They say experience is the best teacher ... though that might not be a comfort to the student pilot who was caught up in the air when a nationwide ground stop was ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Audio from the call between the inexperienced pilot and a calm air traffic controller is going around online ... and it begins with the ATC telling the pilot about the ground stop and asking where he wants to land.
The pilot says he's a student pilot... and it's his first time flying cross-country solo -- and he straight up doesn't know what to do.
Nikita Tyukalo allegedly built a fortune exploiting OnlyFans creators and camgirls ... but a group of their own fans wasn't about to let his operation go unchecked.
Our new documentary, "TMZ Studios Presents: Inside the Camgirl Criminal Empire," is now streaming on YouTube ... taking viewers inside Nikita's rise and the disturbing enterprise that prosecutors allege he built through coercion, abuse, and exploitation.
The doc also explores how Nikita reportedly idolized Andrew Tate and followed his playbook ... until a band of online vigilantes began spotting troubling signs and launched an investigation of their own.
Influencer Connor Wood's 2024 DUI arrest has resurfaced amid his battle for the "Dancing with the Stars" trophy, with authorities claiming he was driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.20%... TMZ has learned.
According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Connor -- whose legal last name is Masich -- was pulled over on August 9, 2024 around 2 AM in Manhattan Beach, California for suspicion of driving under the influence.
Connor was subsequently charged in March 2025 and entered a plea of no contest the following month. Court records show Connor had his sentence suspended and was placed on three years of summary probation in April 2025.
Ashley Judd is opening up about how her late mom Naomi Judd bizarrely etched Donald Trump's name in sharpie on her inner thigh before a surgery ... while revealing her surprising justification for it.
On her podcast "A Table Prepared" ... Ashley revealed that Naomi had a minor bladder surgery at Williamson County Hospital -- where she used to work as a nurse -- back in 2020.
Before she was set to go under the knife, Naomi took a sharpie that she used for autographs to write "Trump" on her inner thigh.
The nationwide Federal Aviation Administration shutdown is not connected to Microsoft's widespread outage ... despite the timing of the two major disruptions raising questions about whether a cyberattack or technical failure could be behind both incidents, according to reports.
NBC News correspondent Tom Winter reports he's been speaking with top law enforcement and cybersecurity officials throughout Friday, and as of 5 PM ET, there's no indication the Microsoft outage has any connection to the FAA problems.
Winter says officials have found no evidence linking the two incidents, pushing back on speculation that Microsoft's technical issues may have played a role in the aviation disruption. The FAA has not publicly confirmed or denied whether the two incidents are related.
1:51 PM PT --Mary Schiavo, CNN's Aviation Analyst, states preliminary reports indicate this is not a result of a cyber attack ... and speculates this may be due to new software the FAA has begun to integrate.
1:36 PM PT -- Peter Muntean, an Aviation Correspondent for CNN, predicts that this issue may last for days, with one or two days being needed to diagnose the issue.
1:28 PM PT -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the nationwide ground stop for all U.S. airports follows a communication issue impacting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. He says FAA technicians are investigating the issue.
Travelers across America are going nowhere fast ... the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an extremely rare nationwide ground stop, bringing departing flights across the country to a screeching halt!
The Federal Aviation Administration issued the sweeping order Friday afternoon, citing "extraordinary circumstances" and "reasons of safety," according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Issued by the FAA just moments ago, ALL US airports are currently ground stopped. This means NO flights may depart for US airports. Flights already in the air will be allowed to land. This is related to an FAA equipment outage. https://t.co/wgyuOXeF0k
@flightradar24
An air traffic control advisory states ... "All departing traffic should remain ground stopped until further notice."
OnlyFans model Sophie Rain made it rain for her birthday back in September, but now it's Stella Hudgens' turn to blow out the candles ... and her birthday cake may just take the cake!
The Federal Aviation Administration began rolling out a massive new A.I.-powered air traffic system nationwide just days before Friday's shocking ground stop ... and the timing is raising some eyebrows.
On Tuesday, the agency announced it was expanding its $875 million A.I. system, called SMART, to all 22 air traffic control centers ... promising fewer delays, less fuel consumption and smoother travel.
But just three days later, the FAA ordered a rare nationwide ground stop ... throwing air travel into chaos.
It's official! The 'Mormon Wives' are back, but this time they're trading Utah for the sunny shores of Orange County! If you didn't tune in, meet the new girlies -- and if you have, sit back and enjoy the smoke show!
Salomé Andrea, Jen Affleck and Avery Woods are looking like the juiciest treats to come out of the OC!
And, Bobbi Althoff's strapless selfie will have you squeezing every last drop out of bikini season!
Brooks Nader was minutes away from taking off for a little college football fun ... but the Federal Aviation Administration had other plans, grounding her private flight amid a nationwide shutdown Friday ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Brooks tell TMZ ... she was literally about to take off from New York to her home state of Louisiana for the LSU game when the FAA ordered all departing flights across the country to remain grounded.
We're told Brooks is safe but stuck sitting on the tarmac ... and the pilots have zero updates about what's going on. Our sources say it's now looking very unlikely her plane will get off the ground tonight.
Thing are getting spooky this Friday the 13th ... but this scream queen is giving us plenty to look at ... Can you guess who she is based on these clues:
She's got a killer love life ... literally -- the ride-or-die girlfriend of one of horror's most infamous killer dolls!
For those that haven't seen this 1998 classic, perhaps you'd recall her crackin' jokes alongside her bestie Sutton Stracke on 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.'
Usher says he's tired of waiting around to be repaid in full on a massive he loan he made … and is asking a judge to step in to help ... TMZ has learned.
Per court docs, obtained by TMZ, Usher claims Atlanta-based lawyer Alcide Honore is playing games when it comes to answering where his money is located.
Usher said Alcide said he never received money from the singer … despite the singer claiming there are wire transfer docs to back up the transfer.
Kaitlyn Bristowe is finding out there's something worse than getting sent home on "The Bachelor" ... not being able to get home at all.
The former "Bachelorette" star is stranded at an airport amid the nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop ... and she's knocking back a Guinness while trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
Kaitlyn took to social media Friday to document the chaos ... admitting she's scared by the mysterious shutdown and describing the scene as "very eerie."
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered all flights on the ground in the United States to stay there ... issuing a nationwide ground stop due to a communication issue -- and it's leaving many Americans feeling confused and scared.
The federal agency issued the ground stop Friday afternoon ... stating in a press release that it made the decision "following communication issues impacting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers." Technicians for the FAA are investigating the issue.
Issued by the FAA just moments ago, ALL US airports are currently ground stopped. This means NO flights may depart for US airports. Flights already in the air will be allowed to land. This is related to an FAA equipment outage. https://t.co/wgyuOXeF0k
@flightradar24
Videos show the chaos and confusion all over the country ... including one plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport heading to Tampa, Florida, and hearing from their pilot, it could take up to 7 hours for the ground stop to be lifted.
1:57 PM PT -- CNN reports that dozens of patients have been admitted to a local hospital following the crash.
Cruise ship passengers ended up in the Mississippi River on Friday when an oil tanker hit the side of the ship and capsized it.
Video captured the wild scene, which took place near New Orleans ... and shows the tanker -- Atlantic Asphalt -- running directly into the side of American Heritage, the river cruise ship.
Watch the moment a tanker struck a cruise ship in New Orleans. Rescues are underway.
📷: Kern Studios
https://t.co/ZPspGtM0Yr https://t.co/O1qGr8kImf
@wdsu
It's unclear why the tanker ran into the ship at this time ... but it hit the ship hard enough to flip it on its side -- and reports say multiple passengers were flung into the water, where they were later rescued.
