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United Airlines flight experiences 5-hour delay after man leaves plane through emergency exit
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A United Airlines flight couldnt take off for five hours after a man aboard the flight escaped through the emergency exit. - photo by Herb Scribner
A United Airlines flight was delayed five hours after a man disembarked the plane through the emergency exit while it was parked at the gate, according to NBC 4 New York.

While Flight 1640 was parked at the gate at Newark Liberty International Airport, a passenger opened the emergency exit door and departed the aircraft using the slide, United Airlines spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin said, according to NBC 4 New York.

United Airlines Flight 1640 was bound from New Jersey to Tampa. The passenger, who was later identified as Troy Fattun, shouted that he was on the wrong plane and took matters into his own hands. The Port Authority later said the passenger's ticket "showed he was on the right plane," according to the New York Post.

Fattun was arrested and the charges are pending.

Passenger John OMalley said all passengers left the flight safely after the incident.

The flight eventually took off at 12:09 a.m. and landed in Tampa around 3 a.m. on Monday, according to Flightaware.com, which tracks flight departures, arrivals and delays.

A separate United Airlines flight from Newark suffered from a malfunction scare on Sunday night, too, according to Fox News. The flight experienced a blown tire during takeoff.

Passengers told Fox-12 Oregon that they heard a loud bang when they took off, but no one panicked.

The flight later landed safely in Oregon. Both Port of Portland and Portland Fire Officials remained on site in case the plane needed help landing.

The plane was later towed to the gate, according to KATU-2.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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