First-class passenger ‘bites’ cabin crew - flight diverts

An unruly first-class passenger has forced an international flight to make an unplanned landing after they allegedly became aggressive towards cabin staff.

United Airlines, flight UA18, was travelling from Milan, Italy (MXP/LIMC) to Newark, New Jersey (EWR/KEWR) on Tuesday when a 37-year-old Russian woman seated at the front of the aircraft started causing a scene inside the cabin, it was reported.

The mid-flight meltdown occurred when the woman, identified as Kristina Kedysheva, asked airline staff for more alcoholic drinks but was “refused” service. It was then that “non-compliant” Ms. Kedysheva became “very aggressive” and allegedly started “assaulting flight attendants,” a lead air hostess onboard the plane told investigators.

A passenger told police she grabbed the woman when she saw her “move close to the outer, rear door” out of fear she might try and open it. But Ms. Kedysheva then started yelling, prompting staff to try restraining her as she became increasingly resistant as she “fought off” and “bit” a flight attendant hard on the wrist.

“When flight crew and able-bodied people attempted to place Ms. Kedysheva in restraints, Ms. Kedysheva fought them off,’” the flight attendant added. According to another cabin crew member, Ms. Kedysheva had already consumed a number of alcoholic beverages and “appeared to be drunk” and her aggression grew as the consumed alcohol took effect .

Airline staff alerted the FBI, and the captain was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangor International Airport in Maine (BGR/KBGR).

Upon arrival, the disruptive passenger was removed from the plane and detained by US Customs and Border Patrol. United Airlines said in statement provided to People the flight landed safely in Maine after an “unruly passenger” caused the unscheduled diversion.

Under police questioning, Ms. Kedysheva denied accusations she bit airline staff, attempted to tamper with a door and made threats to airline crews. She maintained she did not do anything wrong and claimed the in-flight chaos was caused by a female flight attendant.

However, she allegedly admitted to drinking many alcoholic drinks onboard over the course of a few hours.

Ms. Kedysheva faces one count of interference with an aircraft in flight, one count of interference with a flight crew and one count of assault.

Remembering 9/11 — 25 Years On

Twenty-five years ago today, the world changed forever.

September 11, 2001, began like any other day for thousands of people. Passengers boarded four commercial airliners, crews prepared for their flights, and families went about their normal morning routines. None could have imagined the tragedy that was about to unfold.

For those of us who have a love of aviation, September 11 holds a particularly profound place in our memories. Aircraft, which normally represent travel, adventure, connection and the freedom to explore the world, suddenly became associated with unimaginable loss.

The four flights—American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77 and United Airlines Flight 93—carried 246 passengers and crew who never reached their intended destinations. Their lives, along with those of so many others on the ground, were taken far too soon.

But September 11 is not only about the tragedy. It is also about the extraordinary courage and sacrifice that followed.

Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, emergency workers and ordinary people ran towards danger while others were trying desperately to escape it. Many never returned home. Their bravery remains one of the most powerful parts of the story of that terrible day.

Twenty-five years have now passed, but for the families who lost loved ones, the pain of that morning can never truly disappear. Children grew up without parents, parents lost sons and daughters, and husbands and wives were suddenly left without the people they loved.

The aviation world also changed forever. Security procedures, airport operations and the way we think about air travel were transformed. Every time we pass through an airport today, we are reminded in some small way of the lasting impact of September 11.

As an aviation enthusiast, I still look up whenever I hear an aircraft overhead. I still admire the beauty, engineering and freedom of flight. But September 11 reminds me that behind every aircraft is something far more important than the machine itself—people.

People with families. People with dreams. People going somewhere.

On this 25th anniversary, my family and I pause to remember every passenger and crew member who never came home, everyone who lost their life on the ground, and all those who showed incredible courage in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

Twenty-five years later, we remember their names, their lives and their stories.

We remember.
We honour.
We will never forget.

Sydney's International expands with EgyptAir and Shenzhen Airlines

Sydney Airport is preparing for the arrival of two airlines that will add some fascinating new chapters to Australia's aviation story, with EgyptAir and Shenzhen Airlines both announcing plans to begin services to Sydney. The two announcements, made within a day of each other, will see Sydney's international airline network expand to a record number of carriers and provide new links to two very different but increasingly important markets.

Shenzhen Airlines is scheduled to begin four-times-weekly flights between Shenzhen and Sydney on the 14th of December 2026, while EgyptAir plans to return to Sydney in 2027 with a Cairo–Singapore–Sydney service. The announcements will take Sydney Airport's number of international airlines to 55, with EgyptAir becoming number 54 and Shenzhen Airlines number 55.

Perhaps the more surprising announcement though is the return of EgyptAir.

Egypt's national carrier has announced plans to reconnect Cairo and Sydney via Singapore from 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and the finalisation of the operating schedule. While this will be promoted as a new service, it is actually a return to Australia for the Egyptian flag carrier.

EgyptAir previously operated Cairo–Singapore–Sydney flights but suspended the service in July 2002. The proposed 2027 operation will therefore bring EgyptAir back to Sydney after an absence of around 25 years. The new service is particularly significant because there is currently no direct air connection between Sydney and Cairo.

The route will also be significant for the large Egyptian Australian community in New South Wales, which Sydney Airport says numbers more than 31,000 people.

The planned routing is:
Cairo → Singapore → Sydney

and then the return journey:
Sydney → Singapore → Cairo

While EgyptAir represents a return to Sydney, Shenzhen Airlines will be an entirely new carrier for the airport. The service will operate four times a week using an Airbus A330-300. Sydney Airport says the new operation will add approximately 130,000 seats annually and support an estimated 100,000 passengers each year.

The initial schedule is:
ZH815
Shenzhen (SZX) → Sydney (SYD)
00:20 – 13:40
ZH816
Sydney (SYD) → Shenzhen (SZX)
22:30 – 05:25+1

Riverfire 2026: Brisbane takes to the skies

There are plenty of great events on Brisbane’s calendar, but few can match the excitement, colour and sheer noise of Riverfire. For aviation enthusiasts like us, Riverfire isn’t just about the fireworks. The build-up is every bit as exciting, particularly when some of the Royal Australian Air Force’s most impressive aircraft come roaring through the skies above Brisbane.

 
So, what is Riverfire?
Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust is Brisbane’s spectacular annual fireworks celebration and one of the signature events of the Brisbane Festival. Held along the Brisbane River, Riverfire combines a massive fireworks spectacular with military aircraft fly-past's and displays, creating an unforgettable evening against the backdrop of Brisbane’s city skyline.

This year Riverfire took place on Saturday the 5th of September, officially kicking off the Brisbane Festival. The fireworks are always scheduled to begin at 7pm, with the aerial displays taking place beforehand.

For Brisbane locals, it has become something of an annual tradition — find a spot along the river, look skyward and wait for the unmistakable sound of fast jets approaching the city.
And that’s exactly what we did this year.

 
Thursday – the mighty C-17A Globemaster III
My family and I headed out to watch the rehearsal flight of the Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III as it made its way over Brisbane. Scheduled for approximately 12:30pm around the Victoria Bridge precinct, the rehearsal gave aviation enthusiasts a fantastic opportunity to see one of the RAAF’s giant strategic airlift aircraft operating over the heart of the city.

There’s something special about watching a huge aircraft like the C-17 flying above Brisbane’s skyscrapers. It may not have the speed or noise of a fighter jet, but its sheer size makes it an impressive sight.

My wife and daughter headed to the outdoor bar on the top floor of the casino while I stayed on the ground at Southbank.  

Friday – the Super Hornets arrive
If Thursday was impressive, Friday turned the volume up considerably!
On Friday we were back again for another Riverfire rehearsal — this time for two RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets.

The two individual rehearsal flights were scheduled around 20–30 minutes apart, with the aircraft operating around the Victoria Bridge and Brisbane CBD area at approximately 12:30pm.

And what a difference there is when those twin-engine fighters come screaming through the Brisbane skies.

The sound arrives almost as quickly as the aircraft themselves, and for anyone who loves military aviation, seeing two Super Hornets operating against the Brisbane skyline is something you simply don’t get tired of.

Once again, our family was there to watch the action, again my wife and daughter headed for the casino and this time I changed locations and went to the Kangaroo Point cliffs.

And now for the big one!

After enjoying both rehearsal days, we were looking forward to the main event on Saturday night.

At 7.05 pm the fireworks light up the Brisbane skyline from multiple locations along the river, with displays launched from barges, rooftops and bridges. It's not unusual for half a million people or more to head into Brisbane for the celebrations, but my family and I headed to the top floor level of the airport carpark to watch the spectacular. 

Fatal light aircraft crash south of Brisbane

Two people have died following a crash of a light aircraft here in Brisbane yesterday morning. The Beech A36 Bonanza crashed into a rural property at Stockleigh, in Logan, south of Brisbane, shortly after 11am, only minutes after departing Archerfield Airport (ACF/YBAF).

Emergency services were called to the property after the aircraft came down and a grass fire broke out at the crash site. Fire crews faced a rapidly spreading blaze, with the fire eventually covering an area of approximately three soccer fields. Sadly, police confirmed that both occupants of the aircraft died in the crash.

The victims were a 56-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both understood to be residents of Ascot in Brisbane. 

Available flight-tracking information indicates the Bonanza was airborne for only around seven minutes. It reached an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet before beginning its descent towards the Stockleigh area. The aircraft was registered to Telford Aviation, a Brisbane-based charter and aircraft rental company.

Queensland Police have described the crash scene as confronting, while investigators begin the difficult task of establishing exactly what happened during those final minutes of the flight.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into the accident and investigators are examining the aircraft wreckage and surrounding evidence. Police are also appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard the aircraft before the crash to come forward. Authorities are particularly interested in any dashcam, mobile-phone or other video footage that could help establish the aircraft's movements during its short flight.

The cause of the accident remains unknown and will be the subject of the ongoing investigation.

Aircraft Information:
Owner: Telford Aviation Pty Ltd

Aircraft: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 

Registration: VH-MPT

Serial Number: E-1456

Engine: Teledyne-continental IO-550-BB

First Flew: January 1979

Age: 47 Years 

We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and keep them in our thoughts during this difficult time.

Amazon Prime Air crashes in Miami

                                     HAPPENING NOW

An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767-300 freighter traveling from San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU/TJSJ) Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA) operated by 21 Air overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport at approximately 2:00 pm local time. 

The aircraft left the runway, struck several vehicles and caught fire, producing a huge column of black smoke that was visible across the Miami area. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units were sent to the scene.

Images from the scene show the 767 coming to rest off the runway with its nose down and tail elevated, with substantial fire damage around the right side of the aircraft. Despite the dramatic appearance, reports indicate that the main fuselage remained largely intact.

Aircraft Information:

Owner: Amazon Prime Air

Operator: 21 Air

Code: 21/CSB

Aircraft: Boeing 767-33A

Registration: N1997A

Serial Number: 27310

Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80C2B6F

First Flew: June 1994

Age: 32 years

The aircraft has had a big life operating with many companies in its 32-year history

24/06/1994  Sobelair as OO-SBY
28/11/2000 Vietnam Airlines as VN-A768
08/07/2003 Air Europa as EC-IQA
01/07/2006 Kenya Airways as 5Y-KQQ  
07/10/2010 Nordwind Airlines as VQ-BRA
30/09/2015 Atlas Air as N648GT 
13/01/2025 Atlas Air as N1997A 
14/01/2025 21 Air as N1997A 
15/01/2025 Amazon Prime Air Operated by 21 Air as N1997A

UPDATED 

11am Brisbane (01.00 UTC) 

I have since learnt that five people are dead and five others are injured after the Amazon cargo plane crashed just outside Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon. The plane overran Runway 30, struck multiple vehicles and came to rest at a field next to the airport.

Three people were in a critical condition and were taken to a trauma center, and two others were taken to a local hospital, a Miami-Dade Fire Chief said.

We’re keeping everyone affected in our thoughts and hoping for comfort and strength during this challenging time.

Dolly Parton to get an airport and flight number named in her honour

Tennessee is showing love for their late country music queen by renewing a proposal to rename their airport in her honour.

Nashville International Airport (BNA/KBNA) is moving closer to becoming Dolly Parton International Airport after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the airport officially announced their intention to name BNA in honor of the late country music legend. The proposal has moved well beyond the fan campaign that initially pushed for the change. Lee and Nashville International Airport announced their support following Parton’s death on August 25, while an online petition calling for the tribute has now attracted more than 170,000 signatures.

The next important date is the 17th of September when the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is expected to discuss the proposal — including an existing airport policy that could otherwise prevent an immediate renaming.

But that's not the only accolade Dolly will receive.

Starting on the 28th of March 2027, one of American Airlines’ daily flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW/KDFW) to Nashville (BNA/KBNA) changes its flight number from 1396 to 925. No announcement on the tarmac, no special livery, no themed cabin service. Just a number on a boarding pass that points at “9 to 5” and in the city where Dolly Parton built her career. The route is already bookable under the new number. It just will not fly as flight 925 for another seven months.

Those flights were planned while Dolly was still here, as a celebration of her music and the Tennessee legacy she spent her life building Now, that little number 925 carries a little more weight. Dolly made a

career out of finding the extraordinary in everyday life, and there is something wonderfully fitting about her "9 to continuing to travel with people, whether they are flying into Nashville or heading home from a day at Dollywood. It is a small tribute. but sometimes the small ones are the ones that stick with you.