Multiple Transportation Accidents Raise Safety Concerns

A preliminary report into a Lisbon funicular crash that killed 16 people last month has revealed a series of failings, including a defective underground cable that was not certified for passenger transportation. The cable broke, causing the crash, and the report found that there was no oversight by Carris engineers and the cable was not tested before installation. The emergency brake system also failed to function properly. The report emphasized that the information gathered was incomplete and further tests and analysis were needed. Lisbon's Mayor Carlos Moedas said the report confirmed that the tragedy was due to technical and not political causes. Carris has dismissed its head of maintenance and will implement a new safety management system. All Lisbon cable cars have been taken out of service until safety checks are completed.

A cargo plane operated by Turkish freight carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates veered off the runway during landing at Hong Kong International Airport, killing two airport security officers in a patrol car. The Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft, flight UAE9788, was arriving from Dubai when it lost control upon landing and crashed into the sea. All four crew members on board escaped unharmed. The incident is Hong Kong's deadliest airport accident since 1999.

A Boeing 747 cargo plane operated by ACT Airlines and leased by Emirates skidded off the runway into the sea while landing at Hong Kong International Airport, killing two security staff on the ground. The four crew members on board survived and were rescued. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, with initial reports suggesting that weather and runway conditions were safe. The northern runway at the airport has been closed pending safety inspections.

A recent report into a deadly funicular crash in Lisbon, Portugal, has revealed that a faulty steel cable and poor maintenance were to blame for the accident, which killed 16 people, including three Britons. The crash occurred when one of the funicular's carriages derailed and hurtled down a steep hill, crashing into a building. The report identified several failings, including a steel cable that was not certified for public transport and inadequate maintenance standards. The incident is one of the worst tragedies in Lisbon's recent history, and a fuller report is due next year.

A United Airlines flight from Denver to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after a mystery object smashed into the windshield at 36,000 feet, injuring one of the pilots. Passenger Heather Ramsey described the terrifying moment, saying the crew announced over the intercom that the aircraft had collided with an object, prompting a rapid 10,000-foot descent. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, but officials have not yet determined what the object was. The pilot was injured by glass shards, but all 134 passengers were safely deplaned and taken to their final destination on a different aircraft.

The north runway at Hong Kong's airport is set to reopen on standby mode after an Emirates cargo plane veered off the runway and into the sea, killing two staff members. The four Turkish crew members will be questioned by investigators and police as part of the ongoing investigation. Repairs to the runway were completed by 7am, but salvage work is pending due to a typhoon warning signal.