AOL Travel News http://news.travel.aol.com AOL Travel News http://news.travel.aol.com/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Travel News http://news.travel.aol.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Celebrities At Disneyland: Who Likes To Celebrate At The Happiest Place On Earth?http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/11/03/celebrities-at-disneyland-who-likes-to-celebrate-at-the-happies/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/11/03/celebrities-at-disneyland-who-likes-to-celebrate-at-the-happies/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/11/03/celebrities-at-disneyland-who-likes-to-celebrate-at-the-happies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Celebrities at Disney

Getty

Celebrities are just like us - they dine out, they go on vacation, they have run-ins with airlines and they love Disney.Superstars like Michael Jackson and TV faves like the Cosby Kids have even appeared in ads supporting Walt's parks.

Of course, a trip to Disneyland is totally convenient for Hollywood types. Located just about 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, in Anaheim, Disney's California outpost is a convenient way for stars and starlets to blow off some steam.

Perhaps one of the biggest celebrity spectacles was back in 2008 when Miley Cyrus closed Disneyland for her 16th birthday party.

Didn't get invited? That's OK, try scoring a date with Ryan Gosling who apparently likes to take his lady friends on Disneyland dates. Back in September,Eva Mendes was reportedly one such lucky lady when the two were spotted...gasp...holding hands at the park.

Speaking of getting romantical, Chord Overstreet and Emma Roberts also chose Disneyland as the location of a date in August.

Of course, Disneyland is totally about the kids. So, it's no surprise that Jennie Garth, Salma Hayek and Christina Aguilera took theirs to play at the parks.

But, it's not just Disneyland that draws celebs. Walt Disney World in Orlando gets many a nod from celebrities too.

Taking a cue from the "happiest place on earth" moniker, Courtney Cox and David Arquette chose Disney World as the site of a post-separation family reunion with their daughter.

In February, Jon Stewart took his kiddos on a Disney World vacay.

Across the pond, Paris Hilton was just in Disneyland Paris for the resort's Halloween celebrations.

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]]>celebrity traveldisneydisneylandwalt disney worldAOL Travel Staff2011-11-03T11:42:00+00:00Disney World Welcomes Fall At The Magic Kingdom (VIDEO)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/09/20/disney-world-welcomes-fall-at-the-magic-kingdom-video/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/09/20/disney-world-welcomes-fall-at-the-magic-kingdom-video/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/09/20/disney-world-welcomes-fall-at-the-magic-kingdom-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Disney Fall

Florida might be known as the land of palm trees and sunshine, but at Walt Disney World fall foliage is in season.


Over the course of three days, a small army put up revamped decorations giving the impression of a hometown fall along Main Street. There are the fall leaves, of course, and candy corn-esque banners draped from the early 20th century inspired buildings. Not to be left out, Mickey appears on lamp posts, with his trademark ears giving pumpkins a unique shape.


To see how it all came together, watch the video below.


And, for more Disney fun, check out our guide to Florida's amusement parks.








 

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]]>fallfloridamickeys halloweenorlandounited-stateswalt disney worldAOL Travel Staff2011-09-20T13:58:00+00:00Gerard Depardieu Pees on a Plane (Not in the Bathroom) (UPDATE)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/gerard-depardieu-pees-on-a-plane-not-in-the-bathroom-update/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/gerard-depardieu-pees-on-a-plane-not-in-the-bathroom-update/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/gerard-depardieu-pees-on-a-plane-not-in-the-bathroom-update/#commentsFiled under: , ,

AP

UPDATE, 8/19: Depardieu has apologized, via his flying companion, for peeing on the plane.

Fellow actor Edouard Baer was flying with Depardieu when the incident occurred. In a statement, Baer said that Depardieu has "prostate problems" and he had not been drinking at the time, the BBC reports.

The statement read: "Gerard was upset at this and offered to clean up the mess. He has prostate problems and it was very worrying and humiliating for him. He was also stone-cold sober at the time. This is not the way he usually behaves."

Depardieu was removed from the flight and caught a later plane to Dublin.

Previously, 8/17: The French actor Gerard Depardieu gave the passengers on a CityJet flight from Paris to Dublin quite the show on Tuesday when he reacted to the news he would not be allowed to use a bathroom until after take off by urinating on the plane's carpet in full view of the cabin.

The story broke when an eyewitness went on the French radio station Europe 1 and recounted Depardieu's urinary performance. The witness said that Depardieu begged a stewardess to let him in the bathroom, saying "Je veux pisser" repeatedly.

The stewardess asked the actor to wait fifteen minutes for the plane to reach its cruising altitude. Depardieu, who the witness claimed -- believably -- seemed drunk, declined to do so.

"There and then he did it on the floor..." the witness said. "No one said anything. It all happened with courtesy."

After Depardieu relieved himself, the plane returned to its gate, where a grounds crew reportedly spent two hours cleaning up the mess.

A CityJet spokesman confirmed to Agence France Press that the incident had taken place, but did not say whether Depardieu had been been removed from the plane.

Gerard Depardieu, who runs a vineyard when he isn't acting, has a reputation for drunken antics. In 2009, he literally beat up a car near his home -- smashing the windshield with his fist -- and in 1990 was convicted of drunk driving.

The actor's turn in the role of public urinator is just the latest instance of what seems to be a growing trend: peeing-on-a-plane stories. A drunk skier may have peed on a sleeping 11-year-old last week and, in June, a drunk Jetstar passenger relieved himself in the aisle of a Singapore-bound jet.

Related:

 

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]]>air francecityjetdublinfrancefrench moviesfunnygerard depardieuklmpeeingscandalAOL Travel Staff2011-08-19T10:15:00+00:00Nebraska Storms Close Omaha Airport Twice, Damage Planeshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/#commentsFiled under:

Powerful Storms Close Omaha Airport Twice, Damage Planes

southernskies2000/Flickr

Powerful storms showering baseball-size hail twice closed the Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, and forced the cancellation of flights Thursday.

The first storms rolled through at 5:30 p.m. Tursday, forcing the temporary closure of the airport for an hour and a half. Thirty minutes after it was reopened, the second storm forced it to close again, reports CNN.

Winds of up to 100 mph were reported, as were hailstones of 2.75 inches in diameter.

The storms did damage to seven aircraft belonging to American, United, Delta, Southwest, USAir and Frontier. A jetway was blown into an aircraft, the south concourse sustained water damage and cars in the parking lot were shattered by hail.

The only human casualty was a pilot who was taken to the hospital after being stuck in the head with a large hailstone. No word on his status, but he was conscious when brought to the hospital.

In April, a tornado damaged and forced the closure of Lambert Field in St. Louis. Passengers inside the terminal filmed the tornado hitting the airport.


 

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]]>airportnebraska weatheromahaomaha weatherstorm damageAOL Travel Staff2011-08-19T08:45:00+00:00'Galactic Cosmic Rays' Threaten Fliers Health, Claims Scientisthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/#commentsFiled under: ,

maz.nu/Flickr

A British solar scientist is warning long haul fliers that they may be subjected to cancer causing cell damage on flights near the poles due to an increasing number of solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays.

The alert, which sounds like something out of an early James Bond film, is based on shifts in solar weather.

According to Mike Lockwood, a Professor of Space Environment Physics at the University of Reading, the sun has spent the last decade spitting out flares and superheated gas and is about to transition into a period of relative calm. That transition, according to Lockwood, will be marked by highly irregular behavior during which gas particles will shoot from the sun towards Earth.

These gas particles can be carcinogenic, so Lockwood is urging those who frequently fly the long routes over the North Pole region - Seoul to New York, London to San Francisco, Chicago to Moscow - to get regularly tested for cancer.

Writing in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Lockwood claimed: "The supersonic nature of the solar wind means open solar flux can only be removed by near-Sun magnetic reconnection between open solar magnetic field lines."

Obviously.

Lockwood dumbed it down a bit for the Daily Mail, saying "Analysis shows that the risk of the space-weather effects is considerably enhanced over the next century compared with the space age thus far."

 

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]]>airplanes radiationcancer travelradiation travelAOL Travel Staff2011-08-18T09:15:00+00:00Seoul to Introduce Female-Only Subway Carshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/#commentsFiled under:

Seoul to Introduce Female-Only Subway Cars

nickgravywfu/Flickr

Segregation of the sexes is making a comeback in Seoul. The South Korean capitol plans to introduce female-only subway cars in response to sexual assault complaints.

The use of female-only subway cars went out of practice in South Korea 20 years ago, but an increasing number of sexual assaults during the commute - often called a "hell ride" - has females demanding the government do something.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the number of sexual assaults against females rose 80% from 2009 to 2010.

South Korea tried this tactic once before, in 1992, but ended it as males began flouting the rules. Another attempt in 2007 was abandoned when it was shown that more than half of riders were opposed. This time around, beginning in September, the No. 2 line will have a female-only section at night, and security guards will keep men in check.

But there are still some that oppose and doubt the effectiveness of this measure. Among their concerns is the thought that abusers might target women-only cars, or that they don't address the real core of the problem.

"I don't think gender segregation is the right direction to solve sexual harassment problems," Lee Eun-sang, director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center told The Korea Times. "It indicates sexual harassment can be prevented only when men and women are in separate spaces."

Back in 2005, Japan also instituted female-only train cars to address the same issue, Good Morning America reported.

At that time, almost 64% of women in their 20s and 30s reported being groped on city transit.

In Japan commuters seemed to welcome the cars, which were introduced during the rush hour. Women embraced the safety, and men liked the idea that they wouldn't be falsely accused of groping - an offense that, at the time, carried a hefty fine or up to seven years in jail.

However, according to the LA Times, Japanese officials say segregated cars running since 2000 have not led to a decrease in sexual offenses.


 

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]]>female only subwaysegregated subway carsseoulsouth koreasubway carswomen only subwayAOL Travel Staff2011-08-18T09:00:00+00:00Fireworks Found on Southwest Airlines Planehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/#commentsFiled under:

Fireworks Found on Southwest Airlines Plane

Koonisutra/Flickr

A Ziploc bag full of fireworks was found on a Kansas City bound Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday, reports a local NBC affiliate.

The flight, which originated in Las Vegas, was delayed an hour when a flight attendant found the fireworks under a seat, airline spokesperson Ashley Dillon told CNN.

Passengers, none of whom claimed the explosives, were removed from the plane. The aircraft was inspected and baggage was re-searched. Once the TSA gave the all clear, the flight was re-boarded and set off for Missouri.

The TSA will investigate how the fireworks got on to the plane.

Now, the question is, how did those rats on a a plane and the bat on a plane get past the TSA too?



 

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]]>firecrackersfireworkssouthwest sirlinesAOL Travel Staff2011-08-17T10:33:00+00:00Virgin Atlantic Issues 'Weep Warnings' On Flightshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/#commentsFiled under:

Virgin Atlantic weep warnings

Jupiter Images

Virgin Atlantic has decided to put "weep warnings" before emotional movies shown in-flight. It seems emotions run high at 30,000 feet.

The warning will appear before the start of an in-flight movie, to help passengers make emotionally-sound decisions.

The move came after a survey found that 55 percent of passengers polled said their emotions became more heightened during flight. 41 percent of men admitted to hiding under a blanket to hide their tears, while women were more apt to pretend they had something in their eye, reports the Daily Mail.

So instead of watching, say, "Toy Story 3", which passengers cited as one of the most moving films, take a flight on Qantas, which is now showing a documentary on the female orgasm. It's a...different kind of emotion.



 

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]]>emotional moviein flight movievirgin atlanticweep warningAOL Travel Staff2011-08-17T09:00:00+00:00Seychelles Shark Attack: Ian Redmond, British Honeymooner, Eaten by Sharkhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/#commentsFiled under:

NOAA Photo Library/Flickr

A British honeymooner was eaten by shark on Tuesday while swimming close to the shore in the Seychelles.

30-year-old Ian Redmond was swimming off Anse Lazio beach on the island of Paslin when he was attacked by a 6-foot shark, the Telegraph reports. He and his new wife, 27-year-old Gemma Houghton, had arrived on August 14th for their 2-week honeymoon.

Tourists on the beach watched as he yelled "help!" and was mauled by the shark. A tourist told the Sun, "There was a horrific amount of blood in the water and it was exactly like a scene from Jaws."


Redmond was brought to shore following the attack. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead from massive blood loss.

An employee of La Reserve hotel confirmed that the couple were staying there, Sky News reports.

"Shark hunters" were flown in from South Africa to track a "rogue" shark that was thought to be in the waters. Seychelles' interior minister, Joel Morgan, ordered all beaches in the area closed and banned swimming in the area. Officials banned tourists from snorkeling or swimming until the shark is caught, the Sun reports.

Redmond's parents are reportedly en route to the island and the British High Commissioner has already flown in to comfort Redmond's widow.


The island's tourism head, Alain St Ange, sent his condolences to the family and told the Telegraph: "It was a freak accident. We are closing the beaches pending the arrival of experts from South Africa." Yet, earlier this month, a 36-year-old French man was killed by a shark on the same beach.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Will & Kate) honeymooned some 20 miles from the horrific scene back in May.

British Man Killed in Shark Attack

 

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]]>seychellesseychelles shark attacksshark attackssharksAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T18:45:00+00:00Harry Potter Studios Will Open For Tours in 2012http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/#commentsFiled under:

Harry Potter Studios Will Open For Tours in 2012

Warner Brothers

There are those for whom The Wizarding World of Harry Potter just isn't enough. Enter: the Harry Potter studio tour, where fans can visit the real Hogwarts come 2012.

Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, England has been the home of Harry, Hermione and Ron - or, Dan, Emma and Rupert - for the last 10 years. Its more than 150,000 square feet of Potter nostalgia will open to visitors in spring 2012, reports the Daily Mail.

Stops on the tour include Hogwart's Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut. Also on the itinerary is a peek at the series' animatronics - Buckbeak the Hippogriff, Aragog the giant spider, Fawkes the phoenix and the Basilisk head - in the Creature Effects workshop.

"The sets all have tiny little details that you may not always notice in the films but when you actually walk through them, you can see all the work that's gone into it. It's really amazing," "Potter" star Rupert Grint, who played sidekick Ron Weasley, told the paper.

As of press time, tickets will go on sale in 58 days, 2 hours and 43 minutes (that's October 13.) Tickets must be purchased in advance from the studio tour's website or from approved tour operators. Admission is £28 ($46) for adults and £21 ($34) for children.

If that's not enough for the Potter fan, Wales' Tourism Board is hocking some of its eerie scenery that was used in the film as a way to draw tourists to the small country.

The End of the Road For Harry

 

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]]>englandharry potterlondonstudio tourAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T10:00:00+00:00Fear of Flying Gets Woman Lighter Sentence For Drunken Plane Incidenthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/#commentsFiled under: ,

twicepix/Flickr

An English woman's fear of flying got her off the hook on Monday as a judge refused to send her to jail for drunkenly brawling with other passengers and the crew on an EasyJet flight.

Lynn Grimes, a 41-year-old woman who was returning to Manchester from vacation in Athens on December 7, spent most of her flight back to England sitting with the cabin crew, who she had told she didn't fly well, and drinking wine. When she was told to return to her actual seat for landing, she was less then pleased and more than tipsy.

According to the Daily Mail, Grimes grabbed one passenger by the hair and kicked a steward in the stomach. He refusal to sit forced the pilot to abort landing until she could be calmed down.

Grimes pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft and two counts of assault, normally more than enough to earn passage to the clink, but judge Jonathan Geake said he wouldn't imprison somebody who "simply panicked."

Grimes' lawyer claimed "She was at the time very apologetic and severely embarrassed by her behavior." The lawyer also noted that she has since flown to Greece multiple times "without incident.:

Grimes received a 18 month suspended sentence and an appointment with a medical professional. She also serve 60 hours of community service.

Grimes joins a growing list of drunken airplane passengers. In April, a drunk American Airlines passenger forced an emergency landing after he became unruly. On May 3rd, a drunk Air France passenger claimed his name was bin Laden while trying to get a boarding pass for a flight to Paris. On May 4th, a drunk British Airways passenger groped a flight attendant as she served him coffee. In June, a drunk Jetstar passenger urinated in the plane's aisle. And just last week, a former Olympic hopeful reportedly drunkenly peed on a girl on a redeye JetBlue flight. The girl's family has come forward saying he peed on the aisle, not their beloved 11-year old.

 

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]]>drunk flierdrunk passengerseasyjetAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T09:30:00+00:00Chiang Mai Hotel Mystery Deaths Likely Due to Pesticide in Hotelhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/chiang-mai-hotel-mystery-deaths-likely-due-to-pesticide-in-hotel/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/chiang-mai-hotel-mystery-deaths-likely-due-to-pesticide-in-hotel/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/chiang-mai-hotel-mystery-deaths-likely-due-to-pesticide-in-hotel/#comments

Argenberg/Flickr

An inquiry into the mysterious deaths of four foreign tourists and a tour guide in the resort city of Chiang Mai, Thailand has concluded that they were likely exposed to a deadly pesticide in their hotel.

According to Thailand's Department of Disease Control, the hotel was likely using pest control chemicals to curb a rat or bug infestation that were so strong they killed the travelers. The four deaths, which occurred in January and February, spread justifiable concerns that Thai hotels might be putting their guests at risk.

Agence France Press reports that pinpointing the specific toxin that killed the tourists and the guide may be difficult because their bodies were not immediately tested.

The deaths began on January 11, when a 33-year-old American woman died and her Canadian companion was hospitalized. On February 3, a Thai guide was found dead in her room in the Downtown Inn and three young New Zealanders staying next door became sick. One of the kiwis died a few days later.

On February 19, an elderly British man and his wife were also found dead in the Downtown Inn.

The Downtown Inn, which is a small hotel for budget travelers, remains open.

 

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]]>AOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T08:30:00+00:00Robert Vietze, JetBlue Passenger, Pees On 11-Year-Old Girl On Flight (UPDATES)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HeatherHeatherHeather/Flickr

UPDATE, 8/16: The teenager allegedly caught urinating on a young girl on a JetBlue flight last week was actually relieving himself on the floor, claims the girl's family.

According to The Oregonian, the family released a statement that Robert Vietze was actually peeing on the floor next to their daughter's seat - not on their daughter.

"While family members have cooperated with authorities in the investigation, they neither welcome nor encourage further publicity," The Oregonian reports. "The family's main concern is the welfare of their daughter."

After being taken into custody Wednesday, Vietze was issued a federal summons for misdemeanor indecent exposure. If convicted, he could face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

Before flying, Vietze admittedly consumed five to six beers and two rum and cokes before boarding his flight. The alcohol apparently "hit him" while in the air, and he walked to seat 15A (where the girl was sitting) and relieved himself. When confronted by the girl's father, Vietze said "he had an accident," reports the paper.

--------
UPDATE, 8/12: 18-year old Robert Vietze was a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He has seen been kicked off the team. He is (was) considered one of the most elite skiers in the nation.

The New York Post reports that Vietze was returning from a training camp at Oregon's Mount Hood when the incident occurred. Vietze was in the running for the 2014 Olympics, but is name was removed from the team's development roster on Thursday.

"We have no comment, nothing to say," Vietze's mother told reporters outside their Vermont home.

The kicker? Turns out the girl was with her father, a Stage 4 cancer patient, and sister on the way to visit her grandmother in Long Island for the first time since her father's diagnosis.

--------
PREVIOUSLY, 8/11: A drunk male passenger was caught peeing on a sleeping 11-year old girl on a JFK-bound JetBlue flight on Wednesday.


18-year old Robert Vietze of South Warren, Vermont was on a red eye flight from Portland, Oregon when he started peeing on a sleeping 11-year old girl who was traveling with her sister and father, the New York Post reports.

Vietze was drunk, having consumed eight drinks, and stumbled five rows behind him (presumably towards the bathroom?!) when he started peeing on the girl. The girl's family was using the bathroom at the time.

"I was drunk, and I did not realize I was pissing on her leg," the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Vietze told law enforcement.


The unidentified girl's father caught Vietze peeing on his daughter and started screaming, "F--- that kid! I don't want him near my family!" a fellow passenger told the Post.

Flight attendants separated the father and Vietze, whom they moved to the back of the plane. They also tried to clean up the pee with soap from the bathrooms.

Yet the already exciting flight was far from over. An hour before the plane landed, another passenger started complaining of chest pains and vomited. The pilot addressed the plane, asking "Is anybody on this flight a nurse or doctor? We have a medical emergency." Yet no one stepped forward so flight attendants worked to keep him calm.

A witness told the Post that the pilots "kept coming out of the cockpit to talk to the flight crew about what was going on."

Six Port Authority cops greeted the plane when it landed at 6:30am. Two helped the sick passenger while four carted Vietze into custody.


Vietze has been issued a federal summons for indecent exposure.


This is not, surprisingly, the first time a passenger has peed on another under the influence of alcohol. Back in June, a drunk New Zealand man on a Jetstar flight from Auckland to Singapore peed on the plane's carpet, a man's leg and a woman's scarf after drinking whiskey out of Burger King cups with friends. The man, Michael Aitkin, eventually came forward and apologized profusely to his fellow passengers for his actions.





 

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]]>airplane peerjetblueman pees on girlRobert VietzeAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T08:15:00+00:00The "Sleepbox" Makes Airport Dozing More Comfortablehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-sleepbox-makes-airport-dosing-more-comfortable/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-sleepbox-makes-airport-dosing-more-comfortable/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-sleepbox-makes-airport-dosing-more-comfortable/#commentsFiled under: ,

YouTube

A Moscow airport eager to cater to tired travelers has installed the "Sleepbox," a modular dorm room, in a terminal so travelers can get a little shut eye while waiting for the final boarding call.

The box, a brainchild of the design firm Arch Group, is essentially a tiny cabin with bunk beds and mood lighting. The BBC reports that the Russian design team is hoping that its boxes will be installed in terminals where travelers will be able to rent them for short periods of time.

By-the-hour hotel rooms may not have the best reputation, but the BBC reports that the "Sleepbox" is proving popular with Russian travelers. Though the current model being used in the airport is actually built for hostels (thus the bunk bed), Arch Group has designed a one-person model specifically intended for airport use.

The single person pods will have Wifi connections, a tv screen and easily adjustable lighting.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



 

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]]>airlineairporthotelmodularmoscowmsnbcrussiarussia travelsleepboxAOL Travel Staff2011-08-15T09:00:00+00:00Helicopter Pilot Jailed for Sugary Pacific Island Detourhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pilot Thrown in the Slammer for Seeking Sugary Treats

Kirti Poddar/Flickr

An Australian helicopter pilot got more than he bargained for when he landed on the Pacific island nation of Nauru in search of a snack.

The 24-year-old pilot and his companion, stir crazy from months stationed on a fishing vessel in open water, hopped a helicopter and headed to the remote Pacific island nation in search of a snack.

The pair parked their ride on a beach and hit Nauru's main supermarket to stock up on chocolate and soda. Island police were waiting when they returned to the helicopter. They were arrested and the helicopter impounded, reports Agence France Presse.

After spending a night in Nauru's slammer, the pilot and passenger face a $100,000 fine for unauthorized landing and breaching the island's immigration act.


 

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]]>australiafishinghelicopternaurupacific islandpilotAOL Travel Staff2011-08-15T09:00:00+00:00UPDATE: Loose Bat Causes a Flap on Delta Flighthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/#commentsFiled under:

Bat Causes a Commotion on a Delta Plane

AFP/Getty Images

UPDATE 8/15/11: Health officials are still searching for passengers who were on a flight earlier this month with a loose bat, to warn them of the risk of rabies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been trying to reach all 50 people who flew on Delta flight 5121, which departed from Madison, Wis., to Atlanta at 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 5, reports the Associated Press.

As of Saturday, the CDC was still trying to locate 15 passengers, according to the AP.

None of the passengers contacted thus far have required treatment for the disease. Those who have not yet spoken to the CDC are asked to call 1-866-613-2683.

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Previously, 8/9/11, Passengers on a Georgia-bound Delta plane got quite the surprise Friday when a bat started flying about the cabin.

One passenger, who was asleep during the Madison, Wisconsin-Atlanta flight, was awoken by a scream and saw the animal fly over his head. So, he did what any reasonable person would do: film it.

His video, submitted to CNN's iReport, shows the bat making a couple laps up and down the commuter-sized plane before flying into the lavatory. One swift passenger shut the door, keeping the critter inside.

The plane returned to Madison and was searched.

A spokesperson for Delta Connections partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines told CNN that a flying animal was reported in the cabin, but he could not confirm if it was a bird or a bat.

According to news.com.au, there are reports the jet was searched and a maintenance worker coaxed the bat out of the plane and back into the open air.


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]]>batbat on a planedeltaloose batAOL Travel Staff2011-08-15T08:15:00+00:00Roman Police Bust Corrupt Gladiator Ring at the Colosseumhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/#commentsFiled under:

Roman Police Bust Corrupt Gladiator Ring at the Coliseum

Getty Images

Wooden swords were flying outside the Roman Colosseum as police dressed in ancient garb had it out with a group of corrupt gladiators.

The officers were part of an undercover sting meant to weed out cheating centurions.

Men dressed in their gladiator finery are a common site at the Roman landmark; posing for pictures with tourists and encouraging them to go on guided tours. A practice for which they get a kickback.

But, it's not all smiles and tacky souvenirs - there is a dark side to the centurion brotherhood. There have been allegations that the business is a "closed shop," and outsiders wanting in are rigorously, sometimes brutally, excluded, reports The Guardian.

There have also been complaints of gladiators tricking people into paying for tours that never happen, and then threaten those who demanded their money back. Or, some will charge outrageous fees for photo ops, while others hold cameras hostage until a fee is paid.

So, Roman policemen dressed as gladiators went out to patrol the streets of Rome. They were reportedly approached and threatened by three other gladiators, who were then arrested. When a skirmish ensued, more undercover officers, dressed as street cleaners, came to the rescue.

According to the Daily Mail, 20 faux gladiators and tour guides were arrested as part of the operation. But, The Guardian quotes that number at 30.


 

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]]>coliseumgladiatorRomeAOL Travel Staff2011-08-12T09:15:00+00:00Childhood Friends and Adventurers Head to South Pole (VIDEO)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/childhood-friends-and-adventurers-head-to-south-pole-video/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/childhood-friends-and-adventurers-head-to-south-pole-video/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/childhood-friends-and-adventurers-head-to-south-pole-video/#comments

news.com.au

James Castrission and Justin Jones, a pair of Australian adventures and childhood friends who won fame for kayaking across the treacherous Tasman Sea, have set their sights on a new challenge: the South Pole.

According to NewsCorp Australia, the pair plan to be the first to trek to the pole and back overland. Their plan: Schlep two 350 pound sleds across the ice on cross country skis.

They are currently preparing for the expedition by not only cross-training, but bulking up. Because Castrission and Jones are planning on loosing somewhere between 44 and 66 pounds each during their trip, the duo are stuffing their faces with the equivalent of 15 Big Macs a day.

In the video below (featuring the world's most comical Australian voiceover) the two discuss their training and who will eat who when the expedition goes, proverbially, south.



 

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]]>AOL Travel Staff2011-08-11T10:00:00+00:00Star Wars Next Sequel? Pacific Island Coinshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/star-wars-next-sequel-pacific-island-coins/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/star-wars-next-sequel-pacific-island-coins/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/star-wars-next-sequel-pacific-island-coins/#commentsFiled under: ,

<3M.D.M.D.<3/Flickr

The down on its luck Pacific island state of Niue, a former tourist hotspot, is hoping the force will be strong enough for its latest money making endeavor: a set of coins depicting Luke Skywalker that will be marketed to nerds abroad.

Niue, which locals refer to simply as "the Rock," sits in warm water about 1,550 miles northeast of New Zealand and has seen much of its population disappear since the mid-60s. The population of the island, a little more than 1,200 people, voted to make the Star Wars legal tender in order to raise money for their government.

The coins, which will show a Star Wars character on one side and the Queen of England on the other, will be worth NZ$2, but made of NZ$117.25 worth of silver, meaning that if you're looking for practical tender, these aren't the coins you're looking for.

"You wouldn't want to go and spend them because they're only worth $2, but the value is much more than that," Chris Kirkness of the New Zealand Mint told the Australian Associated Press.

Instead, the coins will be sold, starting next week, at the American Numismatic (coin collector) Association show in Chicago, in Millenium Falcon shaped boxes that make the lightspeed sound when opened.

This is not Niue's first venture into the collectibles market. Following the royal wedding in the spring, the state released Prince William and Kate Middleton stamps. The stamps attracted some unwanted controversy because tearing down the perforated line split the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The island is also looking at new ways to attract tourists, investing in tourism websites and hoping visitors will be willing to make the trek out into the Pacific to swim with dolphins and relax on beautiful white sand beaches, presumably while wearing metal bikinis.



 

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]]>Clone Warscoin collectingcoinscomic conislandNew ZealandniuepacificStar WarsStarWarstourismAOL Travel Staff2011-08-11T08:45:00+00:00Shanna Marie McLaughlin, Playboy Playmate, Arrested For Trying To Bring Gun On Planehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/10/shanna-marie-mclaughlin-playboy-playmate-arrested-for-trying-t/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/10/shanna-marie-mclaughlin-playboy-playmate-arrested-for-trying-t/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/10/shanna-marie-mclaughlin-playboy-playmate-arrested-for-trying-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

WKMG

Shanna McLaughlin, a former Playboy Playmate and current graduate student, was arrested on Monday night at Orlando International Airport for trying to board a plane with a concealed weapon.

McLaughlin, aka Playboy's Miss July 2010, was headed to Los Angeles for a photo shoot, local Orlando station WKMG reports.

McLaughlin, a graduate student at University of Central Florida, was passing through security when a TSA officer saw what appeared to be a handgun in her bag.

When asked, McLaughlin "spontaneously" told the agent that it was her boyfriend's, she had no idea the gun was in her bag and that she does, in fact, have a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Nevertheless, the gun, a Ruger SAA .45 Colt was loaded with hollow point bullets. McLaughlin landed in an Orange County jail with a misdemeanor, and she has since been released, the Daily Mail reports.

There have been quite a few instances of loaded guns at airports this summer. On July 11, a man tried to steal a deputy's gun at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. Later that month, a woman was arrested for trying to sneak past security with a loaded gun at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California, while a United employee was accidentally shot by a hunting riffle at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans.

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]]>guns at airportsplayboy playmate arrestedShanna McLaughlinAOL Travel Staff2011-08-10T10:00:00+00:00