms so far.

Two mid-air emergencies within minutes of each other over Irish Sea
Two US-bound planes were forced to land at Heathrow and Paris after experiencing mid-air emergencies within minutes of each other over British airspace.

The cock pit of the Kuwait Airways aircraft filled with smoke as it approached the Irish Sea, while the Air France flight reported technical problems in the cockpit over the same stretch of water.

Ironically, both flights were destined for New York City’s JFK Airport.

Travel industry gives thumbs up to in-flight child free zones
Ninety per cent of those polled by leading travel news source Travelmole are in favour of child free quiet zones as proposed by Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia X.

Only 12 per cent of those who took part were against the idea.

The post Travel news stories of the week appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.