New update on the Delta Pilot arrested

There is now a follow up to the below story I posted this morning about the Delta pilot being arrested 

Following his arrest on 24 felony child sex abuse charges his 45-year-old ex-girlfriend Jennifer Powell, has now also been arrested and charged in connection with the case involving the abuse of a young child over five years. Mr. Bhagwagar faces multiple serious charges, including sexual acts with a child aged 10 or younger, oral copulation with a child, forcible lewd acts, and aggravated sexual assault.

Ms Powell, who was the child's guardian and, in a relationship with Mr. Bhagwagar, is accused of enabling the abuse to happen repeatedly and often participating in it.

Both could face anything from 15 years to life in prison if convicted.

Delta Co-pilot arrested immediately on landing

A Delta Air Lines flight arriving in San Francisco (SFO/KSFO) from Minneapolis (MSP/KMSP) took an unexpected turn on Saturday when federal agents boarded the aircraft just after landing.

Flight 2809 had experienced a brief delay due to low visibility from fog but landed safely and taxied to the gate. But, before passengers were allowed to exit, several agents, including those identified as Federal Air Marshals and members of Homeland Security, made their way to the front of the plane and escorted one of the co-pilots off the aircraft in handcuffs.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office says the 34-year-old pilot was arrested and booked on felony charges for sex acts with children under the age of 10. He is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $5 million bond.

The sheriff's office says they've been investigating the pilot since April after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child.

According to passengers, the crew and those on board were surprised by the sudden action, with the remaining pilot reportedly saying he had no idea what was happening.

A passenger named Sarah told the news federal agents rushed on board just after the plane landed and passengers began reaching for their bags.

Sarah counted at least 10 agents, some wearing badges she recognized as Homeland Security.

"They barged through and stormed the cockpit," she said. 

"They removed the co-pilot, cuffed him, presumably arrested him, and brought him back down the aisle to deplane. I don't know if this person was disappearing before our eyes, if there had been a crime committed, or what exactly was happening."

KLM 'could' be banned from America if Schiphol cuts go ahead

The Dutch government plans to cut annual flights at Amsterdam Schiphol from 500,000 to 478,000 starting this November. The move is already drawing sharp warnings from the United States.

Officials argue the reduction could breach the EU-U.S. Open Skies agreement, and if American carriers lose access, retaliation is definite. Delta has the largest stake, with more than 5,500 flights to Schiphol scheduled this year.

United, JetBlue, and American Airlines also operate to the airport, but Delta's transatlantic joint venture with KLM puts even more pressure on both sides. If Schiphol proceeds with the cuts, U.S. authorities will cut KLM's rights to land in the United States, a step they have threatened before.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they are watching for unjustified restrictions and cited Mexico's airspace downgrade as a precedent.

The Dutch say the reduction is about cutting noise, with a goal of 15 percent fewer disturbances. But the International Air Transport Association, Airlines for America, and KLM argue the government skipped proper consultation and failed to apply the required 'Balanced Approach' under ICAO rules. A court sided with airlines last year, but the state later won on appeal

Everything now depends on how much access U.S. carriers actually lose.

Passenger dies mid-flight, then goes missing

A Turkish Airlines passenger who died inflight has mysteriously gone missing after the aircraft diverted to Chicago. Flight TK79 from Istanbul to San Francisco made an emergency landing at 0'Hare on the 13th of July after the passenger suffered a fatal medical emergency over Greenland.

The Airbus A350 was originally considering Keflavik but instead continued to Chicago for logistical reasons. Once on the ground, the passenger's body was reportedly removed from the aircraft,

But now, confusion reigns over where those remains went, as the body has now gone missing.

Chicago's Cook County Medical Examiner's Office says it never received the body and was never notified. Turkish Airlines claims the remains were transferred onto a different flight to San Francisco, but officials say they have no record confirming that either.

The lack of documentation has alarmed both the victim's family and authorities. IATA guidelines require that deceased passengers remain on board until a local authority formally receives the body, but that procedure appears to have broken down in this case

What was meant to be a dignified handover has now become a missing persons case.


I hope for the family's sake they find the body of their loved one.

Former American Airlines flight attendant hid phone in toilet to film young girls.

A former American Airlines flight attendant has been sentenced to eighteen and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to filming underage girls in aircraft lavatories. Estes Carter Thompson, 37, was arrested after a 14-year-old girl found his phone taped under a toilet seat on a Boston-bound flight in 2023.

Thompson had deliberately directed her to the first-class restroom, claiming the main cabin lavatories were all full. The phone was hidden under red maintenance stickers. The girl took a photo and alerted her parents, triggering a federal investigation.

Authorities later discovered Thompson had filmed at least seven girls between the ages of 7 and 14 over nine months using similar hidden setups. Investigators also found Al-generated child abuse material in his possession. Prosecutors described his actions as a calculated pattern of exploitation, calling the footage "deliberate and edited for personal gratification".

American Airlines immediately removed him from service and later confirmed he was fired. The airline now faces a lawsuit alleging it failed to act on earlier warnings and allowed the abuse to happen.

Thompson will serve his sentence at FMC Butner in North Carolina and undergo rehabilitation.

Brisbane man fined $1,700 for bomb threat

A Brisbane man who boarded a flight under a fake name and sparked a bomb scare has walked away with a $1,800 fine. Bernhard Freddy Roduner, 44, was found guilty last week of using a false identification to board a Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Brisbane on the 14th of January. The drama began when a fellow passenger allegedly overheard him mention a bomb during a phone call before takeoff.

The plane was evacuated searched, and Roduner was removed by police. No explosives were found. He later claimed he had said "Tassie is the bomb" in reference to a recent trip to Tasmania and suggested his appearance may have led to suspicion. Roduner also argued the ticket was booked by a friend and issued in their name, denying he deliberately used false ID. The court didn't accept that explanation but dropped a separate charge of threatening aviation staff.

He avoided jail time but was fined $1,000 for flying under false identity and $800 for using that ID at the airport.

The Australian Federal Police said they will continue to act on any threats to aviation, real or perceived. Roduner's case has sparked debate about racial profiling and the risks of miscommunication at 35,000 feet.

Plane spotting in heavy rain

Friday night Qatar Airways, using a Virgin Australia callsign of Velocity 16, brought one of their very special liveries into Brisbane. The aircraft arrives daily around 10.45 pm and sits on the ground for 16 hours, then departs the following afternoon at 3.00 pm.

We then get another Qatar flight, using the Qatar callsign, arrive around 5.30 pm and leaves around 10.30 pm  

Despite the day being very overcast, dull and cold, with heavy showers forecast, my wife, daughter and I headed out to the airport as I hadn't seen the special livery yet and wanted to see it. Another draw card to go out, was, there was a United Airlines 777 still on the ground. This aircraft should have left at 10.30 am Friday. It was cancelled due to mechanical issues and was due to depart at 3.00 pm yesterday.

We watched the United aircraft push back and get released from the tug, then it sat where it was for almost an hour. Sadly, for the crew and passengers, the aircraft returned to the gate for the second time. I did hear the pilots tell ground control; they hope to be away within the hour. 

The flight ended up departing at 8.50 pm.

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VFX (MSN 5871)
JQ656 OFF TO CANBERRA (CBR) 11 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES

ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR BEECH KING AIR 360CER
VH-8FD (MSN FM-111) DIVERTED FROM TOOWOOMBA TO BRISBANE

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YIB (MSN 37825)
VA179 OFF TO NADI (NAN) 13 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-QOH (MSN 4132)
QF2379 ARRIVING FROM HERVEY BAY (HVB) 19 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHK (MSN 369)
SQ236 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 5 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VYA (MSN 33762)
QF539 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 21 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-251N VH-A5A (MSN 12328)
JQ827 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 8 MONTHS

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BED (MSN 60330)
VA15 OFF TO DOHA (DOH) 10 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS A321-271N RP-C9930 (MSN 8117)
PR222 OFF TO MANILA (MNL) 7 YEARS

UNITED BOEING 777-224 N77022 (MSN 39777)

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPF (MSN 595)
QF53 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 21 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYU (MSN 12030)
JQ59 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 9 MONTHS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFS (MSN 41027)
VA1118 OFF TO PROSERPINE (PPP) 9 YEARS

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BAK (MSN 36097)
QR898 ARRIVING FROM DOHA (DOH) 15 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHQ (MSN 439)
SQ265 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 4 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBR (MSN 1251)
QF126 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 13 YEARS

Mahan Air smuggle former Singapore Airlines Boeing 777's

Iran’s Mahan Air has discreetly expanded its wide-body fleet by acquiring five Boeing 777-200 aircraft, formerly operated by Singapore Airlines and NokScoot. On the 15th of July 2025, five aircraft departed from Cambodia's Siem Reap Angkor International airport (SAI/VDSA) in close succession. These aircraft underwent a complex, multi-country transfer process designed to circumvent longstanding U.S. and European sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.

The jets, previously stored at an aircraft graveyard in Alice Springs in Australia (ASP/YBAS)), and later moved across several Asian airports—including Lanzhou, China (LHW/ZLLL) and Siem Reap, Cambodia (SAI/VDSA)—were re-registered in Madagascar before landing in Iran. Their transponders were turned off mid-flight, marking yet another example of aircraft transfers veiled in opacity.

Due to international sanctions, Iranian carriers like Mahan Air and Iran Air (IR) are barred from acquiring aircraft from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, as well as from most mainstream leasing companies. In response, Iran’s aviation industry often relies on indirect, third-party arrangements that obscure the true destination of aircraft until the final stages of delivery.

In this instance, the five Boeing 777-200s, each over two decades old, were initially flown by Singapore Airlines and then later by NokScoot, a low-cost Thai carrier.

After NokScoot’s collapse in 2020, the aircraft were stored in Alice Springs. Between September 2023 and February 2024, they were sold to Ion Aviation, a U.S.-based entity, and briefly registered under U.S. tail numbers: N99001 through N99005.

The details of the 5 Boeing 777-212 aircraft are:

5R-HER MSN 28522 previously Singapore 9V-SRG and NokScoot HS-XBB

N99001 MSN 33369 previously Singapore 9V-SRP and NokScoot HS-XBF

N99002 MSN 32334 previously Singapore 9V-SRL and NokScoot HS-XBE
N99003 MSN 30866 previously Singapore 9V-SRH and NokScoot HS-XBC

The 5th aircraft had all information blocked.

Australian women win the right to sue Qatar Airways.

Five Australian women who say they were pulled from a Qatar Airways flight by armed guards and strip-searched have won the right to sue the airline, after a court on Thursday overturned an earlier decision to throw out the case.

Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights, including 13 Australians, were subjected to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth after a newborn baby was found abandoned at Doha's Hamad Airport in October 2020. The incident made headlines around the world, sparked outrage in Australia and strained diplomatic ties with Qatar.

A group of five women on a Sydney-bound flight launched legal proceedings in 2022 against Qatar Airways, the operator of Doha Airport MATAR, and Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority.
They brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, as well as negligence, assault and false imprisonment. The women sought damages for the impact on their mental health, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from the "unlawful physical contact".

After being escorted off their flight by armed Qatari authorities, the women claimed they were forced to take off their underwear being completely naked from the waist down and then subjected to non-consensual gynecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac.

Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year, finding they had no reasonable prospect of success, and that Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law. On Thursday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling on Qatar Airways saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily.

“Whether or not the claims come within the scope of (the Montreal Convention) is a matter of some complexity,” the summary judgment said.
“It is therefore not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal.”
The judgement allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and MATAR. Both companies were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal.
“Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering,” said Damian Sturzaker, the lawyer from Marque Lawyers representing the women.

Remembering Air France Flight 4590

Air France Flight 4590 was an international charter flight of Air France, traveling from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG) to New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK), United States of America, flown by an Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde. 

On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 25th of July 2000, the aircraft taxied to runway 26R. Takeoff weight was calculated to be 186,900 tons, including 95 tons of fuel, which was one tone over the maximum takeoff weight. At 16:42:17 local time (14:42:17 UTC) the crew were cleared for takeoff.

At 16:42:31 (14:42:31) the captain commenced takeoff. At 16:42:54 (14:42:54) the co-pilot called one hundred knots, then V1, nine seconds later. A few seconds after that, tyre No 2 (right front) on the left main landing gear was destroyed after having run over debris on the runway during takeoff, blowing a tyre, which threw chunks of tyre into the underside of the left wing and into the landing gear bay with great force. The debris was lost by a Continental Airlines DC-10-30, registered N13067 (MSN 47866) which departed Paris as flight CO55 to Newark five minutes before,

The fuel tank built inside the left wing was completely full. When the tyre fragments struck the wing, the tank ruptured, thereby releasing large quantities of fuel. Tyre fragments severed wiring in the landing gear bay, preventing retraction of the landing gear. Fuel from the ruptured tank ignited, causing a loss of thrust in engines 1 and 2. Lack of thrust, high drag from the extended landing gear, and fire damage to the flight controls made it impossible to control the aircraft, which crashed into a hotel in nearby Gonesse two minutes after takeoff. All 109 people on board were killed, alongside four in the hotel. Six other people in the hotel were critically injured.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air France

Code: AF/AFR

Aircraft: Aérospatiale / BAC Concorde 101

Registration: F-BTSC

Serial Number: 203

Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce Olympus 593/610

Additional Information:

The aircraft involved was a 25-year-old Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde, it had its maiden flight on the 31st of January 1975 (during testing, the aircraft's registration was F-WTSC). The aircraft was purchased by Air France on the 6th of January 1976. It was powered by four Rolls-Royce Olympus 593/610 turbojet engines, each of which was equipped with afterburners. 

Air France grounded its remaining Concorde's immediately; British Airways, the only other operator of the aircraft, followed suit in August. Both airlines resumed services in November 2001, but less than two years after that, all Concorde service ceased permanently.

Twenty Concorde aircraft were built, six for development and 14 for commercial service.

Two prototypes

• Two pre-production aircraft
• Two development aircraft
• 14 production aircraft (7 to AF and 7 to BA)

Couple having sex on board plane, charged and blacklisted

A Connecticut couple faces charges of lewd or lascivious exhibition after allegedly engaging in inappropriate behavior on a flight from New York to Florida—and continuing even after noticing two young children watching, according to police.

Trista Reilly allegedly decided to get dirty on a JetBlue plane early Saturday by allegedly performing oral sex on Christopher Drew Arnold, according to court documents obtained by the media. Specifically, police were informed she made "many up-and-down movements with her head while she was face down" in his lap and also masturbated him for serval minutes.

The 2 minors' appalled mother also claimed in her complaint that Trista "didn't care that the kids were watching her" and continued pleasuring her partner even after she noticed she had a small audience watching. The mother told police Trista went down on Christopher during takeoff climb and it was their moans and groans that got everyone's attention. Which, if true, means the kids had to sit through the rest of the flight after witnessing such an obscene situation.

The couple was arrested by police when they landed at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport around 11:30 in the morning. They were released Monday and must have no contact with the alleged victims and stay out of trouble before their court appearance in August.

JetBlue stated that such behavior is completely unacceptable on their aircraft, and as a result, the couple has been given a lifetime ban.

Bangladesh military plane crashes into school

25 people, mostly students, were killed when a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed on the campus of a college on Monday. At least 60 people on the ground were seriously injured. Some reports speak of 164 injured persons, admitted in various hospitals around the area.

Many of the injured are in critical condition. The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Army said the training aircraft crashed at around 13:30 local time. The F-7 BGI jet, a variant of a Chinese fighter, crashed into the campus of the Milestone School and College in the Uttara neighbourhood of Dhaka.

The ISPR said the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training mission when the jet "encountered a mechanical failure". The military said the pilot tried to avoid densely populated areas, but the jet hit a two-story building. It said the aircraft experienced a “technical malfunction,” adding that a high-level Air Force committee will investigate the cause.

Aircraft Information:

Owner / Operator: Bangladesh Air Force

Aircraft: Chengdu F-7 BGI

Registration: 

Serial Number: 

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THE FAMILES AND FRIENDS AND THE BANGLADESH AIR FORCE

Remembering the Gimli Glider

 

Today we remember Air Canada Flight 143, or more commonly known as the "Gimli Glider".  AC143 was a Canadian scheduled domestic passenger flight between Ottowa (YOW/CYOW) and Edmonton (YEG/CYEG) that ran out of fuel on the 23rd of July 1983, at an altitude of 41,000 feet (12,500 m), midway through the flight. The flight crew successfully glided the Boeing 767 to an emergency landing at a former Royal Canadian Air Force base in Gimli, Manitoba that had been converted to a motor racing track. This unusual aviation incident earned the aircraft the nickname "Gimli Glider".  

The accident is commonly blamed on mistaking pounds for kilograms, which resulted in the aircraft carrying only 45% of its required fuel load. However, the unit's error was the last in a series of failures that aligned in a Swiss cheese model to cause the accident. The aircraft departed Montreal and landed at Ottawa, a scheduled stop on its way to Edmonton. At Ottawa the plane was re-fueled, and the crew were told 11,430 liters of fuel were on board. The flight crew then thought they had 20,400 kilos of fuel (instead of only 9,144 kilos!). This amount was entered in the FMS. 

En route to Edmonton, at FL410, the EICAS warned low fuel pressure in the left fuel pump. The captain at once decided to divert the flight to Winnipeg, then 120 miles (192 km) away, and commenced a descent. Within seconds, warning lights appeared indicating loss of pressure in the right main fuel tank. Within minutes, the left engine failed, followed by failure of the right engine. The aircraft was then at 35,000 feet, 65 miles (104 km) from Winnipeg and 45 miles (72 km) from Gimli. Without power to generate electricity all the electronic gauges in the cockpit became blank, leaving only stand-by instruments, consisting of a magnetic compass, an artificial horizon, an airspeed indicator and an altimeter. Vectors were given to Gimli. The captain, who had flying experience on a glider, used gliding techniques to manoeuver the airplane for the approach. The landing gear was lowered, but the nose gear could not be lowered and locked. The 767 touched down on runway 32L within 800 feet of the threshold. The nose contacted the runway, and the airplane came to rest short of a part of the runway which was at the time being used as a drag racing strip.

The Board of Inquiry found fault with Air Canada procedures, training, and manuals. It recommended the adoption of fueling procedures and other safety measures that were already being used by US and European airlines. The Board also recommended the immediate conversion of all Air Canada aircraft from Imperial units to metric units, since a mixed fleet was more dangerous than an all-Imperial or an all-metric fleet.

Following Air Canada's internal investigation, Captain Pearson was demoted for six months, and First Officer Quintal was suspended for two weeks for allowing the incident to happen. Three maintenance workers were also suspended. In 1985 the pilots were awarded the first ever Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship. Several attempts by other crews who were given the same circumstances in a simulator at Vancouver resulted in crashes. Quintal was promoted to captain in 1989. Pearson remained with Air Canada for ten years and then moved to flying for Asiana Airlines; he retired in 1995. Maurice Quintal died at the age of 68 on September 24, 2015, in Saint-Donat, Quebec.

The aircraft was temporarily repaired at Gimli and flew out two days later to be fully repaired at a maintenance base in Winnipeg. Following the full repair, the aircraft was returned to service with Air Canada. Following a successful appeal against their suspensions, Pearson and Quintal were assigned as crew members aboard another Air Canada flight.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air Canada

Code: AC/ACA

Aircraft: Boeing 767-233

Registration: C-GAUN

Serial Number: 22520

Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D

First Flew: 10/03/1983

Age: 5 Months old

Fire on board a Virgin Australia 737 to Hobart

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFY (MSN 41016)

Passengers on a Virgin Australia flight VA1528 traveling from Sydney (SYD/YSSY) to Hobart (HBA/YMHB) experienced panic on Monday morning when they smelt smoke during the flight. The suspected cause was an overheated battery that started a fire in the overhead locker.

Around 9am, the aircraft was beginning its descent into Hobart when the blaze broke out in an overhead locker. After smoke began entering the cabin, the fire was extinguished by crew while the aircraft was still in the air. Virgin Australia said the plane landed safely at Hobart Airport and was then boarded by firefighters from Airservices Australia, who "removed a bag from the overhead locker".

Hobart Airport chief operating officer Matt Cocker said all passengers disembarked safely — but paramedics treated one person for "suspected smoke inhalation". A man who was not on the flight but works for a rental car company at Hobart Airport said two separate groups of passengers told him flight attendants extinguished the fire with water after realising "a lithium battery or some sort of charging device had caught fire in someone's bag".

"First customer I had this morning let me know that he was on a bit of a hairy flight coming into Hobart. He said they were about 10 minutes out from landing when … they were made aware of some smoke and a bit of a funny smell coming from one of the overhead lockers."

They described seeing a "small ball of fire" burst out of the smoking overhead compartment when it was opened, he said. "They did say there was a lot of hysterical people when the incident was happening and especially when that fire ball came out," he said.

The man said he was told the "flight crew were very calm and very good at handling the situation".

The aircraft was assessed for damage and a replacement aircraft was sourced for the return flight, which was delayed by about five hours.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Virgin Australia

Code: VA/VOZ

Aircraft: Boeing 737-8FE

Registration: VH-YFY

Serial Number: 41016

Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B26

First Flew: July 2017

Age: 8 Years

Emirates makes changes to Brisbane and Perth schedules.

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EEP (MSN 138)

Dubai-based Emirates is cutting back its A380 flights to Brisbane here in Queensland, swapping out its second daily service to the state capital for a Boeing 777-300ER. The airline, which has consistently operated double daily A380 services since October 2024, will now provide 14% fewer seats between the two cities.

The two daily departures from Brisbane for Dubai, both depart late in the evening / early morning.

EK435 pushes back from Brisbane at 21:00, for a 05:25 arrival into Dubai. This flight is perfectly timed for easy connection to one of the many flights onwards to both Europe and Africa. 

The second daily service, EK431, departs at 01:55 for arrival into Dubai at 10:05. 

The latter flight is being changed to the Boeing 77W.

EMIRATES BOEING 777-31H A6-EGB (MSN 38985)

This move comes just days after they announced plans to axe its second daily service to Perth, Western Australia, which from the 25th of October, will be reduced to just one A380 flight daily, compared to the current A380 and Boeing 77W both operating return services to Perth International Airport influenced under the Western Australian Government's Aviation Recovery Fund.

The decision follows Emirates’ periodic operational review to optimize fleet utilization. The remaining service will continue with the Airbus A380, maintaining premium cabin options for passengers traveling between Perth and Dubai.

The change follows 23 years of uninterrupted operations in Perth.

Aggressive maneuver needed to avoid a mid-air collision

DELTA EMBRAER E175LR N612CZ (MSN 17000201)

A Delta Connection flight operated by Endeavor Air had a tense moment in the skies above North Dakota on Friday when it was forced to take an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a mid-air collision with a military B-52 Stratofortress.

The Embraer E175LR was on approach to Minot International Airport (MOT/KMOT), where the airspace is controlled visually due to the lack of radar coverage. The incident occurred as the aircraft neared the airport, with no prior warning from air traffic control about the presence of military aircraft in the area.

Shortly after landing safely, the pilot addressed passengers over the intercom and provided a detailed explanation. "Those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us," he said. He explained that the tower at Minot operates visually and had instructed them to report six miles out, but as they followed those directions, the situation quickly changed. After being told to turn right and then left, the crew spotted the B-52 on a converging course. 

""Given his speed. felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind him," the pilot said.

He also voiced his frustration with the lack of coordination, noting that although the base has radar, no one alerted them about the presence of the bomber. "This is not normal at all... Not a fun day at work today," he admitted, apologizing to passengers for the sudden sharp maneuver. Fortunately, the flight concluded without injuries, but the incident has raised concerns about communication and safety protocols near joint-use airfields like Minot. 

Off-Duty pilot tries to shut down plane mid-flight

In an emotional interview, former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson opened up about the terrifying moment he attempted to shut down a plane's engines mid-flight in October 2023.

Emerson described being in a dissociative state after taking psychedelic mushrooms just two days before the incident. At the time, he was grieving the loss of a close friend and admitted to self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. Emerson, who was off-duty but seated in the cockpit jump seat of Alaska Air Flight 2059, said he experienced intense panic and confusion that led to his actions.

During the flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, Emerson said a wave of fear convinced him he wasn't going to make it home to his wife and children. In that altered state, he believed he needed to "wake up" and impulsively pulled the emergency handles designed to shut off fuel to the engines in the event of fire. "I didn't understand the consequences," he said. "In my mind, I thought I was still dreaming.'

Thankfully, the crew intervened, and the flight was safely diverted to Portland, Oregon, where Emerson was taken into custody. Emerson now faces a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew, along with multiple state charges, including 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of first-degree endangering an aircraft. His case has renewed discussions about the mental health challenges facing pilots and the limited resources available to those struggling.

Emerson has fully accepted responsibility for his actions, describing it as "the most consequential three seconds" of his life. He is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Light plane crashes near Toowoomba Queensland kills two

         BREAKING NEWS

CESSNA F406 CARAVAN VH-EYQ (MSN F406-0047)

Emergency services have rushed to the scene after a light plane crashed near a Queensland airport near Toowoomba this afternoon.

About 3.10pm, regional Queensland emergency responders were called to Devon Park near Oakey, west of Toowoomba, after reports of an aircraft incident. A Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said fire crews arrived at the incident near Oakey Cooyar Road.

According to reports, the spokesperson said a fire had started which was extinguished. Queensland Police spokesperson told the media police were responding to the aviation incident and a Forensic Crash Unit will attend, along with other partner agencies. The suspected crash occurred near Oakey Airport OKY/YBOK).

The aircraft had departed Warwick (WAZ/YWCK) for Brisbane's Archerfield Airport (QBA/YBAF) but was trying to divert to Oakey Airforce Base

Sadly, the two occupants have lost their lives.

Aircraft Information:

Owner /Operator: AeroLogistics

Aircraft: Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II

Registration: VH-EYQ

Serial Number: F406-0047

Engines: 2 X P&W Canada PT6A-112

First Flew: January 1990

Age: 35 Years

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILES AND FRIENDS

ANA 787 aircraft denied landing clearance at Frankfurt Airport

A recent incident involving All Nippon Airways flight NH 203 from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT) has reignited debate on Frankfurt Airport’s (FRA/EDDF) strict ridiculous night curfew. The Boeing 787-9 was forced into a missed approach just 18 seconds before the 05:00 AM curfew lifted, despite a safe and early arrival.

Discover Airlines pilot Ori Gross flagged this event, highlighting the operational and environmental consequences of strictly enforced curfews, which, in this case, caused added fuel burn, increased emissions, and elevated pilot workload.

Frankfurt Airport, operated by Fraport AG, enforces one of Europe’s strictest night flight bans, completely prohibiting scheduled take-offs and landings between 23:00 and 05:00.

The objective is to reduce aircraft noise during residents’ sleeping hours. However, the rigidity of this rule was underscored on the 3rd of July 2025, when ANA’s NH203 from Tokyo Haneda approached Frankfurt slightly ahead of schedule due to favorable winds.

Despite efforts by Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the air traffic controller on duty, to delay the aircraft via speed reductions, NH203 was still minutes early. The pilot of Discover Airlines, Ori Gross, who was preparing for a separate flight, observed these interactions while monitoring tower frequencies. At precisely 04:59:42 — just 18 seconds shy of the 05:00 threshold—Frankfurt Tower issued the mandatory go-around:

“ALL NIPPON 203, GO AROUND.”

This directive is non-negotiable for pilots and was promptly executed, sending the aircraft back into the airspace to reattempt landing later, ironically, creating more noise than a direct landing would have caused. At Frankfurt, aircraft are typically vectored to a 20 nautical mile final approach. With a Boeing 787-9’s approach speed of about 153 knots, this allows approximately 7-8 minutes for air traffic control to adjust for compliance with curfew rules.

However, with only about 20 knots of flexibility in speed instructions, this equates to a mere 48 seconds of leeway — an impractically narrow margin to influence arrival timing precisely. Earlier interventions from en-route controllers or pilots adjusting their cruise speeds could have helped prevent the situation.

In fact, both ATC and flight crews have real-time access to Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) data, whether through internal systems or publicly available platforms like Flightradar24. Yet, despite all technological aids, the chain of decisions and flight dynamics led to NH203 being a few minutes early.

The flight’s actual duration was 13 hours 57 minutes, considerably faster than its scheduled 14 hours 40 minutes, mainly due to strong tailwinds. Thus, despite taking off three minutes late from Tokyo Haneda, the aircraft’s early arrival became a regulatory dilemma rather than a success in operational efficiency.

This strict curfew enforcement paradoxically led to the very issues it aims to prevent. 

The immediate aftermath of the go-around included: 

• An additional 16 minutes of flight time.
• An extra 1,900 kg of jet fuel burned.
• Increased CO₂ emissions.
• Elevated noise levels during the go-around maneuver over Frankfurt.
• Heightened workload for a fatigued flight crew after nearly 14 hours of flight.
• Unnecessary stress for passengers, some of whom may never have experienced a go-around before.

The supposed protection against nighttime noise resulted in a louder and more disruptive outcome. This contradiction calls into question the practicality of applying such curfews without flexibility or contextual judgment.

Airlines caught selling your flight data to the U.S. Government

In recent months, both foreign tourists and American citizens have started to be concerned about their privacy, especially when flying. With new technology such as facial recognition procedures and the many cyberattacks often targeting airlines, there are good reasons to be concerned. 

Unfortunately, a data broker has recently been found selling passengers’ sensitive data to U.S. governmental agencies. A contract obtained by 404 Media, an independent media company founded by technology journalists Jason Koebler, Emanuel Maiberg, Samantha Cole, and Joseph Cox, shows how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchased data from the data broker Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC).

ARC is allegedly the world’s largest repository of global airline tickets and is owned by at least eight major airlines. Its Board of Directors includes representatives from United, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue, to name a few. According to the Statement of Work, the data sold to CBP includes passengers' names, date of birth, flight itineraries, and financial details. The document also clearly states that the governmental agencies had to agree to never openly declare where the data came from unless absolutely necessary, such as when ordered to do so by a court.

Following the news, most privacy experts shared their concerns. 404 Media contacted the airlines involved in the issue as well as ARC; they all refused to comment. The CBP, on the other hand, stated that such data is necessary to help local and national police, especially in the case of ongoing investigations.

A data broker owned by some of the most popular U.S. airlines sold private passengers’ data to CBP. The contract between ARC and CBP stated that the latter could not reveal where the data came from. 

The Statement of Work, a document describing why an agency decided to purchase a specific tool, states that the DHS and the CBP required the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP) operated by ARC to support federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) states it has the world’s largest repository of global airline tickets. According to its official website, it has data on:

15 billion passenger flights

490 airlines

230 countries and territories

Passenger tries to charge phone using the emergency exit?

A flight preparing to depart from Delhi Airport (DEL/VIDP) faced an unexpected delay when a passenger attempted to charge their phone by plugging it into the emergency exit's control panel.

The man, reportedly unfamiliar with the aircraft's layout, mistook the emergency handle's recessed socket for a USB charging port.  Cabin crew quickly intervened after alarms were triggered, and the flight crew halted boarding procedures to inspect the door system.

The man claimed he was "just trying to top off his battery before takeoff." Airport security questioned him thoroughly, but no charges were filed. Maintenance teams confirmed the emergency door hadn't been tampered with or compromised.

Airline officials used the opportunity to remind passengers that emergency exits are never to be touched unless directed by the crew. Thankfully, the flight continued safely after a short delay -- and one very embarrassed traveler likely learned a valuable lesson.

Two SpiceJet passengers try to enter cockpit

On the 14th of July 2025, two unruly passengers were offloaded from a SpiceJet flight at the Delhi airport after they attempted to forcefully enter the cockpit when the aircraft was taxiing towards the runway. SpiceJet said the aircraft, which was to fly to Mumbai (BOM/VABB) from Delhi (DEL/VIDP), returned to the bay and the two passengers were offloaded and later handed over to the CISF.

"The two attempted to forcefully approach the cockpit a few times and caused a disruption while the aircraft was taxiing," the airline said in a statement.

According to SpiceJet, despite repeated requests by the cabin crew, fellow passengers, and the captain, the two passengers refused to return to their seats. The flight SG 9282, originally scheduled to depart at 12.30 p.m., departed at 7.21 p.m., as per information available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.

Remembering TWA flight 800

On the 17th of July 1996, at about 8:31 p.m. EDT, 12 minutes after take-off from John F. Kennedy International Airport on a scheduled international passenger flight to Rome, Trans World Airlines Flight 800 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 13 km (8.1 miles) S off East Moriches, New York.

The flight was scheduled to depart New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK), United States of America for Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG), France about 19:00; however, the flight was delayed because of a disabled piece of ground equipment and concerns about a suspected passenger/baggage mismatch. The aircraft was pushed back from gate 27 about 20:02. Between 20:05 and 20:07, the flight crew started the Nos. 1, 2, and 4 engines and completed the after-start checklist. The flight crew then received taxi instructions and began to taxi to runway 22R. 

While the airplane was taxiing, about 20:14, the flight crew started the No. 3 engine and conducted the delayed engine-start and taxi checklists. At 20:18:21, ATC advised the pilots that the wind was out of 240-degrees at 8 knots and cleared flight 800 for take-off. Shortly after take-off there was an explosion and all 230 people on board died in the crash. It is the third-deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. Accident investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) travelled to the scene, arriving the following morning amid speculation that a terrorist attack was the cause of the crash. Consequently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York Police Department Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) initiated a parallel criminal investigation. Sixteen months later, the JTTF announced that no evidence of a criminal act had been found and closed its active investigation.

The four-year NTSB investigation concluded with the approval of the Aircraft Accident Report on August 23, 2000, ending the most extensive, complex and costly air disaster investigation in U.S. history at that time. The report's conclusion was that the probable cause of the accident was explosion of flammable fuel vapors in the center fuel tank. Although it could not be determined with certainty, the likely ignition source was a short circuit. Problems with the aircraft's wiring were found, including evidence of arcing in the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) wiring that enters the tank. The FQIS on Flight 800 is known to have been malfunctioning; the captain remarked on "crazy" readings from the system approximately two minutes and thirty seconds before the aircraft exploded. As a result of the investigation, new requirements were developed for aircraft to prevent future fuel tank explosions.

Aircraft Information

Airline: TWA (Trans World Airways)

Code: TW/TWA

Aircraft: Boeing 747-131

Registration: N93119

Serial Number: 20083

Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7AH

First Flew: 18/08/1971

Age: 25 Yrs. Old

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL THE FAMILES AND FRIENDS AS THEY REMEMBER LOVED ONES TODAY 

Remembering Malaysia flight MH17

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES BOEING 777-2H6 9M-MRD (CN 28411)
SPORTING THE FREEDOM OF SPACE LIVERY

 

Malaysia flight MH 17 (codeshare with KLM Flight 4103) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam (AMS/EHAM) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL/WMKK) and was shot down on the 17th of July 2014 while flying over eastern Ukraine, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board.
The incident was and still is the deadliest airliner shootdown incident to date. The crew were all Malaysian, while over two-thirds (68%) of the passengers were Dutch. Most of the other passengers were Malaysians and Australians, the remainder were citizens of 7 other countries. At least twenty family groups were on the aircraft and eighty passengers were under the age of 18.

Nation Number 
Netherlands 182
Malaysia 43
Australia 38
Indonesia 12
United Kingdom 10
Germany 4
Belgium 4
Philippines 3
Canada 1
New Zealand 1
Total 298 

On the 19th of June 2019, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service charged four people with murder in connection with the shooting down of the aircraft: three Russians, Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky, and Igor Pulatov, and one Ukrainian, Leonid Kharchenko. International arrest warrants were issued in respect of each of the accused. Their trial in absentia is scheduled to be held on the 9th of March 2020 in the District Court of The Hague.

MH 17 was operated by a Boeing 777-2H6ER registration 9M-MRD (CN 28411). MRD was the 84th Boeing 777 produced. It first flew on the 17th of July 1997, exactly 17 years before the incident, and was delivered new to Malaysia Airlines on the 29th of July 1997. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines and carrying 280 seats (33 business and 247 economy), the aircraft had recorded more than 76,300 hours in 11,430 cycles before the crash.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL THE FAMILES AND FRIENDS AS THEY REMEMBER LOVED ONES TODAY

Air Peace 737 overruns runway

An Air Peace flight carrying 127 passengers has skidded off the runway while landing at Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria.

The aircraft had departed from Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS/DNMM) and was heading for Port Harcourt Airport (PHC/DNPO) on Sunday morning. According to a statement from Air Peace, the aircraft veered off runway 03 without any damage and came to rest on the grass area, stressing that all passengers disembarked safely and calmly without injuries,

The statement reassured the flying public of "our unflinching commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all our operations."

No clues have been disclosed yet regarding the cause of the incident.


Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air Peace

Code: 4P/AKP

Aircraft: Boeing 737-524 
Registration: 5N-BQQ
Serial Number: 27533
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-3C1
First Flew: 15/05/1995

Age: 30.2 Years

Qantas to buy used B737-800s to offset A321XLR delays

Qantas has just announced plans to buy four additional midlife B737-800s in response to ongoing delays in the delivery of its new A321-200NY(XLR)s. An internal memo by Qantas domestic chief executive, Markus Svensson, said that these aircraft will enter service by the end of 2025. In early July, Qantas took delivery of its first XLR, VH-OGA (MSN 12323). The second one is expected in August 2025.

Qantas Group ordered forty A321-200NY(XLR)s, 28 of which will serve Qantas and twelve are earmarked for its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways. In February, Qantas Group confirmed the Airbus delays would reduce the number of expected new deliveries for the year, with at least one A321-200NY(XLR) and one A321-200NX(LR) moving to next year.

Data shows Qantas’s fleet comprises 130 aircraft - one A321XLR, sixteen A330-200s, twelve A330-300s (including two wet-leased), ten A380-800s, seventy-five B737-800s, two wet-leased (from ATLAS) B747-400FSCDs, and fourteen B787-9s. 

Passenger headed for Karachi ends up in Saudi Arabia in major airline blunder

In a bizarre incident, a Pakistani airline mistakenly flew a passenger to Jeddah (JED/OEJN) in Saudi Arabia, instead of his intended destination, Karachi (KHI/OPKC). The affected passenger, Shahzain, has accused the airline of negligence and carelessness, leading to his distress and additional travel expenses.

According to Shahzain, he had boarded the flight from Pakistan's Lahore to Karachi. However, due to the airline's mistake, he ended up on a flight to Jeddah. Shahzain claimed that he had shown his ticket to the air hostess at the gate and again on the aircraft, but both times they failed to inform him that he was on the wrong flight.

The incident occurred at Lahore airport's domestic terminal gate, where the two planes were parked side by side. Shahzain stated that he was unaware of the mistake until two hours into the flight, when he questioned the crew about the delay in reaching Karachi. This led to panic among the crew, who according to Shahzain, blamed him for the mistake.

Shahzain has sent a legal notice to the airline, demanding compensation for the inconvenience and trouble he faced. He also sought reimbursement for the additional travel expenses incurred due to the airline's negligence. Notably, Shahzain did not have a passport or visa for international travel, which added to his distress.

The Pakistan Airport Authority has taken notice of the incident, with the Lahore Airport Management holding the airline responsible. The manager stated that the passenger's arrival in Jeddah instead of Karachi was a result of the carrier's 'negligence, inattention and carelessness'. 

A request for action has been submitted to the authorities, and an investigation is underway.

Shahzain has sent a legal notice to the airline, demanding compensation for the inconvenience and trouble he faced. He also sought reimbursement for the additional travel expenses incurred due to the airline's negligence. Notably, Shahzain did not have a passport or visa for international travel, which added to his distress.

The Pakistan Airport Authority has taken notice of the incident, with the Lahore Airport Management holding the airline responsible. The manager stated that the passenger's arrival in Jeddah instead of Karachi was a result of the carrier's 'negligence and carelessness'. A request for action has been submitted to the authorities, and an investigation is underway.

Ethiopian Airlines is looking to launch direct flights to Australia.

Ethiopian Airlines has revealed that it is looking to launch its first ever direct flights from Ethiopia to Australia. The airline is considering Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney as possible destinations. The launch date has not yet been announced, but the flights will be operated by newly leased or purchased Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 aircraft. Flight times will range from 12 to 16.5 hours depending on the destination.

In a social media post, Telila Deressa Gutema, the Regional Manager for Ethiopian Airlines in the Asia-Pacific, announced that the "groundwork has been laid, and the stage has been set for this significant milestone." While the exact launch date remains undecided, the airline still needs to secure aircraft and obtain regulatory approval for the route, which was not addressed in the announcement.

Ethiopian Airlines is the flag carrier of Ethiopia and is wholly owned by the country's government. EAL was founded on the 21st of December 1945 and commenced operations on the 8th of April 1946, expanding to international flights in 1951.

The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A350-900, A350-1000, Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8, 777-200LR, 777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9, and Dash 8-400

Brisbane to Singapore flight diverted to Perth

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHM (MSN 379)

A Singapore Airlines flight traveling from Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) to Singapore (SIN/WSSS) was diverted to Perth (PER/YPPH) in the early hours of the 8th of July after the aircraft experienced a technical issue while in the air. Flight SQ246 had departed Brisbane Airport at 11.55pm on the 7th of July and was originally scheduled to arrive at Changi Airport at 5.45am the following morning.

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed the plane leaving Brisbane, on the eastern coast of Australia, and travelling towards Broome on the north-western edge of the country before turning south. In response to queries, SIA said the Airbus A350-900 experienced a major technical issue and landed uneventfully in Perth with 272 passengers and 15 crew members at 4.58am Perth local time.

The aircraft required a spare part and additional repair time a Singapore Airlines spokesperson said. Passengers were given food and drinks while waiting for a replacement aircraft, the SIA spokesperson added. Flight SQ246 was then renumbered SQ9224 and departed Perth on July 8 at around 4.40pm local time and was estimated to arrive in Singapore at around 9.40pm.

“We provided all the necessary assistance to the affected passengers, including the rebooking of connecting flights and hotel accommodation in Singapore, if required,” the SIA spokesperson said.

“SIA sincerely apologises to all affected passengers for any inconvenience caused.”

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Code: SQ/SIA

Aircraft: Airbus A350-941 

Registration: 9V-SHM

Serial Number: 379

Engines: 2 x RR Trent XWB

First Flew: 17 January 2020

Age: 5.6 Years

Passengers cried as engine fails on Transatlantic flight

DELTA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 N808NW (MSN 591)

Passengers screamed, many cried, and most prayed as Delta Airlines flight DL127 en route from Madrid (MAD/LEMD) to New York (JFK/KJFK) glided into an emergency descent over the Atlantic Ocean on the 6th of July, following a reported engine failure.

The Airbus A330-300, halfway through its transatlantic crossing, was forced to divert to Lajes Air Base (TER/LPLA) on Terceira Island in the Azores. One passenger described hearing a "whizzing" sound moments after a sharp jolt shook the aircraft. Others noticed a burning smell. Flight attendants kept calm, but the cabin turned tense as the crew declared a Mayday.

The aircraft landed safely at the Portuguese military airport, where passengers were held for several hours due to limited customs capacity. One teenager traveling alone was reportedly cared for by a local hotelier who fed and housed them overnight-drawing comparisons to Gander's famed 9/11 hospitality.

A replacement Delta jet arrived the next morning. No injuries were reported.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Delta Airlines

Code: DL/DAL

Aircraft: Airbus A330-323

Registration: N805NW

Serial number: 552

Engines: 2 x PW PW4168A
First flew: 26/11/2003
Age: 21.9 Years