Frontier Airlines catches fire while landing at Las Vegas airport,

A Frontier Airlines flight travelling from San Diego International Airport, CA (SAN/KSAN) to Las Vegas-Harry Reid International Airport, NV (LAS/KLAS) appeared to catch fire during an emergency landing at Harry Reid International Airport Saturday evening.

The flight was in the process of landing when the pilots detected smoke and declared an emergency, Frontier said.

After fire & rescue extinguished the fire, all 190 passengers and seven crew members deplaned by the airstairs, according to the airline. No injuries were reported, and passengers were bussed to the terminal, Frontier said in a statement on X.

"The cause of the incident is currently under investigation," the airline said in a statement to reporters. Flight 1326 "experienced a hard landing," Harry Reid International Airport said in a statement.

A ground stop was in effect until 7 p.m. and the Federal Aviation Administration is continuing to investigate.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Frontier Airlines 

Code: F9/FFT

Aircraft: Airbus A321-211

Registration: N701FR

Serial Number: 6793
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-5B3/P
First Flew: 28th September 2015

Age: 9 Years Old

Spirit Airlines looking at potential bankruptcy

SPIRIT AIRLINES AIRBUSA321-231 N661NK (MSN 6867)

Spirit Airlines is negotiating with bondholders regarding the terms of a possible bankruptcy filing following the collapse of its merger with JetBlue Airways, as reported by the media on Thursday. This news caused a 30% drop in its share value during extended trading.

The company is also considering restructuring its balance sheet via an out-of-court deal, but recent discussions have shifted toward securing an agreement with bondholders and other creditors to back a Chapter 11 filing, according to reports, quoting sources knowledgeable about the situation.

The timing of such a filing, should it occur, is not considered imminent, as per the report.

Spirit Airlines referred to the company's second-quarter earnings call where CEO Ted Christie mentioned that the company was engaging with the advisers of its bondholders to address the upcoming debt maturities due in 2025 and 2026.

"Since those discussions are ongoing, we will not delve into details, respond to inquiries on this subject, or speculate on potential outcomes," Christie stated, emphasizing that it was a priority for the company to secure the "best outcome for the business as swiftly as possible."

The news of the potential bankruptcy surfaces months after Christie declared the airline was not contemplating a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and expressed optimism about the plan in place following the collapse of the deal with JetBlue.

JetBlue and Spirit terminated their $3.8 billion merger agreement in March after a U.S. judge halted the deal in January due to antitrust concerns.

Had the deal succeeded, it would have established the fifth-largest carrier in the United States and provided Spirit with an opportunity to persevere during a period of cash burn and significant debt.

Spirit has forecasted a steeper loss for the third quarter, primarily attributed to a fierce competitive struggle for price-sensitive leisure travelers and a surplus of airline seats in the domestic market.

Spirit has not reported a profit in five of the last six quarters, casting doubt on its debt servicing capability.

For fiscal year 2023, the airline reported approximately $3.06 billion in long-term debt and finance leases, not including current maturities.

RAAF Roulette damaged in runway accident

RAAF ROULETTE PILATUS PC-21 A54-035 (MSN 268)

A student pilot emerged unscathed following a runway incident with a Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Roulette aircraft in Victoria. The event, involving a PC-21 aircraft, took place at RAAF Base East Sale last Thursday.

An RAAF representative stated that the pilot was conducting a "low-speed runway excursion" when the incident happened. The student pilot was subsequently taken to the base's medical center for a precautionary assessment.

Local photographer Grant McKillop reported he was at home when he learned from a friend about the disturbance at the RAAF base.

"My friend informed me that a plane had gone down and that there was a significant number of people and some fire trucks surrounding it," he recounted.

"The aircraft was tilted forward with its propeller detached," he observed.

The student pilot managed to exit the aircraft without injury. Mr. McKillop surmised that approximately 20 emergency service workers were present, evaluating the damage and confirming the pilot's safety.

"I hurried to the fence line, took a few quick shots, and then dashed back to my car," he added.

An investigation into the accident is underway.

The Pilatus PC-9/A was retired from the Roulettes' operations in March 2019 and replaced by the Pilatus PC-21, one of the world's most advanced training aircraft.

Roulette displays, performed all over Australia, consist of numerous manoeuvres executed in various formations at low altitude. These displays are a continuation of the formation, aerobatics, low-level flying, and airmanship skills taught to Air Force pilots and honed throughout their careers.

The Roulettes perform as low as 250 feet (80 meters) at speeds reaching 370 knots (685 km/h), with pilots enduring up to 6 Gs, or six times the force of gravity, during a display. Flying just three meters apart, the team demonstrates the high level of visual judgment and hand-eye coordination that Air Force pilots can achieve.

Roulette pilots, who are Qualified Flying Instructors at the Central Flying School based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria, spend time between displays teaching other Air Force pilots to become instructors.

Aircraft Information:

Royal Australian Air Force

Code: ASY

Aircraft: Pilatus PC 21 

Registration: A54-030

Serial Number: 263

First Flew: October 2018

Age. 6 Years

Remembering EL AL 1862

EL AL BOEING 787-8 4X-ERC (MSN 63399)

On the 4th of October 1992, El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft of the Israeli airline El Al, crashed into the Groeneveen and Klein-Kruitberg flats in the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. The crash is known in Dutch as the Bijlmer disaster.

The aircraft was traveling from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM) to Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV/LLBG). 43 people were killed, including all four on board the freighter and 39 on the ground. 11 people were seriously injured and 15 received minor injuries. The exact number killed on the ground is uncertain, as the building housed many unregistered residents. 

The crash is the deadliest aviation disaster to have occurred in the Netherlands.

EL AL flight 1862 departed AMS at 18:28, as the aircraft was climbing through 6500 feet, the no. 3 engine and pylon separated from the wing in an outward and rearward movement, colliding with the no. 4 engine causing this engine and pylon to separate as well. An emergency was declared, and the crew acknowledged their intention to return to Schiphol Airport and reported that they had a no. 3 engine failure, and a loss of engine thrust of both no. 3 and 4 engines. At 18:29 the Amsterdam Radar controller informed the crew that runway 06 was in use with wind from 40 degrees at 21 knots. The crew however requested runway 27 for landing. A straight in approach to runway 27 was not possible because of airplane altitude (5000 feet) and distance to the runway (7 miles). The Amsterdam Arrival controller then instructed the crew to turn right heading 360 degrees and descend to 2000 feet. During this descending turn the flight crew reported that the no. 3 and 4 engine were out and that they were having flap problems. Final clearance was given to turn right heading 270 to intercept the final approach course. When it became apparent that the aircraft was going to overshoot the localizer, the controller informed the crew accordingly and directed them to turn to heading 290 to try and intercept the final approach path again. A further instruction was given for a 310-degree heading change and descent clearance for 1500 feet. These instructions were acknowledged, and the crew added that they were experiencing control problems. While reducing speed in preparation for the final approach, control was lost and the aircraft crashed into an eleven-floor apartment building the Bijlmermeer suburb of Amsterdam.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: EL AL

Code: LY/ELY

Aircraft: Boeing 747-258F

Registration: 4X-AXG

Serial Number: 21737

Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7J

First Flew: 7/3/1979

Age: 13.7 Years

Philippine Airlines Lines to offer daily flights to Brisbane

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-214 RP-C8613 (MSN 3579)

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is poised to enhance its Australian routes, providing 22 flights per week from the 27th of October 2024. The carrier will add a seventh weekly direct flight from Manila (MNL/RPLL) to Brisbane (BNE/YBBN), elevating this service to a daily schedule.

PAL currently boasts the most comprehensive network from the Philippines to Australia, serving four cities. Alongside the daily Brisbane flights, the airline also offers daily trips to Sydney (SYD/YSSY), five weekly journeys to Melbourne (MEL/YMML), and three to Perth (PER/YPPH).

"Philippine Airlines is thrilled to welcome both tourists and business travelers on our daily Manila to Brisbane flights, as well as our extensive nonstop network to Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth," stated PAL President and COO Capt. Stanley K. Ng.

Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Hellen B. De La Vega, commended the initiative, saying, "This improved connectivity is set to significantly enhance people-to-people exchanges and tourism, and will open up more opportunities for trade and investment as the Philippines and Australia continue to strengthen our Strategic Partnership."

Rafael Toda, President of the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC), mentioned that the increased service will "help to fortify economic relations and cooperation between Australia and the Philippines, enhancing productivity and facilitating a quicker reaction to new business opportunities."

The expansion of PAL's service to Australia is a component of its extensive network, which includes routes to 36 international destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as 32 domestic locations in the Philippines.

The new daily schedule for Brisbane is as follows: 

• PR 221 leaves Manila at 12:05 AM and arrives in Brisbane at 9:50 AM. 
• PR 222 departs Brisbane at 11:10 AM and lands in Manila at 5:00 PM.

Qatar Airways takes 25% stake in Virgin Australia

QATAR AIRBUS A380-861 A7-API (MSN 235)

Qatar Airways is set to acquire a significant 25% stake in Virgin Australia from Bain Capital, marking a substantial shift in the nation's aviation sector. The transaction is pending approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Should the approvals be granted, Virgin Australia plans to initiate flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth to Qatar's Doha hub by mid-2025. This expansion will provide access to over 100 destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Virgin is set to enter a "wet-lease" agreement with an airline to utilize their long-range jets, with Qatar providing the crew for these flights. Currently, Virgin's fleet comprises only Boeing 737s. "The minority stake is a pivotal investment in anticipation of Virgin Australia's return to public ownership, offering Australians a chance to participate in the airline's future," stated the airlines in a joint announcement.

On Tuesday, the 1st of October, Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka appeared on an Australian national morning TV show called Sunrise to discuss the development.

"It highlights why this partnership is so beneficial for Australia and particularly advantageous for Virgin Australia," she commented.

"This partnership presents us with the chance to significantly strengthen our position in the domestic market and grants us access to the world's premier international airline."

The deal opens more opportunities for Australians to travel through Doha to Europe and Africa and is a testament to the hard work of our 8000 employees over the past four years, culminating in attracting the world's top airline as a 25 percent shareholder. Hrdlicka highlighted that the agreement would offer better value for Australians, providing more affordable travel options and a wider selection of choices. The addition of these services will make another 107 destinations accessible to Australians with just one stopover. The value this brings is significant and multifaceted. 

The competitive landscape of Australia's aviation sector has been under scrutiny following the downfall of Rex Airlines, which attempted to rival the dominance of Qantas and Virgin on the east coast's capital routes. This announcement follows a year after the Albanese government faced criticism for rejecting Qatar's request to double its 28 weekly flights. The decision was questioned when it was disclosed that Qantas had lobbied against the increase before announcing a record $2.5 billion profit.

Passenger finds cockroach in food served during flight

AIR INDIA BOEING 787-8 VT-ANT (MSN 36297)

Merely eight days following the report of a mouse discovered in an inflight meal, news has surfaced again regarding an undesirable object found in another meal while inflight.

Air India has issued an apology after a passenger on board from Delhi to New York had an unpleasant experience after finding a cockroach in their inflight meal on the 17th of September.

The Air India spokesperson said on Saturday, that they have raised the issue with the catering service provider to investigate it further and ensured to take necessary actions to prevent any recurrence of such instances in the future.

"We are aware of a social media post by a passenger regarding a foreign object in the onboard meal offered to them on AI101 operating from DEL to JFK on 17 September 2024. Air India works with reputed caterers who supply to leading airlines globally and have stringent SOPs and multiple checks to ensure the quality of meals served to our guests," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"We are concerned about the experience of the customer in the said instance and have taken it up with our catering service provider to investigate it further. We will take necessary actions to prevent any recurrence of such instances in future," the statement added.

In a post on X, the passenger said a cockroach was found in the omelette served on the flight from Delhi to New York.

"My 2-year-old finished more than half of it with me when we found this. Suffered from food poisoning as a result," she said.

The passenger also shared a short video and pictures of the food items served during the flight. She tagged Air India, aviation regulator DGCA and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu in the post.