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And other news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: a couple tied the knot on a Southwest flight as fellow passengers served as witnesses; a flight from India to Paris was redirected to the remote country of Turkmenistan, leaving passengers stranded; and parts of Florida experienced snowfall.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
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Air India Plane Engine Sucks up Cargo Container
In a bizarre incident, an Air India plane’s engine ingested a cargo container at Delhi airport. The plane was taxiing at the international airport with around 240 passengers on board. No one was hurt.
The incident happened on Jan. 15 after the flight, bound for New York, returned shortly after takeoff due to the closure of Iranian airspace, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on X. There was limited visibility, but the jet landed safely and was taxiing when a cargo container, which had fallen from a ground vehicle, was sucked into the right engine.
The aircraft was towed and parked safely. The DGCA has launched an investigation into the incident.
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Couple Marries on a Southwest Flight
Did you know you could get married 30,000 feet in the air? A couple, identified as Tina and Roger, walked down the (plane) aisle to get married on a Southwest flight, and their ceremony is going viral on TikTok.
The video, uploaded by Katrina Badowski, has been viewed 11.3 million times. In the 3-minute clip, a flight attendant makes an announcement asking other passengers to stay seated as a courtesy to the couple and to use the lavatory in the back. The wedding is officiated, and the couple returns to their seats amid cheers. The bride even throws her bouquet to passengers, and a guest book is shared with everyone.
People shared humorous comments about being “hostages” during the ceremony. Badowski also replied to a user, adding, “The ceremony was pretty long I actually cut a lot for TikTok purposes.”
Some also applauded the couple’s ingenuity: “They had over 100 guests, a free catering service, everyone paid their own transportation, they were all happy for them, and they got to start their honeymoon immediately.”
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Passengers Traveling to Paris Get Stranded in Turkmenistan
Passengers on a 10-hour direct flight from Bengaluru, India, to Paris, France, faced multiple hurdles before reaching their destinations nearly two days late. The Air France journey was first delayed 21 hours due to technical issues. When it finally took off, it was diverted mid-flight to Turkmenistan, a country in Central Asia, due to an emergency.
It’s not known how many passengers were on the flight, but news reports suggest hundreds were stranded in the capital city of Ashgabat. While details are unclear about how travelers spent their time in the country, which has strict visa restrictions, many Indian passengers were hosted by the Indian consulate. Another Air France jet eventually arrived, taking off 22 hours after the first flight landed. Fliers arrived in Paris 43 hours later than expected.
Turkmenistan is one of the least-visited countries in the world. Human Rights Watch has cited its poor human rights record due to its authoritarian government. However, the U.S. places it under a Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions travel advisory.
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85 Passengers Fall Ill Aboard Holland America Cruise
Nearly 100 people—85 passengers and nine crew members—fell ill aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the cause of the illness was norovirus, a common stomach bug on cruises that results in vomiting and diarrhea.
The cruise ship left Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28, 2025, for a 12-day roundtrip to the Caribbean with stops in Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, and Jamaica. It had 2,593 people on board.
The CDC noted that after the outbreak, the crew isolated sick passengers and increased cleaning and disinfection on the ship. Meanwhile, the cruise company told USA Today that the “cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved.” It also said, “The health of our guests and crew is a top priority, and consistent with CDC protocols, we conducted a comprehensive sanitisation of the ship when the cruise ended Friday in Fort Lauderdale.”
Norovirus is highly contagious but most people recover within two to three days. Cruise lines are required to inform the CDC if an outbreak occurs on board. In 2025 there were 23 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruises, and Holland America’s Rotterdam had two other norovirus outbreaks last year.
Related: My First Cruise: What I Learned About Hidden Costs, Tipping, and Lame Excursions
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Rare Snow Surprises Florida Again This Year
For a second consecutive year, parts of Florida experienced snowfall. The weekend was frosty in the Sunshine State, and white flakes briefly covered fields and treetops in the Florida Panhandle on Sunday. Nearly a year ago, Florida received up to eight inches of snow, breaking a 130-year-old snowfall record. The snow did not linger this time, but residents still shared their excitement on social media.