News Briefs include Boeing jet loses wheel; Oak Ridge Boys member dies; Black Greek Olympic athlete; Anne Frank statue defaced.
Wheel falls off Boeing jet on take-off
A United Airlines Boeing 757-200 jet lost one of its main landing-gear wheels shortly after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport, The Washington Times reports. An Allegiant Airlines pilot waiting to take off witnessed the Monday incident and informed air traffic control. “A tire came off that B757 that took off. We saw it rolling down … its tire came off and came rolling past us,” the pilot said, according to audio from LiveATC.net. There are four wheels each on the plane’s two landing gears and another two on the nose gear. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane landed safely at Denver International Airport.
Black NBA star to make Greek history
Greek basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the first black athlete to carry the Greek flag at the Olympics, reports the BBC. The two-time NBA MVP will play on the Greek men’s basketball team which qualified for its first Olympic Games since 2008. It beat Croatia in front of a home crowd in Athens on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 and led them to the 2021 NBA title, was in tears after the game. “It’s an incredible feeling,” he said after qualification. “Since I was a kid I always wanted to play in the Olympic Games.”
Anne Frank statue defaced by Gaza supporters
A statue honoring famed Holocaust diarist Anne Frank has been vandalized in Amsterdam. An antisemitic vandal painted “Gaza” on the statue. The statue of Frank “represents the 14,000 Jews from this neighborhood who were murdered,” Gert-Jan Jimmink, who initiated the monument some 20 years ago, told the news station. “It has nothing to do with current events.” On July 7, pro-Palesetinian protesters have also attacked the offices of Christians for Israel, a group which advocates for closer ties between Christians and Jews, JNS reports.
Oak Ridge Boys member dies
Joe Bonsall, Grammy award winner and celebrated founding tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, died Tuesday. Bonsall, 76, died from complications of a neuromuscular disorder. “Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write,” a statement read. “He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came first — and we will see him again on the Promised Day.” He saw the band through its golden period in the ’80s and beyond, which included its signature 1981 song, “Elvira,” its 1982 hit “Bobbie Sue” and 1983’s “American Made.” “Elvira” marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100, the AP reports.
–Dwight Widaman and wire services.
Photo: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA. 2.0 copyright.