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Moscow concert attack survivors describe the nightmare of fear and death

Over the weekend, a mass shooting at a well-known concert venue near Moscow resulted in approximately 140 fatalities, making it the most severe terrorist incident in Russia in the past 20 years. The tragedy also leftover 150 individuals injured, with ongoing search efforts hampered by extensive fire damage at the scene.

ISIS-K, also known as the Islamic State Khorasan Province, an affiliate of the larger Islamic State group active in Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, swiftly claimed responsibility for the assault. This faction has previously expressed opposition to Russia's actions towards Muslims within its borders and its military involvement in Syria.

Notably, ISIS-K had also orchestrated two bombings in Iran earlier in January and an attack on the Kabul airport during the U.S. military's evacuation from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan citizens.

Following the incident, authorities have detained and charged four individuals with terrorism-related offenses.

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FBI tells passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight that lost a panel they might be crime victims

The FBI has informed passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max that experienced a door-plug panel detachment during the flight they may have been involved in a criminal incident.

A letter from a victim specialist at the FBI's office in Seattle, received by passengers recently, stated, "We have identified you as a possible victim of a crime." The letter confirmed that the FBI is actively investigating the matter.

The incident occurred at an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,800 meters) above Oregon on January 5, when the aircraft unexpectedly lost a panel, creating a significant breach in its structure. This event triggered a rapid decompression, causing oxygen masks to deploy and creating a vacuum effect that pulled at passengers and items inside the aircraft.

Fortunately, the pilots managed to execute a safe emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. All 171 passengers and six crew members on board avoided serious harm. Initial findings suggest that the mishap was related to the absence of four bolts intended to secure the panel, which had been previously serviced at Boeing's facility in Renton, Washington.

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It’s a few years late, but a prototype supersonic airplane has taken flight

Boom Supersonic announced that its independently developed prototype jet, the XB-1, completed its inaugural flight this past Friday.

Taking off from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California, the XB-1 reached an altitude of 7,120 feet (2.2 kilometers) and hit top speeds of 273 mph (439 kph). Following the flight, Boom Supersonic reported that the XB-1's test flight achieved all set goals.

Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, Boom Supersonic's Chief Test Pilot, emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting its crucial role in the company's efforts to rejuvenate supersonic travel.

The XB-1 serves as an experimental craft, designed to evaluate advanced materials and aerodynamic features for a larger, commercial supersonic jet that Boom has dubbed Overture.

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