Travel Roundup: NTSB Wants Engine Inspections, Sands Abandons $5B Loan, United Pilot Arrested and More

(MoneyWatch)  NTSB urges FAA engine inspections -- The National Transportation Safety Board is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to inspect engines of more than 700 Boeing 757 aircraft because engine parts could open fuel tanks and create leaks or a fire. This comes after the inspection of several planes with damaged engines and missing parts, including an Aug. 6 incident in Las Vegas that grounded a plane after takeoff. [Source: AP/Yahoo!]

Las Vegas Sands can't get $5B loan -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. wanted $5 billion to build a 6,400-room casino resort across from the Venetian Macao, but has now officially abandoned the idea when three out of the five banks involved in the loan either went bankrupt or are in serious financial trouble. The Sands targeted the $5 billion loan after bankers declined to loan the company $7 billion six months ago. [Source: Hotels/South China Morning Post]

United pilot arrested in the cockpit -- A United pilot was arrested Sunday at London's Heathrow Airport in the cockpit of his Boeing 777 on suspicion of being over the alcohol legal limit after failing a breath test. The 44-year-old man was not named, but was suspended from his duties, a United spokeswoman said. [Source: Telegraph, Reuters]

Portland's The Nines hopes to survive floundering economy -- The $137 million luxury hotel The Nines opened this week with rooms starting at $249 a night, about twice downtown Portland's average hotel price. Critics say its prices are too high and unsustainable. [Source: Portland Oregonian]