An Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard crashed Wednesday near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, killing 38 people and leaving 29 survivors, a Kazakh official said.

Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev disclosed the figures while meeting with Azerbaijani officials, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.

The Embraer 190 was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing 1.8 miles from Aktau, Azerbaijan Airlines said.

Speaking at a news conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but added that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course.

The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing, he said.

Russias civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said preliminary information showed the pilots diverting to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board.

According to Kazakh officials, those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. Azerbaijans prosecutor generals office previously said that 32 of the 67 people on board had survived the crash, but told journalists that the number wasnt final.

The Associated Press could not immediately reconcile the difference between the numbers of survivors given by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijani officials.

RELATED STORY | Are Americans' thoughts on plane safety swayed by recent incidents?

Mobile phone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Other footage showed part of its fuselage ripped away from the wings and the rest of the aircraft, lying upside in the grass. The footage corresponded to the planes colors and its registration number.

Some of the videos posted on social media showed survivors dragging fellow passengers away from the wreckage.

Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24.com showed the aircraft making what appeared to be a figure eight once nearing the airport in Aktau and its altitude moving up and down substantially over the last minutes of the flight before impacting the ground.

FlightRadar24 separately said in an online post that the aircraft had faced strong GPS jamming, which made the aircraft transmit bad ADS-B data, referring to the information that allows flight-tracking websites to follow planes in flight. Russia has been blamed in the past for jamming GPS transmissions in the wider region.

Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black. It also said that it would suspend flights between Baku and Grozny, as well as between Baku and the city of Makhachkala in Russia's North Caucasus, until its investigation into the crash has been concluded.

Azerbaijans state news agency, Azertac, said that an official delegation of Azerbaijans emergency situations minister, the deputy general prosecutor and the vice president of Azerbaijan Airlines were sent to Aktau to conduct an on-site investigation."

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Aliyev, who was traveling to Russia, returned to Azerbaijan on hearing news of the crash, the presidents press service said. He was due to attend an informal meeting of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a bloc of former Soviet countries founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in St. Petersburg.

Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a statement on social media. It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured, he wrote.

He also signed a decree declaring Dec. 26 a day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Aliyev on the phone and expressed his condolences, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Speaking at the CIS meeting in St. Petersburg, Putin also said that Russia's Emergency Ministry sent a plane with equipment and medical workers to Kazakhstan to assist with the aftermath of the crash.

Kazakhstani, Azerbaijani and Russian authorities said they were investigating the crash. Embraer told The Associated Press in a statement that the company is ready to assist all relevant authorities."

A Christmas Day fire injured a mother of three and dampened the holiday spirit for several families in Southfield.

The early Wednesday morning fire happened at the Radius apartment and townhomes near 10 Mile Road and Telegraph Road.

It left five units unlivable and destroyed many of those families' belongings, according to the fire chief. Now, they're spending the holiday figuring out their next move.

Its nerve-racking. Its scary, Paige Robinson, a displaced resident, said.

Instead of sounds of joy on Christmas morning, Robinson said she woke up to the sound of her mother screaming about a fire.

We tried to bang on everyone else's (door) in the small complex, in our duplex you can call it, to make sure everybody gets out," she recalled.

Jasmine Boney said, I never would have thought that we would be impacted by a Christmas fire at all, let alone a fire for Christmas morning.

She said her sister, Tiffany Mcrae-Alston, was injured after an LED lamp next to her bed exploded. However, it's unclear what happened before that. Boney said neighbors reported hearing a loud boom in what they described as a chain reaction of blasts.

"She said that her furnace had blew, and my mom said that she had smoke coming off of her skin," Robinson said.

Boney said, "She has second-degree burns on her chest and on her leg. Yeah, so she's OK right now."

That's the good news and the fact she said her sister was the only person in her family home at the time. However, like Robinson's family, the Alstons lost their belongings.

You know, when you work hard to buy gifts for your kids and you really wanna see that joy, you just get woken up with terror," Boney said.

Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee confirmed everyone got out, but it's unclear at this point how the fire started and where it originated.

Were working with the management company now as far as investigation, cause and determination of the fire as well as what were gonna to do help the residents, especially on a day like Christmas, he explained.

The chief said firefighters managed to salvage some Christmas gifts in various units.

He said there are two victims, including Mcrae-Alston, who was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The other victim was treated and released at the scene.

A Gofundme has been started for Alston that can be found here.

Boney said, "But even though its unfortunate, we are honestly very, very grateful. Like, the whole time on our way here, I was like just thank God, thank God, thank God. There are no casualties.

Robinson said, I dont know where we go next or what we do, but well fight to get through it.

This is the season of giving and many people across metro Detroit spent Christmas Day giving back to others.

I love to help in any way I can, Marni Millard of Berkely said.

Millard volunteered at the Detroit-based nonprofit Cass Community Social Services on Wednesday. She was a part of a group that came out for Mitzvah Day, which is a volunteer project created by the Jewish Federation of Detroit.

Being Jewish, you dont always get to wake up to the presents and Santa coming to your house, so this is a good way for us to give back and be a part of the community, Millard said.

Cass Community Social Services helps those experiencing homelessness with housing, food and more.

We house over 400 people a night in emergency and permanent housing, said Faith Fowler, executive director of Cass Community Social Services.

She says the volunteers that help out on Christmas allow for her staff to take the day off.

They work hard every day pumping out about 700,000 meals a year so to have one day off to spend with their family or whatever their doing we appreciate having the help, Fowler said.

Related video: DAAA and DTE deliver 5,000 meals to seniors, adults with disabilities on Christmas Day DAAA and DTE deliver 5,000 meals to seniors, adults with disabilities on Christmas Day

Giving back to those in need was also top of mind for music producer and Detroit native Filthy Rockwell.

He brought gifts to kids at Peggys Place, which is a part of Detroits Coalition of Temporary Shelter. 

This is our sixth year doing it, so we're back again spreading some love and peace and positivity to the community, Rockwell said.

He said seeing the kids smiling opening presents is a great feeling.

It feels great This is the dream. Its always what I imagined it would be like, Rockwell said.

A man was arrested in connection to another mans death in Madison Heights on Tuesday.

Police and fire crews said they responded to the 26000 block of Dequindre Road south of E. 11 Mile Road around 7:40 p.m.

When they arrived, they found a man unresponsive on the ground.

The victim has been identified as 60-year-old Robert Cavanaugh of Madison Heights. Investigators said he suffered from blunt force trauma.

First responders provided aid to the victim and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers investigated at the scene, which they said was suspicious. They found and arrested a man they believe was involved in Cavanaughs death.

Police said theres no threat to the community.

The Oakland County Medical Examiners Office will determine the victims cause of death and send potential charges to the prosecutors office.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family during this tragic time, the Madison Heights Police Department said in a statement.

A man was arrested after a vehicle crashed into a home in Warren on Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened around 1:20 p.m. near Sutherland Avenue and Bradner Drive.

Detail about what led up to the crash have not yet been released, however, police say the driver involved took off from the scene.

The driver, who police said is a man, was tracked down and found at a home nearby. He was arrested without incident, police said.

Additional details about the driver have not been released.

Police say charges in the crash are pending.

Hundreds of volunteers packed thousands of meals for seniors and adults with disabilities on Christmas Day in Detroit.

The annual event, hosted by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and the DTE Energy Foundation, on Wednesday took place at Trio Community Meals.

Five thousands hot meals were served to people in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes. 

Year-round, we serve the needs of seniors and adults with disabilities, and we work hard to make sure none of them go without a hot home-cooked meal on Christmas, " says Ronald Taylor, president and CEO of DAAA, said in a statement. "Many live alone, and a meal delivered by a caring, smiling volunteer can brighten the spirits of many who might otherwise be alone most of the day.

Most Americans say they enjoy getting gift cards, but sometimes they go to waste.

According to a 2023 report by Credit Summit, nearly $21 billion in gift cards go unspent. Thats as 60% of Americans surveyed said they have at least one unused gift card.

The National Retail Federation said it expected Americans to spend $28.6 billion on holiday gift cards this year. The National Retail Federation said shoppers planned to purchase between three to four gift cards and spend an average of $51.18 per card ($170.48 per person).

Many Americans surveyed by Credit Summit reported not immediately using gift cards because they want to save them for something special or until they need something in particular. Only 19% say they use their gift cards immediately.

RELATED STORY | Nearly half of parents are going into debt over Christmas gifts

Although it might make sense to wait to use a gift card for a special occasion, experts say that might not be a good idea. With inflation at 2.7%, as prices go up, gift cards lose their value.

Additionally, gift card recipients run the risk of a company going out of business, or of the person losing the card. Store closings are of particular concern in recent months as major chains such as Big Lots and Party City have announced plans to close all locations, and other retailers like CVS and Family Dollar have made significant cuts.

There are many ways the value of them can go to zero, Peter Harms, professor of management at the University of Alabama, said in a release. You can lose the card, misplace it, the target business can stop accepting them or go bankrupt. But even if none of those things happen, the current rampant inflation will eat away its value regardless.

Experts say its OK to sell gift cards rather than letting them go to waste.

My advice, if you receive a gift card, is to treat yourself immediately before you lose the card or forget you have it, Dorothy Kelly, personal finance lecturer at University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, said in a release. If possible, add it to your digital wallet, or your online account with that vendor.

RELATED STORY | Parents of kids who believe in Santa say they're spending more on Christmas

Those two options will make it more likely that you will actually use the entire balance. For givers, I recommend gift cards from well-known retailers that are ubiquitous and have an easy-to-use app which can accept and track electronic gift card balances.

Although gift cards can lose value, 90% of Americans say they enjoy receiving them. Amazon, restaurant and grocery stores are among the most-liked cards.

The main advantage of gift cards is that they are easy to purchase, Steven Meyers, professor of psychology at Roosevelt University, said in a release. They dont require special insights into what the recipient may want or need. They are easy to store and deliver, and it reduces the likelihood that the person would need to return an item that they do not like.

Returns after December 25 are inevitable, but they dont have to be stressful.

Most places even say they dont need a receipt anymore, said shopper Julie Sons.

Around the winter holidays, retailers expect their return rates to climb an extra 17% on average, according to the National Retail Federation, as shoppers return unneeded or unwanted gifts.

There is some good news for consumers though.

RELATED STORY | These 5 reputable sites let you sell gift cards online

A lot of retailers extend their return policies around the holidays, said Samantha Gordon, deals editor for Consumer Reports.

While most chains extend their return windows into January, Gordon said no policy looks the same.

"Target might have a different return window than Best Buy, than Walmart, than Amazon, she said.

If you are planning to make returns, check store websites for their return deadlines for return-eligible items. We did some of the work for you:

Apple Store: January 8  Best Buy: January 14  Old Navy: January 15  Lululemon: January 23  Amazon, Macys, Kohls, and Walmart: January 31 

When making holiday returns, Consumer Reports recommends shoppers:

Bring ID  Dont open boxes or remove tags  Keep all receipts 

If you paid full price, the items now on sale and you don't have a receipt, Gordon said, you might only be able to get the value back for what it's currently selling for.

RELATED STORY | Fake reviews are costing consumers thousands of dollars each year, report says

If you dont like juggling paper receipts, shopper Briana Green has one last tip.

"You can have them email it to you, so thats a really good way to keep up with all your stuff.

That way returns are simple, and you dont waste your money.

The Held family of Monroe county is trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after they lost their home to a furnace fire Friday night.

The fire destroyed the keepsakes, clothing, christmas presents. and the most devestating losses-the lives of their two dogs Bingo and Max three Ferrits Baby, Fluffy and Crush and their cat, Scratchy.

The family told me they were coming back to the home when they smelled what they thought was a bonfire. At first, they were concerned for their neighbors, so they checked on their home. After not noticing any flames from the neighbors, they drove to their house where they saw smoke and flames coming out of the attic.

"We have nowhere to live for Christmas. I mean, we just purchased the house three years ago, so not having it now is like a very big struggle." said Ashley Held.

But despite all the family has lost, Ashley told me they are still trying to give their boys a good Christmas.

Ashley Said the community has stepped up in ways she did not expect, giving her family a soft place to fall in their time of need.

"When this happens to someone, you never you never think that this is going to be you in the future. So to see that we are getting this much support, it just surprises me and amazes me so much that the community is willing to help that much." Ashley said.

If you would like to help this family get back on their feet, you can click here to visit their GoFundMe.

One person has died and two others are hospitalized after what's believed to be a "random" shooting in Oxford on Christmas Eve night.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said it was made aware of the major incident just after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the area of Ray Road and North Oxford Road.

Video of the scene after three people shot in Oxford Scene video: three hospitalized after shooting in Oxford

When deputies arrived on scene, they found three people who had been shot. Those people were transported to the hospital. The next day on Christmas, the sheriff's office said one of the victims died.

The other two victims "should be on the road to physical healing," the sheriff's office said in their update on Wednesday.

Neighbors say they heard at least four gunshots.

Well we were just sitting inside watching a holiday program and we heard four very quick gunshots. I mean, its pretty distinct when you hear gunshots," Tom Binkowski, who lives in the area, said. Its Christmas Eve. What are people thinking?

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says they have the suspect in custody and recovered a gun.

Investigators on Wednesday said they believe the shooting was random. The suspect allegedly was passing through the area and went "on a violent spree at multiple locations."

The suspect is a convicted felon who has multiple prior weapons offenses. He was taken to jail as formal charges are pending.

Binkowski says his wife is shaken up after the Tuesday shooting. The incident took place just steps from Oxford High School where the family lives.

"Anyone who goes through something like that, I think it's always going to be there," Binkowski said. "She's been on the phone with teachers at the school and has been talking about it, seems to help them through it."

Binkowski and other neighbors believe the victims may have been helping the shooter, who was off the road in a vehicle, when the shots rang out.

Full interview with neighbor after triple shooting in Oxford Full interview with neighbor after triple shooting in Oxford

As the holiday season approaches, many families are preparing for Christmas with traditions that go beyond the usual presents under the tree. For some, this time of year marks a heartwarming moment to welcome a furry friend into their home, creating unforgettable memories with a new dog or cat.

This Christmas, the nonprofit organization Friends for Animals is adding an extra layer of joy with a new initiative, "Home for the Holidays." This unique program allows families to adopt a pet before Christmas and have their new companion delivered right to their doorstep on Christmas Eve.

Cory Keller, President and CEO of Friends for Animals, emphasizes the importance of this initiative.

"We still have a lot of animals seeking those forever homes," said Cory. The program aims to encourage adoption during the holiday season, fostering the human-animal bond and spreading Christmas spirit.

One recent adopter, Deanna Plemmons, shared her joy after adopting a cat & naming him Ramen.

"Ramen is now part of our family, and hopefully, we will have her for a long, long time," she said, reflecting on the happiness that a new pet can bring during Christmas.

On this particular Christmas Eve, Friends for Animals delivered three cats and one dog to families across Metro Detroit, capturing the sheer joy of the occasion.

Deanna's daughter, London, was overjoyed to welcome Ramen into his forever home "She had no idea," Deanna said. She recalled the moment her daughter found Ramen and met him for the first time "Out of all the cats, Ramen was sticking her little paw out, trying to get her attention."

Deanna expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to adopt Ramen, saying, "I am glad that we could do this and glad you could make it happen for us." Friends for Animals is committed to ensuring that no furry friend is left behind this Christmas season, providing homes for pets in need.

As the holiday season unfolds, initiatives like "Home for the Holidays" remind us of the joy and love that pets bring into our lives. Deanna concluded with a heartfelt sentiment, "I think she already feels the love, and she will be okay."

A downriver community is coming together this Christmas Eve to help lift one man's spirits and it all started with a simple post on social media.

Thomas Gibbons was just asking friends and family to send him some Christmas cards at the nursing home he is living at.

"Just to see if I could get the Christmas spirit going, you know," Gibbons said.

The 58-year-old tells us he thought filling his door up with cards would help lift his spirits this year.

"Christmas Eve was always a special time from when i was a kid, up til last year," Gibbons said. "I shot myself but it ended up giving me a stroke and now my legs don't want to work," Gibbons said.

His original post got about three cards sent to him but his friend Lindsey Dyer knew she could take it up a notch, so, she brought it to the Facebook group "Downriver and Friends".

"I've seen the remarkable things that Downriver and Friends can do and the power of the community and how everybody can rally up behind everybody and make anything possible," Dyer said.

A few days after her post in the group the Christmas cards started flooding in.

"I'm completely blown away by the response and didn't expect it to be as much as it's been," Dyer said.

Gibbons received 30 cards in one day, and counting. Most of the return addresses are from complete strangers.

"I don't even know but a couple people on there," Gibbons said. "It's awesome, it really is."

He wants to remind people that there are so many others just like him, stuck in a nursing home for the holidays.

"Let them know that you know they're still out there, you know what I mean, and I think that's important," Gibbons said.

He said just one phone call, message, or Christmas card can make all the difference in someone's day.

The tragedy at the intersection of Chicago Road and Mound Road on Saturday morning changed many lives forever.

Warren police said Diamond Leann Glenn, 27, ran into the back of another vehicle and killed 69-year-old Christopher Andelean of Sterling Heights.

Toxicology reports are pending, but Glenn was allegedly drunk.

"I'm still very angry, and I'm like a forgiving-type person. But I'm still very angry," Michele Milam, Andelean's niece told 7 News Detroit.

Hear more from Andelean about the crash in the video player below: Interview: Niece talks about drunken driving crash that killed her uncle

"I'm not only angry at the person, I'm angry at her people. Whoever she was with that night. Because I don't know too many people that drink alone and drive home at 5 in the morning," she explained.

Police have not revealed where Glenn, a Harrison Township resident, was coming from.

Milam described her uncle as an "excellent human being."

"I wouldn't have agreed to this (interview), however this is the type of person my uncle was. He was a person's voice. He was a union rep at General Motors for over 40 years. He was the type of person that if you read the comments about him on Facebook, it's just beautiful and tremendous," she said.

Milam said her uncle had never met a stranger, that he helped everyone and had married his teenage sweetheart.

"They beat all the odds. They did everything to be a great family. They raised their kids," Milam said.

"My uncle's son just got a new liver last year. He just got the all clear for his new liver. He had cancer. No fault of his own. My uncle drove him every other week to Chicago for the past couple years," she explained.

She said her uncle was set to retire from General Motors this year. Then tragedy struck.

Warren police Lt. John Gajewski said, "I think if you ask any police officer about the worst parts of the job, everybody will agree that one of, if not, the worst parts of the job is having to contact or knock on the door of a loved one and tell them that their husband, father, mother, sister, wife isn't coming home and that they've been killed in a drunk driving accident."

He said Glenn, so far, is only charged for biting an officer at the scene while toxicology reports are pending.

"It's never been easier to avoid or prevent drunk driving due to technology and these rides sharing apps," he explained.

You can call an Uber or Lyft. Also, AAA has the free Tow-to-Go program.

Adrienne Woodland of AAA Michigan explained, "We implore you put the keys down and call AAA, and what will happen is AAA will dispatch a tow truck that will transport the would-be impaired driver and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius."

Adrienne Woodland of AAA Michigan said you don't have to be a AAA to benefit.

Or as Milam pointed out, if you see someone who's had too much to drink about to drive, intervene.

Milam said, "Why is it where we're always focusing on just that one person driving? We need to focus on who got her to this point because it didn't happen alone in my opinion."

Glenn's next court appearance is January 2nd.

For information on AAA's free Tow-to-Go program click here.

The day before Christmas was busy across Metro Detroit as shoppers searched for last minute items to make their holiday complete.

At Dearborn Sausage Company, customers were busy grabbing spiral ham and kielbasa.

"Leading up to Christmas is what we like to call here organized chaos, joked General Manager Keith Woloszyk. "Just yesterday alone we had like 1500 customers through the store. Each day builds up. The day before that mightve been like 700, the day before that 600 and then the madness hits.

Raymond Pollard was one of those shoppers who visit every year.

Were actually celebrating our son Arthur's 6th birthday today and so we wanted to come out and celebrate with him and pick up some last minute dinner items for Christmas, said Pollard. Instead of trying to go through the super markets and wait in line there and not necessarily be able to find a ham we just come out here and we can always get a ham.

In Sterling Heights Farhat Sweets was filled with customers looking for freshly baked goods.

"A lot of people get together today, they grab their sweets to go to family members houses and we're also open tomorrow which is Christmas day and we have to open tomorrow because if we don't we're closing the door to about five thousand customers," said Rachid Farhat owner at Farhat Sweets.

He says Christmas Day is also the day for visiting family in middle eastern culture.

Germaine Gewargis grabbed an assortment of goods as she does every holiday since her son's baptism 12 years ago.

"Every Christmas, every Easter, every wedding anniversary, said Gewargis. I was gonna wait until tomorrow but to be honest with you, throw them in the oven two or three minutes theyre as good as fresh.

Menorah in the D is an annual celebration downtown to mark the start of Hanukkah, a Holiday enjoyed by millions of Jewish people all around the world.

The festival of lights welcomes people to come and take part, and this year is expected to be bigger than ever.

Today I talked to the Jewish community about what Hanukkah truly means, and what makes this year special.

Inside Salon Edge on Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield, a touch of love is in the air as members of the Jewish community share excitement for the upcoming Hanukkah season.

For eight nights, families will gather, lighting a candle each time.

"Hanukkah means dedication. We dedicate ourselves every year," said Carol Feldman.

Feldman says that this year is special, as thoughts of loved ones come to mind. And for Jewish people all over the world...

We light the menorah every night. Sing songs and have latkes from Trader Joes this year," Carol said.

A family tradition. We get together. Kibbutz. A Yiddish word. We have fun together and exchange presents," said Phil Reznick,

For Reznick, a big part of Hanukkah is the food.

The potato latkes," Phil mentioned. "My daughter will shred potatoes and I dont know what she puts in them to make them stick.

Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov is among those behind Menorah in the D, celebrating rich traditions with everyone in the big city.

To be able to come out to the center of the city. Bring the message of Hanukkah is a beautiful event that grew from hundreds to thousands," Rabbi Shemtov said. Its the miracle of lights. 2000 years ago, when Jews were in Israel they were persecuted. There was one jug of oil for one day. It lasted 8 days. A miracle. Each one of us has a jug of oil in our hearts.

Hear more from Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov in the video player below: Interview: Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov talks about Hanukkah and Menorah in the D

This year, Menorah in the D will have food, live music and other games, all the things the Rabbi is excited to welcome.

Back in West Bloomfield, the clock is ticking to a special time.

Christmas and Hanukkah are both starting tomorrow. That in itself is a miracle," Carol said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Earlier this morning several passengers were impacted across the country as American Airlines flights came to a halt momentarily. The brief disruption caused by a technical glitch even affected travelers at Detroit Metro Airpot, nearly ruining many people's Christmas Eve.

"Where are you headed to?" I asked traveler Isac Gray.

"I was headed to Norfolk, but then my flight got delayed, so I won't be able to make my connection. I'm headed to Richmond at the moment. All thanks to the flights being grounded this morning," Gray said.

Hear more from Isac Gray in the video player below: Interview: Traveler Isac Gray talks about American Airlines glitch, delays

This morning, around 6:45, American Airlines issued an hour-long ground stop due to a technical glitch, which disrupted flights for thousands on Christmas Eve, one of the year's busiest travel periods. Looking to spend Christmas with family, Gray may have to wait a little longer than expected.

"I mean, it would have been a bummer if these flights had been delayed further or canceled," I said

"Yeah, absolutely, they were telling me that you may have to wait till tomorrow, which is frustrating because it took me an hour and a half to get here, and I'm just learning about this as I'm pulling into the parking lot," Gray said.

According to flightaware.com, 6 American Airlines flights were delayed here at DTW, but none were canceled.

"You got to pray that the travel Gods are with you," said Patricia Budford, a traveler.

The Budford family arrived from New York on American Airlines, and even though their flight was not impacted, they said this morning that they were worried about missing Christmas breakfast in Windsor.

"Do you feel more so now than before we are seeing more of these glitches?" I asked

"Well you don't even want to know what happened to us in July," Patricia said.

Hear more about the technical issues with American Airlines in the video player below: American Airlines resumes all US flights after 'technical issue' prompted brief ground stop

Patricia and her family's hearts sank after seeing thousands of flights canceled due to the global technology outage back in July.

"80% of the flights were cancelled that day and we were able to get on our flight and make it to Disney world on time," Patricia said.

"it's kind of concerning, these glitches becoming more and more prevalent, and with the threats of cyber security. Its worrying to say the least." Gray said

"Anytime you plan a holiday, is this on the back of your mind?" I asked.

"Yes, especially with everything being more digital," Gray said.

Now, in a statement, American Airlines writes: "A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved, and flights have resumed. We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning. It's all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, travel experts say checking your flight status before heading to the airport is always a good idea.

When Lions fans aren't cheering on their favorite team, they'll be able to go visit the Detroit Zoo's newest furry friend.

The Zoo announced their new Lion last week on Instagram. Kalu, pictured above, is nine years old and weighs 475 pounds.

The zoo says he has a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour, more than twice as fast as Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs max speed of 22.03 miles per hour logged in the win over the Tennessee Titans, per ESPN's Next Gen Stats.

He also boasts a horizontal jump of 36 feet and a roar volume of 118 decibels, about 15 decibels quieter than the recorded decibel level for the Lions playoff win against the Los Angeles Rams last season.

"Swing by the Zoo to see Kalu and add a roar to your day then cheer on the Lions as they prepare for their playoff push!" the zoo said in the post.

FastLane Oil Change in Detroit is giving back this holiday. 

The shop on W. 8 Mile Road near the Soutfield Freeway is gifting 25 free oil changes and wiper blades for people in need Wednesday on Christmas Day.

And it doesn't end there. Customers in line behind the first 15 cars will get half off a regularly priced oil change.

To add to the holiday giving, the business is helping a mother of nine get her car back on the road with new brakes, rotors, pads and filters for free. Its something that she says significantly help her this holiday.

A stress that was lifted off of my shoulders because this was something that was gonna need to be done sooner than later, but I was putting it off because it wasn't in the budget, especially right now, Rashanda Martin said.

In addition, the Blazin Grill right next door to the car shop is giving away 100 free meals on Wednesday. The free and half-off promotions will run from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The offers are good for Christmas Day only for families and individuals in need.

The wait is over!

It's that time of year again when the North American Aerospace Defense Command which typically handles sensitive homeland security matters dedicates its incredible resources to a more festive mission: tracking Santa Clause.

With Christmas finally here in some parts of the world, jolly Saint Nicholas in his big red sleigh pulled by nine magical reindeer has already begun his long journey circumnavigating the globe, delivering billions of presents to deserving boys and girls.

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Last year, NORAD said Santa delivered a whopping 7.8 billion presents. But can Kris Kringle outdo himself in 2024?

Follow along below with the NORAD Santa tracker to see. You can also call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santas location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.