Everyone’s getting caught this week. It may have started as sneaking around for a few pre-teens having a smoke or the Trump heirs jetting away for some big-game trophy hunting or a disgruntled employee airing his grievances in drag, but the crimes have come to light and we have five new Icarus Award nominees. Read about their sneaky shenanigans and vote for the worst travel failure in our poll.
Costa Criminal
The Italian government has 24-hour Coast Guard surveillance as well as an underwater laser security system monitoring the Costa Concordia shipwreck, but that didn’t stop thieves from bringing home a souvenir—the ship’s bell. Even though the bell was 26 feet below water, thieves were able to take the symbolic nautical souvenir. Investigation into the crimes have begun. The nearby Giglio’s mayor commented that the bell was nothing more than a morbid curiosity and his town already has the most importand relic, the statue of the Madonna in their church. Sounds like someone is trying to capture Costa tourism market?
Aluminum Lady Canned
A disgruntled American Airlines employee’s hijinks have caught up to him. Gailen David, a flight attendant with the airline for 24 years, has been terminated. David is best known for his “Aluminum Lady” drag videos that mock the airline’s financial troubles. Though his web series has received tens of thousands of views on David’s website, it also led to his downfall. In a statement airline representative Bruce Hicks noted that the site violated policy by publishing private passenger details and by promoting the airline’s competition.
Big Game, Bad Business
Donald Trump, Jr., and his brother, Eric Trump, heirs to the Trump hotel and real estate fortune, are under increased scrutiny after PETA got a look at the vacation photos from their 2011 Zimbabwe safari. On the safari, the brothers successfully engaged in trophy hunting–killing an elephant, a crocodile, a kudu civet cat, and a water buck. Trump Jr. took to twitter, the preferred communication method of Icarus nominees, to defend the hunt. In one tweet, he commented on the African tourist economy, noting, “Bottom line with out hunters $ there wouldn’t be much left of africa. Eco [sic] is nice but no $.” It remains to be seen if PETA and environmental backlash will hurt Papa Trump’s $$ and his hotels’ bottom line.
Direct to Stranded
Don’t rush to the airport to catch the next Direct Air flight. High fuel bills have force the charter airline to suspended service for a least two months and have left passengers stranded. Ticket holders were directed to contact their credit card companies for a refund. It’s unclear how many passengers were left stranded; overall the airline serves 17 small markets. Though the airline aims to continue service in May it will likely be under close government watch after the shutdown.
Up in Smoke
When you’re lighting up a cigarette at 11 or 12, even in Eastern Europe you’re probably looking for a secluded but scenic spot. Two kids in Slovakia headed to the 14th century Krasna Horka Castle where they accidentally set the grass on fire. The flames spread to the castle and burned the roof, melted three bells in the castle’s tower and set fire to 10 percent of the castle’s collection. As penance we have just the project for these young Marlboro men.
Anchor Man won last week’s Icarus Awards. See all the winners and losers in our Icarus Award section and vote for this week’s nominee.
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By Lily J. Kosner for Peter Greenberg.com
Related links: MSNBC, Huffington Post Travel, Smarter Traveler, Huffington Post Green, MSNBC
