The U.S. military successfully evacuated American government employees from the U.S. Embassy in Sudan’s capital, as infighting has killed hundreds of people in the country this month. And an American Airlines plane was forced to turn around mid-flight after one of its engines caught fire. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Monday, April 24, 2023.
U.S. Embassy in Sudan evacuated amid unrest
The State Department said workers from the U.S. Embassy in Sudan have been evacuated in a special military operation. In-fighting between two rival generals has intensified in the country, fueling fears that Sudan could be headed towards a civil war.
Dozens of American personnel from the embassy, including diplomatic workers and a U.S. Marine attachment, were safely removed from the region after 100 U.S. troops executed an airlift operation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said operations at the embassy have been suspended.
The State Department says there are no immediate plans to evacuate the hundreds of U.S. civilians currently in Sudan. More than 400 people have been killed and thousands of others injured since fighting broke out earlier this month.
China walks back comments on ex-Soviet states
China walking back remarks by its top diplomat in Paris who questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet countries in a televised interview. The incident came as much of the world remains wary of China’s relationship with Russia.
The Chinese ambassador was asked a question on Crimea and its controversial annexation by Russia. The ambassador said ex-Soviet countries don’t have any status under international law.
The comments led to sharp criticism, with China now acknowledging the status of former Soviet member states as sovereign nations.
Plane engine catches fire after bird strike
A bird strike caused an American Airlines plane had an engine go out and catch fire soon after take off. Flames from the wing were captured on camera by passengers.
The plane was departing from Columbus, Ohio, and headed to Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, April 23. Immediately following take-off, the pilot called in a bird strike and turned the aircraft around and safely landed the plane shortly after the incident.
American Airline passengers on a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, had a similar view three days prior. They saw flames shooting from the wing while on the runway about to take off for Dallas. Those passengers were safely evacuated off the aircraft. American said there was a mechanical issue that started the fire.
According to the FAA, large birds are one of the most dangerous elements of nature that pilots have to deal with. For domestic air travel, bird strikes are to blame for 350 deaths over the history of U.S. passenger flights.
The FAA says bird strikes may be on the rise due to an increase in bird population and aircraft becoming quieter in the skies.
Delivery driver shot at after going to wrong house
A Florida couple said their car was shot at after they went to the wrong address while delivering groceries for Instacart. They were in the process of dropping off a grocery delivery when they pulled up to the wrong house in an upscale neighborhood about 30 miles outside of Miami.
According to a police report, the couple said their GPS led them to the wrong house. The homeowner told investigators he feared for his children’s safety and that the couple was driving erratically. No one was hit and no charges were filed.
The incident comes on the heels of at least three other incidents that have grabbed national attention where people were shot for mistakenly turning into the wrong property or getting into the wrong car.
Ousted Tennessee lawmakers to visit White House
The three Tennessee Democratic lawmakers who led a gun reform protest in the state capitol building and faced expulsion over disrupting legislative proceedings will be guests of the White House on Monday, April 24.
Two of the three lawmakers, state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were briefly expelled while representative Gloria Jones was nearly ousted in a vote by their peers.
President Biden has invited the trio to the Oval Office to thank them for leading a gun reform protest last month.
Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy
Bed, Bath, and Beyond has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In its filing, the company said it will close and wind down all 475 remaining brick-and-mortar stores and that it expects to do so by the end of June. That figure includes 125 Buy Buy Baby stores. The company said it will still try to sell some or all of its business. And if you have store coupons, Wednesday, April 26, will be the last day the store accepts them.
The struggling retailer has been warning of a potential bankruptcy since January.
Moose sneaks into movie theater
For the third weekend in a row, the “Super Mario Bros” movie has topped the weekend box office, earning more than $400 million nationwide. It’s the second-fastest animated film to reach those numbers. And apparently a moose heard about the buzz and wanted to see it for himself.
A moose walked into a movie theater in Alaska, helped himself to some concessions, and seemed completely unbothered by his surroundings. The animal was sent back outside the theater as there is a no-moose-allowed policy at the movie theater.
This is the second time in a month that a moose has wandered into a building in the region. The first incident involved a moose that walked through an automatic door and into an Anchorage medical building.
