Mar 12, 2018

2018 has already had 3 deadly commercial passenger plane crashes

Rescue workers at the scene of the crash in Kathmandu. Photo: Prakash Mathema / AFP via Getty Images

US-Bangla Flight 211 crashed in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, killing at least 40 of the 71 people on board. It's the third commercial airplane crash on record in 2018, after zero people died in such crashes in 2017.

Why it matters: Last year was the safest year on record for commercial air travel. But at least 177 people have already died in plane crashes this year, and it's only March.

The crashes:

Feb. 11: A Saratov Airlines plane crashes in Russia, southeast of Moscow, killing all 65 passengers and six crew members on board.
Feb. 19: An Iran Aseman Airlines crashes 14.500 above sea level on Mount Dena. All 66 people on the plane are killed.
March 12: Search and rescue for the Nepal crash is still ongoing as eight passengers are missing in the wreckage.

Go deeper

Jim VandeHei

A new American coronavirus consensus

A hospital tent city rose in Central Park this week. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Something surprising is unfolding amid the finger-pointing and war-gaming about the coronavirus threat to America: A general consensus is forming about the next 60 days of wait and pain.

Why it matters: America has a chance to return to some semblance of normal in late May or June, gradually and perhaps geographically, but anything extending beyond that would still be too catastrophic to consider.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Health

Caitlin Owens, Alayna Treene

Florida's slow response may have made its coronavirus outbreak worse

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, Florida Department of Health; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Florida's slow response to the coronavirus may have set the stage for a disastrous outcome in one of the country's most vulnerable states.

Driving the news: Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order yesterday, but there's bipartisan concern that he held off too long, letting the virus spread too far, before finally taking steps that many other governors embraced weeks ago.

Go deeperUpdated 2 hours ago - Health

Ina Fried

Increase in domestic violence feared during virus lockdown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Experts are convinced we are on the precipice of a crisis of domestic violence fueled by the anxiety, stay-at-home rules and economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The big picture: There is already early evidence of increased intensity of abuse of people in unhealthy relationships. But given that many are unlikely to seek help until things are more stable — either by calling hotlines or by leaving for shelters — we likely won’t know the full extent of the abuse until the virus outbreak subsides.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Health