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(CNN) — The man who conned his way into the cockpit of an US Airways flight in March pleaded guilty Wednesday in Philadelphia to one count of fraud in connection with an identification document.

Philippe Jeannard, 61, had used his mother’s old Air France employee documents in an attempt to pass as a pilot and score a free ride in the jump seat of a plane after he had been denied an upgrade to business class, according to the original complaint.

Jeannard was wearing a white, button-down shirt with an Air France logo over the pocket and a black jacket with four gold stripes on the epaulets, similar to one worn by pilots, the complaint said. He identified himself to the gate supervisor at Philadelphia International Airport as an Air France pilot.

He entered the cockpit, where two pilots were performing preflight duties and told pilots he was an Air France Boeing 747 pilot.

How did fake pilot get into cockpit?

U.S. District Court Judge Gene E.K. Pratter has not yet scheduled a sentencing hearing. Jeannard faces an advisory sentencing guideline of up to six months in prison plus deportation proceedings.

The case was investigated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department.

“He identified himself as a pilot and started to sit in the jump seat,” Philadelphia Inspector Joseph Sullivan told CNN in March. “But he immediately had a problem getting strapped in, and it was obvious to the real pilots that he couldn’t be a pilot. He didn’t know what he was doing.”

The gate agent told Jeannard he would have to fill out paperwork to use the jump seat, but the man didn’t have credentials, police said.

The captain then told him to leave the cockpit area, and Jeannard became irate. Brian L. Jones, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, described him in an affidavit as difficult and verbally abusive to a flight attendant and gate supervisor.

Jeannard was taken off the aircraft. The flight departed, and a US Airways agent tried to book him on another flight to West Palm Beach, Florida, his final destination.

According to the criminal complaint, after returning to the gate, Jeannard covered his Air France shirt with a sweater and acknowledged to a US Airways manager that he was not an Air France employee.

Jeannard was taken to the Philadelphia Police Department’s airport holding cell and arrested on charges of trespassing, tampering with records, false impersonating and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

Police discovered documents appearing to be Air France checklists and flight plans in Jeannard’s briefcase, according to Jones’ complaint.

It said Jeannard admitted to having falsified his mother’s Air France identification card, which the airline said was real. Jones said Jeannard had replaced his mother’s information with his own name and photograph; it identified him as an Airbus A380 crew member. Air France spokesman Cedric Leurquin described it as a bad fake of an Air France crew badge.

Jeannard, who is from La Rochelle, France, is a retired winemaker who was changing planes on his way from France to Florida, police inspector Sullivan said.

Jeannard at one point remarked that he “hated Americans,” police said, but investigators have not found any link to terrorism, a federal law enforcement official said.

Attempts to reach Jeannard’s lawyer were not immediately successful.

CNN’s Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/08/justice/airline-case-guilty-plea/index.html?eref=edition

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Exhausted participants flood the Mall in central London after finishing the London Marathon on April 21, 2013.

American Greg Takacs, 36, ran in the Boston Marathon last week and proudly wore his Boston race shirt adorned with black ribbons. Describing the 30-second silence at the start of the race, he told CNN: “It was so silent and very moving … For that many people to be that quiet — it was incredible. Wow.”

Thousands of London Marathon runners paid tribute to Boston this morning wearing black ribbons and observing a 30-second silence on the start line. Here one athlete customized her shirt with the words ‘For Boston’ on the back.

Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya runs down the Mall towards finish line and victory in the Womens Elite section during the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Thousands of runners took part in today’s marathon through London, many wearing black ribbons as a symbol of respect to the Boston victims following the tragic events on Monday.

Bill Higgins, 62 from California is a seasoned marathon runner having competed in 84 races. He told CNN: “I’ve run Boston three times and (the Boston terror attack) really hit home. It’s a thrill and an honor to be here.”

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson was at the finish line to greet runners as they finished the 26.2-mile race.

Many American runners proudly dressed in a stars and stripes in a show of solidarity following the Boston terror attacks Monday.

British runner Julia Biss saw this tribute to Boston being passed around on Facebook which urged runners to print off the sign and wear it during the London Marathon on April 21, 2013.

In addition to wearing black ribbons, many athletes chose to hold their hand over their heart as they crossed the finish line.

John O’Flynn (L) and John Gately (R) came from Cork, Ireland to participate in the London Marathon on April 21, 2013. Both have family in Boston but were not planning on competing, due to injury, until last week’s tragic event changed their mind. O’Flynn said they wanted to compete to show solidarity to the people of Boston.

Several marathon runners also competed in the Boston Marathon Monday and wore their shirts in London.

First time London Marathon runners Barry McCaan, 27, Aidan Savage, 31, Martin Conway, 30 ahead of the race. McCaan told CNN: “Everyone has been so generous. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

Fancy dress runners compete on April 21 in the London Marathon which started in East London before traveling into the city, along the River Thames and finishing near Buckingham Palace.

Runners stand in a silent tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings before the start of the London Marathon from Greenwich Park on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Athletes bow their heads at the start in Blackheath Common while observing the 30-second silence to remember those killed and injured by the blasts near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Start of the Elite Men in the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on Blackheath Common on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon. A beefed-up police presence for the London Marathon on April 21 will remain in place despite the death and capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Scotland Yard said.

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon. London’s Metropolitan Police is putting in place hundreds more officers along the route compared with last year and search dogs to reinforce security, in a bid to reassure the 36,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators.

British Olympic double gold medalist Mo Farah poses for photographers in central London on April 18, 2013 during a photo call ahead of the London marathon. The London Marathon will go ahead as planned on April 21, 2013 after security arrangements were reviewed in the wake of the bombings that caused carnage at the Boston Marathon, organizers and police said.

Tiki Gelana, Edna Kiplagat, Priscah Jeptoo, Renee Baillie and Yoko Shibui attends the photocall for International Women photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 18, 2013 in London, England.

Sophie McCorry and Toby McCorry attend the Guinness World Record Attemptees photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 19, 2013 in London, England.

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London (CNN) — For a moment, the nervous chatter, rustling costumes and jovial jostling came to a standstill.

Silence fell over the 36,000 competitors who just minutes earlier had been impatiently rearranging themselves for the start of the London Marathon.

For 30 aching seconds the spring sunshine beat down on their bowed heads, a sea of black ribbons pinned to their chests, as they remembered those who never got a chance to cross the finish line.

It was a deeply tender and haunting image, and unlike anything ever seen in the 32-year-history of the race.

Then again, this wasn’t just another London Marathon.

Marathoner dedicates win to Boston

Student: Suspect said ‘tragedies happen’

The week that changed Boston forever

Six days after Boston’s Marathon was rocked by the bombing which killed three people and injured more than 180, the English capital hosted its own premier race.

READ MORE: Tight security at London Marathon

London is the first international marathon to follow Boston, and the attack which sent thousands of people scrambling in terror down smoldering streets and past upturned stands. It loomed large in the minds of competitors observing the silence ahead of the starting gun.

“Marathon-running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship,” event commentator, Geoff Wightman, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence.

“This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon. In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness.”

WATCH: Boston wheelchair racer in London

Among the runners, there was a humbling sense of how easily the Boston victims could have been themselves. There was also a determination to complete the race — as much for their own gratification as for those who couldn’t.

For every competitor who crossed the finish line, organizers will donate $3 to The One Fund Boston, set up to raise money for victims of the blasts.

Along with the usual whacky costumes — a man dressed in an Abraham Lincoln hat and beard earned respect both for his bravery and lunacy — were reminders of Boston’s tragedy.

Almost everyone wore black solidarity ribbons, with many also donning customized t-shirts bearing the name “Boston.”

Northern Irishman Barry McCann was one such runner. The 27-year-old from Belfast was working with his asset management company in Boston last week when the attack rocked the city.

“It was pretty much carnage, the whole place was in lockdown,” he told CNN.

“Everyone has been so generous sponsoring us. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

Dressed in a stars and stripes t-shirt, 62-year-old Bill Higgins, from Fullerton, California, fought back tears as he talked about the impact of the Boston bombings on the international racing community.

This was Higgins’ 84th marathon and he said he had been inundated with people offering to sponsor his race.

“I’ve run Boston three times and the attack really hit home,” he told CNN. “People keep emailing me saying ‘Never back down,’ and ‘No fear.’”

American Greg Takacs, 36, ran in the Boston Marathon last week and was proudly wearing his Boston race shirt adorned with black ribbons in respect to the victims. Describing the 30-second silence at the start of the race, he told CNN: “It was so silent and very moving. It gave me goosebumps.

“For that many people to be that quiet — It was incredible. Wow.”

READ: ‘We have a million questions for bombing suspect’

Friends John O’Flynn and John Gately, from Cork in Ireland, have family in Boston and were not planning on competing in London. But then last week’s bombing changed their minds.

“The bombings made me disappointed in humanity,” Gately told CNN. “I do a lot of marathons and there is a huge solidarity here today.”

Similarly, British runner Kristen Harrison, 24, wore a t-shirt with the slogan “For Boston,” as she prepared to compete in her fifth marathon.

“I wanted to support them,” she told CNN. “The running community is quite strong and I think we were all in shock after what happened.

“When you start hitting that wall, I think it will help to think of them.”

WATCH: Suspects’ uncle tells of familial break

Crowds were out in force as the marathon wound its way past some of London’s most iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

“The best way for us to react is to push ahead with the marathon, to get people on the streets and to celebrate it as we always do in London — and to send a very clear message that we won’t be cowed by this sort of behavior,” Sport Minister Hugh Robertson had earlier told the BBC.

There was also a strong police presence with 40% more officers on duty in the wake of Monday’s bombings. As an extra security measure, litter bins were also removed from the 42-kilometer route.

This is the city which nine months earlier hosted the Olympic Games without incident, and politicians say it provided the ideal training ground for hosting international sporting events.

READ: What are Boston suspects’ legal rights?

At the heart of the competition were ordinary people slogging it out in one of the most grueling races of its kind in the world — and all for charity.

As British journalist Marina Hyde wrote this week: “The Boston bombers served only to remind the world that marathons are something in which we all have a stake.”

The message, on this sundrenched Sunday, was loud and clear: “We are in it together.”

The first woman to cross the finish line was the winner of the Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair race, U.S. athlete Tatyana McFadden, who repeated her feat at the London Marathon.

The winner of the men’s wheelchair race was Australia’s Kurt Fearnley, and the winning runner in the men’s elite race was Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia.

The first-placed runner in the elite women’s event was Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya. Fellow countrywoman Edna Kiplagat came in second.

Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed to this report.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/21/sport/london-marathon/index.html?eref=edition

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Exhausted participants flood the Mall in central London after finishing the London Marathon on April 21, 2013.

American Greg Takacs, 36, ran in the Boston Marathon last week and proudly wore his Boston race shirt adorned with black ribbons. Describing the 30-second silence at the start of the race, he told CNN: “It was so silent and very moving … For that many people to be that quiet — it was incredible. Wow.”

Thousands of London Marathon runners paid tribute to Boston this morning wearing black ribbons and observing a 30-second silence on the start line. Here one athlete customized her shirt with the words ‘For Boston’ on the back.

Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya runs down the Mall towards finish line and victory in the Womens Elite section during the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Thousands of runners took part in today’s marathon through London, many wearing black ribbons as a symbol of respect to the Boston victims following the tragic events on Monday.

Bill Higgins, 62 from California is a seasoned marathon runner having competed in 84 races. He told CNN: “I’ve run Boston three times and (the Boston terror attack) really hit home. It’s a thrill and an honor to be here.”

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson was at the finish line to greet runners as they finished the 26.2-mile race.

Many American runners proudly dressed in a stars and stripes in a show of solidarity following the Boston terror attacks Monday.

British runner Julia Biss saw this tribute to Boston being passed around on Facebook which urged runners to print off the sign and wear it during the London Marathon on April 21, 2013.

In addition to wearing black ribbons, many athletes chose to hold their hand over their heart as they crossed the finish line.

John O’Flynn (L) and John Gately (R) came from Cork, Ireland to participate in the London Marathon on April 21, 2013. Both have family in Boston but were not planning on competing, due to injury, until last week’s tragic event changed their mind. O’Flynn said they wanted to compete to show solidarity to the people of Boston.

Several marathon runners also competed in the Boston Marathon Monday and wore their shirts in London.

First time London Marathon runners Barry McCaan, 27, Aidan Savage, 31, Martin Conway, 30 ahead of the race. McCaan told CNN: “Everyone has been so generous. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

Fancy dress runners compete on April 21 in the London Marathon which started in East London before traveling into the city, along the River Thames and finishing near Buckingham Palace.

Runners stand in a silent tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings before the start of the London Marathon from Greenwich Park on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Athletes bow their heads at the start in Blackheath Common while observing the 30-second silence to remember those killed and injured by the blasts near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Start of the Elite Men in the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on Blackheath Common on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon. A beefed-up police presence for the London Marathon on April 21 will remain in place despite the death and capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Scotland Yard said.

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon. London’s Metropolitan Police is putting in place hundreds more officers along the route compared with last year and search dogs to reinforce security, in a bid to reassure the 36,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators.

British Olympic double gold medalist Mo Farah poses for photographers in central London on April 18, 2013 during a photo call ahead of the London marathon. The London Marathon will go ahead as planned on April 21, 2013 after security arrangements were reviewed in the wake of the bombings that caused carnage at the Boston Marathon, organizers and police said.

Tiki Gelana, Edna Kiplagat, Priscah Jeptoo, Renee Baillie and Yoko Shibui attends the photocall for International Women photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 18, 2013 in London, England.

Sophie McCorry and Toby McCorry attend the Guinness World Record Attemptees photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 19, 2013 in London, England.

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London (CNN) — For a moment, the nervous chatter, rustling costumes and jovial jostling came to a standstill.

Silence fell over the 36,000 competitors who just minutes earlier had been impatiently rearranging themselves for the start of the London Marathon.

For 30 aching seconds the spring sunshine beat down on their bowed heads, a sea of black ribbons pinned to their chests, as they remembered those who never got a chance to cross the finish line.

It was a deeply tender and haunting image, and unlike anything ever seen in the 32-year-history of the race.

Plea from uncle: Turn yourself in

Then again, this wasn’t just another London Marathon.

‘A direct confrontation with evil’

Six days after Boston’s Marathon was rocked by the bombing which killed three people and injured more than 180, the English capital hosted its own premier race.

READ MORE: Tight security at London Marathon

Suspect’s friend: ‘Doesn’t make sense’

London is the first international marathon to follow Boston, and the attack which sent thousands of people scrambling in terror down smoldering streets and past upturned stands. It loomed large in the minds of competitors observing the silence ahead of the starting gun.

“Marathon-running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship,” event commentator, Geoff Wightman, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence.

“This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon. In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness.”

WATCH: Boston wheelchair racer in London

Among the runners, there was a humbling sense of how easily the Boston victims could have been themselves. There was also a determination to complete the race — as much for their own gratification as for those who couldn’t.

For every competitor who crossed the finish line, organizers will donate $3 to The One Fund Boston, set up to raise money for victims of the blasts.

Along with the usual whacky costumes — a man dressed in an Abraham Lincoln hat and beard earned respect both for his bravery and lunacy — were reminders of Boston’s tragedy.

Almost everyone wore black solidarity ribbons, with many also donning customized t-shirts bearing the name “Boston.”

Northern Irishman Barry McCann was one such runner. The 27-year-old from Belfast was working with his asset management company in Boston last week when the attack rocked the city.

“It was pretty much carnage, the whole place was in lockdown,” he told CNN.

“Everyone has been so generous sponsoring us. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

Dressed in a stars and stripes t-shirt, 62-year-old Bill Higgins, from Fullerton, California, fought back tears as he talked about the impact of the Boston bombings on the international racing community.

This was Higgins’ 84th marathon and he said he had been inundated with people offering to sponsor his race.

“I’ve run Boston three times and the attack really hit home,” he told CNN. “People keep emailing me saying ‘Never back down,’ and ‘No fear.’”

American Greg Takacs, 36, ran in the Boston Marathon last week and was proudly wearing his Boston race shirt adorned with black ribbons in respect to the victims. Describing the 30-second silence at the start of the race, he told CNN: “It was so silent and very moving. It gave me goosebumps.

“For that many people to be that quiet — It was incredible. Wow.”

READ: ‘We have a million questions for bombing suspect’

Friends John O’Flynn and John Gately, from Cork in Ireland, have family in Boston and were not planning on competing in London. But then last week’s bombing changed their minds.

“The bombings made me disappointed in humanity,” Gately told CNN. “I do a lot of marathons and there is a huge solidarity here today.”

Similarly, British runner Kristen Harrison, 24, wore a t-shirt with the slogan “For Boston,” as she prepared to compete in her fifth marathon.

“I wanted to support them,” she told CNN. “The running community is quite strong and I think we were all in shock after what happened.

“When you start hitting that wall, I think it will help to think of them.”

WATCH: Suspects’ uncle tells of familial break

Crowds were out in force as the marathon wound its way past some of London’s most iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

“The best way for us to react is to push ahead with the marathon, to get people on the streets and to celebrate it as we always do in London — and to send a very clear message that we won’t be cowed by this sort of behavior,” Sport Minister Hugh Robertson had earlier told the BBC.

There was also a strong police presence with 40% more officers on duty in the wake of Monday’s bombings. As an extra security measure, litter bins were also removed from the 42-kilometer route.

This is the city which nine months earlier hosted the Olympic Games without incident, and politicians say it provided the ideal training ground for hosting international sporting events.

READ: What are Boston suspects’ legal rights?

At the heart of the competition were ordinary people slogging it out in one of the most grueling races of its kind in the world — and all for charity.

As British journalist Marina Hyde wrote this week: “The Boston bombers served only to remind the world that marathons are something in which we all have a stake.”

The message, on this sundrenched Sunday, was loud and clear: “We are in it together.”

The first woman to cross the finish line was the winner of the Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair race, U.S. athlete Tatyana McFadden, who repeated her feat at the London Marathon.

The winner of the men’s wheelchair race was Australia’s Kurt Fearnley, and the winning runner in the men’s elite race was Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia.

The first-placed runner in the elite women’s event was Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya. Fellow countrywoman Edna Kiplagat came in second.

Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed to this report.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/21/sport/london-marathon/index.html?eref=edition

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Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya runs down the Mall towards finish line and victory in the Womens Elite section during the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Start of the Elite Men in the Virgin London Marathon 2013 on Blackheath Common on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Thousands of London Marathon runners paid tribute to Boston this morning wearing black ribbons and observing a 30-second silence on the start line. Here one athlete has customized her shirt with the words ‘For Boston’ on the back.

Bill Higgins, 62 from California is a seasoned marathon runner having competed in 84 races. He told CNN: “I’ve run Boston three times and [the Boston terror attack] really hit home. It’s a thrill and an honor to be here.”

John O’Flynn (L) and John Gately (R) came from Cork, Ireland to participate in the London Marathon on April 21, 2013. Both have family in Boston but were not planning on competing, due to injury, until last week’s tragic event changed their mind. O’Flynn said they wanted to compete to show solidarity to the people of Boston.

Runners stand in a silent tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings before the start of the London Marathon from Greenwich Park on April 21, 2013 in London, England.

Athletes bow their heads at the start in Blackheath Common while observing the 30-second silence to remember those killed and injured by the blasts near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Thousands of runners will take part in today’s marathon through London, many wearing black ribbons as a symbol of respect to the Boston victims following the tragic events on Monday.

First time London Marathon runners Barry McCaan, 27, Aidan Savage, 31, Martin Conway, 30 ahead of the race. McCaan told CNN: “Everyone has been so generous. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon. A beefed-up police presence for the London Marathon on April 21 will remain in place despite the death and capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Scotland Yard said. London’s Metropolitan Police is putting in place hundreds more officers along the route compared with last year and search dogs to reinforce security, in a bid to reassure the 36,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators.

A handler works with an explosive-detecting dog on The Mall in central London on April 20, 2013, on the eve of the London Marathon.

British Olympic double gold medallist Mo Farah poses for photographers in central London on April 18, 2013 during a photo call ahead of the London marathon. The London Marathon will go ahead as planned on April 21, 2013 after security arrangements were reviewed in the wake of the bombings that caused carnage at the Boston Marathon, organizers and police said.

Tiki Gelana, Edna Kiplagat, Priscah Jeptoo, Renee Baillie and Yoko Shibui attends the photocall for International Women photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 18, 2013 in London, England.

Sophie McCorry and Toby McCorry attend the Guinness World Record Attemptees photocall ahead of The the London Marathon at The Tower Hotel on April 19, 2013 in London, England.

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London (CNN) — For a moment, the nervous chatter, rustling costumes and jovial jostling came to a standstill.

Silence fell over the 36,000 competitors who just minutes earlier had been impatiently rearranging themselves for the start of the London Marathon.

For 30 aching seconds the spring sunshine beat down on their bowed heads, a sea of black ribbons pinned to their chests, as they remembered those who never got a chance to cross the finish line.

It is a deeply tender and haunting image, and unlike anything ever seen in the 32-year-history of the race.

Plea from uncle: Turn yourself in

But then, this was never going to be just another London Marathon.

‘A direct confrontation with evil’

Six days after Boston’s Marathon was rocked by the bombing which killed three people and injured more than 180, the English capital hosted its own premier race.

READ MORE: Tight security at London Marathon

Suspect’s friend: ‘Doesn’t make sense’

London is the first international marathon to follow Boston, and the attack which sent thousands of people scrambling in terror down smoldering streets and past upturned stands. It loomed large in the minds of competitors observing the silence ahead of the starting gun.

“Marathon-running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship,” event commentator, Geoff Wightman, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence.

“This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon. In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness.”

WATCH: Boston wheelchair racer in London

Among the runners, there was a humbling sense of how easily the Boston victims could have been themselves. There was also a determination to complete the race — as much for their own gratification as for those who couldn’t.

For every competitor who crossed the finish line, organizers will donate $3 to The One Fund Boston, set up to raise money for victims of the blasts.

Along with the usual whacky costumes — a man dressed in an Abraham Lincoln hat and beard earned respect both for his bravery and lunacy — were reminders of Boston’s tragedy.

Almost everyone wore black solidarity ribbons, with many also donning customized t-shirts bearing the name “Boston.”

Northern Irishman Barry McCann was one such runner. The 27-year-old from Belfast was working with his asset management company in Boston last week when the attack rocked the city.

“It was pretty much carnage, the whole place was in lockdown,” he told CNN.

“Everyone has been so generous sponsoring us. It totally makes you more determined to show them [the bombers] that terrorism doesn’t work.”

Dressed in a stars and stripes t-shirt, 62-year-old Bill Higgins, from Fullerton, California, fought back tears as he talked about the impact of the Boston bombings on the international racing community.

This was Higgins’ 84th marathon and he said he had been inundated with people offering to sponsor his race.

“I’ve run Boston three times and the attack really hit home,” he told CNN. “People keep emailing me saying ‘Never back down,’ and ‘No fear.’”

READ: ‘We have a million questions for bombing suspect’

Friends John O’Flynn and John Gately, from Cork in Ireland, have family in Boston and were not planning on competing in London. But then last week’s bombing changed their minds.

“The bombings made me disappointed in humanity,” Gately told CNN. “I do a lot of marathons and there is a huge solidarity here today.”

Similarly, British runner Kristen Harrison, 24, wore a t-shirt with the slogan “For Boston,” as she prepared to compete in her fifth marathon.

“I wanted to support them,” she told CNN. “The running community is quite strong and I think we were all in shock after what happened.

“When you start hitting that wall, I think it will help to think of them.”

WATCH: Suspects’ uncle tells of familial break

Crowds were out in force as the marathon wound its way past some of London’s most iconic landmarks such as Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster, before finishing near Buckingham Palace.

“The best way for us to react is to push ahead with the marathon, to get people on the streets and to celebrate it as we always do in London — and to send a very clear message that we won’t be cowed by this sort of behavior. “Sport Minister Hugh Robertson had earlier told the BBC.

There was also a strong police presence with 40% more officers on duty in the wake of Monday’s bombings. As an extra security measure, litter bins were also removed from the 42-kilometer route.

This is the city which nine months earlier hosted the Olympic Games without incident, and politicians say it provided the ideal training ground for hosting international sporting events.

READ: What are Boston suspects’ legal rights?

At the heart of the competition were ordinary people slogging it out in one of the most grueling races of its kind in the world — and all for charity.

As British journalist Marina Hyde wrote this week: “The Boston bombers served only to remind the world that marathons are something in which we all have a stake.”

The message, on this sundrenched Sunday, was loud and clear: “We are in it together.”

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/21/sport/london-marathon/index.html?eref=edition

Editor’s note: Cynthia Schneider is a professor in the practice of diplomacy at Georgetown University; dean at the School of Diplomacy, Dubrovnik International University; and a senior nonresident fellow at Brookings Institution. She is also a former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands.

(CNN) — Old and new diplomacy clashed in the flare-up between Egypt and the United States over the arrest and interrogation of Bassem Youssef — considered the “Jon Stewart of Egypt” — who skewers politicians of all stripes on his popular TV show, El Bernameg.

In the world of traditional diplomacy, governments had more control over what was said about them and by whom. As the Egyptian and U.S. governments discovered the hard way, that control is long gone in the world of 21st century diplomacy with its 24/7 social media and powerful nongovernmental voices.

When Youssef, accused of insulting President Mohamed Morsy and Islam, was summoned for questioning by the Morsy-appointed prosecutor general, this latest repressive action by the Muslim Brotherhood government sparked an international outcry.

The response from the United States came in two forms. First, the State Department expressed “concern” about Youssef’s detention, citing it as “evidence of a disturbing trend of growing restrictions on the freedom of expression” in Egypt. Then, Jon Stewart mounted an eloquent — and humorous — defense of Bassem Youssef and freedom of expression through that well-known diplomatic channel, “The Daily Show.”

In a commendable act of public diplomacy, i.e., engaging with the people and not just governments, someone from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo tweeted a link to “The Daily show.” After all, the program addressed a current issue in Egyptian politics, with a humorous message about shared values between Egypt and America, such as freedom of expression.

Stay up to date on the latest opinion, analysis and conversations through social media. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion and follow us @CNNOpinion on Twitter. We welcome your ideas and comments.

Failing to see the humor in the situation, the Egyptian government and the Muslim Brotherhood struck back. The presidential office tweeted a stern reprimand to the U.S. Embassy: “It’s inappropriate for a diplomatic mission to engage in such negative political propaganda.”

Faced with the choice of appeasing the Egyptian government or defending freedom of speech and dissent — as practiced by Bassem Youssef and Jon Stewart — the U.S. Embassy in Cairo chose the former, and shut down its Twitter feed.

This decision, reportedly made by Ambassador Anne Patterson, not only violated what the United States allegedly stands for — the rights of citizens to criticize and hold their governments accountable — but also displayed a stunning ignorance of how Twitter and, well, the Internet work.

Once something is out on Twitter, it’s out. Shutting it down will not expunge it, and will only blow up into a negative story.

‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ interrogated

Egypt’s Jon Stewart answers joke by joke

That is exactly what happened. Within minutes of the shutdown, Twitter was flooded with condemnation of the U.S. government for caving to Muslim Brotherhood pressure and failing to defend basic freedoms.

Although the embassy feed was reactivated within an hour, reportedly at Washington’s request, the stories and tweets about the shutdown lingered. That the reinstated embassy feed deleted all tweets about the Youssef case reinforced the sentiment already prevalent in Egypt that the United States sides with Morsy over the Egyptian people.

In one act of traditional diplomacy, trying to appease the host government, the U.S. Embassy undermined the good will earned by the nontraditional diplomacy of Jon Stewart.

As a television host, Youssef exemplifies “soft power,” or the power to influence others through attraction. Other spinoffs of “The Daily Show” in Afghanistan and Iran, among other places, are adopting not only Stewart’s smart and biting humor, but also core American values such as free speech.

In our brave new world, where governments and citizens alike are held up to scrutiny of 24/7 media and social media, and where private-sector television shows can wield more influence than governments, walking the walk as well as talking the talk has never been more important.

The United States cannot present itself as the defender of free speech when it suppresses free speech. In removing the tweets about Bassem Youssef and Jon Stewart, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo undercut its own soft power. Who in Egypt will listen the next time an embassy official talks about the importance of free speech or free media?

Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion

Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Cynthia Schneider.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/10/opinion/schneider-bassem-youssef/index.html?eref=edition

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The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

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(CNN) — The U.S. government is getting its bill for the damage a Navy minesweeper did to a Philippine coral reef, and it’s less than expected.

Philippine officials say the USS Guardian damaged 2,346 square meters (25,252 square feet) of Tubbataha Reef after it ran aground January 17. That’s down from the original estimate of about 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet).

And that means, under Philippine law, the United States owes $1.5 million in fines, the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board said in a posting on the Tubbahata Reefs Natural Park website Monday.

The fines are based on the amount of reef that has been damaged, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The Tubbahata board said the revised damage estimate was made by a team of U.S. Navy and Philippine marine biologists from Wednesday to Friday.

The original survey was conducted January 27 while the warship was still on the reef.

The Guardian was completely removed on March 30, when the ship’s stern, the last of four sections into which its 224-foot-long hull had been cut, was lifted from the reef by a massive seagoing crane.

“Using aerial imaging, the grounding zone was originally outlined using the ship’s length as the basis for computing the total damaged area. This image was later observed to be obliquely angled thus artificially expanding the area plotted on mapping software,” the statement on the park’s website said.

The cost of the salvage operation to remove the ship from the reef was $45 million, Stars and Stripes reported Monday, citing a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman.

An investigation into the grounding is ongoing, but last week the Navy relieved the commanding officer and three members of the minesweeper’s crew of their duties based on initial results of the probe, a Navy statement said.

“The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures,” the Navy statement said. “The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence.”

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

READ MORE: Minesweeper lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: Bow cut from U.S. ship, lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: U.S. Navy commander apologizes for ship stuck in reef off Philippines

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/vS0fmnj6Fp8/index.html

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The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

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(CNN) — The U.S. government is getting its bill for the damage a Navy minesweeper did to a Philippine coral reef, and it’s less than expected.

Philippine officials say the USS Guardian damaged 2,346 square meters (25,252 square feet) of Tubbataha Reef after it ran aground January 17. That’s down from the original estimate of about 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet).

And that means, under Philippine law, the United States owes $1.5 million in fines, the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board said in a posting on the Tubbahata Reefs Natural Park website Monday.

The fines are based on the amount of reef that has been damaged, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The Tubbahata board said the revised damage estimate was made by a team of U.S. Navy and Philippine marine biologists from Wednesday to Friday.

The original survey was conducted January 27 while the warship was still on the reef.

The Guardian was completely removed on March 30, when the ship’s stern, the last of four sections into which its 224-foot-long hull had been cut, was lifted from the reef by a massive seagoing crane.

“Using aerial imaging, the grounding zone was originally outlined using the ship’s length as the basis for computing the total damaged area. This image was later observed to be obliquely angled thus artificially expanding the area plotted on mapping software,” the statement on the park’s website said.

The cost of the salvage operation to remove the ship from the reef was $45 million, Stars and Stripes reported Monday, citing a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman.

An investigation into the grounding is ongoing, but last week the Navy relieved the commanding officer and three members of the minesweeper’s crew of their duties based on initial results of the probe, a Navy statement said.

“The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures,” the Navy statement said. “The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence.”

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

READ MORE: Minesweeper lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: Bow cut from U.S. ship, lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: U.S. Navy commander apologizes for ship stuck in reef off Philippines

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/vS0fmnj6Fp8/index.html

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The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

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(CNN) — The U.S. government is getting its bill for the damage a Navy minesweeper did to a Philippine coral reef, and it’s less than expected.

Philippine officials say the USS Guardian damaged 2,346 square meters (25,252 square feet) of Tubbataha Reef after it ran aground January 17. That’s down from the original estimate of about 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet).

And that means, under Philippine law, the United States owes $1.5 million in fines, the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board said in a posting on the Tubbahata Reefs Natural Park website Monday.

The fines are based on the amount of reef that has been damaged, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The Tubbahata board said the revised damage estimate was made by a team of U.S. Navy and Philippine marine biologists from Wednesday to Friday.

The original survey was conducted January 27 while the warship was still on the reef.

The Guardian was completely removed on March 30, when the ship’s stern, the last of four sections into which its 224-foot-long hull had been cut, was lifted from the reef by a massive seagoing crane.

“Using aerial imaging, the grounding zone was originally outlined using the ship’s length as the basis for computing the total damaged area. This image was later observed to be obliquely angled thus artificially expanding the area plotted on mapping software,” the statement on the park’s website said.

The cost of the salvage operation to remove the ship from the reef was $45 million, Stars and Stripes reported Monday, citing a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman.

An investigation into the grounding is ongoing, but last week the Navy relieved the commanding officer and three members of the minesweeper’s crew of their duties based on initial results of the probe, a Navy statement said.

“The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures,” the Navy statement said. “The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence.”

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

READ MORE: Minesweeper lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: Bow cut from U.S. ship, lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: U.S. Navy commander apologizes for ship stuck in reef off Philippines

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/08/world/asia/navy-ship-philippine-reef/index.html?eref=edition

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The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

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(CNN) — The U.S. government is getting its bill for the damage a Navy minesweeper did to a Philippine coral reef, and it’s less than expected.

Philippine officials say the USS Guardian damaged 2,346 square meters (25,252 square feet) of Tubbataha Reef after it ran aground January 17. That’s down from the original estimate of about 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet).

And that means, under Philippine law, the United States owes $1.5 million in fines, the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board said in a posting on the Tubbahata Reefs Natural Park website Monday.

The fines are based on the amount of reef that has been damaged, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The Tubbahata board said the revised damage estimate was made by a team of U.S. Navy and Philippine marine biologists from Wednesday to Friday.

The original survey was conducted January 27 while the warship was still on the reef.

The Guardian was completely removed on March 30, when the ship’s stern, the last of four sections into which its 224-foot-long hull had been cut, was lifted from the reef by a massive seagoing crane.

“Using aerial imaging, the grounding zone was originally outlined using the ship’s length as the basis for computing the total damaged area. This image was later observed to be obliquely angled thus artificially expanding the area plotted on mapping software,” the statement on the park’s website said.

The cost of the salvage operation to remove the ship from the reef was $45 million, Stars and Stripes reported Monday, citing a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman.

An investigation into the grounding is ongoing, but last week the Navy relieved the commanding officer and three members of the minesweeper’s crew of their duties based on initial results of the probe, a Navy statement said.

“The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures,” the Navy statement said. “The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence.”

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

READ MORE: Minesweeper lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: Bow cut from U.S. ship, lifted from Philippine reef

READ MORE: U.S. Navy commander apologizes for ship stuck in reef off Philippines

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/08/world/asia/navy-ship-philippine-reef/index.html?eref=edition

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The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

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(CNN) — The U.S. government is getting its bill for the damage a Navy minesweeper did to a Philippine coral reef, and it’s less than expected.

Philippine officials say the USS Guardian damaged 2,346 square meters (25,252 square feet) of Tubbataha Reef after it ran aground January 17. That’s down from the original estimate of about 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet).

And that means, under Philippine law, the United States owes $1.5 million in fines, the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board said in a posting on the Tubbahata Reefs Natural Park website Monday.

The fines are based on the amount of reef that has been damaged, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

The Tubbahata board said the revised damage estimate was made by a team of U.S. Navy and Philippine marine biologists from Wednesday to Friday.

The original survey was conducted January 27 while the warship was still on the reef.

The Guardian was completely removed on March 30, when the ship’s stern, the last of four sections into which its 224-foot-long hull had been cut, was lifted from the reef by a massive seagoing crane.

“Using aerial imaging, the grounding zone was originally outlined using the ship’s length as the basis for computing the total damaged area. This image was later observed to be obliquely angled thus artificially expanding the area plotted on mapping software,” the statement on the park’s website said.

The cost of the salvage operation to remove the ship from the reef was $45 million, Stars and Stripes reported Monday, citing a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman.

An investigation into the grounding is ongoing, but last week the Navy relieved the commanding officer and three members of the minesweeper’s crew of their duties based on initial results of the probe, a Navy statement said.

“The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures,” the Navy statement said. “The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence.”

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

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