'North Pole' flight
delights children
The Associated Press
DENVER -- Dozens of kids cheered on a festively decked-out plane in Denver on Saturday when the pilot announced their destination for the day: the North Pole.
More than 100 children, some of whom have serious health issues, were then taken on a roughly 45-minute flight near the city before landing back at Denver International Airport and being towed to a hangar transformed by United Airlines employees and volunteers into the North Pole.
Streamers, paper snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. Flight personnel paraded a bubble machine up and down the aisle to shouts of "bubbles, bubbles, bubbles" from the excited children. Holiday songs played in the background, and there were apple snacks and juice for all.
Before landing, the children were asked to close their window shades. When they opened, the kids were met by the sight of a waiting Santa and Mrs. Claus and a host of elves. An ice cream truck was on hand, and the children received gifts.
Bryce Bosley, 6, was tickled to see Santa and all the North Pole had to offer.
"The North Pole is fun because there's games, food, and all the activities are really fun," he said.
United Capt. Bob Zimmermann, the holiday flight's pilot, was struck by the joy and wonder of the youngsters.
"Throughout the year, I'll think of the fantasy flight," he said. "When life seems to get tough, or I want to complain about something, I remember these kids and the joy and the love and what this feels like, and it just keeps my life in perspective."
United partnered with Make-A-Wish Colorado, Girls Inc., Children's Hospital Colorado and Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association to invite Denver-area kids ages 3 to 10 years on the flight.
For more than 30 years, United has staged its annual "fantasy flights" to fictional North Poles at airports around the world to bring holiday cheer to children and their families.
This year they took place in 13 cities, starting Dec. 5 in Honolulu and then in Washington, Houston, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Tokyo, Cleveland and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and on the island of Guam. Newark, N.J., also had a flight Saturday.
Police investigate
3 Ohio homicides
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Authorities in Ohio launched a homicide investigation after the bodies of three women were found Saturday inside a home in Columbus.
Officers were called to a home on the city's south side just before 4 p.m. Saturday for what a 911 caller described as a medical event. Police found three women who were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua.
He said the killings were considered homicides, but he did not have further details, including what led up to the killings.
"Unfortunately, this is a very complex scene with the amount of victims that we have," he told reporters Saturday. "It's going to take a little bit longer to make sure that we're very careful in going through the scene meticulously so we do not miss any key piece of evidence."
He said investigators were interviewing witnesses and looking for video evidence.
Fuqua said Saturday that no suspects had been taken into custody.
Columbus police did not immediately have an update on the homicides on Sunday.
Boys and girls wave as they disembark from the train on their way to the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Flight attendant Gustavo Oliveira, center, juggles bubbles to entertain passengers during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Dressed in a Grinch costume, a flight attendant entertains passengers during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
United Airlines employees pose for a photograph as they wait for participants during the company's annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Flight attendant Dre Zulaica, right, of San Francisco, greets 7-year-old Greyson Thomas, of Denver, during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A United Airlines employee dons holiday spectacles during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Flight attendant Kaori Kiguradze welcomes participants during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Flight attendant Dre Zulaica, front left, of San Francisco, greets a participant and her guardian during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Twelve-year-old Adan Cervantes, center, of Denver, waves as he disembarks from a plane during the United Airlines annual "fantasy flight" to a fictional North Pole at Denver International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)