Travel

Travel influencer Anunay Sood has died, his family and friends confirmed Thursday on Instagram.

The post reads, "It is with deep sadness that we share the news of our beloved Anunay Sood's passing. We kindly ask for your understanding and privacy as we navigate this difficult time. We humbly request you to avoid gathering crowd near personal property. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. May his soul rest in peace."

According to Arab News, the Dubai-based content creator was in Las Vegas on an all-expenses-paid trip from which he was set to return home Tuesday.

Flights to and from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. were put on a temporary hold Tuesday after a bomb threat was made against a United Airlines flight ... and you can listen to the air traffic controller warning the pilot.

Check out the clip -- the air traffic controller informs the cockpit they've got an "unconfirmed bomb report" and mandates they land on a runway away from the main airport structure.

United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said on X the flight landed safely at DCA and passengers were evacuated so law enforcement could carry out a full search of the aircraft.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace slammed cops at the Charleston International Airport last week for what she called "incompetence" ... and now she's doubling down.

It all started Thursday when the representative from South Carolina had a complete meltdown after airport cops -- who were supposed to escort her from the curb to her flight gate -- didn't show up at her correct drop-off spot on time. She reportedly launched into an expletive-laced tirade in the airport as a result.

In an interview with Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria" Monday, she cited rising political violence as a reason for her behavior, saying ... "In the political environment we have today, there's no room for error when it comes to security."

Elon Musk isn't worried about autonomous vehicles messing with people's pets ... because he just claimed they'll actually make animals' lives safer.

ICYMI ... driverless vehicles have been hitting some PR potholes lately -- especially after a bodega cat named KitKat was killed by a Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco on Monday.

There was an outpouring of support from residents of the Mission District after the beloved feline's death.

An air traffic controller working two jobs through the government shutdown isn't trying to alarm flyers ... but, he thinks a mental lapse on the part of another ATC is possible given the current issues in he field.

We spoke with Jack Criss -- an air traffic controller with more than 15 years of experience in the field -- on "TMZ Live" Thursday ... and, he told us he has a friend who refused to fly to visit him because she feared getting on a plane amid the increased stress on other controllers.

Criss tells us he's a safety advocate, and he always gives 100% focus to his job when he's working ... but, he could see a situation where an air traffic controller -- worried about not receiving any pay, while also dealing with other personal issues -- could screw up and end up hurting a lot of people.

San Francisco is reeling after the loss of one of its most beloved bodega cats ... a community fixture who, according to his owner, was tragically struck and killed by a Waymo self-driving car.

KitKat -- the resident feline at Randa’s Market in the Mission District -- was reportedly hit by a driverless Waymo late Monday. A local resident told Mission Local he was driving down the street when he saw the Waymo suddenly swerve ... and people on the sidewalk started shouting and grabbed the cat as the Waymo drove off.

A 311 city complaint stated KitKat was near the store, sitting on the sidewalk next to the transit lane when he was struck -- and the self-driving taxi “did not even try to stop.”

Rick Springfield wouldn't recommend air travel to "Jessie's Girl" or anyone else amid the government shutdown ... but, he's not sure how else to get from point A to point B.

We caught up with the singer-songwriter in New York City Wednesday afternoon ... and, we asked him about how air traffic controllers not getting paid has affected his view of flying these days -- a follow-up convo to one we had with Rick in February when he told us he wasn't freaking out about recent plane problems.

Spingfield calls it "Russian Roulette" in the sky these days ... but, he adds, there aren't many other good alternatives -- ya can't walk cross country!

Niecy Nash is objecting to anyone saying she didn't need all 10 bags she checked at the airport ... she is on a world tour, after all.

We shared the video with you ... the actress stopped by "Sherri" to talk to Sherri Shepherd about the viral video -- capturing Niecy at the airport grabbing a bunch of bags off the conveyor belt after her flight.

Shepherd -- who is getting her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next week -- asks her about her extravagance ... but Nash insists she "needs things" though she's not getting too specific about the goodies in her bags.

Flight attendants are supposed to make flying a pleasant time for passengers ... but an attendant for Delta really ruffled some feathers on Saturday when they accidentally deployed an emergency evacuation slide.

Here's the deal ... the attendant was working on a Delta Airbus A220, which was supposed to fly from Pittsburgh to Salt Lake City, according to The New York Post.

However, the individual, who reportedly had 26 years of experience up to then, accidentally raised a door handle while arming it for departure, which triggered the emergency power assist response.

A plane crash in Venezuela claimed the lives of two people onboard ... and, the whole incident was captured on shocking video.

According to the local paper El Nacional, a Cheyenne model plane crashed as it was taking off from Paramillo Airport in Táchira -- a state in western Venezuela that's crossed by the Andes Mountains -- Wednesday morning.

Check out the clip ... the small aircraft barely gets off the ground when the airplane starts to turn widely to the left. The craft doesn't have enough momentum to propel itself through the turn -- and, it comes down in a crash on one of its wings, tumbling over and bursting into flames.

8:07 AM PT -- A Delta spokesperson tells TMZ ... “We’re looking into the authenticity of this video. We will address the matter internally if it is confirmed. Civil conduct at all times is expected by those who represent our brand.”

Things have gotten so bad in the airline industry, employees from rival companies are now warring in public when planes aren't falling from the sky.

Take what happened at Atlanta Airport in Georgia between a Delta Airlines flight attendant and a Southwest Airlines gate agent.

Video that's making the rounds this week shows the male flight attendant arguing with the female gate agent over what he perceives as a disgusting airport, repeatedly demanding she clean something up.

Bone-chilling audio captured the exact moment a control tower lost contact with a doomed private jet Thursday night ... seconds before the craft came crashing down in Michigan, killing all three people onboard.

In the audio, after a back-and-forth exchange between pilot and tower, you can hear the jet starts to fail ... with the panicked pilot yelling to the air traffic controller, "Stall, recovery! Stall, recovery!" as he fought to keep control.

Air traffic control are heard desperately asking, "What is your altitude? ... Do you read?" -- and when he realized the pilot was gone, he radioed other planes in the sky to watch for black smoke rising from the ground.

Beyoncé and the girls "Run the World" ... and, right now she's traveling all the way around it ... 'cause she was just spotted shopping at a Yves St. Laurent in Qatar!

The singer-songwriter tried to keep a low profile in a mall Thursday -- darn-near impossible to do when you're a Queen -- tossing on an all-black outfit with a traditional headscarf.

It seems Bey mainly just did some window shopping ... she wasn't carrying any bags as she walked out of YSL ... though we'd guess she probably has someone to carry the load for her when she goes on a spree.

An airport worker starred in a short film about his big blunder when he tried refueling an airplane — and man, did things ever go awry!

The video — posted to Instagram Saturday — tells the full story and opens with the worker standing next to an American Eagle jet parked at a gate in Terminal E at Dallas Fort-Worth Airport in Texas.

As you can see, the worker is refueling the plane with a large hose and appears to lose his grip on the nozzle, causing it to whip around on the ground with jet fuel splashing everywhere.

A small plane has crashed near Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth, Texas ... sparking a massive fire involving multiple semi-trucks.

The Fort Worth Fire Department says the crash happened Sunday. The impact ignited several trucks in the area, though it’s unclear exactly how many vehicles are involved.

Videos shared on social media show thick black plumes of smoke billowing high into the sky above the crash site, visible from miles away.

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Don't wait until right before the holidays to figure out that your crusty, dusty old luggage isn't going to survive another trip to your parents' house. Now’s the time to upgrade your suitcases ... whether you tend to be an over-packer or if you refuse to bring anything other than a carry-on.

During Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, which runs from October 7-8, you can score sky high savings on top-of-the-line luggage from brands including Samsonite, Kenneth Cole and adidas. Grab a duffel bag for your weekend adventures and then stock up for the whole fam with a brand new hardshell luggage set. Your future self will thank you.

We all know that our luggage isn't exactly treated with the TLC it deserves when we’re at the airport ... which is why you need to invest in Traveler's Choice Pagosa Indestructible Hardshell Luggage Set.