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Deputies and first responders in Texas responded to a small plane crash Friday. (Credit: KJTV)

Investigators said Friday a former Obama-era official traveling on a corporate jet was fatally injured after pilots disconnected a system used to stabilize the aircraft, causing it to abruptly pitch up.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the pilots were responding to several warnings in the cockpit of the Bombardier jet that diverted to a Connecticut airport March 3. They followed a checklist and turned off a switch that "trims" or adjusts the stabilizer, a control panel on the planes tail.

The plane turned nose-up at several times the force of gravity, then pointed lower before again turning upward before pilots could regain control, the report said.

BOMBARDIER BUSINESS JET PASSENGER KILLED BY TURBULENCE IDENTIFIED

A Bombardier Challenger 300 parked at an airport. (Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Pilots told investigators they did not encounter turbulence as the NTSB had suggested in a preliminary assessment the day after the incident.

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration instructed pilots flying the same model of Bombardier aircraft to take extra preflight measures after trim problems had been reported. Trim problems can be responsible for buffeting or altitude changes.

Bombardier, the jet's Canadian manufacturer, said it is cooperating with federal investigators and has launched a probe of its own. It told The Associated Press it stands by its aircraft.

"Bombardier is deeply saddened by this tragic event," the company said in a statement to FOX Business. "We extend our sincerest sympathies to all those affected by this accident."

The Challenger 300 plane, operated by Missouri-based Conexon LLC, was traveling from Keene, New Hampshire, to Leesburg, Virginia, before diverting to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. Shortly after the in-flight incident, the crew was alerted to the medical emergency, and the pilot did not reengage the autopilot for the remainder of the flight.

Dana J. Hyde was 55 years old when she succumbed to her injuries at a Hartford, Connecticut, hospital. (Millennium Challenge Corporation / Fox News)

The passenger who died, Dana Hyde, 55, was a prominent attorney who worked in both the Obama and Clinton administrations and served as counsel to the 9/11 Commission, according to her 2018 biography. Hyde was also a former CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. government foreign aid agency.

It was unclear if Hyde was belted in her seat or up and about in the cabin of the jet. She succumbed to her injuries later in the day at a Hartford, Connecticut, hospital.

The pilots aborted the initial takeoff because a plastic cover was not removed from a pitot tube, which determines airspeed, and they took off with a rudder limiter fault alert on.

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Another warning indicated autopilot stabilizer trim failure. The plane abruptly pitched upward as the pilots moved the stabilizer trim switch from primary to off while working through procedures on a checklist, the report said.

Dana Hyde, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, participates in the Ghana Compact signing ceremony during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the State Department in Washington Aug. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File / AP Newsroom)

"As soon as the switch position was moved, the airplane abruptly pitched up," the report said. "The [pilot] reported that his left hand was on the flight controls and his right hand was guarding the right side of the flight controls. He immediately with both hands regained control of the airplane in what he estimated to be a few seconds after the airplanes pitch oscillated up and down.

"During the oscillations, the [pilot] instructed the [second-in-charge] to move the stabilizer trim switch back to the primary position, which the [second-in-charge] accomplished."

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The pilot in command logged 5,000 total hours and 88 hours in the Challenger 300. The second-in-command pilot accumulated 8,000 hours of total flight hours and 78 hours in the Challenger 300. Both held ratings needed to fly for an airline and only recently received their type rating in this type of Bombardier jet.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former Obama official died after pilot of Bombardier jet flipped switch, plane 'abruptly pitched up' - Fox Business

Former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle met with prime minister Anthony Albanese to talk about the global economy before the pair toured Sydney.

Albanese said he and Obama had a "very positive meeting" where they discussed the invasion of Ukraine and the global supply constraints.

"I had a very positive meeting with President Obama this morning in Sydney, talking about the global economy and what was occurring," Albanese said.

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"The Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the supply side constraints when it comes to the pandemic, have meant that there is upward pressure on energy prices."

Obama and his wife flew into Sydney on a private jet last night and were seen at disembarking at 7.30pm yesterday before being quickly moved by security into a hire car.

The pair attended Kirribilli house to meet with Albanese where locals were happy to see them.

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"We were just trying to get home for a cup of coffee when we were stopped by the federal police because we had a vistor in town," one local said.

"I'd invited the lad over for some Anzac biscuits but he'd given me the go-by.

"Good to see the man here, he's a bit of a hero I suppose nationwide and internationally."

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The Obamas then headed to Collins Flat Beach before checking out Balmoral where they had lunch at Bather's Pavilion.

The Obamas are in the country for Barack's "An Evening with President Obama" tour.

Aussies with tickets to the hotly-anticipated event have forked out almost $200 for a standard seat, with tickets priced at a whopping $895 for a "platinum" spot.

Barack's first event will be held in Sydney on Tuesday before the former president jets off to Melbourne for a second night.

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It's a rare public appearance for the couple, who have seldom been photographed together in recent months.

The former politician served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

Stunning scenery from the least visited countries in the world

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Barack and Michelle Obama tour Sydney ahead of speaking tour - 9News

Key Points

So what are he and his wife Michelle here for this time?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Barack Obama at Kirribilli House on Monday. Source: Supplied / Office of the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese MP

An evening with Barack Obama

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop will moderate the discussions in Sydney on Tuesday night and in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Barack Obama (right) and his wife Michelle. Source: AAP, AP / Charles Rex Arbogast

Heavy security for Barack Obama in Australia

The theatre in Sydney's Darling Harbour which is hosting Mr Obama's event on Tuesday night has warned patrons to arrive early due to increased security measures being in place.

Life after presidency

Along with his wife, he heads up the Obama Foundation, which operates a variety of programs.

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Here's why former US president Barack Obama is in Australia - SBS News

By Danyal Hussain For Daily Mail Australia and NCA NewsWire 11:57 28 Mar 2023, updated 14:02 28 Mar 2023

Barack Obama revealed he once had a 'crush' on a Qantas flight attendant - as he started his lucrative Australia speaking tour on Tuesday night.

The ex-US President sat down with former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop in Sydney, with people paying hundreds to hear him discuss leadership and other issues, including China.

The sold out audience was kept waiting for more than 20 minutes for the event to start, after it was delayed because 'massive' queues were still trying to get into the International Convention Centre at the 7.45pm start time.

Despite the delay, Obama still received a standing ovation from the crowd after taking to the stage to the sounds of Stevie Wonder.

The ovation was a stark contrast to earlier on Tuesday, when Sydney residents slammed the ex-President for the huge 'nuisance' motorcade that carried him and his wife Michelle through the city.

At the event, Obama opened his talk by hailing Sydney and describing his love for the city.

'Sydney is fantastic, we have had such a wonderful time here, it's one of the world's great cities.'

Discussing his first time visiting as an eight-year-old, he added: 'I was travelling from Indonesia where my mother was living at the time, to my grandparents in Hawaii and I was travelling unaccompanied,' he said, describing his first trip.

'We had to stop for a day for the connecting flight and Qantas stewardess took very good care of me.'

'I had a big crush on her,' he said.

'I felt very sophisticated, very worldly, travelling on my own and so that's my first association with Sydney.

'And it just keeps getting better every time I come back.'

The event was hosted by Ms Bishop and the 66-year-oldspared no expense, turning up in a Carla Zampatti cream suit valued at a total of $1848.

As well as the sell-out crowd, around 500 people tuned into the talk online, with tickets to buy a link to the stream selling for around $400.

Those who wished to hear Obama speak had to dig deep into their pockets for a ticket, with a standard fare coming in at just under $200.

The event's 'platinum package', which comes in at a whopping $895 and features a welcome cocktail at a one-hour drinks function, a commemorative lanyard and a signed copy of Mr Obama's book, has now sold out.

With around 9000 people to attend the Sydney 'Evening With President Obama' and 10,500 to see him in Melbourne, the former president could be up for a payday upwards of $1 million.

It is the first stage of a whistle-stop tour that will also see the former president speak in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Wiradjuri woman Yvonne Weldon offered a welcome to country, before Mr Obama and Ms Bishop walked onto the stage to loud applause.

The former President was quizzed by Ms Bishop on the rise of China, he complimented President Xi Jinping on his 'forceful and confident' demeanour.

Mr Obama said China began to change 'after I left office', with the country beginning to crack down on liberties inside its borders after President Xi sensed that the next US leader - Donald Trump - would be more lenient.

'With my successor coming in, I think he saw an opportunity because the US president didn't seem to care that much about a rules-based international system,' Mr Obama said.

'And so as a consequence, I think China's attitude as well, we can take advantage of what appears to be a vacuum internationally on a lot of these issues.'

He said that the relationship between the US and China is 'significantly strained' and that tensions aren't 'going to go away anytime soon'.

'Nor should they, because I think there are some fundamental differences in terms of how we operate when you look at the South China Sea,' he told the crowd.

'The fact of the matter is, is that if China starts claiming what had previously been international waters that is going to make life difficult for its neighbours, and for everyone, long term, I don't even think it's going to be good for China.'

Obama and his wife Michelle touched down in Australia on Sunday night ahead of his speaking tour and have since visited several locations, including the Opera House and Balmoral Beach.

The ex-President was spotted enjoying an afternoon coffee on Tuesday, while Michelle took to Mosman Bay on a yacht, cruising around the harbour for about an hour.

However, the couple have come under fire from locals who have blasted the 'nuisance' motorcade that is transporting them through the city.

Some have asked for information on who is paying for the convoy of black four-wheel-drives, while others have questioned why Obama has such a large security presence for an ex-President.

However, the lucrative nature of the event has seen him come under some criticism from some Sydney residents unhappy with his motorcade.

Taking to social media, one critic asked: 'Barack Obama is running around the country with a 20 vehicle motorcade.

'Why is the NSW taxpayer bearing the cost of his detail? For goodness sake, he's going to make $1 million or more on his speaking tour, so HE should pay for it.'

Another wrote: 'One can only hope Barrack Obama and wife Michael waved to the homeless as he swept past in his taxpayer funded motorcade.'

While a third said: 'Flew in on a private jet. Uses this many gas guzzlers & our police force because he's 'oh so important'.

'Lectures us on climate change.'

Obama was welcomed by swarms of fans on Tuesday morning as he stepped out of the Four Seasons Hotel.

The security presence around the former President was massive on Tuesday, with throngs of police officers lining the streets outside of the Four Seasons.

President Obama's last official visit to Australia was for the G20 Summit in Brisbane in November 2014 - and prior to disembarking a private jet with Michelle on Sunday, had not been seen in public with his wife since last year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted Obama at Kirribilli House on Monday morning.

The presidential pair were all smiles as they posed together for the camera, taking in the view by the harbour while holding black umbrellas amidst a subtle drizzle.

'Honoured to welcome President @barackobama to Sydney,' Albanese captioned the post to Twitter, which has since been viewed more than one million times.

President Obama's last official visit to Australia was for the G20 Summit in Brisbane in November 2014 - and prior to disembarking a private jet with Michelle on Sunday, had not been seen in public with his wife since last year.

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Barack Obama reveals how he once had a 'crush' on a Qantas flight attendant - Daily Mail

By Padraig Collins and Sarah Liversidge For Daily Mail Australia 23:41 27 Mar 2023, updated 01:21 28 Mar 2023

Ex-US President Barack Obama has been praised by a senior former Australian politician for his diet discipline - as Mr Obama and wife Michelle share a ritzy lunch in Sydney.

Bob Carr, the country's former foreign minister, said on Tuesday that Mr Obama, who is in Australia on an $AUD350-per-head (USD$230) speaking tour, is extremely careful with sugar and fat.

Mr Carr said that a meal during a G20 meeting in St Petersburg, Russia in 2013, he 'noticed out of the corner of my eye as this working banquet went on, (Mr Obama) carefully separated on his plate anything that would have had sugar or fat in it.

'And I thought this guy must have had a protein shake earlier in the day to take the edge off his hunger.'

Mr Carr, who is also a former premier of the state of New South Wales, continued: 'I thought ... this guy has got admirable discipline.

'He is going to leave office with the same waist size he had when he entered.'

The former First Couple were photographed outside fine-dining restaurant Bathers' Pavilion in Balmoral on the city's north shore, after arriving in the city on Sunday night by private jet.

Probably famished from their long flight, the couple enjoyed a seafood lunch at the waterside venue, where sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of Sydney Harbor.

While being a historic, heritage listed site hailed for its hospitality, the restaurant is not exactly cheap - with a plate of smashed avocado costing $22, and mains like grilled prawns and fish pie setting you back around $45.

Upon leaving, Mrs Obama appeared somewhat unsatisfied - perhaps still tired from the long haul flight.

Video snapped outside the eatery - where a six-course degustation menu including pink snapper sashimi and handmade fettucine costs $300 - show the couple greeting dozens who descended in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pair.

Despite not making a public appearance with his wife in more than five months, Barack, 61, looked ever the statesman, waving at a crowd clearly overcome with Obamamania.

Michelle also greeted revelers following a recent spate of interviewers promoting her new book and podcast in which she revealed previously difficulties of the pair's marriage during Obama's time in office.

A witness said the couple had dined in an intimate, beachside room at the Pavilion, electing to not enjoy its famed view with the curtains closed to the outside world.

Since forfeiting their rights to Air Force One, the pair has been known to frequently fly private, despite both stating that no challenge currently poses a greater threat to the world than climate change.

Mr Carr also commended Mr Obama for his political acumen.

'He was governed by the principles, as he put it, of "no more stupid stuff" and that meant nothing as adventurous as occupying Afghanistan or invading Iraq, which had happened under his predecessor, George W Bush.

'That made it easy to deal with him because he was coolheaded and not impetuous about foreign policy,' Mr Carr said.

Former President Barack Obama was legendary for his healthy diet regime while in the White House - which even bars coffee.

Although not a complete ban, his personal aide Reggie Love has revealed the 61-year-old much prefers orange juice, green tea or just water over a latte.

He stocks up on energy at breakfast with a big pile of scrambled eggs - sometimes as many as six at one sitting - with some toast and lightly fried potatoes. Other days he may simply have some fruit, or a bowl of porridge.

Salads with lean chicken are a top choice for the presidential lunch with wife Michelle - and the couple planted the first vegetable garden at the White House in 60 years during his term in office.

More than 50 different varieties of veggies and fruit were planted at the suggestion of kitchen staff, including superfoods like kale, spinach, lettuces, berries and tomatillos.

In the evening, a family favourite is their prized chilli con carne made from their own unique recipe which includes red wine vinegar, turmeric and basil.

To wash it down, he skips all fizzy soft drinks and grabs a beer - possibly even brewed by himself. He became the first President in history to make home brew in the White House with his chef Sam Kass.

In between meals, he'll power up on the road with a handful of trail mix, almonds and pistachios and the occasional guilty treat ofchocolate roasted peanut protein bars. He counters that though by also snacking on broccoli and spinach.

LOVES

Water, vegetables, nuts, simple nourishing food

HATES

Soft drinks, salt and vinegar crisps, mayonnaise, ketchup, fatty British food - and asparagus

Read more here:
Bob Carr sheds light on Barack Obama's unique eating habits - Daily Mail