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In Case You Missed It Weekend Digest: March 10

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To help make sure you stay informed on the most shared and talked about stories, each Saturday and Sunday we'll revisit 5 stories from the previous week, including the most recent updates.

West Haven Man With Cystic Fibrosis Gets Call From President Trump

Jay Barrett, of West Haven, has cystic fibrosis and his lungs are failing. As a big supporter of President Trump, he put meeting the president on his bucket list. Barrett's sister, a staunch Democrat, took to social media to try and make her brother's wish come true. Within days, Barrett's phone was ringing and it was President Trump on the other end of the call. Trump told Barrett he would set up a meeting the next time he is in the area for a rally. Barrett promised to be around to vote for the president in the 2020 election. See video of the call between the two here.

Toll Talk Continues at State Capitol

Hundreds of people came to the State Capitol on Wednesday to give lawmakers their take on a proposal to add tolls to Connecticut highways. Most who testified were opposed to the idea of tolls, but some, including business leaders, said tolls will generate revenue to help upgrade Connecticut's infrastructure and transportation systems, which will create a better business environment. Click here for more on the hearing.

Tornado Tears Deadly Path Through Alabama

A massive EF-4 tornado plowed through eastern Alabama on Sunday, killing 23 and injuring dozens. Three children were among the dead. The tornado packed winds of 170 mph and it tore a path 1 mile wide and 24 miles long. It was the deadliest tornado in the U.S. since May 2013. For more on the destruction the tornado left behind, click here.

R. Kelly Gives Explosive Interview About Sex Allegations

In his first interview since being charged with sexually abusing four people, including three underage girls, R. Kelly says he "didn't do this stuff" and that he's being "assassinated." The singer told 'CBS This Morning' anchor Gayle King that he never sexually abused women or controlled their lives. See more of the R. Kelly interview here.

Report Released on Trooper Tragedy

State police released a report on Wednesday detailing the March 2018 accident that killed Trooper First Class Kevin Miller. Miller was on duty and driving along I-84 in Tolland when he crashed into the back of a slow-moving tractor-trailer. The report determined the crash was accidental but showed Miller was speeding and that he was not wearing a seatbelt. See more details on the report here.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Daylight Saving Time 2019: Clocks 'Spring Forward' on Sunday

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U.S. clocks will "spring forward" again on March 10 to make room for an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings as winter fades away. That also means losing out an hour's sleep Saturday night.

Daylight saving time officially starts at 2 a.m. Sunday, when clocks are pushed forward one hour to 3 a.m.

When you go to bed on Saturday night, don’t forget to turn your watches, alarms and microwaves forward an hour. Electronic devices, like cellphones, by default are set to automatically update the time as it changes. Standard time returns Nov. 3.

In observance of the biannual switch in time, here are some things you may not have known about this event.

It Has an Impact on Your Health
Switching into and out of daylight saving can disturb people’s sleeping routines, making them more restless at night, according to U.S. News and World Report. However, morning people tend to be less bothered by the changes. Studies have shown that during the first week of daylight saving time there is a spike in the number of reported heart attacks. Some experts suggest, according to the report, that the loss of an hour’s rest may make people more vulnerable to an attack. Nonetheless, when people get an extra hour in the fall, the incidents of heart attacks are less than usual.

When Was DST Implemented
Before President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which established a uniform daylight saving time, local governments could start and end daylight saving time as they desired. For five weeks a year Boston, New York and Philadelphia were not on the same time as Washington, D.C., Cleveland or Baltimore. Different daylight saving times also caused confusion for travelers going from the Midwest to Northeast.

In 2005, President George W. Bush extended the daylight saving time for an extra four weeks through an energy bill. Since 2007, daylight saving time has begun on the second Sunday of March, ending on the first Sunday of November.

Not All States Observe DST
Arizona and Hawaii are currently the only two states that do not observe daylight saving time. Indiana did not observe the practice until 2005. The American territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

Several states have tried to end the tradition of re-setting the time twice a year, but haven't been successful. 

A Founding Father Did Not Come Up with DST
According to the History Channel, Benjamin Franklin did not come up with the idea of daylight saving time; he only suggested a change in sleep schedules.

Englishman William Willett is the one who suggested in 1905 that the United Kingdom move its clocks forward by 80 minutes between April and October, so people could enjoy the sunlight. He published "The Waste of Daylight" and spent much of his fortune and time promoting the idea.

DST is Singular Not Plural
By the way, it's "daylight saving time," not "daylight savings time."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Enfield, State Police Search for Inmate Who Walked Away From DOC Program at Community College

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Troopers and Enfield Police are looking for a missing inmate last seen at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield on Saturday.

According to a Department of Corrections spokesperson, 45-year-old Christopher Somsky of Westport, was on furlough to attend class. They say he left Saturday afternoon and didn’t return to the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution, where he was being held on a second degree robbery conviction.

Somsky was a student in the Second Chance Pell Program, according to a school spokesperson.

According to the college’s website, prisoners enrolled in the program are contained to one section of the school to study advanced manufacturing technology. A school spokesperson said there were nine inmates enrolled in the program studying advanced manufacturing.

Asnuntuck’s president, James Lombella, said there is no threat to the campus.

State Police said Somsky’s criminal history dates back to the 1990’s.  However, the DOC considers him a “low-risk” offender.

According to the college’s website, the program, started by the Obama administration, aims to equip inmates with job skills necessary to become contributing members of society upon their release. Somsky wasn’t set to be released until 2022.

“I think certainly those are good programs to have and you have to take that chance,” local resident Diana Malek said, who pointed out that another inmate escaped in Enfield last year.

The DOC said Willard-Cybulski was put under lockdown during the investigation.

"They think that they can escape and they think they won’t get caught but you know the old adage ‘you can run but you can’t hide,’” Laurie Metta of East Windsor said.

Authorities say if you see Somsky you should not approach him.  If you have any information on his whereabouts you’re asked to call police at 860-534-1000.



Photo Credit: Enfield Police Department

Torrington Fire Marshal Investigates Cause of House Fire

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The Torrington Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of a house fire on Sunday morning.

Firefighters were called to 126 Eastwood Road around 6:15 a.m. after getting reports of a fire.

When crews arrived, they said they found a 2-story, single-family home with a fire on the second floor.

Firefighters searched for any occupants and determined everyone was safely removed from the home, according to fire officials.

Mutual aid from Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department and Torringford Volunteer Fire Department were called in to assist during the incident.

The Fire Marshal's Office is working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

Missing Camp Pendleton Marine's Jeep Found at Campground

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The car of a Camp Pendleton Marine missing during a ski trip in California's Sierra Nevada was found Friday, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday.

Inyo Search and Rescue team found 1st Lt. Matthew Kraft's rental gray 2016 Jeep Wrangler coup around 9 p.m. near Lower Grays Meadows Campground, above Independence, California, the ICSO said.

Kraft was reported missing Monday to the Mono County Sheriff's Office by his father after he failed to return from a backcountry skiing trip on the Sierra High Route, The United States Marine Corps 1st Division said.

His itinerary included hiking out of Kearsarge Pass, between Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness, on Feb. 24, and hiking out near the Twin Lakes area by Bridgeport Sunday or Monday, the USMC said.

Mono County deputies started searching for Kraft in the Bridgeport area Monday. Pings from Kraft's last cell phone activity showed that he was in the Independence area in Inyo County, the MCSO said.

The ICSO started searching for Kraft Tuesday. Other agencies have since joined in the search for the missing Marine, including the Marine Corps, the Madera County Sheriff's Office, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, Sequoia and Kings National Park, Yosemite National Park, and the California Office of Emergency Services.

Search and rescue teams will continue to search for Kraft for as long as the weather permits, the ICSO said. Another storm is expected to move into the area through the weekend.

Anyone with information regarding Kraft’s whereabouts can call the following departments:

Mono County Sheriff’s Department: (760) 932-7549

Inyo County Sheriff’s Department: (760) 878-0383

Fresno County Sheriff’s Office: (559) 600-8400

1st Marine Division press officer Capt. Paul Gainey: (760) 725-9226, or paul.gainey@usmc.mil

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)


Photo Credit: USMC

I-84 in New Britain Reopens After Vehicle Overturns

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Interstate 84 westbound in New Britain has reopened after a vehicle overturned on Sunday morning.

The overturned vehicle closed the two left lanes on I-84 westbound between exits 35 and 33, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The highway has since fully reopened.

There is no word if anyone was injured.



Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Attorney “Stuck in Mexico” After Secret Surveillance Program

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NBC 7 Investigates has identified another U.S. Immigration Attorney named as a target in a secret surveillance program tied to the migrant caravan. 

Erika Pinheiro, an attorney for the immigration law center Al Otro Lado and U.S. citizen, said the Trump administration’s actions have left her essentially stuck in Mexico. 

"It did not surprise me," Pinheiro said, upon learning she was listed in the surveillance program's database.

Documents obtained by NBC 7 show agents listed Pinheiro, along with another attorney she works with, as targets for increased scrutiny when crossing the border.

According to the database documents, agents were waiting for Pinheiro in January to cross the border to interview her.

 

On Thursday, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the agency compiled the list of 59 individuals tied to the migrant caravan because they “may have information” related to Tijuana border clashes from November 2018 and January 2019. 

But Pinheiro said she was in New Jersey with family during the late-November incident and at home with a sick baby during the January clash. 

Ironically, Pinheiro said she was interviewed by journalists following the New Years incident, denouncing anyone who encouraged immigration activists to storm the border. 

“We saw how it was really unsafe for the children who were present,” Pinheiro said. 

Pinheiro is not alone. Al Otro Lado Refugee Director and attorney Nicole Ramos is also listed as having an alert placed on her passport through the surveillance program. 

In addition, agents created a dossier on Ramos, including personal details on the car she drives, her mother’s name, and her work and travel history. 

“To think the government is suspicious of us just for doing our jobs is very troubling,” immigration attorney Jonathan Montag said. 

At the end of January 2019, the administration implemented a new policy that said those seeking asylum must stay in Mexico as they wait to go through immigration courts. 

Montag said between the controversial government surveillance program and the new Trump Administration “Remain in Mexico” policy, the challenges of the job could turn attorneys away from helping those in need at the border. 

“It’s really scary that it has come to this,” Pinheiro said. “That they’ve started targeting U.S. citizens." 

Pinheiro agrees with Montag that there may be a chilling effect for some border attorneys, but she said she’s emboldened to continue fighting for asylum seekers. 

“Anyone who opposes these policies should be afraid that they’re next,” Pinheiro said. 

On Friday, in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s Secretary Kristjen Nielsen, Senator Richard Blumenthal asked for more information on the surveillance program and raised the issue of attorneys being targeted by border agents. 

“While this administration has a disturbing history of harassing immigration attorneys, these lawyers serve a critical public function,” Blumenthal said.


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Coast Guard Rescue 2 People From Sinking Vessel Near Fishers Island, NY

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Crew members from the Coast Guard Station in New London rescued two people from a sinking fishing vessel near Fishers Island, New York on Sunday morning.

Watch standers at Sector Long Island Sound received a radio call from the crew of a 55-foot commercial fishing vessel around 7:30 a.m. The crew said their boat was taking on water in one of their fish holds.

The command center issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Coast Guard Station Montauk and Station New London rescue boat crew, according to the Coast Guard.

Less than an hour later, the rescue crew from Montauk arrived at the scene. The Coast Guard said they escorted the vessel before the Station New London crew aboard a 45-foot response boat rendezvoused with the fishing vessel. The Montauk crew then returned to base.

According to the Coast Guard, the New London crew passed a dewatering pump to the crew members who were aboard the distressed vessel, however, the pump was not able to keep up with the rate of flooding.

Shortly after, the two crew members aboard the distressed vessel abandoned ship and were quickly picked up by the rescue crew, the Coast Guard said. The boat capsized within one minute of the crew evacuating.

The two rescued fishermen were taken back to Station New London and no injuries were reported.

The fishing vessel was returned to its home port in Hampton Bays, New York, but later sank in about 60 feet of water, the Coast Guard said.



Photo Credit: Station New London, US Coast Guard

Silver Alert Issued for Missing 55-Year-Old Man from Waterbury

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A Silver Alert has been issued for a man who is missing from Waterbury on Sunday.

Police said 55-year-old Aaron Samuels was last seen wearing a Giants hat, a blue bomber jacket with patches and camo sweatpants. He has been missing from Waterbury since Sunday.

Samuels is described as a man who is 6'0" and weighs 180 pounds with grey hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Samuels's whereabouts is asked to contact Waterbury Police at (203) 574-6911.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Woman Under the Influence Hit, Killed 2 Elderly Pedestrians in Stonington: Police

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Stonington Police have arrested a woman who is accused of being under the influence when she hit and killed two elderly pedestrians on Saturday night.

Officers received a 911 call reporting an accident at the intersection of Route 27 and Rossie Pentway involving a vehicle and two pedestrians around 8 p.m.

When police arrived, they said they found that two pedestrians, later identified as an 88-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman, were hit at the intersection by a vehicle traveling northbound.

According to police, the vehicle was operated by 73-year-old Carol M. Belli, of Groton, who stayed at the scene after the accident.

A preliminary police investigation revealed that Belli was traveling north on Route 27 approaching the Rossie Pentway intersection. The two pedestrians were crossing the street from the west side of Route 27 toward the east side when Belli hit them both within the northbound lane, police said.

Both pedestrians were transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, where they were both pronounced dead. Police said they plan to release their names on Monday.

Belli was later placed under arrest for DUI, according to officers. She was transported to Stonington Police Headquarters, processed and later released on a $600 bond. She will be in court on March 20 in New London.

The accident is under investigation by the Regional Accident Reconstruction Team consisting of members of the Ledyard and Stonington Police Departments, along with Stonington Patrol Division.

Jaguar Attacks Woman Who Allegedly Crossed Ariz. Zoo Barrier

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A woman was attacked by a jaguar as she allegedly tried to take a selfie outside the big cat’s enclosure at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park in Arizona, authorities said.

Rural Metro Fire Department crews said the woman, who was not publicly identified and is in her 30s, was attempting to take a selfie near the fence of the jaguar enclosure when the cat reached out and attacked her arm.

The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that are not life threatening, Shawn Gilleland, a spokesman for the department told NBC News on Sunday. 

Witnesses told officials at the zoo in Litchfield Park, not far from Phoenix, that the woman crossed over the barrier to get a photo, according to a statement from the zoo.



Photo Credit: ullstein bild via Getty Images

Silver Alert Issued for Missing 85-Year-Old Man From Norwich

Save the Children Employee Died in Ethiopian Plane Crash

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An employee for the United States Headquarters of Save the Children was killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash that killed all 157 people on board Sunday morning, authorities said.

The headquarters stationed in Fairfield, Connecticut announced that Tamirat Mulu Demessie served as Child Protection in Emergencies Technical Adviser of the organization, according to a Save the Children spokesperson.

"[Demessie] worked tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable children are safe during humanitarian crises," the spokesperson said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Tamirat’s family and the loved ones of the 156 other people who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy."

The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 was expected to travel from Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, to Nairobi, Kenya when it crashed nearly six minutes after take-off, authorities said.

It is not clear what caused the airplane to go down.

Save the Children is a nonprofit organization that aims to give girls and boys in the U.S. and around the world an education, protection from harm and a healthy start, according to their website.



Photo Credit: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Hoda Kotb Comes to Connecticut For Book Signing

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Fans of the Today Show on NBC News wake up and watch Hoda Kotb each weekday morning. In addition to her duties as Today Show co-anchor, she has some other important titles: mother and author.

This weekend, Kotb was in Connecticut greeting fans and signing copies of her new children's book, 'You Are My Happy.'

"I can't even believe what I walked into in Connecticut," Kotb said on Sunday, as she visited Wesleyan R.J. Julia bookstore in Middletown.

She talked about the inspiration for the book - her daughter. Kotb adopted Haley Joy in early 2017.

"I think this book means the world to me because it gave me chapter of my life that I thought I'd missed," she said.

The story is about how gratitude for things in life - both big and small - can bring us happiness.

Kotb said she reads the book to Haley each night.

"Reading her this story and kind of recounting what made us happy over the course of the day, it's so profound. It's simple, but profound," Kotb said.

Sylvia Fuller and her young son are big fans of Kotb and the book.

"Hoda's book is one that he repeatedly asks for every night," Fuller, who lives in Cromwell, said.

"I watch her on the Today Show before school and I think she's really cool and I really like her books that she writes," Olivia Stoner of South Windsor said, who was among the many lined up for a signed book - and a hug.

Kotb said she appreciated the warm Connecticut welcome and that she is seeing her new book in so many hands.

"You're like 'oh my god, somebody else is connecting with it,'" Kotb said. "I just hope they love it."



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Stop & Shop Workers Ready to go on Strike

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Stop & Shop workers are prepared to go on strike. On Sunday, union members in Connecticut joined others across New England ready to take that step.

Though for now, negotiations are still underway.

“It’s not fair at all what the company wants to do,” Flora Urbano of West Haven said.

On Sunday at a meeting in Hartford, Stop & Shop workers voted to authorize a strike amid concerns of possible cuts to pay and benefits.

“It’s garbage. I mean we’re here for a reason,” Rachel Disciglio of Essex said.

Disciglio says she started working part-time at the grocery store when she was 16 years old.

“We made the company what it is. And this is how they want to treat us," she said.

Disciglio is among the company’s 7,500 workers in the state.

With their contract up weeks ago, many felt there was no other choice than to prepare to walk out.

“At any time we can call one now. That’s the whole point of an authorization,” UFCW Local 919 President Mark Espinosa said. “The company does very well. This company has earned their money of the backs of the workers.”

Sunday’s action follows similar steps taken by the four other unions that represent the store’s workers in New England.

In response, Stop & Shop says it’s facing growing competition which has lower labor costs.

A spokesperson wrote in part: “Stop & Shop is the only large fully unionized supermarket remaining in New England, and our full-time associates are among the industry’s highest paid. We are working hard to reach strong new contracts that will continue to provide highly competitive wages, comprehensive health care coverage and, unlike any other area food retailers, a defined benefit pension.”

The union says the last strike for Stop & Shop workers was about 30 years ago.

Michaele Morales was there for the previous one and is hopeful it can be avoided now.

“They’re going to lose a lot of money if we go on strike, more than if they give us what’s fair,” Morales said.

It’s now up to union leaders whether to call a strike.

More negotiations between the unions and the company are scheduled for later this week.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

One Dead and Two Injured in Bridgeport Shooting

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A person is dead and two others were shot in Bridgeport Sunday night, according to police.

The three victims were sitting in a car when they were shot.

The person killed was a 21-year-old male who was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later died in the hospital, according to Bridgeport Police.

The two other victims were 17-year-old and 22-year-old males. Both men suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

Police said the incident took place at the corner of Hollister Street and Connecticut Avenue.

The shooter has not been identified as of Sunday night.

It is not known as of Sunday night if there were any suspects or arrests made.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridgeport Police Department.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Girl Found Dead in Duffel Bag on Calif. Hiking Trail Is Identified

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A body found in a duffel bag on a trail east of Los Angeles was identified as that of a 9-year-old girl Sunday, and two people have been detained as persons of interest in the case, according to authorities.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the body discovered inside a bag Tuesday morning on a Hacienda Heights hiking trail was identified as Trinity Love Jones. The body was in a rollaway-type bag left at the bottom of an embankment close to Colima Road and the 3400 block of Hacienda Boulevard, near the His Lai Buddhist Temple. 

Two people were detained in connection with the investigation, but authorities did not identify them. No details were provided about their connection to the case. 

Relatives of the girl gathered Sunday at the memorial site to remember the child. A man who identified himself as Antonio Jones, Trinity's father, said he heard the awful news earlier in the day.

"Words can't explain what I'm feeling right now," Anthony Jones, Trinity's father, said Sunday at  memorial site. "I just want answers. I just want justice. She was just the best -- full of character, full of life, full of joy."

The memorial has been growing in recent days, with family members adding Trinity's picture to the abundance of flowers, balloons and candles on Sunday.

Relatives originally told NBC4 prior to confirmation from the LASD that Trinity's body was found on the trail. The death was ruled as a homicide, but the cause of death was being withheld, according to the LASD.

County workers clearing brush in the area uncovered the girl's remains. The sheriff's department released a composite sketch of the girl on Wednesday and photos of a pink long-sleeve top with the words "Future Princess Hero" and gray pants with pandas on them that she was wearing when her body was found.

The body had likely been left near the trail late March 3, investigators said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

School Bus Crashes Into Tree in Hartford

Suspected Stolen Vehicle Leads to Arrest of Missing Man in Branford

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A suspected stolen vehicle helped lead Branford Police to a missing man who was later arrested, according to officers.

An officer found a pick-up truck that was stolen from the driveway of a nearby home while out patrolling.

A police officer and his K9 from East Haven helped Branford Police track from the stolen pick-up truck to nearby woods where police said they found 36-year-old Kyle Northam.

Northam had been the subject of a prior missing person's case, police said. His whereabouts were unknown and his family members were concerned for his well-being.

Officers said Northam was taken into custody on several active arrest warrants for failure to appear in court and larceny-related charges.

Investigators later determined that Northam was responsible for the theft of the pick-up truck and he was charged accordingly.

Northam was detained on court set bonds and appeared in court on Monday.



Photo Credit: Branford Police Department

Qantas Airways CEO Invites 10-Year-Old 'Airline CEO' to Meet

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One CEO is helping this little boy get his wings.

When Alex Jacquot, a 10-year-old boy, wrote to Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce for advice on operating his "airline," Oceania Express, the more experienced CEO didn’t hesitate to respond.

“I have already started some stuff like what types of planes I’ll need, flight numbers, catering and more,” Jacquot wrote in a handwritten letter.

Jacquot said he’s also gotten his company, Oceania Express, off the ground by naming himself and his co-founder CEOs and hiring a chief financial officer, head of maintenance, head of onboard services and head of legal. 

The 10-year-old also asked the rival CEO if he had any idea of what he could for his company during his school vacation and what tips he might have on starting an airline.

“I’m thinking about, as you are, about an A350 for Sydney/Melbourne to London flights,” Jacquot said, alluding to Qantas’ Project Sunrise plan to fly customers non-stop between Australia’s east coast and London. “Seeing as it is a 25-hour flight, we are having a lot of trouble thinking about sleep.” 

Although Joyce said he didn't usually give advice to its competitors, he said he responded to Jacquot’s letter because he “too was a young boy who was so curious about flight and all its possibilities.” Joyce sent the letter on Feb. 19.

“My number one tip for starting an airline is to put safety front and center,” Joyce wrote. “And do everything you can to make travel as comfortable and affordable as possible for your passengers.”

Joyce also offered tips on Jacquot’s concerns about sleeping on flights from Australia to London by noting the different designs Qantas is exploring to increase stretching space.

“We want to think up as many ideas as possible to make the journey more comfortable for all,” Joyce continued. “For this reason, I would like to invite you to a Project Sunrise meeting between myself, as the CEO of Australia’s oldest airline, and you, as the CEO of Australia’s newest airline.”

Jacquot told Australian radio station 4bc about how excited he was when the letter arrived in the mail.

“I ripped open the envelope," Jacquot told host Ben Fordham. "I quickly read it and I was so excited I was running around the house for ten minutes.”

In an interview with The Australian, Natasha Jacquot, Alex's mother, said the family wasn't expecting the response, and that they're confirming the meeting dates with Qantas. 

The letters, which were posted on Qantas’ Twitter page, immediately went viral. Within 13 hours, the post gained approximately 9,000 retweets and 25,000 likes.

Many users commended the Qantas CEO for using his position to encourage a young boy’s dreams.

“Corporate Australia taking our young people seriously,” one Twitter user responded. I love it! Investing in the future....Can't wait to book a ticket with Oceania Express.”

While some accused the post of being a publicity stunt, most agreed that the boy’s letter made for a heart-warming story.

“Seeing it posted on social media does make this more of a marketing exercise, but can’t fault it if the end result is inspiring entrepreneurs of any age,” another Twitter user commented. “Well done Qantas.”



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Rod McGuirk
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