Friday, 7 February 2025

Cessna Caravan missing in Alaska

Authorities are urgently searching for a Bering Air passenger plane carrying 10 individuals that was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet Airport, AK (UNK/PAUN) to Nome Airport, AK (OME/PAOM), according to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety on Thursday.

The small turboprop Cessna Caravan plane, performing flight BRG445, had nine passengers and one pilot on board, the agency stated on its website adding crews were working to obtain its last-known coordinates. According to the U.S. government's National Institute of Safety and Health, a disproportionate number of air taxi and commuter plane accidents occur in Alaska compared to other U.S. states.

Alaska has mountainous terrain and challenging weather. Many villages are not connected by roads and small planes are used to transport people and goods. Bering Air is an Alaska-based regional airline that operates around 39 planes and helicopters, according to data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

Its last position, flying over water, was received by FlightRadar24 trackers 38 minutes after departing Unalakleet at 14.38 local time Thursday for a flight that usually takes under an hour.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Bering Air
Code: 8E/BRG
Aircraft: Cessna 208B
Registration: N321BA
Serial Number: 208B5613
Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop 
First Flew: January 2020
Age 5 Years

Furious flyer in Nigeria hurls used sanitary pads at airline staff

An airline passenger threw a bloodied sanitary napkin at airline staff after being denied boarding, as she didn't have a visa for France.

A passenger in a fit of rage threw her soiled sanitary napkin at the airport check-in staff, after being denied boarding. On Monday (3rd of February), Gloria Omisore was travelling from her hometown of Lagos, Nigeria (LOS/DNMM) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/HKJK) in Nairobi, Kenya, for her long-haul flight to Manchester (MAN/EGCC), England.

During check-in, Omisore who had plans to stop in Paris before heading to Britain was told by the airline staff that she did not have the required visa to enter France, according to the New York Post.

Though she was given an alternative route that would have landed her straight to London, Omisore was angered. She shouted at the counter agents who tried to stay calm during the confrontation.

But her anger landed her in even more trouble, as she eventually ended up being refused boarding and was deported back to Kenya. She lost the money she had spent on her tickets to France and Manchester as well as her hotel booking.

The video shared on many social media platforms, show the check-in staff and Omisore in a confrontation. After the argument, the passenger who was allegedly on her period threw three bloodied menstrual pads which landed on the counter and then fell to the floor.

Omisore yells in the video: “You will now provide me a sanitary towel. You cannot take my phone. You cannot take my phone.

“I will speak with the Minister of Finance in Nigeria, you will see.”

However, the infuriated agent shouted back at her.

“Call the president of Nigeria. Call the president of Nigeria. You will not fly on the Kenya Airways,” she said.

“You will never enter our airline again. Call your president. Call the Nigerian president.

“We are not going to give you anything. You are not going to fly on our airways again.”

In a statement, Kenya Airways condemned Omisore’s conduct. “While we remain committed to delivering exceptional service, we expect all interactions to be based on mutual respect. Our employees deserve to work in a safe and dignified environment, and we do not tolerate any abuse from our employees or guests,” the carried added.

It said, while the woman demanded accommodation, “Kenya Airways does not provide in cases where boarding is denied due to visa requirements. It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they have the necessary documentation for their journey.”

On Monday, following the incident, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Michael Achimugu had a meeting with Kenya Airways representatives and agreed to deport Omisore back to Nigeria.

Thursday, 6 February 2025

Japan Airlines plane hits Delta Airlines plane at Seattle

The right wing of a Japan Airlines plane struck the tail of a Delta Airlines plane on Wednesday while both were on the taxiway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, officials said.

The collision occurred around 10:40 a.m. while the Japan Airlines plane was taxiing, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Delta said its plane was being deiced when its tail was clipped.
There are no reported injuries.

The FAA temporarily paused some flights into the airport, the agency said.

Delta Flight 1921, a Boeing 737 with 142 customers on board, was scheduled to fly from Seattle (SEA/KSEA) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR/MMPR), the airline said, adding that it re-booked customers on a new flight.

Video of the incident posted to social media by someone who said they were on one of the planes appears to show the wing of the Japan Airlines stuck on the tail of the Delta plane.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.


Aircraft Information:
Airline: Japan Airlines 
Code: JL/JAL
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 
Registration: JA868J
Serial Number: 34845
Engine: 2 x GEnx-1B74
First Flew: March 2017
Age: 7.10 Years


Aircraft Information:
Airline: Delta Airlines 
Code: DL/DAL
Aircraft: Boeing 737-832
Registration: N3737C
Serial Number: 30799
Engine: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B26
First Flew: November 2000
Age: 20.3 Years


Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Looking back on Pegasus flight 2193

PEGASUS AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-251 TC-NBH (MSN 7399)

Pegasus Airlines Flight 2193 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Izmir-Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB/LTBJ) to Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW/LTFJ). On the 5th of February 2020, the Boeing 737-800 operating the route suffered a runway excursion after landing on runway 06 at Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Three people lost their lives, 179 were injured, and the aircraft was completely destroyed. This marked the first fatal in the airline's history. Flight 2193 operated the flight from İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Istanbul without incident. At approximately 18:30 local time, plane attempted to land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport during heavy rain and strong tailwinds. A thunderstorm with powerful wind gusts was passing through the area at the time of the accident. Two other aircraft aborted their landing attempts at the same airport shortly before Flight 2193 landed.

After what Turkey's transport minister described as a "rough landing," the aircraft failed to decelerate. It skidded off the east end of the runway The aircraft hit ILS antennas and a small building before it fell 30m down an embankment, impacting with a force that survivors described as like an explosion. The aircraft broke into three sections, with the forward section of the fuselage completely destroyed during the incident. Passengers escaped the plane via gaps between the fuselage sections. A fire broke out and was later extinguished by firefighters.

Turkey's health minister said three passengers were killed and 179 people were taken to local hospitals with injuries. 12 children were believed to be on board the plane, according to reports from the Turkish media. An investigation of the pilots was launched based on speculations of crew negligence. The pilots received treatment in the hospital, before they were taken to a police station to provide their statements. 

The accident came less than a month after another Pegasus Airlines accident (Flight 747) involving a Boeing 737 skidding off the runway at the same airport.


Aircraft Information:
Airline: Pegasus Airlines
Code: PC/PGT
Aircraft: Boeing 737-86J
Registration: TC-IZK
Serial Number: 37742
Engine: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B24
First Flew: 23/01/2009
Age: 11 Years


Tuesday, 4 February 2025

Expedia's Air Hacks report busts Aussie air travel myths

Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report is debunking travel myths, revealing the latest essential tips to help save Aussie travellers money and time when planning their 2025 travel.

In this year’s report, Expedia® challenges common travel misconceptions with an analysis of billions of data points and the most extensive air ticketing database in the world, through collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) and Official Airline Guide (OAG)

“As many Aussies begin to plan and book their travels for the year, the Expedia Air Hacks Report comes at the perfect time,” says Sarah King, Expedia Travel Expert. “With insights pulled from billions of data points from every airline across the world, the report arms Aussies with the best chance of saving money and time.”

King continues: “Not only are long-haul destinations becoming more accessible for Aussies, thanks to new flight routes out of Australia, we’re also seeing new aircraft and improved airport facilities, in what should hopefully be an exciting year of travel for Aussies.”

“ARC’s data provided valuable insights into debunking travel myths for Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report that will go a long way to helping travellers prepare for their 2025 vacations,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “In 2025, affordable premium and economy fares can help passengers as they continue to priorities international travel with their discretionary spending to explore new destinations around the world.”

Myth #1: 
“Travelling domestically on weekends is more expensive”
Busted: Saturday is the cheapest day to depart. It’s not just when you book, it’s when you fly. Domestic travellers who depart on Saturday instead of Monday can save up to 27%.

Myth #2: 
“The further ahead you book, the cheaper it will be.”
Busted: Three months out is the magic window for international flights. Booking too far in advance can actually cost travellers. Booking at least three months before their international flight is the sweet spot for savings of up to 12% than booking more than five months ahead.

Myth #3: 
“The day of the week I book my flight doesn’t matter.”
Busted: Booking on a Sunday can keep more money in your wallet. Booking on the right day can make a world of difference. Sunday is officially the cheapest day to book flights, with savings of up to 20% compared to booking on a Friday.

Myth #4: 
“Airfares always go up every year.”
Busted: Average ticket prices are down. Economy tickets are down 10% from last year, and premium tickets are 3% cheaper.

Myth #5: 
“Every flight I take always seems full”
Busted: Carefully choosing the day and month you travel can mean less crowds.  Sunday is the quietest day of the week to travel, with February being the quietest month.

Myth #6:
“Summer is always the most expensive time to travel.”
Busted: January is the cheapest month to travel, September is the most expensive. Travelling economy in January can save travellers 11% and flying premium in October instead of March can save up to 8%.




Story sourced from here 

Monday, 3 February 2025

Monday morning spotting at Brisbane airport

Having the day off, I decided to head out to Brisbane Airport for the morning to see what I can get.

ALLIANCE EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYU (MSN 19000126)
QF1852 OFF TO MOUNT ISA (ISA) 18 YEARS
FLYING FOR QANTAS

NAURU AIRLINES BOEING 737-3U3 VH-ONU (MSN 28732)
ON516 OFF TO NAURU (INU) 27 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNF (MSN 8839)
NZ272 OFF TO WELLINGTON (WLG) 5 YEARS

QANTAS DASH 8 Q400 VH-LQK (MSN 4415)
QF2376 OFF TO HERVEY BAY (HVB) 12 YEARS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 100 VH-UQG (MSN 11520)
VA1232 ARRIVING FROM ROKHAMPTON (ROK) 30 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
SPORTING THE SOUTHERN CROSS MINOR LIVERY

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-NUU (MSN 11532)
VA1710 ARRIVING FROM GLADSTONE (GLT) 29 YEARS
SPORTING THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS LIVERY

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-QQW (MSN 11569)
QQ4353 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 28 YEARS
SPORTING THE 100TH YEAR OF FLIGHT LIVERY

ALLIANCE FOKKER 100 VH-FGB (MSN 11446)
VA1235 OFF TO ROCKHAMPTON (ROK) 31 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
SPORTING THE 1ST TRANSPACIFIC FLIGHT LIVERY

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-32DW (MSN 577)
MU715 ARRIVING FROM SHANGHAI (PVG) 2 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A 320-251N VH-A5B (MSN 12229)
JQ482 ARRIVING FROM NEWCASTLE (NTL) 2 MONTHS

REX SAAB 340B VH-ZLJ (MSN 340B-380)
ZL7518 OFF TO ROMA (RMA) 29 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHS (MSN 447)
SQ256 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 4 YEARS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 100 VH-UQF (MSN 11456)
VA605 OFF TO MACKAY (MKY) 31 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-QQR (MSN 11564)
VA367 OFF TO TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 29 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

AMERICAN BOEING 787-9 N839AA (MSN 40646)
AA8 OFF TO DALLAS (DFW) 6 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-319 ZK-OKO (MSN 38407)
NZ145 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 13 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VFY (MSN 6362)
JQ565 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 10 YEARS

SPORTING THE FLYING WITH PRIDE LIVERY

SOLOMON AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SIB (MSN 2445)
IE701 OFF TO HONIARA (HIR) 19 YEARS

NATIONAL JET EXPRESS DASH 8 Q400 VH-8QA (MSN 4582)
NC343 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 6 YEARS

FIJI AIRWAYS BOEING 737-MAX 8 DQ-FAH (MSN 64311)
FJ921 ARRIVING FROM NADI (NAN) 4 YEARS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-32AV (MSN 512)
CZ382 OFF TO GUANGZHOU (CAN) 2 YEARS

QANTAS DASH 8 Q400'S 

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-GWUU (MSN 66991)
AC36 OFF TO VANCOUVER (YVR) 1 YEAR

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBN (MSN 1094)
QF 61 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 15 YEARS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKI (MSN 36235)
JQ9 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 10 YEARS

QANTAS DASH 8 Q400 VH-QOT (MSN 4269)
QF2322 OFF TO BUNDABERG (BDB) 15 YEARS

PHILIPPINE AIRBUS A321-271N RP-C9935 (MSN 8568)
PR222 OFF TO MANILA (MNL) 6 YEARS

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-322 N2135U (MSN 62646)
UA97 OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 7 YEARS

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EEH (MSN 119)


Delta Airlines to begin Melbourne-LA flights

DELTA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 N522DZ (MSN 673)

Major US airline Delta Airlines will soon operate direct flights between Melbourne (MEL/YMML) and Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX), becoming the third carrier to compete on this route. The flights will commence in December 2025, adding 86,000 more seats per year between Australia and the US, with Delta Air Lines offering three weekly flights in both directions

Announced on a few days ago, the move puts Delta in competition on the route with Qantas and United Airlines Based on fares listed Sunday, Delta is not yet selling the direct route tickets. Flights from Melbourne to LA with a stop in Sydney are selling for about $200 less than Qantas and United’s direct Melbourne to LA flights for December.

“This is a win for the whole state - for tourism operators, businesses, hotels and restaurants, and for families and travellers,” Victorian Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos said.

“These new Delta flights will bring thousands more tourists from North America to Victoria.”

Victoria has narrowed the gap - behind NSW - as the country’s most popular destination state since the pandemic.

“These new flights will also make it more affordable and convenient for travellers and families who want to experience the USA - which is a win for families who have America on their bucket list,” Mr. Dimopoulos said.

As of today, there are 29 weekly flights from Sydney (SYD/YSSY) to Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX), but only 12 from Melbourne.