Author name: Stephen Phelps

Will Zohran Mamdani Redistribute Wealth to Politicians? Bill Set to Hit His Desk Once in Office
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Will Zohran Mamdani Redistribute Wealth to Politicians? Bill Set to Hit His Desk Once in Office

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A proposal to raise pay for New York City’s elected officials is moving forward at the City Council just weeks before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani takes office.

The bill, introduced on Tuesday by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams of Queens, seeks to increase salaries for the mayor, City Council members, borough presidents, and other citywide officials by more than 16%.

The timing of the proposal drew attention because the original plan had been to hold a vote before Mamdani’s January 1 inauguration.

That schedule shifted when council members realized that the city charter prohibits votes on pay increases during the post-election lame-duck period.

The procedural barrier forced the Council to abandon its December timeline and instead set the bill up for hearings that would allow consideration in early 2026.

The sudden push raised questions among officials who said the timing appeared designed either to avoid involving the incoming mayor or to spare him from a politically complicated decision.

Kalman Yeger, a Democratic state Assemblyman and former City Council member, said, “The only thing is I think they are worried that the mayor-elect won’t do it.”

He added, “They are afraid if they pass it in January and he’d have to veto. How does the mayor-elect justify it, saying the working man can’t afford milk? He can’t sign off to give them a $20,000 raise.”

The bill has 32 co-sponsors, including Mamdani allies Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and Chi A. Ossé, all Brooklyn Democrats.

According to one source familiar with the discussions, the legislation places Mayor-elect Mamdani in a difficult position after a campaign centered on affordability.

The source said Mamdani could either veto the pay bill or sign a measure “making New York more affordable for the political class.”

If approved, the bill would raise City Council salaries from $148,500 to $172,500 — the first increase in nearly ten years.

The overall salary allocation for council positions would rise from $7.5 million to $8.8 million.

The raises would extend beyond the Council. Under the proposal, the mayor’s salary would increase from $258,750 to $300,500.

The public advocate’s salary would rise from $184,000, while borough presidents, currently earning $180,000, would also see increases.

The city comptroller’s salary, currently $210,000, would be included in the 16% adjustment.

Council members have said privately that their pay no longer reflects increases seen by many other city employees since 2016.

Those discussions became public when Williams introduced the measure, which was first reported by the New York Daily News.

Because the city charter blocks action on pay legislation between Election Day and New Year’s Day, Williams revised course and scheduled a hearing to keep the bill active.

“If we have a hearing on the bill this year, we don’t need a hearing on it next year. It’s pre-considered,” Williams told The Post on Tuesday.

When asked if the Council planned to pass the measure in January, she replied, “That’s the goal.”

Outgoing Speaker Adrienne Adams, who leaves office at the end of the year, said previous administrations should have addressed compensation before the issue fell to incoming officials.

She cited former Mayor Bill de Blasio and departing Mayor Eric Adams when asked about the stalled action on salaries.

Pressed on whether the Council should approve the bill, she declined to offer guidance, saying, “I’m out of here. I’m out. That’s something for the new members.”

The bill will remain pending as members prepare for the start of the new term and for Mayor-elect Mamdani’s decision on whether to approve or reject the proposed salary increases.

Tom Homan: ‘Hold on Tight, We’re Tripling ICE Deportation Operations’
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Tom Homan: ‘Hold on Tight, We’re Tripling ICE Deportation Operations’

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Laura Ingraham spoke with Border Czar Tom Homan about the scale of ongoing immigration enforcement operations and the agency’s plans to increase personnel in the coming weeks.

Homan said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing for a major expansion that will triple the size of its enforcement and removal teams.

Ingraham noted the rapid pace of activity since the start of the administration.

“Less than a week from the beginning of the administration. And even if you keep going at the pace you’re going at, that’s a dent in the illegal alien population. People would deport, you know, who are deportable aliens right now. So what do you say to those people? Say this is great, but it’s nowhere near enough.”

Homan responded by pointing to both the hiring surge and the results already recorded.

“Then come put a badge and gun on and give us a hand. ICE is hiring record numbers,” he said.

Homan added that current enforcement levels have surpassed historic benchmarks.

“Bottom line is, I just said just about 650,000 deportation. That is several 100,000 more than the record that was back in 2012 so it was already historic operation.”

He said the number of people leaving the country on their own has also increased significantly.

“Second of all, you got to consider the people who have left the country out of fear of being deported was over 1.6 million of them. So there’s well over 2.2 million left the country already. And that’s been the part of plan from beginning.”

According to Homan, the increase in enforcement teams is part of the strategy that has changed migration patterns.

“We knew if we send over 1000 ice teams across the country, we send a message to the whole world, you enter this country illegally. We’re looking for you. And by sending that message, by having anything ice is one of the reasons why the most secure border in history, in the nation now, because people aren’t coming, because they know there’s consequences.”

Homan referred to both deportations and voluntary departures as evidence that current efforts are having a measurable impact.

“So between that record number deportations or record number of self deports, we’re already having historic deportation operation,” he said.

He also confirmed new hiring targets for the coming weeks.

“But hold on tight. We’re hiring 10,000 more that’s going beyond duty by mid January. That’s tripling the size, tripling the size of enforcement, move operations. Should we think the numbers are historic now wait till next year.”

WATCH:

Washington Democrats Push Softer Penalties for Men Caught in Child Sex Stings
Democrats

Washington Democrats Push Softer Penalties for Men Caught in Child Sex Stings

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Washington’s Sentencing Guidelines Commission is facing scrutiny after voting to recommend lighter sentencing options for adults caught in online child sex sting operations, commonly referred to as “net nanny” cases.

These stings typically involve adults — “almost always men, though not always,” as Jason Rantz noted — who take active steps to meet individuals they believe are minors for sex.

Rantz addressed the issue in a recent segment, directly criticizing the commission’s decision and calling it a deliberate policy direction from Democratic officials.

“Washington’s sentencing guidelines commission is voted to recommend lighter sentencing options for adults caught in sex sting operations, these net nanny cases or adults there are almost always men, though not always active steps to meet with people they think are children for sex. This is a policy choice by Democrats, and it’s one that could determine whether or not a pervert who already tried to meet a child for sex ends up facing any meaningful consequence whatsoever, because their logic is that net nanny sting offenders are apparently, quote, unquote, lower risk than someone who was a hands on abuser, and that this state should essentially look at these people and say, You know what, instead of putting you in jail, we should focus on treatment. Now this is this exact same board, the same commission that previously pushed treatment instead of jail for folks caught with child pornography.”

The commission’s new proposal echoes its previous stance recommending treatment instead of incarceration for individuals caught with child pornography.

In both instances, members have argued that these offenders present a comparatively lower long-term risk than those engaged in physical, hands-on abuse.

The recommendation suggests an approach centered on rehabilitation rather than traditional imprisonment.

The proposal has drawn pushback from critics who argue that individuals who attempt to meet minors for sex have already demonstrated predatory intent and should face stricter penalties.

Opponents say the recommendations minimize the seriousness of attempted exploitation and could reduce deterrence in some of the state’s most sensitive criminal cases.

Supporters of the commission’s direction claim that sentencing alternatives can reduce recidivism and provide courts with more flexibility when handling cases involving online sting operations.

They contend that not all offenders caught in these operations present the same level of danger as those who have committed physical abuse, and that certain individuals may respond effectively to treatment programs.

The commission’s recommendations will next move into the broader discussion process among lawmakers, prosecutors, and criminal justice officials.

Any sentencing guideline changes would require approval before implementation.

Missouri Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years After Paying Students To Have Sex with Her
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Missouri Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years After Paying Students To Have Sex with Her

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A Missouri woman who worked as a substitute teacher in the Dixon R-I School District was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges connected to sexual conduct involving students.

The case followed a yearlong investigation into allegations that she paid underage students for sex and provided them with alcohol and drugs.

Carissa Smith, 31, was arrested on Nov. 12, 2024, and initially indicted on charges that included two counts of sexual trafficking of a child under the age of 18, nine counts of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy, three counts of sexual contact with a student, and one count of patronizing prostitution from a victim 14 years and younger.

Investigators said the incidents occurred between August 2023 and September 2024.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, multiple victims reported that Smith offered “money, marijuana and/or alcohol to students in return for sex or to allow her to perform oral sex.”

Smith began working regularly as a substitute teacher at Dixon Middle School in August 2022 and later worked at Dixon High School until her resignation in August 2024.

A probable cause statement said Smith paid one victim at least $100 to engage in sexual activity with her.

Authorities also reported that Smith urged one minor not to disclose their encounters.

Court documents reviewed by USA Today stated that Smith involved her husband by telling him that a student possessed a compromising video and was blackmailing her.

The husband allegedly threatened more than one minor with a baseball bat.

An affidavit cited by People magazine said Smith’s brother-in-law caught her in bed with an underage student after hearing a rumor about a video circulating in the community that allegedly showed Smith performing a sexual act with a student.

Victims told investigators that sexual encounters occurred at Smith’s home as well as other locations, including roadside areas.

One day after Smith’s arrest, Dixon R-I School District Superintendent Travis Bohrer informed parents that the district had received a report earlier in the year from at least one student regarding possible misconduct by Smith and had notified authorities.

Bohrer said, “This is very disturbing and distressing information for everyone in our school community.”

Smith was later arrested again in September while out on bond.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, she was charged with tampering with a witness after court documents indicated she was found at the home of one of her victims, violating court orders.

Her bond, previously set at $250,000, was revoked on Sept. 10.

Prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Thomas said, “The defendant was ordered to have no contact with any victim in this case. The defendant has failed to follow a course of good conduct.”

Smith pleaded guilty on Sept. 17 to lesser charges: two counts of sexual contact with a student and one count of first degree endangering the welfare of a child/sexual conduct, according to KRCG-TV.

She faced a possible sentence of up to 12 years.

KRCG-TV reported that Smith received a 10-year prison sentence on Wednesday.

Man Accused of Train Fire Attack Had 72 Arrests, Still Walked Free
crime

Man Accused of Train Fire Attack Had 72 Arrests, Still Walked Free

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Lawrence Reed, 50, the man accused of setting a 26-year-old woman on fire aboard a Chicago train on November 17, had been released from custody in August after a Cook County judge rejected prosecutors’ requests to keep him detained.

Reed was charged on November 19 with one count of terrorism in federal court following the attack.

According to authorities, Reed allegedly approached the woman while she was sleeping on a CTA train, poured liquid from a silver can believed to be a flammable accelerant onto her, ignited it with a lighter, and walked away.

The woman sustained burns to nearly 60 percent of her body and remains hospitalized in critical condition after multiple surgeries.

Reed, who is homeless, had a lengthy criminal history prior to the November attack.

Records show he had been arrested 72 times. His prior charges included felony aggravated arson — including a 2020 conviction for setting fire to a government building — aggravated battery, drug possession, criminal damage to property, and various theft-related offenses.

Reed last appeared in court on August 22 before Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez, who released him on electronic monitoring.

The case involved a felony aggravated battery charge stemming from an August 19 assault at MacNeal Hospital. Prosecutors said Reed slapped a social worker in the hospital’s psychiatric ward, knocking the worker unconscious.

During the detention hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jerrilyn Gumila argued that Reed’s history made him a danger to the public and that electronic monitoring was insufficient.

Gumila said surveillance footage showed Reed quickly becoming violent during a conversation with the worker.

“He became irate and slapped the victim in the face with an open palm,” Gumila said.

“Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness for several seconds.”

Gumila said the victim sustained a cut on the cornea, possible optic nerve bruising, a concussion resulting in nausea and memory loss, and a chipped tooth.

She also detailed Reed’s prior record, including the 2020 arson conviction, stating, “The defendant poses a real and present threat to the safety of, especially this victim, whoever else was working in the hospital that day, and the community as a whole.”

Reed’s attorney, Nicholas Yannias, told the court that Reed has a documented history of mental illness and said his behavior was linked to that condition.

“Mr. Reed needs services, he does not need to be incarcerated for being mentally ill and acting in accordance with his mental illness,” Yannias said.

Judge Molina-Gonzalez said, “I understand your position, but I can’t keep everybody in jail because the state’s attorney wants me to, but I understand and respect your position.”

She released Reed on electronic monitoring, with conditions restricting his visits to the hospital except for medical emergencies.

She also allowed him to leave home 40 hours per week.

Under the SAFE-T Act, defendants on electronic monitoring are permitted 16 hours a week for essential activities.

On September 12, Judge Ralph Meczyk approved a motion from Yannias to adjust Reed’s allowed hours so he could participate in church activities.

A week later, on September 19, the aggravated battery charge from the August 19 incident was upgraded to a felony.

Court records reviewed in connection with the November 17 attack showed Reed had violated his curfew multiple times while on electronic monitoring in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Democrats’ Fundraising Collapse Forces Party Into Record Debt
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Democrats’ Fundraising Collapse Forces Party Into Record Debt

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Federal Election Commission filings show the Democratic National Committee borrowed $15 million in October, a loan taken as the committee ended the month with $18.3 million in cash on hand.

The filing describes the loan as an unusually large amount this far from a major election.

The committee spent $16.9 million in October, its highest monthly total this year.

More than $6 million of that spending went toward gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison’s executive director, Sam Cornale, defended the decision to take on the loan.

“We can’t win elections or fight back against Trump if the DNC downsizes operations like it often does after a presidential cycle,” he said.

“I made a bet that investing early would build power, rack up wins and rally supporters back to the table. That bet is paying off.”

Party officials have pointed to victories in New Jersey and Virginia, though both states are traditionally Democratic.

The financial filings also reflect broader challenges inside the party’s fundraising operation.

Major donors have remained on the sidelines as the committee works to rebuild following the 2024 cycle.

According to Politico, the DNC has taken on debt in past cycles but not typically at this point in the timeline or at this size.

During President Trump’s first term, the DNC reported $3.2 million in debt in November 2017 and more than $7 million a few months later.

The committee has not reported more than $15 million in total debt since February 2014.

The DNC raised $7.5 million from donors in October.

That figure is close to what the committee raised in October 2021, but filings show donor participation slowed earlier in the year as the committee worked through outstanding obligations.

The party spent part of 2025 paying down expenses linked to Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign.

The committee covered $18 million in remaining campaign costs from that race.

Those payments, according to party officials, reduced funds available for organizing efforts ahead of the next cycle.

The Republican National Committee reported $86 million in cash reserves at the end of September with no debt.

The filings show a significant financial gap between the two national committees entering the next phase of the cycle.

The DNC’s October report lists the loan, spending totals, donor contributions, past debt comparisons, and payments on prior-cycle obligations as the committee continues its fundraising efforts heading into 2026.

Trump First Term Appointees’ Russiagate Involvement Exposed in New Report
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Trump First Term Appointees’ Russiagate Involvement Exposed in New Report

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Recently declassified documents and interviews with former Trump officials provide new detail on how members of President Donald Trump’s first-term cabinet and senior appointees did not disclose evidence that challenged the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) produced at the end of the Obama administration.

The ICA asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed efforts to help Trump win the 2016 election.

According to the newly released material, the assessment relied on minimal and unverified intelligence and incorporated political opposition research funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Former Special Counsel John Durham, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former CIA Director Gina Haspel either withheld or delayed evidence that raised questions about the ICA.

Durham, appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr, halted the release of exculpatory intelligence on the eve of the 2020 election.

The evidence included a 2018 review that found the ICA’s core claims were supported by “one scant, unclear and unverifiable fragment of a sentence” from a low-quality intelligence report and by portions of the Steele dossier.

Former Trump national security adviser J.D. Gordon said the handling of the ICA allowed the narrative to persist publicly during Trump’s presidency. “The Russiagate betrayal continued in plain sight,” he said.

In mid-2018, Bolton’s chief of staff, Fred Fleitz, reviewed a draft House Intelligence Committee report in a secure Capitol facility.

The report stated that the ICA misrepresented the Steele dossier’s value and relied on intelligence later proven false or unsubstantiated.

Fleitz relayed the findings to Bolton, but Bolton did not brief Trump.

“He didn’t do anything with it. He never told Trump,” Fleitz said.

Pompeo, then Trump’s CIA director, was briefed on the House committee’s findings.

Derek Harvey, a former senior adviser to the committee, said Pompeo doubted the conclusions and the committee did not receive cooperation from the agency.

Haspel, Pompeo’s deputy and later CIA director, oversaw restrictions on the House committee’s review of classified ICA source documents from 2017 to 2020.

Investigators were required to work inside a CIA read room, leave all materials in the building each night, and use CIA-issued computers that committee staff later reported malfunctioned and lost text. The committee also said CIA technical changes made the machines “unstable and unreliable.” Access to the ICA’s five principal authors was delayed for nearly five months.

Haspel secured all drafts of the House report and investigators’ notes in a vault until she left office in January 2021. Before leaving, she urged Barr and Durham not to release the findings before the 2020 election. Fleitz described this as “insubordination to a U.S. president.”

Haspel had previously served in London during 2016, when FBI investigators, including Peter Strzok, pursued leads that later informed the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful.

As Trump’s first term ended, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe sought to declassify a 44-page report refuting the ICA.

Durham objected, saying he needed the material for his investigation, and Ratcliffe agreed to delay release.

The document remained withheld until Trump’s current National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified it in July.

A former senior intelligence official familiar with the process said the committee provided thousands of pages of supporting documents to Durham.

“After we gave Durham the report… he went ghost,” the official said.

Durham’s final 316-page report, released in 2023, made only a brief footnote reference to the ICA.

The ICA is now part of criminal inquiries involving former Obama-era officials, including Brennan and Clapper. Federal prosecutors in Florida have issued subpoenas for records related to the drafting of the 2016-2017 assessment.

Former officials who cooperated with the House review said the ICA became the foundation for numerous investigations of Trump and his advisers.

Harvey said, “The CIA engaged in a conspiracy to fabricate intelligence against Trump.”

He also said analysts were pressured to alter pre-election assessments to align with the ICA’s conclusions.

A whistleblower who worked under then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told investigators he believed raw intelligence was manipulated.

He contacted Durham but was never interviewed.

Fleitz said the declassified material shows that intelligence was “rigged and politicized.”

He said Trump-appointed officials allowed the ICA to stand unchallenged during the administration, despite evidence calling its claims into question.

JD Vance Urges Patience as Trump Administration Pushes to Lower Prices
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JD Vance Urges Patience as Trump Administration Pushes to Lower Prices

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Vice President J.D. Vance told voters Thursday that the administration recognizes the ongoing strain of high costs and is continuing efforts to bring prices down, offering one of the Trump administration’s most direct acknowledgments of economic frustration to date, as reported by the Independent Journal Review.

Speaking at a Breitbart News event, Vance said the White House has made progress but added that Americans should expect more work ahead.

According to The Associated Press, Vance said the administration has “a lot more work to do” and urged voters to give Republicans “a little bit of patience” as they advance their economic agenda.

“We hear you,” he said. “As much progress as we’ve made, it’s going to take a little bit of time for every American to feel that economic boom, which we really do believe is coming.”

His comments come as Republicans continue working to sharpen their message on affordability — an issue that played a major role in recent gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Voters in both states listed the cost of living as a leading concern, underscoring challenges facing the party heading into next year’s midterm elections.

Vance argued that President Donald Trump has “made incredible progress” reversing former President Joe Biden’s policies and setting the stage for stronger economic growth. He also acknowledged that many Americans still face higher costs in everyday purchases.

Trump has regularly cited lower gas and egg prices as evidence of improvement and has dismissed Democrats’ affordability messaging as “a con job.” More recently, he has also said there remains “room” for further price declines.

During the discussion, Vance was asked about recent internal tensions within the Make America Great Again coalition, including Trump’s public break with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and questions surrounding Trump’s decision not to distance himself from Nick Fuentes, who recently appeared in a friendly interview with commentator Tucker Carlson.

Vice President JD Vance departs a meeting with House Republicans at the United States Capitol as Republicans seek to pass interim spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30 on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Vance did not specifically address those disputes but said internal disagreements are expected within a large political movement. “It’s totally reasonable for the people who make up this coalition to argue,” he said.

He added that differing views can be productive as long as the movement remains focused on what he described as “a radical leftist movement” that he believes threatens shared priorities.

“Have our debates — but focus on the enemy, so that we can win victories that matter for the American people,” Vance said.

Looking ahead to the midterm elections, Vance emphasized that Republican unity and a strong message will be essential. He warned that working-class voters who strongly support Trump do not always vote in midterm cycles.

“I think that’s one of the lessons that we learned in Virginia and New Jersey,” he said.

“When Donald Trump is not on the ballot, you’ve got to give people something to actually believe in, something to be inspired by. They’re not going to vote just because you have an ‘R’ next to your name.”

Eric Swalwell Uses Jimmy Kimmel Appearance to Announce His Future Political Plans
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Eric Swalwell Uses Jimmy Kimmel Appearance to Announce His Future Political Plans

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Rep. Eric Swalwell of California announced Thursday that he is running for governor in the 2026 election.

Swalwell revealed his candidacy during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and later shared the news on social media.

In a post on X reacting to President Donald Trump’s criticism of Kimmel, Swalwell wrote, “He’s going to hate tonight’s episode.”

Ahead of the announcement, Swalwell told the San Francisco Chronicle that he believes the next governor of California should focus on two key objectives.

“One, keep Trump out of our homes, streets and lives,” he said.

He added that the second objective is to “write the story of a new California on lower prices, on business growth and modernizing the state.”

Swalwell later told MediasTouch, “I’m running to be a governor for all Californians. I’m the son of two Republicans, the son of a cop, and I grew up in a law-enforcement family. I worked as a prosecutor myself. I know that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat in this state, public safety for yourself, your kids, and your community is a top priority.”

Swalwell described his platform as one centered on being a “protector and fighter” for Californians as he begins his campaign to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom is term limited and cannot run again in 2026.

Several other candidates are also entering the race.

On the Democratic side, those running include former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, and billionaire activist and 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer.

Republican candidates include former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

The 2026 gubernatorial race is expected to draw national attention as California prepares for its first open governor’s seat since 2010.

Newsom, who is completing his second term, has been discussed as a potential contender in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.

Photos Reveal Moment UPS Jet’s Engine Detached Before Deadly Kentucky Crash
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Photos Reveal Moment UPS Jet’s Engine Detached Before Deadly Kentucky Crash

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Newly released photos from the November 4 crash of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky show the moment one of the aircraft’s engines separated and ignited during takeoff.

The National Transportation Safety Board published the images along with its preliminary findings on Thursday.

The MD-11 aircraft was taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport when its left engine detached.

The photos show the engine breaking away and appearing to strike the fuselage.

The crash resulted in 14 fatalities, including all three crew members on board and 11 people on the ground.

According to the NTSB’s initial report, investigators found “fatigue cracks” and indications of “overstress” on the pylon that supported the left engine.

The cracks were identified in the aft mount of the left pylon, the structure that connects the engine to the wing.

The report also stated that the bearing used to secure that connection had fractured.

The NTSB noted that there were no signs of pre-existing fractures or deformation on other components that attach the engine to the wing.

The aircraft involved in the incident was manufactured in 1991 and had undergone recent maintenance before the flight.

Investigators said takeoff for UPS Flight 2976 was routine until the final moments, when the engine failure occurred.

The aircraft did not climb higher than 30 feet before it descended and struck a UPS warehouse and recycling facility located just south of the airport.

The preliminary findings indicate similarities to the 1979 crash of an American Airlines flight in Chicago, in which the left engine also separated during takeoff.

That incident resulted in 273 fatalities and remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in U.S. history.

The NTSB’s investigation into the November crash is ongoing. Officials recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the site and are analyzing both devices.

Investigators are also reviewing the maintenance history of the 34-year-old cargo aircraft, including repairs completed in Texas in the weeks leading up to the crash.


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