And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: Japan has released an AI-generated video of a Mount Fuji eruption; Southwest has added a new security feature to its planes; and a Spanish tourist has outraged the internet after posting a video of himself feeding beer to an elephant.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
JAPAN RELEASES AI-GENERATED MOUNT FUJI ERUPTION VIDEO
Last week, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Disaster Prevention Division released an AI-generated video depicting what a volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji would look like. The video shows a cloud of smoke over the sacred mountain and warns that ash could reach Tokyo within two hours, disrupting power supplies, roads, and public transportation.
Mount Fuji is an active volcano; it last erupted more than 300 years ago. There are no signals of an imminent eruption, and it is not possible to predict one, but the government is working to prepare Tokyo residents. In March, it also issued guidelines on what to do if the volcano erupts. Residents are advised to shelter at home and informed that ash could disrupt transport and damage power lines.
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Related: Japan Issues Guidelines for Mount Fuji Eruption
NO.2
TOURIST FACES BACKLASH FOR POURING BEER DOWN ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
A Spanish tourist has drawn the wrath of the internet and authorities after he posted a video of himself pouring beer from a can down an elephant’s trunk. The now-deleted video was shot last year at Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya, and a staff member told the BBC that they were shocked by the incident. The private conservancy does not allow people to go near the elephants.
The elephant in the video is a rescue from Zimbabwe, saved from a mass cull in 1989, and brought to its new home when it was eight years old. The conservancy said in a statement that it is taking this incident seriously. Meanwhile, the Kenya Wildlife Service is also investigating.
The unidentified tourist also posted a video in which he is feeding carrots to a rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is also against the rules.
NO.3
SOUTHWEST BEGINS FLYING PLANE WITH COCKPIT BARRIER
Southwest Airlines flew its first plane with a secondary cockpit barrier on Friday. The foldable barrier is deployed when the cockpit door is open—for example, when the pilot needs to use the restroom—to prevent anyone from entering the cockpit. The security feature was sought after the September 11 attacks.
In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration made it mandatory for new planes to install these barriers, but it gave airlines an extension until July 2026. Southwest is the first airline to roll out this feature, and its 25 new Boeing planes will also include the added safety measure. Existing planes currently do not need to be retrofitted with the barrier.
NO.4
DELTA TO SETTLE FUEL DUMP LAWSUIT BY PAYING $79 MILLION
Delta is paying $78.75 million to settle a class action lawsuit over a 2020 incident in which a flight dumped fuel on a densely populated area in Los Angeles.
The flight was carrying 167 passengers and crew to Shanghai from Los Angeles when it lost thrust and had to return. To reduce the landing weight, Delta’s pilots jettisoned 15,000 pounds of jet fuel, dousing schools and neighborhoods. Around 60 people, including several children, were treated for minor injuries at six schools.
The lawsuit alleged that pilots wrongfully dumped fuel over the city instead of over the Pacific Ocean, but Delta said the crew acted according to federal regulations for the safety of passengers and people on the ground. The airline maintained that it is settling the lawsuit to avoid the uncertainty, cost of litigation, and distraction from the case. The compensation will be awarded to owners and residents of 38,000 properties.
Related: Can You Be Kicked off a Plane if the Flight Is Too Heavy?
NO.5
ITALIAN PIZZERIA OWNER CATCHES DINE AND DASH TOURISTS
A pizzeria owner in Italy tracked down two tourists who dined and dashed at her restaurant. Michela Malatini, owner of Ai Due Re pizzeria, told local media that two women ordered two pizzas and four Aperol spritzes, then left without paying the bill of €44 ($51). She posted their image from the surveillance camera on Facebook and tracked them to a B&B. She contacted the owner and presented them with the bill the next morning. The women paid after being confronted.
This happens once or twice a week, according to Malatini, but she does not call the police. She finds offenders using the camera and asks them to pay the bill. “It’s not about the money; we don’t like being taken for a ride,” she said.
