Good evening. A United Boeing 767 arriving at Newark Liberty from Venice made a frightening close call today, clipping a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike as it landed. The FAA is investigating; officials have not yet released passenger numbers.
Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down this weekend, the first U.S. carrier to collapse in 25 years, leaving passengers nationwide stranded and frustrated. At Newark Liberty, travelers described canceled flights and chaos at gates. Spirit’s demise — the low-cost carrier weighed down by debt and rising jet fuel costs — prompted airlines and industry analysts to reassess the low-fare model. Rival carriers, including JetBlue, are seeking to acquire gates and market share, and analysts say passengers can expect higher fares as carriers forecast tens of billions in added fuel expenses this year. The shutdown has sparked political debate: Republicans criticized the Biden administration over a blocked merger with JetBlue, while Democrats pointed to soaring fuel costs as a major factor. Travelers reported rethinking summer plans as pump prices climb — national averages rose above $4.40 per gallon amid continued energy tensions.
The continuing U.S.-Iran confrontation has driven a surge in gasoline and grocery prices and strained President Trump’s political standing. With the conflict entering its third month, the national pump average stood at about $4.44 per gallon — more than $2 higher than before the war began. The Pentagon’s publicly stated war costs are under scrutiny; sources suggest actual spending may be substantially higher than the $25 billion estimate. The administration has not ruled out further strikes, and officials said the U.S. will begin escorting neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any interference could be met with force. The conflict has also frayed relations with some European partners.
In southern Morocco, a training exercise turned into a search-and-rescue operation when two U.S. service members went missing after reportedly falling off a cliff into the ocean while off duty. U.S. forces, along with partner nations participating in the multinational exercise, joined extensive searches by air and sea. Defense officials confirmed the missing were U.S. Army soldiers; their names have not been released.
In Arizona, crews battled a fast-moving wildfire west of Phoenix that, driven by drought, had burned hundreds of acres and remained uncontained. Firefighting leaders warned that surging jet fuel prices are increasing the cost of aerial firefighting: some large tankers now cost tens of thousands of dollars an hour to operate. Agencies are adjusting strategies, using simulators for training and staging aircraft at strategic locations to minimize flight time, but officials note that higher aviation fuel costs will likely affect budgets and could strain responses if conditions worsen.
Meteorologists say the busy tornado season has been historic, with nearly 600 tornado reports this year and many states impacted. April’s tornado activity was well above average, and while May began quieter, severe weather fronts are expected across the Plains and Midwest in the coming days, with threats of damaging wind, hail and tornadoes as systems shift eastward. Forecasters also warn that a strengthening El Niño could lead to an unusually hot summer.
Pope Leo marked the anniversary of his election and used his Sunday Mass to honor World Press Freedom Day and journalists who have died reporting from war zones.
On national security, the U.S. is modernizing its Cold War-era land-based deterrent: the Sentinel missile program will replace the 60-year-old Minuteman III with new missiles and infrastructure. The upgrade, officials say, is intended to provide safer, more reliable deterrence against advancing nuclear programs abroad. But Sentinel is costly and behind schedule, with current estimates showing significant budget overruns and a projected full roll-out stretching into future decades. Defense leaders argue that modernization keeps the deterrent credible and reduces safety risks associated with aging systems.
In cultural and lighter news, the box office saw a major summer kickoff as the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada opened at number one, earning a strong $77 million in North America. Other top releases included a Michael Jackson biopic and a animated Super Mario film.
Pop star Britney Spears is due in court Monday in an arraignment after a March arrest; she was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and recently completed a stint in voluntary rehab.
On the international music scene, a massive crowd turned out in Rio de Janeiro for a free Shakira concert on Copacabana Beach; organizers estimated about 2 million attendees. The Colombian superstar followed in the footsteps of recent global pop events in the city.
In sports, the Kentucky Derby made history as a longshot surged from last place to win the classic run. The victory was particularly notable because it was the first Derby win for the horse’s trainer, a woman who has risen in a sport long dominated by men. Celebrations at Churchill Downs highlighted both the race’s dramatic finish and the milestone for women in horseracing.
That’s the CBS Weekend News for this Sunday. Have a great week.