Delta pilot took aggressive action to avoid colliding with a B-52

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Near-miss in North Dakota skies

• Delta regional jet makes evasive maneuver

• Military B-52 involved in close encounter

A Delta Airlines regional jet, operated by SkyWest Airlines, landed safely in Minot, N.D. after the pilot told passengers he was forced to take aggressive action to avoid colliding with a U.S.Air Force B-52 bomber. The incident occurred Friday night, according to Aviation Source News.

Flight DL3788, an Embraer E175 Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines, was en route to Minot from Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The plane was on final approach when the crew spotted the military aircraft. Passengers on board reported feeling the aircraft abruptly pitch downward before leveling off again within minutes.

In front of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, and so we continued, the pilot reportedly said over the PA system, according to one passengers post on social media.

Applause from the cabin

The pilot reportedly apologized to the passengers for the sudden turn, but after he explained the reason he received applause from the cabin.

In a statement to the New York Post, a SkyWest spokesperson said: SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident.

It was the second incident involving a Delta regional jet and a military aircraft this year. In late January a Delta regional jet landing at Washington Reagan National Airport collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter, killing everyone on board both aircraft.

Friday turned out to be an eventful day for Delta. Delta Airlines Flight 446 reported an engine fire shortly after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport and was forced to return. The aircraft landed safely.

The ground stop lasted approximately three hours

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Alaska Airlines grounded all flights late Sunday due to a sudden IT outage affecting operations across its network.

• The ground stopimpacting both Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air subsidiarylasted approximately three hours, with flights resuming around 11p.m. PT (2 a.m. ET).

• Though operational systems have been restored, the airline warns of ongoing delays and cancellations as crews and aircraft are repositioned.

There was some weekend travel turmoil Sunday as Alaska Airlines initiated a system-wide ground stop affecting all flightsboth its mainline and regional Horizon Air servicesciting a significant IT outage.

The disruption began at approximately 8p.m. Pacific Time, prompting an immediate halt to departures. By 11p.m. PT. airline spokespersons confirmed that the issue had been resolved and flights were clearing for takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged the ground stop but emphasized that no safety issues had been reported. The airline urged customers to check flight status and retain receipts for potential reimbursement of accommodations or other out-of-pocket expenses.

Ripple effects

According to flight-data provider FlightAware, roughly 5% of scheduled flights were canceled on Sunday, and 36% were delayed. Into early Monday morning, an additional 26 flights faced cancellation and 21 more experienced delays.

Passengers reported confusion and frustration, with some stranded on apron-bound aircraft and others facing lengthy queues for customer support. One traveler told Portland's KOIN 6 News: "They just saw a network system error maybe try the 1800 number and see if that helps. And it was a 2.5hour wait time."

While operations are back online, Alaska Airlines cautions that recovery will be gradual. As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights, the airline said in a statement.

IT vulnerability

This marks the second grounding of the airlines fleet in just over a year. In April 2024, a weight-and-balance system malfunction led to another full-ground stop. Last month, Hawaiian Airlinesalso part of Alaska Air Groupfaced a cybersecurity breach affecting its systems, though flight schedules remained intact.

Alaska Air Group operates 238 Boeing 737s and 87 Embraer 175s. The airline has not determined what specifically triggered this latest outage, but highlighted a broader trend: increased scrutiny around cybersecurity threats in aviation.

Tech companies like Google and Palo Alto Networks have warned about advanced hacking groups targeting airlines, including the notorious Scattered Spider. Its not yet clear whether this grounding is linked to that threat or to some other technical issue.

The products were sold at Walmart, Dollar Tree and Amazon

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Over 67,000 cases of Power Stick rollon deodorant recalled by A.P.Deauville due to cGMP violations.

• Three variants are included Power Stick For Her (Powder Fresh), Invisible Protection (Spring Fresh), and Original Nourishing across specific lot codes.

• FDA advises discontinuing use, checking lot numbers, and disposing of or returning products for refund.

A.P.Deauville is recalling a total of 67,214 cases of its popular "Power Stick" rollon deodorants after the FDA flagged deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards.

The recall includes three distinct rollon product lines, each impacted in varying case quantities:

• Power Stick For Her RollOn Antiperspirant (Powder Fresh) 21,265 cases

• Power Stick Invisible Protection RollOn (Spring Fresh) 22,482 cases

• Power Stick Original Nourishing Invisible Protection RollOn 23,467 cases

A comprehensive list of the lot numbers can be found in the FDAs enforcement notice.

Why the recall?

The FDAs enforcement report identified deviations from cGMPregulations ensuring drug and cosmetic products are consistently manufactured to quality standards. Though specific issues werent disclosed, such violations can affect product strength, purity, safety, or identity. No injuries or adverse health effects have been reported to date.

The recalled deodorants were widely available across the U.S., sold at major retailers including Walmart, Dollar Tree, and Amazon. While one source noted Walmart might not have been involved, most reports confirm all three outlets carried the affected batches.

What to do

• Immediately stop using any Power Stick rollon deodorant you own.

• Locate the lot number (found beneath the barcode or on the package) and compare it against the FDAs recall list.

• Dispose of or return the product to the retailer for a refund.

• Consumers with questions can reach out to A.P.Deauville's customer service for details on returns or replacements.

The city is seeking up to $2,500 per violation

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Lawsuit accuses Airbnb of violating Californias anti-gouging law by raising rental prices after January wildfires

• Company also allegedly misled users with false claims about verifying host identities and property locations

• City seeks restitution for renters, a permanent injunction, and civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto's office has filed a civil enforcement action against Airbnb, accusing the short-term rental giant of price gouging and deceptive business practices in the wake of the devastating January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

The lawsuit alleges that Airbnb illegally inflated rental prices on at least 2,000 and possibly over 3,000 properties across Los Angeles after Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on January 7, 2025. Under Californias Anti-Gouging Law (Penal Code section 396), it is unlawful to raise prices on essential goods and services, including rental housing, by more than 10% during a declared emergency.

Despite repeated extensions of the emergency order by Governor Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass, and the LA County Board of Supervisors most recently on June 24 the lawsuit contends that Airbnb continued to allow unlawful price hikes on its platform.

Its unconscionable that Airbnb permitted prices to be jacked up on thousands of rental properties at a time when so many people lost so much and needed a place to sleep, said Feldstein Soto. Although Airbnb subsequently took steps to curtail price gouging, evidence indicates that illegal gouging on the site continues and may be ongoing.

Deceptive advertising also alleged

In addition to price gouging, the City Attorneys lawsuit charges Airbnb with deceptive advertising, claiming the company misrepresents that it has verified both the identities of its hosts and the locations of listed properties. The complaint asserts that some so-called verified hosts use false or non-existent identities, and that some properties are inaccurately or fraudulently located.

The lawsuit, filed under Californias Unfair Competition Law, seeks several remedies, including:

• A permanent injunction barring Airbnb from charging unlawful rental rates during the state of emergency

• A ban on false or misleading claims about host verification and property locations

• Restitution to consumers who were charged inflated prices

• Civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation

The January wildfires created a surge in demand for short-term rentals as hundreds, possibly thousands, of displaced residents sought emergency housing. Airbnb, with an estimated 80% market share in Los Angeles and $11.1 billion in revenue in 2024, became a critical player in that market.

According to the lawsuit, Airbnb has long been aware that its verification processes are inadequate. Yet the company allegedly continues to advertise a false sense of security to prospective renters. The complaint notes that Airbnb tenants have reported falling victim to serious crimes including identity theft, robbery, sexual assault, voyeurism, and other security breaches linked to misleading host or location information.

City officials say the case sends a message to all businesses operating in disaster-affected regions: profiteering and deception will be met with swift legal action.