Independence Air Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Dulles, Va. -- Low-fare carrier Independence Air yesterday filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court and said it will try to sell all or part of itself within two months.

Launched less than 18 months ago, the airline said it will continue to operate its current schedule of about 220 daily flights to 36 destinations.

"We have concluded that a court-supervised restructuring will allow us to complete our cost-savings initiatives while seeking outside investors or purchasers, and represents the best solution for Independence Air," Kerry Skeen, chief executive of Independence parent FLYi, Inc., said yesterday.

The company filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. It listed assets of about $378 million and liabilities of about $455 million as of Sept. 30.

November 9, 2005

Suicide Bombers Attack Three Jordanian Hotels

Amman, Jordan -- At least 57 people were killed today and about 110 wounded when suicide bombers walked into three hotels here and blew themselves up in a coordinated attack, according to news reports.

The three hotels attacked were the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn. The first attack was reported just before 9 p.m. in the lobby of the 316-room Grand Hyatt. The other two attacks occurred a few minutes later.

The attacker at the Radisson reportedly detonated the bomb in a ballroom where about 300 people were celebrating a wedding, killing at least five people and wounding at least 20 others.

The hotels are popular with Americans and Europeans, many of whom travel to and from Iraq on business, as well as vacationing Israelis.

The attacks are characteristic of Al-Qaida operations, in which suicide bombers target high-profile Western targets, although it is unknown at this time who is responsible. The police have reportedly detained several people.