DHS Halts U.S. Based Delta Flights Into Kenya

Increased fighting in Somalia and recent threat information indicating possible attacks against US interests in East Africa have prompted the Department of Homeland Security to deny Delta Airlines their first direct flights to and from Nairobi, Kenya which were to begin today from the United States.

The flights were to embark from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport and arrive in Nairobi with a welcoming ceremony with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Late on Monday night, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano decided to cancel the flights following recommendations from the Transportation Security Administration. According to one official Napolitano called Delta’s CEO to inform Delta of the decision

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Israeli Jets Scramble – Hijack Alert Activated By Mistake

Israeli fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Delta Air Lines plane flying from New York to Tel Aviv after the pilot activated a hijacking alert by mistake.

Transportation ministry official, Dani Shenar, told Israeli media Saturday that nobody was hurt in the incident.

He said two jets hovered briefly over the plane carrying over 100 people and escorted it safely to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.

A technical malfunction had prevented the pilot from communicating with the airport’s control tower.

The transportation ministry said it will launch an investigation.

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