Malaysia Airlines is now a Seven Star PLUS safety rated airline

Malaysia Airlines has earned the coveted Seven Star PLUS safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, joining an exclusive group of top airlines celebrated for outstanding cabin safety and exceptional operational standards.

This positions the airline alongside carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Air New Zealand,
STARLUX Airlines, EVA Air, Air Europa, and HK Express (Low-cost carrier) reflecting its strong safety culture and consistently high onboard operational standards.

AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen commented on the recognition: "Particularly notable on this audit was the crew's vigilance in keeping passengers seated whenever the seatbelt sign was on. There were long periods when it remained illuminated, and passengers naturally grow restless or feel the need to move. The Malaysia Airlines crew were diligent throughout, ensuring everyone stayed seated until it was safe. Their emergency exit briefing was equally impressive.

Although not part of the audit process, a visit to the airline’s operations afterwards really showcased the impressive efforts they’ve made—especially over the past decade—to address crew resource management, human factors, and fatigue management. I’d say many other airlines could take a from Malaysia Airlines’ playbook in this area.

On the latest recognition, Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company for Malaysia Airlines said, “The Seven Star PLUS recognition is a meaningful affirmation of the strong safety culture we have continuously built across Malaysia Aviation Group over the years. What makes this recognition especially significant is the acknowledgement of the operational discipline, crew professionalism and robust safety practices demonstrated consistently across our operations by our teams. At MAG, safety underpins every aspect of our business and remains a shared responsibility embraced by every employee across the organisation. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our people and reinforces our focus on continuously strengthening operational resilience, enhancing our capabilities, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence for our passengers.”

So, what does Seven Star PLUS actually mean?
Seven-Star PLUS is a safety rating that airlines earn, not something they can buy or simply ask for. To qualify, an airline must already have our top-tier Seven-Star safety rating, and only then can it for the audit that could lead to Seven-Star PLUS recognition.

The airline welcomes auditors on board for an independent, anonymous review of its cabin crew’s safety compliance, observed during regular flight conditions over six separate flights. To earn the Seven Star PLUS title, an airline must meet our strict standards throughout the audit, and not all participants qualify. Airlines needing significant improvements keep their Seven-Star safety rating and can be reassessed within a year after making changes.

The value of these audits sits with the airline and the passenger alike. For the airline, the assessment surfaces genuine cabin crew compliance gaps and helps close them early, before they become incidents or regulator findings. A safety team and a chief financial officer both understand the worth of catching a problem in time, and earning the rating gives the airline a credential that carries weight.

For travelers, Seven Star PLUS is a clear signal worth knowing. It marks an airline that opened its cabin operation to independent scrutiny and met the required standard. We hold Seven Star and Seven Star PLUS airlines in the highest safety regard, but the PLUS adds a mark of verified cabin safety compliance, earned by the airlines that chose to be tested.

Air New Zealand gets stuck in muddy grass

An Air New Zealand flight to Auckland (AKL/NZAA) was grounded in Christchurch (CHC/NZCH) Sunday morning the 21st of June 2026 after the aircraft's main wheels rolled into grass and soft ground near the taxiway.

The A320 should have departed at 5.45am, but it became firmly wedged and was still stuck in Christchurch at 7am, according to flight-tracking data Flight NZ582 had been preparing to depart when the incident occurred, the airline said. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the aircraft's main wheels "came into contact with the grass beside the taxiway" during pushback.

He said all customers had disembarked safely, and the aircraft had remained in place. "Our team is working to put on a new flight to Auckland for impacted customers later this morning," McGraw said.

A passenger told Stuff the captain originally said it would take three tugs to free the aircraft, before updating them just before 7am that they were not going anywhere.

"Will take some serious grunt to pull us free, wheels have sunk," the passenger said. McGraw said staff were working to safely return the aircraft to the gate so bags could be unloaded, and an engineering assessment could be completed.

"We thank everyone onboard for their patience and understanding while we work to get them safely to their destination," he said.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air New Zealand

Code: NZ/ANZ

Aircraft: Airbus A320-232

Registration: ZK-OJS

Serial Number: 4926

Engines: 2 x IAE V2527-A5

First Flew: 18th November 2011

Age: 14 Years

All FOUR engines have failed

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 G-ZBKN (MSN 38630)

 

On the 24th of June 1982, British Airways Flight 009, with a callsign of Speedbird 9, was performing a scheduled flight from London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) to Auckland (AKL/NZAA), with stops in Delhi (DEL/VIDP), Kuala Lumpur (KUL/WMKK) and Perth (PER/YPPH).

During the Kuala Lumpur - Perth sector the aircraft flew into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung around 110 miles (180 km) south-east of Jakarta, Indonesia, resulting in the failure of all four engines. Partly because the event occurred at night, obscuring the cloud, the reason for the failure was not immediately apparent to the crew or air traffic control. 

Shortly after 13:40 UTC (20:40 Jakarta time) above the Indian Ocean, south of Java, the crew first noticed an unusual effect on the windscreen similar to St. Elmo's fire. Despite the weather radar showing clear skies, the crew switched on engine anti-ice and the passenger seat belt signs as a precaution.

As the flight progressed, smoke began to accumulate in the passenger cabin of the aircraft; it was first assumed to be cigarette smoke. However, it soon began to grow thicker and had an odour of sulphur. Passengers who had a view of the aircraft's engines through the window noted that they were unusually bright blue, with light shining forward through the fan blades and producing a stroboscopic effect.

Around 13:42 UTC (20:42 Jakarta time), the number four Rolls-Royce RB211 engine began surging and soon flamed out. The flight crew immediately performed the engine shutdown drill, quickly cutting off fuel supply and arming the fire extinguishers. Less than a minute later, at 13:43 UTC (20:43 Jakarta time), engine two surged and flamed out. Within seconds, and almost simultaneously, engines one and three flamed out, prompting the flight engineer to exclaim, "I don't believe it—all four engines have failed!"

Without engine thrust, a 747-200 has a glide ratio of roughly 15:1, meaning it can glide forward 15 kilometres for every kilometre it drops. The flight crew quickly determined that the aircraft was capable of gliding for 23 minutes and covering 91 nautical miles (169 km) from its flight level of 37,000 feet (11,000 m).

At 13,500 feet (4,100 m), the crew was approaching the altitude at which they would have to turn over the ocean and attempt a risky ditching. Although the crew had guidelines for the water landing procedure, no one had ever tried it in a Boeing 747. As they performed the engine restart procedure, engine number four finally started, and at 13:56 UTC (20:56 Jakarta time), Moody used its power to reduce the rate of descent. Shortly thereafter, engine three restarted, allowing him to climb slowly. Shortly after that, engines one and two successfully restarted, as well. The crew subsequently requested and expedited an increase in altitude to clear the high mountains of Indonesia.

The aircraft landed safely in Jakarta.

The route was flown by the City of Edinburgh, a Boeing 747-236B registered as G-BDXH. The crew members of the accident segment had boarded the aircraft in Kuala Lumpur, while many of the passengers had been aboard since the flight began in London.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: British Airways

Code: BA/BAW

Aircraft: Boeing 747-236

Registration: G-BDXH

Serial Number: 21635

Engines: 4 x RR RB211-524D4

First Flew: 19/03/1979

Age at incident: 3.3 Years

Looking back on Air India Flight 182

AIR INDIA BOEING 787-8 VT-ANH (MSN 36276)

On the 23rd of June 1985, Air India flight 182 disintegrated in mid-air en route from Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, QC (YMX/CYMX), Canada to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), United Kingdom. It was at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m) over the Atlantic Ocean. The result of the explosion from a bomb being planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists. The remnants of the airliner fell into the ocean approximately 190 kilometres (120 miles) west-southwest of the southwest tip of Ireland, killing all aboard: 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens and 24 Indian citizens. 

The aircraft took off from Montreal at 02:18 UTC. Its estimated time of arrival at London was 08:33 UTC. At 07:15 UTC, at FL310 over the Atlantic Ocean an explosion occurred in the forward cargo compartment, causing a rapid decompression. The aft portion of the aircraft separated from the forward portion before striking the water. The wreckage sank to a depth of 6700 feet.
From the wreckage retrieved no direct evidence was found of an explosive device. However, there is a considerable amount of circumstantial and other evidence that an explosive device caused the occurrence. Furthermore, because an explosive device detonated in Tokyo the same day. Just 55 minutes before Air-India 182 crashed, A bag from CP Air Flight 003 exploded at Tokyo-Narita Airport, just 55 minutes before Air India 182 crashed. This was probably an interlined unaccompanied suitcase to be placed on Air-India Flight 301 to Bangkok.

Investigation determined that a suitcase was also interlined unaccompanied from Vancouver via CP Air Flight 060 to Toronto. In Toronto, there is nothing to suggest that the suitcase was not transferred to Terminal 2 and placed on board Air India Flight 181/182 in accordance with normal practice. The aircraft departed Toronto for Montreal-Mirabel and London with the suitcase unaccompanied.

The bombing of Air India Flight 182 is the largest mass killing in Canadian history, Canada's worst terrorist attack, the deadliest aviation incident in the history of Air India and was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism until the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air India

Code: AI/AIC

Aircraft: Boeing 747-237B

Registration: VT-EFO

Serial Number: 23634

Engines: 4 x PW JT9D-7A

Delivery Date: 30/06/1978

Virgin Australia launches brand new route out of Canberra

Virgin Australia is set to kick off its first international route from Canberra, with the inaugural direct flight to Bali taking off later today.

The new route will run three return flights each week between Canberra (CBR/YSCB) and Denpasar (DSP/WADD), adding over 40,000 seats a year and giving Canberrans a direct link to one of Australia’s favorite overseas holiday spots.

The service is set to benefit travelers from nearby regional areas like Batemans Bay, Bega, Cooma, Jindabyne, and Merimbula, giving them the option to fly internationally through Canberra instead of making the trip to Sydney or Brisbane.

Virgin Australia Chief Marketing and Customer Operations Officer Libby Minogue said the launch marked an important milestone for the airline. “Today marks a significant milestone for Virgin Australia as we operate our first-ever international flight from Canberra, connecting the nation’s capital directly with one of Australia’s most popular overseas destinations,” Ms. Minogue said.

The route boosts Virgin Australia’s Bali network, which already offers direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.

The flight details are:

• VA 127 Canberra to Bali - Departure: 4:10 PM (Canberra local time) Arrival: 8:55 PM (Denpasar local time) Flight duration: Approximately 6 hours 45 minutes.

• VA 128 Bali to Canberra - Departure: 9:45 PM (Denpasar local time) Arrival: 5:35 AM (next day, Canberra local time) Flight duration: 5 hours 50 minutes

The aircraft expected to perform the inaugural flight today is VH-8IK (MSN 65116)

Brisbane Airport to get a third passenger terminal

The Australian government has officially approved Brisbane Airport’s (BNE/YBBN) master plan, which features the construction of a third passenger terminal. Brisbane Airport plans to invest A$5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, partly to prepare for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane. The plan includes building the new terminal and renovating the two existing ones.

The approved master plan “will ensure Brisbane Airport remains a world-class gateway as we invest more than A$5 billion just in the next five years,” BNE CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said. BNE has previously said the new Terminal 3 (T3) will be “constructed and operational by the early 2030s.”

In the draft master plan, BNE said T3 will be located between the airport’s two parallel runways. The location “will result in optimal airfield access and reduce aircraft taxi times,” according to the master plan. BNE has not settled on a specific size or initial capacity for the new terminal. BNE handled 25 million passengers in 2025, the airport’s busiest year ever. De Graaff said the master plan paves the way for the airport to have the “capacity to handle more than 50 million passengers in two decades.”

According to the master plan, “T3 will incrementally expand over the coming decades to meet growth passenger forecasts, with the size of T3 informed through terminal planning studies, airline community interests, precinct commercial opportunities and consideration of the customer experience.”

Body of a man found hidden in landing gear of Air Arabia flight

Ground crews have made a grim discovery shortly after a plane landed at a London airport, finding the body of a man the landing gear. The shocking find was reported to be in the undercarriage of an Air Arabia flight that arrived at London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) from Tangier, Morocco (TNG/GMTT), around 11:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The man is believed to have hidden in the undercarriage bay prior to departure from Tangier Battouta International Airport, exposing himself to the unforgiving conditions of high-altitude flight. Unpressurized landing gear compartments subject individuals to sub-zero temperatures, severe hypoxia, and the mechanical dangers of retracting gear, often resulting in fatal outcomes. Air Arabia Maroc confirmed that authorities were notified immediately, while the return flight experienced minor delays. Gatwick Airport officials emphasized their emergency response, underscoring the shock experienced by ground crews who encountered the remains. Such stowaway attempts underscore desperate measures sometimes taken amid migration pressures, though they rarely succeed due to the physiological extremes at cruising altitudes.

An Air Arabia spokesperson told reporters that “an incident was identified upon the arrival of Air Arabia Maroc Flight 3O102 from Tangier to London Gatwick on the 16th of June 2026, and the relevant authorities were immediately notified”.

It is not the first incident of its kind in London though, with several other reported deaths of stowaways in recent years.

• A man died in December 2022 in a similar incident at Gatwick Airport when he was discovered in the undercarriage of a Tui Flight from Gambia.
• In 2019 a man fell from a Kenya Airways plane’s landing gear as it approached Heathrow Airport. His body was found several kilometres away in a home garden.
• Another man also fell to his death in 2015 after travelling in the undercarriage of a plane from Johannesburg. His body was found in the carpark of a shop in Southwest London.
• It was reported at the time that a South African man on the same flight miraculously survived the 11-hour flight by clinging to the landing gear on the plane.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Air Arabia Maroc
Code: 3O/MAC
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Registration: CN-NMH
Serial Number: 5143
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-5B4/P
First Flew: 2nd May 2012
Age: 14 years

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.