Information Links To German-based Terrorist Cell

More than two years before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on American soil, U.S. intelligence officials reportedly had the first name and phone number of one of the hijackers who succeeded in destroying the World Trade Center. CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller were asked about the information when they testified Tuesday morning before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The federal commission reviewing the events of Sept. 11 is also examining whether the United States failed to aggressively track this hijacker. The tip, received in March 1999, appears to be one of the earliest signs that U.S. officials had about one of the 2001 hijackers.

Lawyers Go for The Jugular

A US law firm said Saturday it was representing the families of 10 victims of a plane crash last month in Egypt in a suit against the maker of the plane, Boeing. On January 3, 2004, Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh. The suit will be filed against the aviation giant Boeing and the US company International Lease and Finance Corporation, which owned and was leasing the Boeing 737-300 to Flash Airlines when it crashed off the Red Sea resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh on January 3, killing all 148 people - mostly French tourists - aboard.

Airlines Begin To Report First Profit Since 9-11

An international airline organization claims the world airline industry is expected to bounce back into profit this year for the first time since it was plunged into crisis by the September 11 attacks in 2001. Giovanni Bisignani, director-general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said on Monday he expected his 271 members to make profits of between $2bn and $4bn on international scheduled services due to a combination of cost cutting and passenger growth. This compares with a loss of about $5bn last year. Overall, including domestic operations not included in IATA estimates, the industry has racked up losses of more than $30bn since 2001.

Legislators Join Fight to Save Retiree Health Benefits

Nineteen U.S. Senators signed on to a letter authored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) asking United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton to adhere to the agreement with retirees and reconsider the airline's planned changes to retiree health benefits because of the hardship it will bring to them and their families. A letter from members of the House was sent to United on Feb. 13. United management signed a letter of agreement in May 2003 to ensure that flight attendants retiring before July 1, 2003 would have access to health care benefits that were less costly and more comprehensive than those that would be in place for those who retire after that date.

On Crash Anniversary, Airline Resumes Own Maintenance

Air Midwest, the commuter airline whose plane crashed on takeoff in Charlotte 13 months ago, killing all 21 aboard, will stop outsourcing routine maintenance on its aircraft. NTSB investigators believe mechanics in Huntington (WV), working under contract for Air Midwest made mistakes that contributed to the deadly crash. Under federal regulations, Air Midwest was responsible for the outsourced maintenance on US Airways Express Flight 5481, which crashed on Jan. 8, 2003. The NTSB will present its conclusions on Thursday in Washington about what caused the crash. The board will likely focus on maintenance and the plane's weight and balance.

Group Of Screeners X-Ray Themselves

"If I only had a brain," was the verse sung by the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. Perhaps it should also be the motto for some TSA airport screeners. Believe it or not, a security screener at Denver International Airport has been reprimanded and several others at airports across the country put on administrative leave for sending their bodies through checkpoint x-ray machines to see what their brains look like. No kidding, folks.