a time travel mishap lands you

Time Slips, the Multiverse, and You

Some believe that time travel is possible. but is it and if so, how.

Posted January 9, 2022 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

• The nature of time is one of the biggest mysteries in science. Scientists simply do not understand what time is.
• The universe has a "speed limit" called the speed of light, faster than which nothing in our universe can travel.
• The multiverse theory explains how it could be possible for people to have traveled faster than light speed during "time slips."

The nature of time is one of the biggest mysteries in science. Scientists simply do not understand what time is, at least partially, because it does not behave the same way in all circumstances. For example, did you know that clocks installed on airplanes—or even further away, on satellites—record time at different rates than here on Earth?

We all know that time has a physical component that is measured by clocks. This physical component of time exists because things and people move around in space: the motion of the Earth propels time forward in 24-hour days and 365-day years. We physically experience time because we experience ourselves and things moving around. This is obviously true when you think about different time zones. It isn’t the same time in New York as it is in Sydney because the Earth is moving. In fact, we are all traveling in time at about one second per second. This physical component of time was explained by Einstein who, more than 100 years ago, revolutionized the idea of how time works. He theorized that time and space are inextricably linked together. He also found that the universe has a speed limit of sorts: the speed of light. So while time and space are linked, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light (186,000 miles per second).

But what about otherwise credible reports made by those who claim to have traveled faster than the speed of light? What about reports of actual time travel? The internet is filled with stories about people insisting they experienced jumps in time which are not merely one second per second, but decades or even hundreds of years. These time anomalies, or “time slips,” are paranormal episodes during which someone—or a group of people—somehow experience traveling through time without knowing how or why it occurred.

In one account in Oklahoma in the 1970s, three workers were picking up cattle feeder equipment from a farm and noticed a white house on the property.[1] When they came back the next day, however, the house was not only not there and there was no sign of it ever having been there—yet all three workers saw the same thing the prior day. One possible explanation: the house had existed in a different moment in time, which they collectively experienced as reality.

Whether or not stories like these are to be believed by others, the people who recount them certainly believe them. Given what we know and what we don’t know about how time works, how might these happen?

One explanation is a credible but controversial scientific theory called the multiverse theory. The multiverse theory supposes that an infinite number of worlds exist along different paths in time which arise out of each passing moment, suggesting that different things happen in each universe.[2]

It sounds not only preposterous but also like a lot of work for the universe. Imagine: a new universe traveling along its own, unique timeline created out of every moment of time. This theory suggests there may be an infinite number of universes. It also explains how “time slips” might be real.

Support for the multiverse theory comes from an arcane but scientifically valid Big Bang theory called cosmic inflation.[3] Cosmic inflation refers to a faster-than-light expansion of the universe that may be responsible for spawning an unlimited number of disconnected universes that eternally issue from one another. Cosmic inflation may have happened because, during its earliest instants of formation, the universe was expanding outward from a single point into nothingness. Said another way, the universe’s faster-than-light expansion could be due to the fact that it was expanding into something that was not itself, where the speed of light wouldn’t apply. This may explain just how the universe became so far-flung out of its early chaotic origins.[4]

Whether or not the multiverse, cosmic inflation, and an infinite number of disconnected universes eternally branching off from one another is the way time works remains to be proven by scientists. But the theories are intriguing, and they solve at least one famous problem scientists have with time travel: the grandfather paradox. The grandfather paradox states that if you were to go back in time and kill your grandfather before your father was born, then you wouldn’t exist in the first place to kill him. The multiverse theory solves that paradox in that you could kill a copy of your grandfather in an alternate universe and therefore still have been born in your universe. Of course, it leaves open the question of how you traveled between universes in the first place. Maybe someone experiencing a time slip will one day come back and explain how that works. Maybe you.

Grace Walsh, “Are time slips real? These people certainly think time travel can happen,” Good to Know, January 20, 2020, https://www.goodto.com/family/are-time-slips-real-526367 .

Paul Sutter, “What is multiverse theory?” Live Science, August 23, 2021, https://www.livescience.com/multiverse .

“This is why physicists suspect the Multiverse very likely exists,” Big Think, December 30, 2021, https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physicists-multiverse-exists/ .

“Cosmic Inflation,” New Scientist, https://www.newscientist.com/definition/cosmic-inflation/ .

Lisa Broderick holds a B.A. from Stanford and an MBA from Duke. She is a TM Siddha and studied at the Monroe Institute and at the American Institute for Mental Imagery.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Support Group
• International
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

What does it mean to dream about Time Travel Mishap

Title: Unraveling the Enigma of a Time Travel Mishap: Insights through Memory Consolidation and Jungian ApproachIntroduction:Dreams have fascinated humanity since ancient times, serving as a gateway to the subconscious mind. When interpreting dreams, it can be helpful to consider multiple frameworks. In this article, we will delve into the intriguing world of a dream about a time travel mishap, exploring the insights offered by the frameworks of Memory Consolidation and the Jungian Approach. By examining these perspectives, we can gain a deeper understanding of the subconscious symbols and meanings woven throughout this unique dream.Memory Consolidation:According to the theory of memory consolidation, dreams contribute to the strengthening of neural connections and the integration of new information with existing knowledge. In the context of a time travel mishap dream, this framework suggests that the dreamer may be experiencing an influx of new experiences or ideas that need to be assimilated into their conscious understanding.For example, imagine that the dreamer recently started a new job that requires adapting to unfamiliar tools and methods. The dream could represent their struggle to comprehend the intricacies of their role, symbolized by the confusion and disorientation during the time travel mishap. Through this dream, their subconscious mind is processing and consolidating the new information, helping them adapt more seamlessly in their waking life.Jungian Approach:Carl Jung proposed that dreams foster communication between the conscious and unconscious mind, offering insights into personal growth and self-integration. In the context of a time travel mishap dream, the Jungian approach encourages exploring the dream symbols and their potential connections to the dreamer's life.Consider a scenario in which the dreamer is going through a significant life transition, such as a divorce. The dream might portray the time travel mishap as a representation of their desire to go back in time and alter past choices or prevent the divorce. Symbolically, this dream suggests a longing for resolution and an opportunity to reconcile with the past, allowing the dreamer to integrate their experiences and emotions into their present life.Conclusion:Interpreting dreams is a complex endeavor, requiring an understanding of various psychological and scientific frameworks. When it comes to a dream about a time travel mishap, the Memory Consolidation and Jungian Approach frameworks offer valuable insights.Memory Consolidation emphasizes the dream's role in integrating new information, suggesting that the dreamer may be grappling with the assimilation of fresh experiences into their conscious understanding. On the other hand, the Jungian Approach delves into the subconscious and personal growth aspects, shedding light on the dreamer's desire for resolution or reconciliation in the face of significant life transitions.By analyzing a dream from different angles, we can begin to unravel its mysteries and gain a deeper understanding of the subconscious symbols and messages it holds. Just as time travel allows us to explore new dimensions, dream interpretation opens doors to self-discovery and personal growth in our waking lives. Embrace the enigma and delve into the depths of your dreams – you never know what secrets they may reveal.

What does it mean to dream about Amnesia Confusion

What does it mean to dream about mistaken identity.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Letter of Recommendation

How I Became Obsessed With Accidental Time Travel

The web is awash with ordinary peoples’ stories of “time slips.” Their real magic is what they can tell us about our relationship to time.

By Lucie Elven

This year, I turned 30, a development that came with a breathless sense of dread at time’s passing. It wakes me up in the early mornings: Nocturnal terror breaks through the surface of sleep like a whale breaching for air. My ambition and fear kick in together until I get up, pour myself some water and look out the window at the squid-ink sky and the string of lights along my neighbors’ houses. I lie down again after finding firmer mental ground, dry land.

So when a guy that my friend was seeing evangelized about “time slips” — a genre of urban legend in which people claim that, while walking in particular places, they accidentally traveled back, and sometimes forward, in time — I was a ripe target. Curious and increasingly existential, I Googled these supposed time slips. I found a global community of believers building an archive of temporal dislocations from the present. These congregants gathered in corners of the internet to testify about how, in the right conditions, the dusting of alienation that settles over the world as we age can crystallize into collective fiction.

I was initially skeptical of the vague language that time-slip writers employed to convey experiences I already found dubious: too many uses of foggy words like “blunder” and “sporting”; detail lavished on varieties of hats encountered. But I was drawn in by their secretive tone — I sensed that sharing these anecdotes was compromising, even shameful (“People would laugh at you,” one poster wrote). Disapproval became attraction, and I returned to the message boards throughout the summer.

Here’s a classic that, like the best of these stories, was related secondhand on a paranormal blog: In a Liverpudlian street in 1996, an off-duty policeman named Frank was going to meet his wife, Carol, in a bookshop called Dillons when “suddenly, a small box van that looked like something out of the 1950s sped across his path, honking its horn as it narrowly missed him.” More disorienting still, Frank “saw that Dillons book store now had ‘Cripps’ over its entrance” and that there were stands of shoes and handbags in the window instead of new fiction. The only other person not wearing midcentury dress was a girl in a lime green sleeveless top. As Frank followed her into the old women’s wear boutique, “the interior of the building completely changed in a flash”; it was once again a bookshop.

I found a global community of believers building an archive of temporal dislocations from the present.

As with a spell of déjà vu, the experience was short-lived, and time was regained. According to the blogger’s detective-like report, Cripps “was later determined” to have been a business in the 1950s. In response to Frank’s slip, posters have told their own or related accounts they’ve heard from others: “This happened to my ex-boss, Glyn Jackson in London, England,” one begins. “Glyn’s story is Highly believable as Glyn is person who lacks imagination on such a scale that he could not put together a grade one story for English to save his life.” And on it goes.

I have never appreciated stories about the passage of time. I resent that I won’t ever get back the hours of my life that Richard Linklater stole with “Boyhood” — his two-and-three-quarter-hour film, shot over a 12-year period in which time is the force that overwhelms everything, not least the idea that our own actions drive our life stories. There’s a whole lot of unwelcome profundity there.

Time-slip anecdotes, though fashioned out of the ambient dread of living with the ticking clock, are childlike in their sense of wonder. They are light, playful and irrational, as frivolous and folky as a ghost story if it were narrated by the confused ghost instead of the people it haunts. One poster, as a girl, used to see a woman in a blue bathrobe in her room: “Her hair was long and messy, a reddish brown. I didn’t see her face because she was usually turned away. I used to mistake her for my mom.” Years later, grown up, the poster’s daughter slept in her former bedroom. “One day I realized ... I was wearing the same blue bathrobe,” the mother writes. Paranormal trappings aside, this story speaks to the feeling of whiplash brought on by time’s passing.

Slipping can be significant, as any Freudian will tell you, and these narratives are riddles whose answers might tell us about our relationship to time. I have begun considering the message boards on which they are exchanged to be narrow but important release valves, allowing posters to talk about the feelings that arise from being time-bound: depression, midlife crises, the dysmorphia of living in a human body. What ailed Miss Smith, whose car slid into a ditch after a cocktail party, and who witnessed “groups of Pictish warriors of the late seventh century, ca. 685 AD,” if not an understanding of her smallness in history’s vast expanse? Why did two academics, famous in the time-slip community for writing a book about spotting Marie Antoinette in the Versailles grounds, encounter trees that looked lifeless, “like wood worked in tapestry”? Perhaps in that instant, like the last queen of France’s Ancien Régime, they felt radically out of joint with their present moment.

If you suspend disbelief, you’ll find these threads constitute a philosophical inquiry about the place of the spirit in our physical beings. They debate the merits of subjectivity and objectivity and question the idea that time is a one-lane highway to death. These writers argue that our past and future can suffuse our present, unveiling an epic dimension of our quotidian existences in moments when we slip and, like Frank, feel eternity.

Lucie Elven is a writer whose first book of fiction, “The Weak Spot,” was published this year in the United States by Soft Skull Press and in Britain by Prototype.

Background photograph: George Marks/Getty Images

Explore The New York Times Magazine

Is Corporate America in Denial?: Despite Donald Trump’s populist promises , many bigwigs are keeping the faith that it couldn’t really happen here.

Larry David’s Rule Book: He’s a wild, monomaniacal jerk . He’s also our greatest interpreter of American manners since Emily Post.

Inside The National Enquirer : An ex-editor at the tabloid reveals the story of the notorious “catch and kill” campaign  that now stands at the heart of Donald Trump’s’s legal trial.

The Race to Reinvent CPR: A new, high-tech approach called ECPR  can restart more hearts and save more lives. Why aren’t more hospitals embracing it ?

On the Route of El Tren Maya: A new train in Mexico is opening up the Yucatán Peninsula, for better or worse. Here’s what a photographer saw on his journey .

An Enduring Restaurant Menu: Go behind the scenes at Zaytinya in Washington, D.C. , which over two decades has remained one of the celebrity chef José Andrés’smost beloved spots.

What We Know About The CIA's Alleged Secret Time Travel Program

In October of 1943, an alleged experiment took place at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard that opened the proverbial door to time travel (via Military.com ). According to legend, the USS Eldridge (DE 173) — a Cannon-class battleship used primarily to hunt and destroy enemy submarines — left our timeline in an experiment in invisibility gone wrong, per USS Slater . Part of a CIA research project known as Project Rainbow , the alleged incident with the USS Eldridge at the Philadelphia Naval Yard has become unofficially known as "the Philadelphia Experiment," per  The Guardian .

In an effort to put an end to World War II, the story says that the U.S. military began experimenting with ways to end the dragging world war in the quickest, most efficient manner. One of the ideas floating around was the idea of cloaking — or making invisible to radar — battleships. Using a device called a "time zero generator," the military attempted to do just that, per  The Guardian . What allegedly happened, however, was completely unexpected.

Where did they go?

On October 28, 1943, the switch was allegedly thrown on the time zero generator. Eyewitness' claim to have seen the USS Eldridge suddenly begin to glow in a green-blue haze that surrounded the vessel (via Military.com ). The Eldridge began to fade, leaving just the outline of the ship remaining. And with that, the ship blinked out of existence, according to The Guardian . Time slowly ticked by. No one knew exactly what happened to the ship or where it went. After a long 20 minutes, the Eldridge reappeared, but with horrifying results. Much of the vessel was on fire, members of the crew — who allegedly left our reality along with the ship — were found insane. And those were the lucky ones. Reports swirl that many crew members of the Eldridge had "fused" with the ship upon its return to our reality; torsos, limbs, and other miscellaneous body parts were found amalgamated into the ship's steel hull.

A hoax or horrifying accident

According to the surviving members of the ship's crew, during the vessel's alleged 20-minute disappearance, the ship seemingly re-appeared 600 miles away in Newport News, located in Virginia. Of course,  The Guardian  calls the story "hokum" concocted by UFO enthusiast Carl Allen. And with no real concrete proof of the event ever taking place, the U.S. Navy outright denies the Philadelphia Experiment ever happened. 

Nevertheless, the USS Eldridge did exist — sold off to Greece in 1951 and finally decommissioned and sold for scrap in the '90s — and Project Rainbow did occur. But the Office of Naval Research (ONR) stated that force fields to make a ship invisible don't "conform to known physical laws" (via the Black Vault ).  Coupled with the fact that there are no official documents, military or otherwise about the event, it's very well likely the story of the Philadelphia Experiment is likely to remain just that ... a story.

A Time Travel Mishap Lands You at One of the First

Question 67

A time travel mishap lands you at one of the first psychology conferences ever held,sometime at the dawn of the 20 th century.The graying older scientists slowly losing their grip on the field are most likely _____,whereas the passionate young up-and-comers are probably _____.

A) structuralists;functionalists B) functionalists;developmentalists C) humanists;structuralists D) humanists;functionalists

Correct Answer:

Unlock this answer now Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge.

Q62: Gestalt psychology may be seen as a

Q63: Donna-Lynn is preparing a visual display of

Q64: Contributions of the psychodynamic perspective include all

Q65: The neuroscience perspective: A) suggests that all individuals

Q66: _____ is an early approach to psychology

Q68: Which of the following psychologists is associated

Q69: Which contemporary perspective is CORRECTLY matched with

Q70: Which of the following was a disadvantage

Q71: Which of the following approaches to psychology

Q72: Which perspective below is CORRECTLY matched with

Unlock this Answer For Free Now!

View this answer and more for free by performing one of the following actions

Get instant 2 free unlocks once you install the browser extension

Scan the QR code to install the App and get 2 free unlocks

Unlock quizzes for free by uploading documents

10 Common Travel Mishaps and How to Avoid A Bad Trip

The countdown has finally ended and you made it to that much-anticipated vacation. Nothing can stop you from having a good time… until the unexpected happens. Bad weather, a lost reservation, a pickpocket — there are ways to plan ahead so it doesn’t become a bad trip. Here are 10 common travel mishaps and how to avoid them. 

1. Pickpockets and Robberies

We all want to trust people; it’s human nature. But the smiling passer-by can easily turn into the guy or girl who stole your wallet. Never keep all your money in one place, and consider keeping your wallet and valuables in inaccessible places such as zippered or hidden pockets. Think about investing in theft-proof products, and avoid sketchy areas. Avoid being over friendly in vulnerable situations such as buses or crowded squares. You don’t want your vacation to end up in someone else’s pocke. 

2. Dehydration, Intoxication and Illness

First rule. Always drink plenty of water while on vacation. Dehydration can cause severe illness, and if you’re unprepared, you could be on a bad trip to the local hospital. If you are prone to allergies or regular sickness, make sure you have everything you need for a quick recovery. Never accept alcohol from strangers, and keep an eye on your drink. Monitor your alcohol consumption as well, because over-intoxication can lead to bad judgment – and unexpected robberies. Consider getting medical travel insurance. Overall, be prepared for the worst and hope for the best!

3. The Weather

You can’t predict the weather, but you can try. Chances are, if you see your dream cruise at an unbelievably low price, it’s probably because it’s during the off season. Check the areas you are traveling to and what the weather is like at that time of year. Be sure to read between the lines, and notice the refund policies. Do they offer trip insurance? Is the hotel reservation non-refundable? Finally, make sure you pack for any event, and avoid getting caught in a monsoon with nothing but tank tops and miniskirts. 

4. Lose Yourself, but Don’t Get Lost

Always carry maps on you, as well as GPS if you have a smartphone. If an area seems unfamiliar, regain your bearings and find the closest place that will have information to find your way around. Taxis can seemingly always help you find your destination, so make sure you know how to find one. Do some research on the area before heading out the door hoping to find adventure. Vacations are about exploring, but blindly heading out into unfamiliar areas can take you on a journey you may end up regretting.

5. Lost Luggage

Losing your luggage can mean losing your fun. Avoid this by making sure you have modern luggage tags, and even consider getting microchips in them. Also, check in early for your flight. The longer the airport has to process handling your luggage, the more likely it will end up on your plane. Carry on as much as possible, and make sure those bags have something unique about them so that someone else doesn’t pick up your bags. Put your itinerary in each piece of luggage. Finally, take photos of your luggage so the baggage claim can easily recognize that it is indeed your bag. 

6. Losing Your Passport or ID

Always keep these items in the safest place possible, and have several forms of them stowed in different places. Having a copy of your passport will make the re-issuing process much faster, and if it is lost, contact the U.S. Embassy to obtain a new one or get something temporary. Furthermore, extra cash can go a long way, so keep some separate from your wallet and/or passport for use in a tough situation. 

7. Hotel Lost Your Reservations

As soon as that trip is booked, print and make copies of your reservations. Hotels can’t deny your documentation. Keep a copy of reservations on you in case your luggage is not close by, and if nothing else, make sure your email inbox has confirmation of every reservation. Before you depart, call and confirm that your reservation is still intact. No one wants to pay for their trip twice! 

8. Public Transportation Issues

Local transportation can be a gift or a curse. Avoid the latter by researching all forms of transport before leaving for your destination. Do you want to take buses, trains, taxis, or ferries? Then make sure you know where they pick up, how often, and how late. Be safe by choosing wisely. Try to plan these ahead if possible. Spontaneity’s great until you end up miles from your hotel with no one to take you there except the creepy motorist eyeing you from across the way.

9. Driving Safely

10. flight cancellations, share this post:, related posts:.

This is a great list. Always have a Plan B, for the unexpected, such as a snap European train or bus strike.

Travel Mishaps & what I learned from them

Updated: August 3, 2023

Nomadic Life

written by: Steph Kloeckener

Travel mishaps are bound to happen, especially if you are a digital nomad and travel a lot. These are my most memorable ones & what I learned from them.

Throughout the years, some things have gone wrong while I was traveling or living abroad. And while there definitely were small incidents that are long forgotten, others were more memorable. Be it, because they forced me to completely alter the travel plans I had or because these travel mishaps were rather unique.

At the end of the day, none of them made me want to stop exploring new places, but all of them taught me a crucial lesson or two. And that is what matters the most. Travel mishaps will happen, but you have to move on and try to learn from them. And after a while, you might even see the funny side of your own misfortune.

But there is another takeaway from everything negative that happened and in parts, this compilation of my biggest travel mishaps (so far) is dedicated to it: The kindness of strangers that ended up helping me out when I desperately needed it.

It is always heartwarming to experience it, and thanks to those kind strangers I managed to deal with things that used to terrify me when I started traveling. It is those moments, that made me the solo traveling adventurer I am today and I am forever grateful for those experiences.

Table of Contents

Travel Mishap #1: Broken Bones (Australia)

aka ‘How not to surf’

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”, or in my case, surfing does. There were a lot of scenarios I imagined before I first decided to move abroad , but breaking a bone right in my knee while jumping off a surfboard was not one of them.

It was definitely the most painful of all travel mishaps, and I can only say that this incident taught me that it is good to have travel insurance .

Given that I had never lived near the ocean before and also never done the beach holiday thing, I did not know how to surf. Therefore, I, along with some other exchange students, decided to attend a surf camp.

I am proud to say that I did in fact learn the basics. And that was when things went wrong. We decided to have some fun at the end of the day by jumping off the surfboard in funny ways.

And I more than misjudged how deep the water was as I could not see a shallow sandbank under the waves. This resulted in me literally slamming my bend knee into the ground, which in turn caused a tibia head fracture.

My knee hurt a long time as there was severe bone bruising and in combination with the fracture, I was unable to join a lot of great adventures for two months (and more extreme activities for even longer). It has been years, but I am still miffed that I missed out on the glow worms in an abandoned railway tunnel .

Lesson learned after this travel mishap : Trying to be ‘cool’ is not worth it. You never know how deep the water actually is.

Incident #2: The Lost Wallet (Corfu)

Another travel mishap of mine was the time, my wallet continued the bus ride without me. I had just arrived in Corfu, one of the best Greek Islands , and to get to our accommodation, we had to take two buses. The first bus ride was rather short and dropped us off at the main bus terminal.

When I looked for my wallet to buy a ticket for the second bus, I could not find it. I was more than panicked as it contained my ID, driver’s license, and all my money for the entire week in Corfu . And I guess the panic was obvious on my face, as a bus terminal employee approached me to ask what was going on.

Once I told him that I had forgotten my wallet on the bus, he told me to follow him inside where he then asked a colleague to check who was driving the bus. By some small miracle, the gentleman knew the bus driver’s phone number, so he gave him a call.

I could not hear what he was saying, but at that point, I was just happy that someone was helping me. The older gentleman hung up the phone and told me to wait outside at the bus station.

Turns out, that the bus driver was able to find my wallet (and everything in it) on the seat, and skipped his break to drive back and bring me my wallet. I could not believe that I got my wallet back!

I tried to reward the bus driver and the man that had helped me, but they both refused and told me they were just happy they could help. And in addition to that, the gentleman that had first helped me also told the other bus to wait for a few minutes, so I and my travel buddies could get to our accommodation without further issues.

Someone else in my group happened to leave her jacket on the next bus we took right after I got my wallet back. Sadly, she never got it back. A fact, that served as a good reminder that I was more than lucky. And that my Corfu travel budget could have been completely different.

Lesson learned : Always put your valuables back in the bag if you do not need them for a minute. This way, you always know where they are and therefore cannot forget them.

Mishap #3: No more fuel (Vietnam)

To drive, you tend to need fuel in your tank, but while exploring Ninh Binh , I somehow miscalculated how far I and my travel buddy could go with the fuel we had left. If I recall correctly, it was closed the night before as we were minutes too late, so we did not get to do it before we turned in for the night.

Knowing that we had little fuel left, we decided that the first stop of the day had to be the nearest fuel station. And then the inevitable happened around 500 meters before we reached the fuel station. The scooter turned off as we had officially run out of fuel.

We had no choice but to push it the rest of the way to the fuel station. Thankfully it was an even street and not a long walk. But as we were walking along the street, we sure laughed a lot about this travel mishap.

I wish I could say that this was the first and last time that I ended up running out of fuel while traveling, but sadly that is not true. It previously happened to me during my second Australia road trip from Broome to Perth , but thankfully we happened to have a spare can of fuel in the trailer. However, I have to admit, that none of us knew if there was any fuel in there as we never bothered to check.

The lesson I hopefully learned from this travel mishap : Always check if you have enough fuel and where the next fuel station is.

#4: The Missed Flight (Turkey)

Many frequent travelers have missed a flight at some point, but I certainly did it in a rather unique way. It was during my first solo trip and my first trip outside of the European Union, so I was admittedly slightly nervous the entire time. And I guess that mild anxiety was what lead to a lapse in judgment on my part.

The evening before my rather early flight home, I decided to pack my bag and then stay away to ensure that I would not miss the hotel shuttle to the airport. My plan was to head down to the lobby one hour before the shuttle was set to depart. Just before going down, I pushed my suitcase towards the door and then decided to jump on the bed one last time as it was so soft, and lying in it felt like relaxing on a cloud.

I had more than enough time and was certain that nothing would go wrong, so it appeared to be a good idea. And then it wasn’t.

My eyes were closed before my back even hit the bed, and I woke up three hours later. It was way too late to catch a shuttle to the airport, and there was no nearby taxi that could have driven me to the airport as the ride would have taken an hour.

It is safe to say that I panicked and was more than freaked out. I raced down to the lobby and they tried to find a way for me to get to the airport in time. But to my dismay, there was nothing anyone could do.

And then a kind stranger heard what had happened and decided to look up new flights for me. And to my surprise, the new flight happened to be a direct flight instead of my original flight with a layover, and it was also cheaper than what I paid for my original two flights back home. So in the end, the only real bad thing was the fact that I missed out on the Turkey Airlines inflight meals.

Lesson learned: Set several alarm clocks even if you are awake. It is no effort at all and can prevent one of the most annoying travel mishaps.

Mishap #5: The ‘Bali Kiss’

aka ‘The time I burned my leg on an exhaust pipe’

While I usually tend to skip the super touristy things, I sure did not do so during my first trip to Bali . And based on what I have been told, it means I have now passed the official rite of passage of expat life in Bali.

While chasing waterfalls, I visited Banyu Wana Amertha waterfall on the north of the island. And given that I was already planning my blog post about the location, I decided to catch a motorbike ride back to the beginning of the trail. I wanted to know what it was like so I could say something valuable about it.

And it did not go as intended. The motorbike ride was more than bumpy and I was already questioning whether or not it was a good idea, but we made it back to the parking lot without further issues.

And then the driver asked me to get off the bike on the right side. I subconsciously knew that it was the side of the exhaust pipe, but he would not let me get off on the other side. So I did what was necessary and instantly felt a painful sting in my leg.

I severely burned my leg on the uncovered exhaust pipe and it is safe to say that I did not get to swim in the ocean or dive for the rest of my Bali trip.

Thankfully, a pharmacy employer was really helpful and helped me treat the burn, which meant I did not have to find a doctor. But having to buy everything I needed to properly treat the severe burn sure upped my Bali travel budget . And having to buy these things including big waterproof bandaids also was a good reminder that they are not available at every pharmacy or supermarket.

Lesson learned thanks to this travel mishap : Always check if the exhaust pipe of a motorbike is covered before you sit on it, so you know that you should not get off on that side of the bike. Also, ensure that your first aid kit includes something you can use to treat burns and a bigger bandaid.

Travel Issue #6: How to be a Lobster

At this point, I can only call the sunscreen situation a repeat offense, as it happened a few times, but somehow my turning into a lobster has never been the result of me not trying to protect myself from the sun. In recent years, I managed to turn into a lobster on the last day of my diving trip to Egypt and then again while kayaking in La Ha Bay.

When flying to Vietnam, I only had hand luggage, so I did not buy more sunscreen before boarding my flight from Bangkok to Hanoi. Once in Hanoi, I was planning to buy sunscreen, but to my dismay, I did not get around to doing so before I and my travel buddy boarded the bus to Ha Long Bay.

Once there, we made our way to the ferry terminal where sunscreen was incredibly expensive, so I decided that it was fine to just cover my shoulders and arms with a light scarf instead. And it worked perfectly fine during my first day on Cat Ba .

And then I did a Lan Ha Bay day cruise and things went downhill. While on the boat, some new friends were kind enough to give us some of their sunscreen, but apparently, it was strong enough for my pale skin.

The cruise was not even halfway over when I noticed my skin turn red, so I once again decided to cover my now already red shoulders with my scarf, but I was kayaking, so the scarf kept slipping off.

I sure had a blast that day, but when I put on a red dress a few days later, it was still not clearly visible where my skin ended and the dress began.

Lesson learned : ALWAYS buy reef-safe sunscreen regardless of how much it costs and ensure that the SPF is high enough. And wear a rashguard while kayaking if the UV index is high.

Incident #7: The Wrong Trail (Germany)

You do not have to travel far for travel mishaps to occur. While exploring my own region and checking out some hiking trails in spring, I ended up following the wrong trail. And it turns out that I was not just off the beaten track, but meters away from an active military shooting range.

I wanted to follow the Daffodil Loop Trail in Eifel National Park , but as the signs of not always clearly visible, I decided to look up the trail on AllTrails. I followed the trail and at some point, I ended up taking a wrong turn because the app told me so.

I kept walking through the forest and suddenly saw a big wooden sign. Thankfully, I stopped to read it, as it stated that the trail I was set to follow was on a military training area that often sees training with live ammunition.

And the day I was hiking there happened to be one of those days. It is safe to say that I turned around and walked back to my car. I would have loved to complete the Daffodil Route , but sadly the weather forecast reported heavy thunderstorms in the area, so I had to complete the hike another time.

Lesson learned : Check where the official trail goes and do not just trust apps – especially when hiking alone .

Travel Mishap #8: Stranded in the Parking Garage (Gran Canaria)

After seeing and doing all the best things to do in Gran Canaria , I and my blogger friend Florine decided to spend the last night(s) of our trip in Las Palmas. Florine had an early flight back home and we had to return our rental car that day, so we decided that she would return our rental car at the airport.

As we arrived at the parking garage near our hotel that was supposed to be open 24/7, we saw a paper sign that said it would be open around the clock on certain dates. Something that more than confused us. We decided to park there anyway so we could drop off our luggage.

Once we had checked in, we asked the woman at the reception about it and she decided to call the parking garage about the opening time. They told her, it would be possible to get leave the parking garage at 4 AM and that it was just not possible to reenter it. A fact that did not impact our plan, so we decided to leave our car there.

The next morning, my blogger friend went to the parking garage and could not even enter it. Our car was locked and we had no way to get it out. Therefore, we had no choice but to alter our plans after way too little sleep. Florine ended up taking a taxi to the airport, while I was supposed to take the car back to the rental place around mid-day.

We were happy to have this option and figured that everything was fine. And it was – at least until I tried to pay the parking fee and had to realize that our parking ticket was all the way in France. It sure was a memorable experience to explain that my parking ticket was in another country to the parking attendant. Thankfully, it all ended up working out.

Lesson learned : I honestly have no idea what I could have learned from this travel mishap, as we did have the hotel call the parking garage to clarify when it would be open. Somethings things just go wrong and there is nothing you can do about it. But I guess having a plan B or rather being able to adapt when things go wrong is a crucial thing.

#9: Visa Regulations (Vietnam)

There are many things that can go wrong when it comes to visas, and in the grand scheme of things, my visa-related travel mishap was nothing compared to what others have experienced. I am well aware that my passport comes with a massive privilege, and this is just my harmless run-in with visa regulations, that taught me a good lesson or two.

During my Asia trip in 2019, I spend 2 weeks in Vietnam before heading to three other countries over the course of the next month. Due to several factors, I ended up cutting my trip short and therefore booked a new flight home. And as it was I ended up having a long layover in Ho Chi Minh.

Given that I had just been in the city and love Vietnamese food, I decided that I should use said layover to satisfy my foodie heart. With that in mind, I headed to immigration instead of waiting in the terminal.

I handed over my passport, it was scanned and then the immigration offer looked at me and told me I could not enter the country.

And I just looked at him and asked him why, before proceeding to tell him that I just wanted to catch a bus to the city center so I could grab some ‘amazing Vietnamese food’ before flying back home. He looked at me like I was insane (and maybe he was right).

Then he told me if I was aware of the visa regulations and that 30 days had to pass between my last leaving Vietnam and returning there to be eligible for the visa exemption. I was aware of the rule, but apparently, I had not taken into account, that my cutting my trip short meant it had only been 29 days since I had left Vietnam. Therefore, it is safe to say, that I did not get to eat in Ho Chi Minh during my layover.

Lesson learned as a result of this travel mishap: Always check the visa regulations twice before traveling and cross-check if you moving your flight dates might affect said visa regulations.

Issue #10: Lost in Translation (China)

If there is one thing you should know before you travel to China for the first time, it is that you will not be able to use Google. A fact that I was aware of, but that completely slipped my mind when I planned what to do in Guangzhou . I took the hotel shuttle from the airport, and after dropping off my suitcase in my room, I decided to head out to see what the city had to offer.

And the first course of action was to get closer to the city center. So I opened Google Maps to find the best route to the first attraction while connected to the hotel wifi and had to realize that it did not work.

Thankfully, Apple’s navigation app did work, so I walked to a nearby bus stop. And here I was more than lost in translation because no one was able to understand English.

A fact that would have been alright if I had remembered to download the Chinese-to-English translation in Google Translate ahead of my flight to China. As it was, I had forgotten to do so, so I had to get by with gestures and by showing the bus driver my list of places I wanted to see to get the right ticket.

It took a while before we understood each other, but thankfully, he was patient enough to explain where I wanted to go like a pantomime.

Lesson learned : A VPN is a good idea and so is downloading all necessary languages of the Google Translate app.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see the full disclosure for further information.

Planning a trip?

Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my own adventures.

Roundup: My Travel Mishaps

Traveling is a great adventure, but it is not without its trials and tribulations. Every now and then things do go wrong and there is little we can do to prevent these travel mishaps. The only thing we can do is learn as much as we can from these incidents and do our best to ensure that they do not happen again.

It might not always work that way, and you might just end up being a repeat offender like me and running out of fuel. Be sure to see the funny side of it and do not focus on the negative aspects of it. Focus on the kindness of strangers that helped you, the anecdotes, and how these small travel mishaps made you a more experienced traveler.

See it as a challenge you have overcome and have a good laugh about it at one point in the future. Or just write a blog post about it like I did.

Digital Nomad

If you liked this post about travel mishaps, you might also be interested in these posts:

The Truth About Moving Abroad Working as an OBC

Which travel mishaps have happened to you?

Let me know in the comments down below!

Did My Travel Mishaps make you laugh? Share th is Post with your friends!

I am the founder of A Nomad's Passport and a solo traveling digital nomad, photographer, and writer. Originally from Germany, I have lived in several countries including Australia & Mexico.

As an outdoor lover and culture enthusiast, I love writing about all forms of adventure travel ranging from outdoor activities like scuba diving and hiking to cultural experiences, alongside road trips and itineraries that combine these elements.

A Nomad's Passport is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

you'll also love

The honest truth about moving abroad.

Moving abroad can be daunting as it is hard to predict how it will change ones life. However these 7 ways are incredibly common and in the end they will likely make the move worth it.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home Contact About Me Work With Me

All Destinations Australia Adventures Mexico Adventures Japan Adventures

Adventures Scuba Diving Road Trips Hiking

Travel Resources Foodie Guides Tips & Tricks Blogging Resources & Shop

A Nomad's Passport

© 2024 A Nomad's Passport │ All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy   │ Terms and Conditions │ Disclaimers & Disclosure │ Impressum

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

10 Travel Safety Mishaps and How to Avoid Them

Sarah Pascarella

Sarah Pascarella has a master's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College, where she specialized in magazine writing and nonprofit publishing. She is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the New England Writers association.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Common sense, awareness of your surroundings, and calm decision-making—seems simple enough, right? In the case of traveling, however, foregoing these basic safety strategies can lead to big trouble.

While vacations can be all about relaxation, exploring new cultures, and leaving one’s comfort zone, a healthy dose of caution can go a long way toward staying safe. Read on for the 10 most common travel safety mishaps, and how you can avoid similar problems during your next trip.

1. Intoxication and/or Dehydration

Intoxication can lead to any number of problems on vacation, ranging from personal safety issues to vehicular accidents, loss of property to increased vulnerability. While many want to cut loose and relax while away, it’s a good idea to limit your intake of alcohol and avoid illegal drugs entirely—getting drunk or high can quickly escalate a potentially bad situation to an outright dangerous one.

Additionally, be wary of accepting alcoholic drinks from strangers, as their intentions may not always be noble.

“Don’t get drunk with people you don’t know,” says Graham Kingaby, director/underwriter and travel safety guru of WorldNomads.com , a global travel insurance provider. “If you do go out partying, stick with your friends. It can be dangerous to go home alone when you don’t know the area very well.”

“If you think someone has tampered with your drink, throw it away immediately,” says Erin Weed, founder of Girls Fight Back! and author of Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself . “If you find yourself feeling very intoxicated and you’ve only had a few cocktails, it could be the onset of a drug. Find your friends immediately and tell them you think you might have been slipped something. If this is indeed the case, they will need to get you home and possibly to the hospital if the effects are severe.”

Finally, consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to increased dehydration, which can complicate a trip, especially in regions where sun exposure is strong. “From my experience simply being dehydrated and exhausted can be a major problem,” says Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet . “Always have a bottle of water and be sure to drink … You get nailed with dehydration, then you’re sitting around for two or three days from heat exhaustion or being out in the sun too much. [Beyond] the worries of being robbed or something terrible happening, staying hydrated and rested is something that’s very much in your control.”

I Went Through Flight Attendant Self Defense Training: Here’s What It’s Like

2. Pickpockets

Crowded places, places popular with tourists, and peak seasons for tourism increase the likelihood of being pickpocketed. Use good judgment if you find yourself in such a scenario.

“Don’t make friends when you’re at your most vulnerable,” says Reid. “I’ve been robbed in a bus station before. Someone approached me and said something and I responded, and it took me off my guard. Someone behind me grabbed my bag and it got stolen. If someone approaches you in a place like that, in a place where you don’t see too many locals hanging out, be extra cautious.”

While in college, I studied abroad in Rome, a city notorious for pickpockets. After just a few days in the city, I learned which piazzas were rife with petty theft, the specific bus routes known for having thieves, and good rules of thumb for protecting my wallet and valuables. One afternoon, I witnessed a young child distract a tourist with a loose purse; while the tourist spoke to the little girl, the child’s accompanying adult swiftly removed the wallet from the woman’s bag. After that, I was leery of being approached by kids. I made sure that my bag was securely fastened at all times, and my wallet stowed away in an inaccessible place (the interior pocket of my jacket). By being alert and cautious, I wasn’t pickpocketed once.

“Use clothing with zipped pockets or buttons, [and] hide your cash in a money belt, not in a wallet easily accessed from your jean’s pocket,” says Kingaby. “Be extra careful on crowded public transport, places like markets, and carry your bag in your arms.”

You may also want to carry a dummy wallet—one that’s empty or contains inconsequential items (cash receipts, to-do lists, fake credit cards from mailed solicitations, etc.)—to distract pickpockets from the real thing. Handing over a false wallet or keeping it in an easily accessible place can give the pickpocket what he wanted, while still safeguarding your money and valuables.

10 Smart Ways to Carry Money While Traveling

3. Getting Lost

It can be especially frightening to find yourself in an unfamiliar area while on vacation, particularly if you don’t speak the local language. Don’t panic: Keeping a cool head can make you less visible to those who might prey on your vulnerability.

“Keep your radar on—listen to your head and heart,” says Kingaby. “If it feels uncomfortable, get out of there. Try not to look as if you don’t know where you are and be discreet if you’re looking at your map.”

If you carry a mobile device or smartphone, have interactive maps and GPS capabilities at the ready. Studying your phone can be less obvious than consulting a map or guidebook, and you may even blend in with the locals using their own phones.

“I often look for a restaurant or a hotel and I’ll go in and have them call a taxi,” says Reid. “It’s in their best interest to have taxi companies that are reputable and not rip off their clients. Without fault, these places will be able to help you. There are a lot of places in the world where you can’t just flag down a taxi, and going into a local business will help you.”

Above all, do your research before setting out. By having a general sense of the lay of the land, you can avoid ending up in less-than-safe areas. Call it educated wandering—it’s always great to explore a new place on foot and see where the day takes you, but don’t go out blindly.

4. Lost/Stolen ID

If you lose your passport, get on the State Department Passport website and follow the links specific to whether you’re stateside or overseas. If you’re overseas, you’ll want to get in touch with your local embassy or consulate immediately to get it replaced.

Regardless of where you are, it’s always easier to replace your passport if you have copies of your old one. Keep several copies (preferably one in each bag) in case any of your bags or purse get lost or stolen. You may also want to send a copy of your passport and other relevant travel documents to family or trusted friends back home, just in case a copy needs to be forwarded to the consulate.

If you’re stateside and you lose your driver’s license, the Unofficial DMV Guide has a comprehensive online guide outlining the steps you need to take to replace it, with specific requirements broken down by state.

The One Item You Should Always Hide in Your Hotel Room When Traveling

5. Accidental Injury or Illness

Before you leave home, double-check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in case you need medical attention while on vacation, especially if you’re traveling abroad. You may want to purchase additional travel insurance to cover medical expenses and/or evacuation in case of emergency. Keep several copies of the policy with your belongings (like the passport copies, one copy per bag is a good rule of thumb), and be sure to save all paperwork from your hospital visit to ensure your claim is properly handled.

6. Road Accidents

If you’re planning on driving during your vacation, some pre-arrival research can ensure peace of mind.

“There are now international standards for many road rules—this certainly helps you make sense of signage,” says Kingaby. “However, spend some time to research what local rules are and what the environment is like. For example, in some parts of Australia, the huge distances between towns means that it’s vital to take water, fuel, and food in case you break down. If you’re going to a snowy region, find out if you need to take chains for the tires.

“For more detailed information, the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) offers regularly updated road reports for approximately 150 countries,” Kingaby continues. “Available via email or download (fees apply), each report covers general road conditions, local driving style, and the realities of dealing with the police, public transportation, and emergency situations.”

If you’re renting a car, don’t hesitate to solicit local advice. “If it’s a major rental car company and they rent to a lot of foreigners, ask about problems other people have had,” says Reid. “Is insurance included? What does insurance cover? If you thought your insurance covers you and [it] doesn’t, do you need extra insurance?”

Before taking the car out of the lot, do a safety check. “Ensure that the car has properly equipped seat belts and also check the tires, headlights, and wipers,” says Kingaby. “Always wear your seat belt or motorbike helmet, take regular breaks, [and] obey the speed limit.”

“Know that there are different rules that can be hard to imagine [in regard to] traffic, speed traps, [and] difficult roads,” says Reid. “Ask [locals] about the rules and common problems.”

Travel Insurance Coverage: 18 Things Your Policy Won’t Cover

7. Hotel Safety Issues

Simply put, some hotels are safer than others. If you get a bad vibe about a certain property, listen to your intuition and find a new place to stay. The inconvenience of finding a new hotel can greatly outweigh the hassles of stolen property or threatened personal safety.

“When picking a place to rest your head, follow my $50 rule,” says Weed. “Don’t stay at a motel that costs less than $50 per night. That usually indicates that it’s way too discount, and security probably isn’t the highest priority.

“Once you have selected where you will stay, try to get a room that is close to the elevator or stairs and is between the second and sixth floors,” Weed continues. “Avoiding the ground floor makes it harder for intruders to break in and staying below the seventh floor makes fire truck ladders able to reach you in case a blaze breaks out.”

When checking in, if the hotel clerk says your room number out loud for other patrons to hear, feel free to request a different room and ask him or her to simply write the number down for you to read. Once in your room, use common sense—ensure the locks work, don’t let in strangers, and keep a low profile.

What to Do When The Host Cancels Your Vacation Rental

8. Violent Crime

In the cases of violent crime such as assault, kidnapping, or carjacking, keeping your wits about you may be the difference between life and death. In any new and unfamiliar situation, be on your guard to determine any potential dangers.

“If you get a bad feeling about someone the instant you meet him, honor it,” says Weed. “Make a mental note not to be alone with him or trust him for anything (including buying you a drink). Staying with your group of friends is important. If someone is giving you the creeps, surround yourself with good friends and stick with the group religiously.”

“Scream to draw attention,” says Kingaby. “If they want money, it’s better to give it away than risk personal safety. Don’t ask ‘is that a real gun,’ ‘will he really use that knife?’.

“Once it’s over, make sure you won’t get assaulted again by going to a safe location,” Kingaby continues. “Take mental notes about the incident and attacker. If insured, contact your emergency services provider ASAP to find appropriate medical assistance. Talk to your embassy, which can help with interpreter services, [and] provide lists of doctors and medical facilities. Decide whether to report the assault to the police—it’s your choice. If you do, it’s important to act quickly to gather any forensic evidence. Insist on getting a copy of the police report.”

“Talk to your consulate right away and get advice from them,” says Reid. “Follow calls to action there, particularly if it’s something serious.”

“Get in touch with people at home, as this kind of incident is very stressful,” says Kingaby. “Talking with familiar people is comforting.”

9. Public Transportation Snafus

Being well-informed can make the difference between getting pickpocketed on the subway or bus or coming away with all your belongings intact and secure.

“Research where you’re going,” says Kingaby. “A public bus in Sydney is a different experience [from] a public bus in Mumbai or rural Cambodia. The road traffic rules or lack of them are an issue in many developing countries—taking a train might be safer than a local bus.

“Consider when you’re traveling,” Kingaby continues. “If it’s at night, you might not want to travel alone on public transport.”

“Sometimes you’re really packed in, people are coming and going, so you can feel a little more vulnerable,” says Reid. “I use my inside pockets a lot. Try not to pack too much stuff and keep it a little closer while on public transportation.”

A Guide to 10 ‘Luxury Bus’ Lines You Can Take Instead of Amtrak

10. Boating and Watersports Safety

Sun, surf, and … possible danger? An area where you might forget to use caution is out sailing, snorkeling, or diving, but here, too, it’s important to stay alert, sober, and aware of your surroundings. Most important, ensure that the company with which you book any excursion is reputable.

“Are the companies certified? Have they been around awhile?” says Reid. “Some of the dive and snorkel companies that have been around for 15 years might charge 25 percent more, but maybe it’s worth it, when you’re going way out to sea, using tanks, diving. It may not be the best place to look for the cheapest deal.

“I was on a snorkel trip in Vietnam and there were a number of options that were cheap trips,” Reid continues. “On one of those cheap trips, they accidentally left someone behind and had to go back and pick them up … At a UNESCO site, one of the cheapest dive excursion companies went out with a ship that had a hole in it. The travelers were stuck and had to be saved, and they [had been] floating for a number of hours in open water. Everyone was fine, but it was very traumatic for them. Sometimes cheaper means the standards are lower.”

If you’re staying at a resort, talk to fellow travelers to see if they have recently taken any excursions. If so, what were their experiences? Did they pay extra and get better service? Ask about certifications, reputability, and safety records. It’s better to put in legwork beforehand than to be unpleasantly surprised later.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Porto to Lisbon: 7-Nt, Small-Group Portugal...

Indus Travels

Luxe, 12-Night Spain, France, Monaco &...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

Find your answers, solutions and more...

We made it much easier for you to find exactly what you're looking for on quizgoat., quiz review 2, psychology - general psychology.

• general-psychology

Recent Packs

• molecular-and-microbiology
• Send feedback

• Social Science

1. According to your textbook, Psychology is defined

Related documents

Add this document to collection(s)

You can add this document to your study collection(s)

Add this document to saved

You can add this document to your saved list

Suggest us how to improve StudyLib

(For complaints, use another form )

Input it if you want to receive answer

Engine cover falls off Boeing plane, hits wing flap; Southwest flight returns to Denver airport

A Southwest Airlines plane heading to Houston turned back to Denver International Airport on Sunday morning after an engine covering fell off the Boeing plane and hit the plane's wing flap, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Boeing 737-800 plane returned to Denver safely around 8:15 a.m. local time and was towed to the gate.

The agency said it would investigate the incident. The plane's crew reported that engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap, the FAA said.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Southwest said passengers arrived in Houston on another aircraft, about three hours behind schedule.

"We apologized to those Customers for the inconvenience of their delay and our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft. We place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees," the airline said in a statement.

According to data from FlightAware.com , the initial flight had taken off around 7:40 a.m. and was expected to land around 10:10 a.m.

Latest plane emergency landing

CBS News reported that the incident could be heard on air traffic control recordings.

"Let's go ahead and declare an emergency for Southwest 3695, and we'd like an immediate return," an air traffic control official could be heard saying on the recording, the outlet reported. "We've got a piece of the engine cowling hanging off apparently."

This is the latest in a string of recent incidents, where a plane has had to make an emergency landing due to mechanical issues. Late Thursday, a Southwest Airlines flight, a Boeing 737 plane, was preparing to depart to Las Vegas from Lubbock, Texas but returned to the gate before takeoff for a reported engine fire.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Boeing engine cover falls off during takeoff, prompting US investigation

Incident during Southwest flight will add to pressure on aviation firm as it shakes up leadership

US airline regulators have launched an investigation after an engine cowling on a Boeing plane fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap, the latest in a series of safety problems facing the aircraft manufacturer.

Southwest Airlines flight 3695 rose to about 3,140 metres (10,300ft) before returning safely 25 minutes after takeoff to Denver international airport at about 8.15am local time on Sunday. It was towed to the gate after landing.

The Boeing aircraft with 135 passengers and six crew members onboard had been headed to Houston, Texas. No one was injured.

The airline said maintenance teams were reviewing the aircraft. It was a 737-800, a model that the troubled 737 Max series was intended to replace.

The incident will add to the problems facing Boeing as it prepares for a major shake-up in its leadership . Its chief executive, Dave Calhoun, last month announced he would step down at the end of this year, while the commercial planes boss, Stan Deal, also left with immediate effect.

The board chair, Larry Kellner, was replaced by Steve Mollenkopf, who last week told shareholders the board “will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get this company to where it needs to be”.

Boeing’s safety record has come under renewed scrutiny this year after a door plug panel came off a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet at about 5,000 metres (16,000ft) on 5 January.

In the aftermath of that incident, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Max 9 for several weeks, barred Boeing from increasing its rate of production of the aircraft and ordered it to develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality control issues” within 90 days.

Boeing production has fallen below the maximum 38 Max planes a month the FAA is allowing, while the US justice department has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

Boeing has been trying to increase the rate of 737 Max production for several years since its bestselling plane was allowed to fly again after an extended ban. Regulators around the world banned the 737 Max from flying after 346 people died in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 because of a design flaw.

The US plane-maker spent years trying to rebuild its reputation and reassuring airline customers that its culture had changed to prioritise safety over profits. The door plug incident seriously undermined those efforts.

Despite the controversy over the safety problems, Boeing last week revealed it had increased Calhoun’s pay by 45% to the highest since he took over. Boeing awarded Calhoun $32.8m (£26m) in pay, after adding $30m in stock options on top of his $1.4m salary. However, he may not collect all of the options if he steps down at the end of the year as planned.

The Southwest plane entered service in June 2015, according to FAA records. The airline declined to say when the plane’s engine had last undergone maintenance.

Footage posted on X showed the ripped engine cover flapping in the wind with a torn Southwest logo.

The FAA is investigating several other recent Southwest Boeing engine problems. A Southwest 737 flight on Thursday aborted takeoff and taxied back to the gate at an airport in Texas after the crew reported engine problems. The FAA is also investigating a Southwest 737 flight on 25 March that returned to Austin airport in Texas after the crew reported a possible engine problem.

A Southwest 737-800 flight on 22 March returned to Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida after the crew reported an engine problem. It is also being reviewed by the FAA.

• Airline industry
• Air transport

More on this story

United Airlines Boeing plane loses external panel in flight

Boeing cockpit seat switch mishap reportedly led to Latam flight incident

Man who was almost sucked off plane among group suing Alaska and Boeing

US safety agency says Boeing video of door-plug removal was overwritten

Boeing whistleblower found dead in South Carolina

Today in Focus What’s gone wrong at Boeing?

Boeing 737 Max 8 ran off Texas runway ‘into grassy area’, says United Airlines

Boeing not providing records linked to panel blowout, says top US safety official

John Oliver calls for new leadership of Boeing: ‘Fix the culture that you have destroyed’

Boeing: DoJ begins investigation as FAA gives 90-day deadline for safety plan

Most viewed.

Watch CBS News

What time the 2024 solar eclipse started, reached peak totality and ended

By Sarah Maddox

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:04 AM EDT / CBS News

The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon's position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour along the path of totality . 

That means the eclipse will start, peak and end at different times — as will the moments of total darkness along the path of totality — and the best time to view the eclipse depends on where you are located. Some places along the path will have more totality time than others.

In Texas, the south-central region had clouds in the forecast , but it was better to the northeast, according to the National Weather Service. The best eclipse viewing weather was expected in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, as well as in Canada's New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

What time does the 2024 total solar eclipse start?

The total solar eclipse will emerge over the South Pacific Ocean before the shadow falls across North America, beginning in parts of Mexico. The path of totality , where onlookers can witness the moon fully blocking the sun (through eclipse viewing glasses for safety ), is expected to first make landfall near the city of Mazatlán around 9:51 a.m. MT. 

The total solar eclipse will cross over the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas, where it will emerge over Eagle Pass at 12:10 p.m. CT and then peak at about 1:27 p.m. CT.

In Dallas, NASA data shows the partial eclipse will first become visible at 12:23 p.m. CT and peak at 1:40 p.m. CT. The next states in the path of totality are Oklahoma and Arkansas, where the eclipse begins in Little Rock at 12:33 p.m. CT. 

Cleveland will see the beginning of the eclipse at 1:59 p.m. ET. Darkness will start spreading over the sky in Buffalo, New York, at 2:04 p.m. ET. Then, the eclipse will reach northwestern Vermont, including Burlington, at 2:14 p.m. ET. Parts of New Hampshire and Maine will also follow in the path of totality before the eclipse first reaches the Canadian mainland  at 3:13 p.m. ET.

Although the experience won't be exactly the same, viewers in all the contiguous U.S. states outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse. Some places will see most of the sun blocked by the moon, including Washington, D.C., where the partial eclipse will start at 2:04 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:20 p.m. ET.

In Chicago, viewers can start viewing the partial eclipse at 12:51 p.m. CT, with the peak arriving at 2:07 p.m. CT.  In Detroit, viewers will be able to enjoy a near-total eclipse beginning at 1:58 p.m. ET and peaking at 3:14 p.m. ET.

New York City will also see a substantial partial eclipse, beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET and peaking around 3:25 p.m. ET.

In Boston it will begin at 2:16 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:29 p.m. ET.

The below table by NASA shows when the eclipse will start, peak and end in 13 cities along the eclipse's path.

What time will the solar eclipse reach peak totality?

Millions more people will have the chance to witness the total solar eclipse this year than during the last total solar eclipse , which was visible from the U.S. in 2017. 

The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside. Within the path of totality, darkness will fall for a few minutes. The longest will last more than 4 minutes, but most places will see between 3.5 and 4 minutes of totality. In cities experiencing a partial eclipse, a percentage of the sun will be obscured for more than two hours.

Mazatlán is set to experience totality at 11:07 am PT. Dallas will be able to see the moon fully cover the sun at 1:40 p.m. CT. Little Rock will start to see the full eclipse at 1:51 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 3:13 p.m. ET and Buffalo at 3:18 p.m. ET. Totality will reach Burlington at 3:26 p.m. ET before moving into the remaining states and reaching Canada around 4:25 p.m.

Outside the path of totality, 87.4% of the sun will be eclipsed in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 p.m. ET, and Chicago will have maximum coverage of 93.9% at 2:07 p.m. CT. New York City is much closer to the path of totality this year than it was in 2017; it will see 89.6% coverage at 3:25 p.m. EDT. 

Detroit is another city that will encounter a near-total eclipse, with 99.2% maximum coverage at 3:14 p.m. ET. Boston will see 92.4% coverage at 3:29 p.m. ET.

What time will the solar eclipse end?

The eclipse will leave continental North America from Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NT, according to NASA.

At the beginning of the path of totality in Mazatlán, the eclipse will be over by 12:32 p.m. PT, and it will leave Dallas at 3:02 p.m. CT. The eclipse will end in Little Rock at 3:11 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 4:29 p.m. CDT and Buffalo at 4:32 p.m. ET. Burlington won't be far behind, with the eclipse concluding at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the viewing will end in Chicago at 3:21 p.m. CT, Washington, D.C. at 4:32 p.m. ET, and New York City at 4:36 p.m. ET. 

In Detroit, the partial eclipse will disappear at 4:27 p.m. ET, and in Boston, it will be over at 4:39 p.m. ET.

How long will the eclipse last in total?

The total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico at 11:07 a.m. PT and leave continental North America at 5:16 p.m. NT. From the time the partial eclipse first appears on Earth to its final glimpses before disappearing thousands of miles away, the celestial show will dazzle viewers for about 5 hours, according to timeanddate.com . 

The length of the total solar eclipse at points along the path depends on the viewing location. The longest will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds, northwest of Torreón, Mexico. Near the center of the path, totality takes place for the longest periods of time, according to NASA.

Spectators will observe totality for much longer today than during the 2017 eclipse , when the longest stretch of totality was 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

The moon's shadow seen on Earth today, called the umbra, travels at more than 1,500 miles per hour, according to NASA. It would move even more quickly if the Earth rotated in the opposite direction.

What is the longest a solar eclipse has ever lasted?

The longest known totality was 7 minutes and 28 seconds in 743 B.C. However, NASA says this record will be broken in 2186 with a 7 minute, 29 second total solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. won't happen until Aug. 23, 2044.

Sarah Maddox has been with CBS News since 2019. She works as an associate producer for CBS News Live.

More from CBS News

Congress is gearing up for the next funding fight. Will this time be different?

Inflation's rising. Here's how debt relief can help.

EPA issues first-ever regulations for "forever chemicals" in drinking water

How big is the Masters purse, and how much of it does the winner get?