The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "planes" ...
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HBO Real Sports: Hockey's Darkest Day
In 2011 a plane carrying a Russian hockey team crashed shortly after takeoff--the deadliest accident in the history of professional sports. A five-month Real Sports investigation uncovered massive safety problems in the Russian hockey league. The league spent millions on player salaries but "a few bucks" on everything else--including travel. The plane that crashed was operated by a cheap, third-rate company that had been banned from flying to Europe because they had been cited so many times for major safety violations. The crew of the plane hadn't even completed their training. Our investigation showed that the lack of safety in the world’s second best hockey league—called the KHL—often extends to the ice where KHL team doctors use IV’s and drugs to get their players to perform better on the ice. One young star died after receiving an injection of banned drugs from team doctors. When it came to travel, the lack of safe conditions was nearly universal. Practically every team flew on a Soviet-era jet—jets that make up 3% of the world’s fleet but account for 42% of the world’s accidents. These jets are in such poor condition that most Russian airlines wont use them. Yet even after the crash the KHL continued to use these planes, a fact they initially denied. Shortly after we interviewed the KHL Vice President, the league changed its rules. Now teams fly strictly on modern equipment.
Tags: Russia; Russian hockey team; plane crash; the KHL;
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Blackwater 61
The story investigates the plane crash that killed six people in Afghanistan, including three American servicemen. The flight should have been routine, even insignificant. A cockpit voice recorded revealed incompetence among the pilots involved.
Tags: plane crash; soldier; Afghanistan; Blackwater; Blackwater 61
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"Brian Ross Investigates: CIA Shoot-Down - 10 years later
Ten years after the CIA "mistakenly ordered the shoot down" of a plane full of U.S. missionaries, Brian Ross and his team exposed a "major" cover-up by the CIA. The order to shoot down the plane resulted in the death of a mother and her young child and injured three other people. In an attempt to hide their mistakes, the CIA "misled the federal government and the public."
Tags: CIA; missionary; Peru; War on Drugs
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"The Plane Truth"
Sun-Sentinel reporters found Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp were using government planes for personal travel. In two years, more than half the trips taken were between the lieutenant governor's home and the capital. In two years, Kottkamp "billed taxpayers" nearly $425,000 to finance the flights.
Tags: Charlie Crist; Jeff Kottkamp; Gov. Crist; Frank Brogan
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"33 Minutes to 34 Right"
When Continental Flight 1404 crashed during its landing at the Denver International Airport, it took ambulance responses teams 33 minutes to reach the crash site. KMGH-TV's investigation reveals critical problems with Denver's ambulance system and dispatch center, as well as with the city's overall preparedness for emergency response.
Tags: Denver International Airport; Continental Flight 1404; Denver Health Medical Center; plane crash
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Under the Radar
Every year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been given a grant, which then will be distributed to airports. The question is where does this money come from and how is it spent? The answer to the first half is the commercial-airline passengers, who pay the ticket taxes which in turn becomes the grant. The second part of the question is answered by not the improvement of airline travel, but rather the private pilots who fly corporate and recreational planes.
Tags: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal fund; grants; airports; planes; airlines; commercial-airline; passengers; ticket taxes; pilots; private airplanes; flights
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The Man Who Conned The Pentagon
Dennis Montgomery, a self-proclaimed scientist, believed he could decrypt secret communication between Al Qaeda. He had been doing this for years and convincing the US national security establishments of this information. His bizarre intelligence caused plane cancellations, orange alerts, and chaos throughout America. Further, this story reveals specific contracts and a number of events caused by certain people.
Tags: War on Terror; Dennis Montgomery; Al Qaeda; Terrorists attacks; US Intelligence agencies; US Government; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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Bird strike rates at U.S. Airports
Airplanes landing and taking off at airports in Sacramento, Kansas City, and Denver have been the most liekly in the nation to hit birds , according to an NPR analysis of new data from the Federal Aviation Administration. Wildlife researchers believe they can alert birds to oncoming planes if they can come up with an appropriate visual signal, such as pulsating LED lights currently being tested.
Tags: aviation; bird strike; FAA; Federal Aviation Administration; aviation safety; wildlife; wildlife strikes;
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Airport Security
"On several occasion, Fox2 discovered open and unattended perimeter gates that appeared to lead to the runways of Lambert St. Louis International Airport. When we alerted security, the Airport Police Chief said it was not a problem because of 'layered security.' Several months later, a homeless man reportedly walked through one of those gates and boarded an airplane. An airline employee found him sleeping on a plane."
Tags: security breach; airline; public parking; Paul Mason;
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Flights to Nowhere
"Essential Air Services" paid airlines millions to fly near-empty planes to cities that most people have never heard of. Thirty years after the program began it has grown into a $127 million a year subsidy. It was found that the government pays for 2.4 million empty seats to be flown a year.
Tags: airplane; fly route; tourist; travel; flight; airfare;