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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/19/iceland.volcano.gi.art.jpg caption="Volcanic ash spewing from underneath southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier has shut down air travel across Europe."]
Test flights show skies may be safe, but no promises
(CNN) – A few dozen test flights Sunday offered hope that the skies over much of Europe may be safe for air travel, but officials made no promises that the massive disruptions due to volcanic ash are about to go away.
"The results coming from these flights is... there's no impact in the area," European Union Secretary of State Diego Lopez Garrido said.
EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said if the ash cloud continues "moving as it moves, then tomorrow almost 50 percent of European [Union] space will be risk free." That would allow more flights to resume, he said. "But we'll see [Monday] what the picture shows." Read more
U.S. military updating Iran plans
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command are updating military plans to strike Iran's nuclear sites, preparing up-to-date options for the president in the event he decides to take such action, an Obama administration official told CNN Sunday. Read more
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As a retired broadcaster, I was disappointed to find that Carol Costello's features on Talk Radio were already closed to comment.
The taxpayers own the airwaves, so we should be entitled to BOTH SIDES of the issues, not just the so-called "conservative" side. I favor re-establishing the Fairness Doctrine.
In reading the comments, I was convinced that the usual myths about the news media have been well sold by the likes of Beck and Limbaugh... that nearly everything, including CNN is run by the much-dreaded "liberals".
Maybe someone should publish a list of the top 100 "news" people... I think we would find that audience-wise the numbers favor the Limbaughs, Becks, O'Reillys, Drudges and Hannitys far outnumber the Olbermans on that list! (Especially since some have recently gone over to the cash cow side like Lou Dobbs.)
Our country is in serious danger from the dis-information being spread by the "conservative" broadcasters... and the "liberal media" seems to be letting things get worse every day by it's inaction.
Melon..... their is a reason Israel is still their, and its because of their strong military strength. what do you think the radical islamic terrorist would have already done to the world with that kind of power! God will show the way, God bless you and dont forget Jesus saves!
Michael Bloomberg stated that gun dealers go to shows and sell guns without a background check. I live in Florida and regularly attend guns shows. His statement is not true. All licensed guns dealers do a background check at these shows and there is a 3-5 days waiting period for handguns. You can purchase a gun from a private citizen within the show building, but are required to sell to residents with a Florida drivers license.
By little regulations and enforcements due to the stupidity of a sorry few, the rights of lawful citizens get stripped...what is wrong with the legislative system? Slowly the Second Amendment will die and American citizens and residents will be in trouble.
To the gentleman who asked why isn't the government doing more for Americans? Just what would he like to have them do? One minute folks are screaming about government in their lives, not they want the government to fix volcanic ash! Do they want a hot meal, free hotel rooms? What about me? I'm here in Florida and nothing is happening so if you are stuck in UK and get free room and board comp of the government, shouldn't I get something too? People want the government when it is convenient for them. To compare the problem with travel to earthquake disasters is ludicrous. Stop complaining and deal with it.
No, the burden put on U.S. to control Iran is ANOTHER U.S. TRAP ... like so many we get into. Take care of U.S.. Iran will do whatever it's going to do...like many other countries doing the same thing with nuclear energy and weapons. I think this is reality and so just deal with it. Pandora's box is opened!
Obama's plan for military action toward Iran is to give another speech. Boy that will frighten them.
Kiran Chetry, John Roberts and other contributors make excellent, touching and empathetic journalism at CNN amFIX
it's embarrassing to be a cnn viewer @ present or tell anyone i watch cnn.Why? because you folks really gave it to Tiger woods and everyone else who have cheated but nothing about larry kings disgusting affair. Is it because his ratings are to good or is it because he's a supposed i-con or both You folks are making yourselves look really bad in the eyes of your loyal watchers like my self and many others you are also giving the detractors very good ammunition
We need to be able to say proudly that we watch cnn and be able to hold our heads up when we say that. Does cnn have any reporters
who aren't afraid to cover this? it si news after all
why aren't they shipping people home? literally,why can't they take a ship home? they knew when the volcano blew, air traffic was coming to a halt.they could have started shipping them home and they'd be home by now. sandy
As a note of edification on the small airport story... these airports serve rural areas of the country long hours for urban areas. The Kearney (pronounced Car-Nee) airport in rural Nebraska is 5 hours from the nearest regional airport and it serves customers who live west of the small city that would take at least a 7 hour journey just to get to that closest regional. The news report is prejudicial towards rural communities that deserve the same tax dollars services as others living in the more "convenient" urban areas. Rural areas serve fewer costumers because fewer people live there (duh)... but that's the price the nation pays to feed itself (Nebraska = agricultural business).
Has any at cnn heard of Native Americans? you've done stories on black in America and hispanic in America but Native Americans seem to be invisable to the media in general except for an ocasional expose on gambling or alcholism.why? I think time they were treated with the same respect as the rest of us.
A volcanic cloud is supposed to have killed off the dinosaurs, too. They were stranded at various airports around the world and were bored to death.
Regarding Goldman-Sachs, if the company knowingly broke the law they should be punished to the full extent of the law. Any politican caught with their hand in this pie should also suffer the same fate.
Is the "safe to fly" looking at the long term affects of the volcano? If the planes are flying through small amounts of the abrasive ash, it seems like there could be minor but continuous abrasive damage to the planes. This could present a problem at a later date.
People stranded, airlines losing money, food rotting, people upset over the volcano, Well just have someone plz turn it off!! Can't rush Mothernature!! Just try looking on the bright side, it could explode and give you a free ride home!!!
I found your investigative piece about the Clarksburg, WV regional airport an interesting juxtiposition to the Upper Big Branch mine disaster that was so well covered by CNN. As a WV native who moved away for economic reasons, I can fully sympathize with the people's desire to bolster the economy, or to bring attention to the hardships the people there endure. I do not think it's fair to look at simple figures and assume there is no purpose or people to support.
Ok now lets watch the Banks manipulate the markets.They need to put fear into the country .I say go get em Obama .
While the ash covering Europe is an important travel story, CNN needs to dig deeper into the volcano of discontent that the American people have with our Government and the corruption that rules our system. It is time for News Media worldwide to focus on the important things and minimize the “fluff”. To do otherwise might miss the story of the American Volcano of Revolution blow its top.
About the volcanic activity in Iceland, you know that have geothermal plants over there in iceland i wonder if that has something to do with that activity.I think it involves injecting water into the earth to generate steam.
If the Kenyan produce can not be flown to Europe, why not just give it away to poor Kenyans rather than throw it away or use it as compost? Are there no hungry Kenyans?
After having over 63,000 flights cancelled there should be a huge surplus of fuel. Shouldn't the price of gas at the pump come down? Or at least the price of a flight? Whenever anything happens that may or maynot cause a little more fuel to be used the price goes thru the roof.
It is a joke that Toyota only learned about its problems late last year. Ask John Leal of Hollywood, CA who was leaving his work two years earlier in his Lexus IS250. His vehicle suddenly accelerated in the parking garage and slammed into a wall. Toyota engineers examined the "black box" and determined the accident was caused by "driver error."
i wouid start using transatlantic ships just to get home, not stuck at an airport.
My wife and I were to travel to Rome yesterday with my sister and her husband. We were to fly from Raleigh-Durham, us on American Airlines through Chicago and them on Delta through Atlanta. This morning, they are in Rome and we are home because American cancelled our flight due to the volcano ash while Delta flew and landed safely. Is the decision to fly the airlines or the airports?
I'm curious how the Goldman Sachs fraud charges plays out. It's reprehensible that these banks packaged together exotic loans and then even bet against them. But are these charges really going to lead anywhere? Goldman Sachs may be too big and politically influential to touch.
I travel a lot to Australia, and have noticed some overhead bags are very large. Solve the problem – weigh all bags that are going in the over head lockers, this may help. If Spirit is missing out on checked baggage fees this is another way around it. Bags should not weigh more than 20lbs.
Regarding the rotting produce stuck in Kenya because flights can't take off... Is there a reason all these fresh fruits and vegetables can't be sent via ground transport to poor, starving communities in Africa before they rot on the shelves?!?
Brian Davis showed he was a man of honor and class on the PGA yesterday when he called a two shot penalty on himself that costs him his first victory.
As a Platinum flyer on Delta I have flown 40 business trips a year for the past two years in a row. I hardly ever check my luggage due to the fact that I typically need to get right to a meeting or to my customer's location. I am appauled at all the added fees, whether is it for lousy food on the plane or now for carry on luggage.
I think the biggest issues are people who bring on luggage that is too big or multiple pieces that take up all the space in the overhead. This is something the airlines should and can control. If the bag doesn't fit into the frame that is at the gate or the ticket counter then it has to be checked, period.
I typically have a 22" roller bag, my briefcase, and my purse. MANY times I have been told that I can only bring on 2 of the 3 bags. So, I will put the purse into the roller bag. This is a hassle but, if everyone would comply with the size, number, and weight of the carryons, it would be better for everyone.
(The Oath) should only be used when the person who is actually doing the fighting, has the god givin right to ask, what I'm fighting for and is this the right, as pass will show,troops have fought and died for the best of reasons and the worst or reasons,the current president does not have the confidence
of the present forces!!
Do we REALLY need to keep going over Spirit Airlines decision to charge to use the overhead bin? It's their company and they can decide what they want to charge for.
Next story please.
The question posed just now on the air... "Should flights resume? Let us know what you think." This is not a question for to be decided by public opinion... It must be decided by experts who have all the pertinent information. Volcanic ash will destroy a turbine engine and cause the aircraft to crash. There is no room for error in this decision. The disruption this has caused is extremely unfortunate, in fact it has ruined my friend's honeymoon, but there is no point in asking for public opinion on this subject, it has no place in this decision.
Hi. Daniel here, a "stranded" Swede in New York with soon to be wife Lena. I must comment on the fact that the asch cloude was deadly to attempt to fly thru a few days ago. And today a few days later flightcompanies would like to risk 30% of travelers life? Hmm, not sure that I can awoid the fact that security now is on level 2 priority and financial interest is on level 1.
That is scarring. Ask yourself, would you risk flying today, I will not enter the scheduled flight for us today, Without proof that we are safe. 30% just dont do it for me/us.
Thanks for a good show.
Daniel & Lena.
This group The Oath Keepers has me a little concerned, especially with the military personnel they have recruited. They say they don't have to obey the President, but did they forget that he is their Commander in Chief. The soldiers should not be allowed to wear that patch on their uniform. If they didn't want to have to obey him, then they never should of joined. This report could cause a backlash against the soldiers, like Vietnam.
It's encouraging to hear that after test flights, some planes will be permitted to fly despite the clouds of ash. I feel for those stranded due to the volcanic eruption. It shows that we can't take life for granted. In times to come, who knows how topsy-turvy things will become. We must learn to be resilient despite whatever trials we might face.
My niece has been trying to get from Morocco to Italy since Sat...she had to take a 10 hr train to Tangier then ferry to Gibrator then train into Seville Spain...as of now about 12-1pm in Spain they are trying to find best train to get home....I am still waiting ot here
As a travel agent in USA, dealing with some airlines has been a nightmare...for example calling Air France is a joke..because they come and say for technical reasons the cannot connect the call then they disconnect you....you go to their website which does NOT answer the problem and you are stuck because you have NO ONE to talk to..I know the carriers are busy but some have been working and others just cannot handle the pressure...would you want to fly those airlines? I cannot wait to see what nightmare today brings at the office...I will be very glad when this is over...sooner than later
Regarding Goldman-Sachs, anyone who made an excess amount of money during 2009 should be subjected to SEC scrutiny. This is the "core" of the Financial Reform legislation on Congress' table. They might have gotten away with it once, but never again. (At least it should be). Both Democrats and Republicans need to realize that they got "duped". Especially the Republicans need to get tough on these hedge funds and derivative schemes. Whoever embraces deregulation, only shows who is deeply involved with these schemes. Thus, all who are involved, should be subjected to removal from political office. This is serious "stuff".
The "Oath Keepers" along with all Americans shouldn't pledge allegiance to any corrupt politician – including the President- but to the Constitution and the country.
@Bob..... Are you crazy?....speak for yourself....noone should be striking noone....If the weapon were never made we wouldn't be having this problem....I say bust in, take all thier research, and then leave.....I don't really speak for any curtain group but I will say the fighting is stupid anyways
I find it hypocritical that the only country to use nuclear weapons against another country is attempting to impose their will on Iran by not allowing them to have what their enemy has (Israel). I still haven't figure out why the US blindly supports the terrorist state of Israel.
If the US "allows" Israel to strike Iran instead of doing it themselves -the result will just breed more anti-American feeling in the world.
No wonder why most of the world hates America.
........"Test flights show skies may be safe, but no promises. We have the latest." it's that "no promises" statement that would worry me!! lol Would either of you take the chance and be flying??
I think the United States' military options for Iran come down to Israel. If Iran reaches the capability to develop a nuclear weapon, the United States will allow Israel to strike; it's easier for both our countries if Israel uses its weapons instead of us.
Good Morning CNN!
Not much one can do about the volcano but some in Ireland are happy not having to hear jets flying overhead every 5 minutes at night.