WASHINGTON - For the second time in two years, a Washington, D.C., man has been cited after police said he was seen flying an unmanned aircraft, or drone, in areas over the District of Columbia, an activity that is prohibited, according to federal authorities.
The U.S. Park Police said that Howard Solomon, 50, was cited about 8:30 p.m. Sunday after he was seen flying a drone over the North Field area of Anacostia Park. It is illegal to fly unmanned aircraft over national parks or anywhere in the District of Columbia. The fine is $85.
Authorities said a Park Police officer in a helicopter spotted the Yuneeq Typhoon Q500+ Quadcopter. Police said the craft and controller were confiscated. The fine is $85.
Sunday’s incident was the second this year in a Washington-area national park, and the 29th since 2013. U.S. Park Police Sgt. Anna Rose said Solomon is the only person to be cited twice.
Solomon was first cited in October 2015 after police said he was spotted near the Washington Monument after a F182 6 Axis Quadcopter crash landed on the Ellipse, near the White House, and was retrieved by Secret Service agents. Solomon could not be reached for comment Monday morning.
NEW YORK – Beware of the monks.
It’s an odd-sounding statement. After all, Buddhist monks are popularly known for kindness, peacefulness and generosity. But the advice comes straight from New York City Buddhist leaders, who say that panhandlers have been dressing like monks – right down to the shaved head and orange robes – as a means to con tourists out of money.
The men reportedly hand passers-by golden medallions or simply peaceful tidings before asking for donations to help build a temple in Thailand. Only there is no temple in Thailand, and the “monks” reportedly become irate and are unrelenting in their demands and occasionally aggressive.
The problem has become so common along the High Line Park, a popular waterfront elevated park in Chelsea, that Friends of the High Line put out a statement asking visitors to report this particular brand of “aggressive panhandling.”
Michelle Dunson of the Buddhist Council of New York, a group that represents nearly two dozen Buddhist temples, told the station, “They’re not authentic. They’re not real. They’re playing on people’s heart strings. It’s basically a scam like any other.”
SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines said Monday there were no injuries when a jetliner caught fire after returning to Changi Airport because of an engine warning.
The Boeing 777-300ER was on its way to Milan when it turned back “following an engine oil warning message,” the company said.
It said the aircraft’s right engine caught fire after Flight SQ368 touched down more than four hours after taking off.
“The fire was put out by airport emergency services, and there were no injuries to the 222 passengers and 19 crew on board,” Singapore Airlines said in a statement.
The passengers were transferred to another aircraft, it said.
Associated Press & Washington Post
