World War One artillery shells found in bags at Chicago airport

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Two World War One artillery shells packed in the checked baggage of two American teenagers returning from a European trip were confiscated by security officers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The 75-mm military grade shells, which were determined to be inert, were discovered after the teens arrived from London on Monday and were headed for a connecting flight home to Seattle, a Transportation Security Administration official said.

The teens, aged 16 and 17, told law enforcement they got the shells from a French World War One artillery range located next to a museum that collects war memorabilia, the TSA official said.

No charges have been filed against the teens.

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; editing by Gunna Dickson)

Politics & Governmentartillery shells

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Woman mysteriously living in Cancun airport

An unidentified passenger walks through the Cancun airport terminal. (AAP)She’s not a criminal and she has a passport. But authorities at Cancun’s airport say a Mexican woman has been living inside the airport for more than a week after getting off a flight back from the U.S.

News Corp Australia reports that 45-year-old Marcela Silvia Montano Mancera is a Mexican citizen, leaving airport authorities baffled as to why she hasn’t simply left the airport and returned home.

"She looks like a regular passenger at first glance, people don't look at her, but we have seen her every day. ... We are not doctors, but it's obvious that she has problems, some of my co-workers tried to speak with her, but at times it seems as if she loses it," an airline worker told News Corp.

In the meantime, employees are becoming increasingly worried about the mental health of the woman, who has been seen eating, sleeping and even bathing at various locations throughout the airport. And reportedly, she has been withdrawing money from an ATM inside the airport, which would seem to rule out her squatting in the airport out of financial necessity.

The GlobalPost adds that Marcera has reportedly been speaking to herself in both Spanish and English since arriving at the airport on June 30.

According to federal police officers, she hasn’t committed a crime by lingering in the airport terminal, so they are unable to force her to leave.

Airport employees have unsuccessfully tried to locate Mancera’s relatives but have been unable to obtain useful information from her or from public records.

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9-year-old girl passes through airport customs with fake unicorn passport

Emily Harris, 9, and unicorn passport (Caters)Breezing through airport security? For some, it’s about as likely as seeing a unicorn.

But for 9-year-old Emily Harris of South Wales, it was her toy passport featuring a photo of a pink stuffed unicorn toy that secured her passage through the security line at Turkey’s Antalya airport.

“We saw the funny side, and laughed at the fact that the officer had even stamped the passport,” Emily’s mom, Nicky, told Caters News Agency. “But at the same time, it’s a worry to any parent, how easy it would be to smuggle a child through customs and into another country.”

Emily’s passport was technically a novelty item included with her stuffed animal, which was purchased at the Bear Factory retailer. The cover of the passport reads, "European Union, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." OK, so far, it's understandable and somewhat official looking. But then, the passport case shows the silhouette of a bear's head with the words, "Design A Bear" written below in childlike, golden colored scrawl.

The inside of the passport is even less authentic looking. Where an individual's personal information and photo would normally be located are instructions for a children's game using letters of the alphabet to designate places the child has visited. There's even another "Design A Bear" logo scribbled across the page. The following page includes space for the child to document "travel adventures."

When Emily passed through the airport’s customs, she emerged with a stamped set of documents in tow. Only thing is, it was the unicorn’s passport that had been given the official stamp of approval.

“I didn’t realise until I was putting the passports away,” Nicky said. “There was a moment of panic when I thought someone would come chasing after us, but nothing.”

The Bear Factory company’s website notes the love and care it puts into each stuffed animal. But how exactly could such an unrealistic looking toy animal pass for a real girl?

“The passport doesn’t even look real?it’s got gold teddy bears on the front and was a completely different size from mine and my husband, Allen’s,” Nicky added.

The inside of Emily Harris' unicorn passport (Caters)

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Fighting eagles crash land on Minn. airport runway

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Two bald eagles locked together by their talons in a midair battle survived a crash landing onto a runway at a northeastern Minnesota airport.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Randy Hanzal says the adult eagles couldn't separate Sunday before slamming into the tarmac at the Duluth International Airport.

Hanzal tried to take the birds to a Duluth wildlife rehabilitation center. He covered them with blankets and jackets on the back of his pickup and held them down with webbing straps. En route, Hanzal says, he heard a ruckus and saw one bird jump out and fly away.

The Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/12rDalM ) says the other eagle made it to the rehab center and is now being cared for by the University of Minnesota in St. Paul's Raptor Center.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com

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Police: Man found in cockpit at Philly airport

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A 61-year-old French man was arrested at Philadelphia International Airport and charged with impersonating a pilot after airline officials found him in the cockpit of a plane scheduled for takeoff, police said Friday.

The crew of a US Airways flight bound for West Palm Beach, Fla., found Philippe Jernnard of La Rochelle, France, in the jump seat behind the pilot on Wednesday evening and removed him after he became argumentative, police said.

Jernnard, who was a ticketed passenger, was wearing a white shirt with an Air France logo and had a black jacket with epaulets on the shoulders, police said. Officer Christine O'Brien said police also found him in possession of a counterfeit Air France crew member ID card.

It's not clear how Jernnard got into the cockpit, but police said there's no indication he meant any harm. A US Airways spokeswoman referred questions to the FBI, which confirmed it is investigating but declined to comment Friday.

O'Brien said Jernnard initially became upset at the gate when he asked to be upgraded to business class.

"The (US Airways) employee gate agent told the male there was no space left in business class. He became irate," then boarded the plane, O'Brien said.

Jernnard was charged with criminal trespass, forgery, records tampering, false impersonation of a person privately employed, and providing false identification to law enforcement. He remained behind bars pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 5. Federal charges are also expected.

Jernnard is represented by the Philadelphia public defender's office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In France, police in La Rochelle as well as the national police declined to comment, saying they are not allowed to disclose information about individuals.

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Thousands of caterpillars seized at UK airport

Londra (AP) — agenti doganali britannico fatti una scoperta raccapricciante quando un passeggero della compagnia aerea è stato trovato con 94 chilogrammi (207 libbre) di bruchi nel suo bagaglio.

L'uomo ha sostenuto che sono stati intesi come cibo per il consumo personale.

La forza di frontiera U.K. ha detto venerdì che gli ispettori a aeroporto di Londra Gatwick trovano i bruchi essiccati Wrapped cellophane e imballate in sacchi di iuta trasportati da un passeggero che viaggia dal Burkina Faso via Istanbul.

I bruchi sono stati sequestrati dalle autorità dopo il 23 febbraio trovare perché hanno violato le restrizioni per l'importazione di prodotti di origine animale. Il passeggero 22-anno-vecchio è stato lasciato fuori con un avvertimento.

Forza di frontiera portavoce Ingrid Smith ha detto che "la vigilanza dei nostri ufficiali ha smesso di questi insetti secchi da entrare in Gran Bretagna e possibilmente che presentano un rischio per la nostra catena alimentare".

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Bunnies taking toll on cars at Denver airport

DENVER (AP) — silly rabbits.

The furry creatures are wreaking havoc on cars parked at Denver International Airport, eating wire candle and other wiring.

To stop the problem, the Federal Wildlife workers are removing at least 100 rabbits a month while fencing installation companies better parking and build perches for predator hawks and eagles.

Airport spokesman that Coale Laura says that out of 4.3 million parking transactions in 2012, three requests were submitted for rodents or rabbit damage and no one has lodged a complaint for towing.

KCNC-TV (http://tinyurl.com/awjoyne) reports that there is another way to stop the damage that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.

Mechanics say the wire coating with Fox or coyote urine can steal the rabbits of their appetite. Fox urine can be purchased at many stores.

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Information from: KCNC-TV, http://www.cbs4denver.com

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Bunnies taking toll on cars at Denver airport

DENVER (AP) — silly rabbits.

The furry creatures are wreaking havoc on cars parked at Denver International Airport, eating wire candle and other wiring.

To stop the problem, the Federal Wildlife workers are removing at least 100 rabbits a month while fencing installation companies better parking and build perches for predator hawks and eagles.

Airport spokesman that Coale Laura says that out of 4.3 million parking transactions in 2012, three requests were submitted for rodents or rabbit damage and no one has lodged a complaint for towing.

KCNC-TV (http://tinyurl.com/awjoyne) reports that there is another way to stop the damage that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.

Mechanics say the wire coating with Fox or coyote urine can steal the rabbits of their appetite. Fox urine can be purchased at many stores.

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Information from: KCNC-TV, http://www.cbs4denver.com

View the original article here