Tag Archives: investigators

Investigators probing role weather may have played in deadly South Dakota plane crash

December 6, 2019   Sexual Health

Investigators probing role weather may have played in deadly South Dakota plane crashAn NTSB investigator examines the wreckage of a Pilatus PC-12 airplane near Chamberlain Municipal Airport in South Dakota. The aircraft crashed on Saturday, November 30, 2019, moments after taking off amid heavy snowfall. The crash killed nine of the 12 people on board. (NTSB) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released new information Tuesday about the plane crash in Chamberlain, South Dakota, that killed nine people and injured three others within a mile of takeoff. A review of the available information about the fatal crash, which occurred Saturday within a mile of takeoff, indicates weather was a significant, if not major, factor, experts say.Chamberlain, and much of South Dakota, was under a winter storm warning and experiencing near-blizzard conditions around the time of the crash on Saturday.The single-engine Pilatus PC-12 arrived in Chamberlain Friday at about 9:30 a.m. CST, according to the NTSB report. The airplane remained parked on the airport ramp until the accident a day later, the report noted."They landed on Friday ahead of the storm, and it looks like they just left the plane parked on the runway," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist David Samuhel, who reviewed the NTSB statement. "There was probably 8 or 9 inches of snow, so the plane probably had a whole lot of snow and ice on it." The NTSB is still investigating the crash, and it's not clear if the snow and ice were cleared from the aircraft before takeoff. Samuhel said, "If they didn't get the snow and ice off the wings, that would be a huge problem." A photo of a Pilatus PC-12 in flight. (Pilatus Aircraft Ltd) An aviation expert AccuWeather spoke with also said there was likely frost or ice below the layer of snow and added that it's "doubtful the facilities exist for that sort of deicing at this small airport." AccuWeather reached out to the Chamberlain airport manager, who as of late Thursday had not yet responded.Ice and snow needs to be properly removed from a plane for the flight to be legal, and if that doesn't happen, the consequences can be dire. "You're looking at [an] increase in drag of 40 percent and decrease of lift of 30 percent if you don't deice properly."Also, the NTSB reported the weather observation station at the Chamberlain airport recorded winds of 7 mph, with half-mile visibility and moderate snow and icing. AccuWeather's Samuhel believes the winds were likely much stronger."I question the wind reading at Chamberlain airport," he said. "Pierre is about 65 miles to the northwest of Chamberlain, but the conditions probably weren't much different and winds in Pierre were gusting to 40 mph and even higher some parts of the day."They were leaving Saturday and the storm was starting to wrap up, but they were still in a bad part of it where the wind was really kicking up and they were probably getting blowing snow, too," Samuhel said.According to Travis Garza, president of wellness company Kyani, the company's two founders, Jim Hansen and Kirk Hansen, were among the crash victims. The other seven passengers who died were their relatives; three passengers survived.Another factor that could have contributed to the crash was a possible load imbalance. The Pilatus PC-12 pilot's information manual notes the "maximum number of occupants is 9 passengers" plus 1-2 pilot(s). According to the NTSB report, there were 12 people on the plane.There were 393 U.S. civil aviation deaths in 2018, an increase from 347 in 2017, according to the NTSB. Most aviation deaths in 2018 took place during general aviation operations - all civilian flying except scheduled passenger airline service – when 381 were killed, compared to 331 in 2017.



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31 pages vanished from the maintenance log of the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max before it crashed, investigators said

October 26, 2019   Sexual Health

31 pages vanished from the maintenance log of the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max before it crashed, investigators saidInvestigators' final report pointed to Boeing's design of the plane as well as compounding errors from Lion Air and the crew on the fatal flight.



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Lion Air crash investigators tell victims' families 737 MAX design flaws linked to accident

October 23, 2019   Sexual Health

Lion Air crash investigators tell victims' families 737 MAX design flaws linked to accidentMechanical and design issues contributed to the crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX jet last October, Indonesian investigators told victims’ families in a briefing on Wednesday ahead of the release of a final report. Contributing factors to the crash of the new Boeing jet, which killed all 189 on board, included incorrect assumptions on how an anti-stall device called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) functioned and how pilots would react, slides in the presentation showed. Reliance on a single angle-of-attack sensor made the MCAS system more vulnerable to failure, while the sensor on the plane that crashed had been miscalibrated during an earlier repair, according to the slides.



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Terri Lynn Hollis, 11, was murdered on Thanksgiving Day 1972. California investigators didn't give up on her case

September 12, 2019   Sexual Health

Terri Lynn Hollis, 11, was murdered on Thanksgiving Day 1972. California investigators didn't give up on her caseInvestigators solved the killing of an 11-year-old girl in Southern California 47 years after her kidnapping through DNA evidence, authorities said.



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Texas Republican Predicts McCabe Will be Indicted for Lying to Investigators

September 10, 2019   Sexual Health

Texas Republican Predicts McCabe Will be Indicted for Lying to InvestigatorsRepresentative John Ratcliffe (R., Texas) predicted Sunday that former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe will soon be indicted for lying to investigators about his role in the leaking of classified information.McCabe was fired from the FBI in March 2018, one month after the release of an inspector general report that detailed multiple instances in which he “lacked candor” when questioned by investigators about his role in the leaking of classified information related to the Clinton email probe.Ratcliffe told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that the Department of Justice must indict McCabe or face accusations of partisanship and hypocrisy“Here, you have the inspector general stating that Andrew McCabe did that multiple times, and the magic words, did so intentionally and knowing,” Ratcliffe said during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “I think the Department of Justice is going to have to indict Andy McCabe, simply because to do otherwise would be to admit that there are separate standards for people doing the same thing for the same conduct.”The 21-year FBI veteran was made a CNN analyst last month despite the existence of an ongoing investigation into his conduct that may still result in criminal charges. He maintains that he did not intentionally mislead investigators and continues to suggest that he was acting within his authority as deputy director when he authorized the leaking of information about the Clinton email investigation to a Wall Street Journal reporter.In a lawsuit filed last month, McCabe alleges his firing at the hands of former attorney general Jeff Sessions was politically-motivated.McCabe's attorneys met with deputy attorney general Jeffrey Rosen last month, according to an August 26 New York Times report. The meeting has been widely-interpreted as evidence that McCabe will soon be indicted.



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British police urged to assist New York investigators with Epstein case

September 2, 2019   Sexual Health

British police urged to assist New York investigators with Epstein caseBritish police should assist the New York investigators with their inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network, a source close to one of his victims has said. New York authorities have repeatedly said that they will continue investigating whether he had co-conspirators, and will not let the case die with the disgraced financier. Epstein, 66, died on August 10 from what a coroner ruled was suicide, while awaiting trial in a Manhattan jail. New York prosecutors are now turning their attention to any co-conspirators – among them Ghislaine Maxwell, the British heiress, and Sarah Kellen, another Epstein employee. Two sources close to the investigation told The New York Times on Friday they were looking into the activities of Haley Robson, now 33, who told police in a 2009 deposition how she was paid to bring young girls to Epstein in Florida. Haley Robson, now 33, said in a 2009 deposition that she had been paid to recruit girls for Epstein Asked if the British police should assist the New York prosecutors, the source replied: "They should". Epstein owned homes in New York, Paris and New Mexico, and spent much of his time on the island he owned in the Caribbean. But his globe-trotting extended to the United Kingdom, where in June 2000 he was among 600 guests at Windsor Castle to celebrate four Royal birthdays, with “the dance of the decades”. In December 2000 he joined Prince Andrew and Miss Maxwell at the Queen’s Sandringham estate, and in early 2001 he was in London for a night out with Prince Andrew, Miss Maxwell and Virginia Roberts-Giuffre. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, photographed at Sandringham in December 2000 Mrs Roberts-Giuffre claims that she was forced to have sex with the prince after their night out. He has vehemently denied her claims. All the allegations against the Duke were struck from the court record in 2015 after being described as "immaterial and impertinent" by a judge.   Now British police are being asked whether they intend to assist the New York prosecutors with their case. New York police refused to comment on their ongoing investigation. Last week detectives at the Metropolitan Police revealed they have “revisited” the decision not to investigate Epstein’s London links, but said their choice "remains entirely appropriate". The Met has previously received an allegation of non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation but had closed the matter after deciding that the case would not progress to a full investigation. Despite possible information sharing between US and French authorities, the force confirmed on August 26 that it stands by its original decision and will not investigate his links to alleged crimes committed in the UK capital. “We acknowledge the considerable interest and concern around this case and have revisited that decision making and believe it remains entirely appropriate,” a spokesman for the force said. “Therefore no further action is being taken. The Met will always take seriously any allegation concerning sexual exploitation.”



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New York investigators reportedly zero in on Epstein recruiter as net tightens around his 'enablers'

August 31, 2019   Sexual Health

New York investigators reportedly zero in on Epstein recruiter as net tightens around his 'enablers'New York investigators examining Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network are turning their attention to a woman who served as his teenage recruiter, it has been claimed. Haley Robson was 16 when she was approached at a swimming pool near her home in Florida by a high school acquaintance who offered her the chance to make some money. Miss Robson, now 33, was told she had to give massages to a billionaire in Palm Beach. She went to Epstein’s house and gave him a massage, she said in a 2009 deposition. She then started recruiting other girls and young women to do the same, and was paid by Epstein to bring the girls to him. On Friday two sources told The New York Times that Miss Robson was among the Epstein “enablers” being looked at by prosecutors, who have said that Epstein’s death does not mean the end of the case. Sarah Kellen and Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured together in 2005 in New York There has been much speculation that other Epstein associates – including British heiress Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein employees Sarah Kellen, Lesley Groff, Adriana Ross and Nadia Marcinkova – could also be drawn into the investigation. But the paper’s report is the first time that sources within the investigation have confirmed that they are looking into the activities of any particular one of his associates. The four employees were all granted immunity under a 2007 plea deal reached in Florida. All four have denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers. Miss Robson told The New York Times that she has “nothing to say”. She added: “I would appreciate if I was not contacted.” Court documents show that Miss Robson was placed under surveillance by Florida police in 2005, when they first began investigating the accusations against Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein with Adriana Ross in May 2005. Ms Ross was granted immunity by Palm Beach authorities as part of Epstein's 2007 plea deal When questioned, aged 19, she told police: “I'm like Heidi Fleiss” – the infamous Hollywood madam who recruited prostitutes for film stars. She provided police with the names and ages of all the girls she had bought to Epstein, thus implicating herself in a number of crimes. Miss Robson told police she had provided Epstein with at least six girls over a two-year period, with the youngest being 14 and the oldest a 23-year-old woman. She said that she was reprimanded by Epstein for bringing a 23-year-old to him, as he told her the woman was too old.   In the 2009 deposition, Miss Robson said she considered suing Epstein. “I just thought it was the easy way out,” she said. “And then I decided that this is my life, and I have to take responsibility for it, because I did volunteer.”



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Jeffrey Epstein investigators remain puzzled by his apparent suicide days later

August 18, 2019   Sexual Health

Jeffrey Epstein investigators remain puzzled by his apparent suicide days laterJeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide in a New York City jail cell has left federal investigators with more questions than answers about how the accused child sex trafficker managed to seemingly escape facing justice one final time. The federal Bureau of Prisons has attempted to understand in recent days how Epstein managed to take his own life at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre, despite guards being assigned to check his cell every 30 minutes. Officials are also working to learn why Epstein’s cellmate was moved out of their cell the day before the disgraced financier was found unresponsive on Saturday morning and later pronounced dead. Attorney General William Barr has described “serious irregularities” at the prison where Epstein was held and reports have suggested the guards watching over him fell asleep for about three hours at the time of his death. But the Justice Department has not released additional details about the missteps that led to his death before he was set to stand trial over new trafficking and conspiracy charges. The department’s Inspector General has launched an investigation into the death, along with the FBI. The lack of details has led to an emergence of unfounded conspiracy theories alleging Epstein was killed by the “deep state,” or that the multi-millionaire fled to a secretive island and was replaced by a body-double. Those claims were given a megaphone by the White House when Donald Trump retweeted posts on Twitter suggesting there was a link between Epstein’s death and Bill Clinton. Still, investigators remained focused on discovering the most rudimentary facts surrounding his apparent suicide, CNN reported on Friday.That includes a question of whether a prison staff member first found Epstein unresponsive while delivering breakfast to the prisoners, or if someone was already providing aid when he was discovered. The Bureau also wants to know whether the guards documented their checks during the time of Epstein’s death, the outlet reported, and whether there is surveillance footage from inside the jail that matches those logs.There are other confounding factors to Epstein’s death that may add fuel to the fire of conspiracy theories that has already been stoked by the president, including that his cellmate was moved out of their shared space a day before his death. He had also reportedly been found unresponsive weeks earlier after an apparent suicide attempt and was placed on suicide watch. The New York Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released its comprehensive autopsy results, and did not return requests for comment.However, Epstein was no longer on suicide watch at the time of his death, according to officials. The Bureau reportedly believed he had faked the initial suicide attempt.Members of Congress have requested details into the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein’s death and provided the department with a deadline of next week.



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Investigators 'discover mysterious 200lb load' on board MH370 after take-off

July 17, 2019   Sexual Health

Investigators 'discover mysterious 200lb load' on board MH370 after take-offInvestigators looking into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have discovered a “mysterious 200lb load” added to the flight list after take-off, according to an engineer whose wife and two children were on board. Ghyslain Wattrelos said the cargo was revealed in a report on the passengers and baggage by French investigators. Mr Wattrelos, who believes the flight was deliberately downed, told Le Parisien newspaper: “It was also learned that a mysterious load of 89 kilos was added to the flight list after take-off. A container was also overloaded, without anyone knowing why. It may be incompetence or manipulation. Everything is possible. This will be part of the questions for the Malaysians.” MH370 became one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries when it vanished with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. French investigators who examined flight data at Boeing’s headquarters in Seattle believe that the pilot was in control of the airliner “right up to the end”.  A modern mystery | Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Mr Wattrelos said the investigators told him the data “lends weight” to the theory that the pilot crashed into the sea in a murder-suicide, although they stressed that there was no proof. The investigators expect it to take up to a year to examine the data fully. However, some experts believe a hijack by a stowaway is a possibility and the mysterious load could lend credence to the theory. Tim Termini, an aviation security specialist, told Channel 5 earlier this month: “It’s highly likely that a hijack took place and again, there’s four options for the hijack. "One is the hijack of the aircraft through a crew member. The second is a hijack coming from a passenger. A third option, which is a fairly unusual one, would be a stowaway. And then of course the fourth option is an electrical takeover of the aircraft from a ground-based station.” Mr Wattrelos, 54, who has led a campaign to find out what happened to the flight, acknowledged that “there is a risk that I may never learn the full truth.” Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings.



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Jeffrey Epstein reportedly hired private investigators to intimidate and silence accusers, witnesses, and prosecutors

July 15, 2019   Sexual Health

Jeffrey Epstein reportedly hired private investigators to intimidate and silence accusers, witnesses, and prosecutorsIn the first investigation into Jeffrey Epstein in Florida, police reported that he hired private investigators to intimidate accusers and witnesses.



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