ALERT Royal Air Maroc flight #AT795 evacuated after bomb threat in France
An airplane of the national airline Royal Air Maroc was grounded on Monday, May 29, at Montpellier Airport, France, due to a bomb threat.
French authorities have received an alert about an explosive device on a plane from Montpellier to a Maghreb country. At that time, the only flight that met this description was Royal Air Maroc #AT795 which was scheduled to take off at 1225 (local time).
The 58 passengers were evacuated and the plane was screened by dogs. No explosive device was discovered on board.
Finally, the Boeing 737-800 (reg. CN-RNP) was able to take off from Montpelier and landed at Casablanca at 1720, three hours late.
An investigation was opened to identify the author of this false alert.
NEWS British Airways to face huge compensation costs after global IT crash
British Airways could face huge compensation costs after thousands of passengers were stranded by a global IT crash.
Delayed travellers are able to claim compensation under EU law, unless the disruption has been caused by factors outside the airline’s control.
In a letter to customers at Gatwick Airport the airline said: “As part of our care obligations to our customers under EC Regulation 261/2004, we will be happy to consider reimbursing reasonable expenses for meals/refreshments and the provision of hotels, and transport to/from the hotel or other accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary.
You can fill a claim and get up to 600 EUR on compensation.airlive.net
NEWS Norwegian F-16 fighter jets were scrambled this week end to intercept Russian aircraft
On Saturday, a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) was triggered as two Russian aircrafts approached outside Norwegian air space in the north.
Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a SU-34 and Il-78.
«The QRA from Bodø identified two aircrafts by mid-Saturday, a SU-34 and a Midas,» press spokesman Lt. Col. Ivar Moen with the Joint Head Quarters says to the Barents Observer.
SU-34 is Russia’s newest tactical multirole combat aircrafts and was first time seen over the Barents Sea in 2014. Midas is the NATO name for Il-78, a refueling tanker.
EMERGENCY Flybe #BE292 lands at Manchester with only one engine running (video)
FlyBe #BE292 Edinburgh-Manchester (Dash 8 G-PRPH) declared an emergency and landed with only one engine running at Manchester Airport.
The Flybe flight, which was travelling from Edinburgh to Manchester, was seen circling around the airport before it landed.
A Manchester Airport spokesman confirmed the plane landed safely at the airport at 11.17amg.
A statement from Flybe said: “Flybe can confirm that the flight landed safely at Manchester Airport following a technical fault that resulted in the captain electing to shut down the number two engine as a safety precaution. The pilot followed all required procedures and the aircraft landed safely without further incident.
ALERT Goma Air plane crashs in Lukla, Nepal, killing the captain
Captain of Goma Airlines aircraft has died when the plane crashed while landing at the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla of Solukhumbu district on Saturday.
An aircraft belonging to Goma Air crashed on Saturday as it tried to land in foggy weather at a tiny airport in Mt Everest region, sources at the airport said.
“The 9N-AKY airplane with three crew members crashed while landing at Tenzing-Hilary Airport in Lukla just a few minutes ago,” a senior manager at the TIA also confirmed.”
Goma Air sources the cargo plane was piloted by Captain Paras Kumar Rai along with a co-pilot Srijan Manandhar. Pragya Maharjan has been identified as a flight attendant.
The plane crashed about three metres below the runway threshold, a source at Lukla Airport said.
BREAKING British Airways is suffering a system outage
British Airways is suffering an IT system outage with difficulties to check in. BA is working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
British Airways apologise to customers who are facing some delays.
BREAKING Typhoons scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth airbase #QRA
Royal Air Force Typhoons took off from Lossiemouth airbase on Quick Alert Response (QRA) for a reason still unknown.
A RAF Airbus Voyager KC3 tanker was also scrambled from Brize Norton airbase and is heading to the north.
More to come as we get more informations…
NEWS First Delta A350 XWB maiden flight from Toulouse
The first Airbus A350XWB destined for Delta Air Lines completed its first flight this morning in Toulouse, France. The aircraft (MSN 115), registered under French test registration F-WZGP, will soon be the flagship of the Delta fleet under the registration N501DN.
The aircraft took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport this morning at 10:24 local, and almost immediately climbed towards the Bay of Biscay where it completed several hours of tests at a variety of altitudes.
More on Airways mag
ALERT Man allegedly tried to bite flight attendant before jumping from plane at Charlotte-Douglas Airport
A man is accused of jumping out of a plane onto the tarmac at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Thursday.
According to a federal complaint, Tun Lon Sein was on American Airlines flight #AA5242 when he attempted to bite a flight attendant, opened the exit door and jumped onto an active ramp.
The document says Sein refused to return to his seat and attempted to bite the flight attendant’s hand in order to reach the door.
The plane was sitting on a hold spot after pushing back from its designated gate and the aircraft doors were closed, according to AA personnel.
“Sein spoke little or no English during these events,” the document states,”However, circumstances surrounding his actions show that Sein understood the directions of the F/A, as well as the safety requirements of commercial air travel.”
Sein faces charges of interfering with flight crew members which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and possible fines.
NEWS Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR won’t have any economy seats
Singapore Airlines’ new Airbus A350-900ULR will sport a two-class configuration of business and premium economy, without any economy seats.
More on Australian Business Traveler
NEWS Supersonic jet to fly from Dubai to London in 4 hours
US-based Boom Technology will cut the existing flight time from Dubai to London or Abu Dhabi to Sydney by half when its supersonic passenger jet comes into commercial operation. 10% of routes for Boom supersonic flights expected to originate from Gulf countries, says founder Blake Scholl.
The first test-flight of its XB-1, dubbed the “baby boom”, is set to take place next year, will connect the GCC to the rest of the world with flights up to 2.6 times faster than conventional airliners.
“Today, it takes 7:50 hours to fly from Dubai to London, or takes 14 hours if you fly from Abu Dhabi to Sydney. Boom will reduce the time to 4:32 hours and 8 hours, respectively,” company founder and chief executive Blake Scholl said on Tuesday evening during a presentation at Dubai Future Foundation.
The jet will be 10 percent faster than the now defunct Concorde, reaching Mach 2.2 or 2,335 kilometre per hour. The first test of the supersonic plane is under construction and first passenger flights are expected to begin by 2023.
Speaking to Arabian Business, Scholl revealed that nearly 10 percent of 500 global routes for supersonic travel are expected to originate from the Gulf.
More on AirGuide Business
ALERT Counter terror police arrest man at London Stansted Airport as he tried to fly to Syria
Police have arrested a 37-year-old man at Stansted Airport, Essex, who is believed to have been planning to travel to Syria.
The man was due to board a flight bound for Turkey on Tuesday evening when he was stopped by police and held on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism.
Scotland Yard have confirmed his arrest is not connected to Monday night’s devastating Manchester terror attack, which left 22 people dead.
The man has been taken to a south London police station, where he is being detained under the Terrorism Act.
Authorities are now searching two residential addresses in north London in connection with the arrest.
EMERGENCY US Air Force C-5 Galaxy emergency landing with nose gear up at Rota Air Base in Spain
A USAF C-5 Galaxy airlifter has safely slid to a stop after making a successful emergency landing at the Rota Air Base in Spain after its nose landing gear failed to extend correctly.
Fire crews stood by as the huge aircraft circled for an hour to burn off fuel and the flight deck ran through a “wheels up, crash landing” checklist.
The aircrew eventually got the landing gear to extend roughly 6 inches and made a text book landing.
Luckily the wheels were far enough out that the Galaxy actually only suffered minimal damage and the 21 passengers in the troop compartment were safely evacuated.
EMERGENCY China Eastern #MU765 slid off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport
China Easter Flight #MU765 from Nanjing landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 1051 LT today.
The Airbus A321 (B-6366) slid off the runway as it was making its way to the gate.
The accident came as thundery showers battered the territory.
No injuries were reported but the incident was causing flight delays, as the North Runway was closed temporarily.
EMERGENCY United Airlines #UA1579 evacuated on tarmac at Newark Airport after engine fire
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey was was shut down late on Tuesday night when 131 people were evacuated from a United Airlines flight after flames were spotted coming from one of the jet’s engines.
United Airlines Flight #UA1579 was on a taxiway bound for San Francisco at about 2100 ET when the flames were seen coming from the right-side engine, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a written statement.
Five people suffered minor injuries during the incident and travelers should expect delays throughout the night.
The Boeing 757 had been carrying 124 passengers and seven crew members.
Flight tracking website Flightaware.com issued an alert that all inbound flights were being held at Newark until at least 2300 ET.
BREAKING South Korean military fires shot an unidentified object flying from North Korea
South Korean military has reportedly fired shots at an object flying across the border from the North.
Yonhap news agency reported, without citing a source, that South Korea fired about 90 machine gun rounds into the air and toward North Korea.
It said South Korea was analyzing whether a North Korean drone had crossed the border.
More to follow…
NEWS Unruly passenger forces United Airlines #UA87 to divert to San Francisco (video)
An United Airlines flight from China to Newark was forced to make an unscheduled stop at San Francisco International Airport after the flight crew became exhausted from delays caused by an unruly passenger while the plane was boarding in Shanghai, officials said.
Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, a passenger became unruly after boarding United Airlines Flight 87 at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport Sunday for a direct flight to Newark International, United Airlines said in a statement.
The unidentified passenger became agitated after being denied an upgrade. He stood up and yelled at passengers and demanded he be allowed to use two seats in his row that had already been assigned to others.
The outburst delayed the flight as attendants tried unsuccessfully to calm him down.
The unruly passenger “refused to comply with crew member instructions and became increasingly disruptive when asked to deplane the aircraft,” United said in its statement.
NEWS Two Frontier Airlines flight attendants sue over right to pump breast milk
Two Frontier Airlines flight attendants have filed federal complaints against the Denver-based carrier, saying the airline discriminated against them by not allowing them to pump breast milk while on duty.
The flight attendants, Jo Roby and Stacy Rewitzer, filed discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado.
In their complaints, the flight attendants said they are often required to work 10- to 12-hour shifts, staffing flights of up to five hours long, but are not given time or rooms to pump milk every three or four hours.
Frontier doesn’t provide maternity leave; instead it requires new mothers to use sick days, vacation days and unpaid time accumulated under the Family Medical Leave Act, according to the complaints, which ask that the airline be required to make several policy, scheduling and other changes.
In a statement, Frontier said it complies with all federal and state laws and its labor agreements with flight attendants. “We have made good-faith efforts to identity and provide rooms and other secure locations for use by breast-feeding flight attendants during their duty travel” the airline said.
EMERGENCY Qantas A380 #QF94 from to Melbourne returned to Los Angeles due to sparks from engine #4
Qantas flight #QF94 from Los Angeles to Melbourne has been turned around two hours after take-off when sparks were seen coming from an engine.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau had little information about the flight, spokesman Michael Walker said, and planned to gather further detail before deciding whether an investigation was warranted.
ALERT: Passenger jet collides with truck at Los Angeles airport, injuring eight
The cause of the mishap, which damaged the right wing of the Boeing 737 and left the large supply truck overturned on its side, remained under investigation, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Airport officials said all eight were listed in stable condition.
No one among the approximately 150 passengers and crew aboard the plane, Aeromexico Flight 642 from Mexico City, required any medical attention, according to Humphreys.
But a statement from the airport said one passenger reported suffering some pain after leaving the aircraft.
NEWS US preclearance for Norwegian transatlantic passengers from Ireland
Norwegian has announced that new low-cost transatlantic flights from Ireland to the US East Coast will include use of the preclearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports for passengers.
In July, Norwegian will begin a series of affordable transatlantic routes from Ireland to airports on the US east coast which offer good access into New York, Boston and New England but carry significantly lower landing charges.
From Dublin and Shannon, Norwegian offers flights to Stewart International Airport in New York State, along with Providence Airport which offers a gateway into Boston and New England.
Cork Airport will also see its first ever transatlantic flights with a service to Providence, Boston.
All bookings on Norwegian’s transatlantic flights from Dublin and Shannon will now include use of the US preclearance facilities at each airport.
More on Breaking Travel News
NEWS Talks on planned laptop ban for European-US flights end with no deal
Discussions over keeping laptops and large electronics out of more US-bound flight cabins ended yesterday without an agreement to widen the ban.
In March, the US Department of Homeland Security barred US-bound passengers from 10 airports from taking any electronics larger than a cell phone onto planes. The UK instituted a similar ban, but it covered whole countries rather than specific airports.
EMERGENCY United Express #UA6073 blew a tire during landing at Louisville International Airport
A United Express flight 6073 from Toronto to Houston blew a tire during an unscheduled landing at Louisville International Airport Thursday morning after an in-flight mechanical issue, a spokeswoman for Louisville Regional Airport Authority said.
Live aerials from Air 3 showed all the tires on both main gears of the Embraer 175 were flat.
Airport Authority spokeswoman said the plane is disabled on the west runway, which is now closed. There is no impact to flights, which are being rerouted to the east runway. Chaudoin was uncertain how long it would take to reopen the west runway.
77 people were aboard the plane, including crew members. Passengers were being taken to the terminal.
VIDEO Jet2 A330 landing/takeoff at Birmingham
Jet2 Flight 71 operated by Air Tanker from Manchester (England, UK) to Birmingham Airport (England, UK). Then as Flight 72 as Birmingham Airport (England, UK) to Manchester (England, UK). The aircraft is an Airbus A330-234 (reg: G-VYGL) is 2.8 years old and has been operating for Air Tanker since 2016.
ALERT European Union releases new #BlackList of banned airlines
The EU Air Safety List actually contains two lists. The first list (Annex A) includes all airlines banned from operating in Europe. The second list (Annex B) includes airlines that are restricted from operating under certain conditions in Europe.
Both lists are updated regularly and published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Before taking any action based on the information in these lists, all users should ensure they have the latest version.
To consult the list of banned airlines, you can download the full list of banned airlines.
NEWS Boeing debuts 737 MAX with Malindo Air delivery
Boeing on Tuesday made the first delivery of the new 737 MAX. The 737 MAX 8 was handed over to Malaysia-based Malindo Air, making that airline the first to put the 737 MAX into commercial service.
EMERGENCY Air Canada Rouge #AC1805 passenger in custody after trying to open the door in flight
An Ontario man is in federal custody in the United States after allegedly assaulting members of an Air Canada flight crew and trying to open the door of a plane while it was in flight.
Brandon Michael Courneyea was arrested on Monday after Air Canada Rouge flight #AC1805 from Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Toronto diverted to Orlando because of a disturbance on board.
Courneyea yelled at fellow passengers for looking at him, swung pots full of hot coffee at flight attendants and eventually tried to open the door of the aircraft mid-flight after saying “it would only take one guy to take the plane down.”
The A319 (reg. C-FYNS) diverted to Orlando, Fla., where Courneyea was arrested and taken into custody by the FBI.
ALERT Two Russian Su-24 fighter aircraft ‘buzzed’ the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen in Baltic Sea
Two Russian Su-24 fighter aircraft ‘buzzed’ the #Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen, currently part of #NATO’s SNMG1 in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday.
The Russian aircraft made three passes and were accompanied by two Swedish QRA fighter jets.
NEWS Berlin Schoenefeld airport terminal D was evacuated today due to suspected tear gas outbreak
A terminal at Berlin Schoenefeld airport has been evacuated after a suspected tear gas outbreak, the airport operator said on Tuesday.
“Terminal D cleared due to suspected tear gas. Fire brigade ventilates building,” Berlin Airport said on Twitter, adding it may lead to delays. Schoenefeld airport is to the southeast of Berlin and is mainly served by low cost carriers such as easyJet and Ryanair.
Earlier this year, passengers at Hamburg airport were affected after a corrosive substance leaked through the air conditioning system.
It later said the terminal reopened at 1300 GMT, and that no flights had been canceled, although some delays were possible.
BREAKING Smoke fills Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2
Changi Airport staff are evacuating folks out of Terminal 2’s departure hall right now, with reports of smoke emerging with no verified origin.
A anonymous staff member of the airport informed Coconuts Singapore that a fire alarm went off around 5.30pm and everyone started evacuating out of the terminal soon after. They initially believed it was a fire drill, but the smell of smoke wafted in later on.
A roadblock has been set up, while police cars and fire engines have arrived at the scene.
BREAKING A Learjet 35 crashes near Teterboro Airport, in New Jersey
The Learjet 35A N452DA was trying to land at nearby Teterboro Airport.
Plane crash @NBCNewYork @ABC7 http://pic.twitter.com/lVIdU2lFfK
— Godwin (@GodwinClassic33) May 15, 2017
A Learjet 35 crashed on approach to Runway 1 at Teterboro Airport at 3:30 pm today. The aircraft went down about 1/4 mile from the airport in a residential area. The flight departed from Philadelphia International Airport and was headed to Teterboro. The FAA is enroute to the scene. Local authorities will release information about people on board the aircraft. We will update this statement when we get new information.
EMERGENCY Female passenger died on board Air Canada #AC849 over Atlantic yesterday
A female passenger died on a flight that was forced to divert to Shannon Airport on Friday evening.
Yesterday, Air Canada flight #AC849 from London Heathrow Airport to Toronto in Canada diverted to Shannon after the crew declared a medical emergency.
LIVE Air Canada #AC849 U-turn over Atlantic and diverting to Shannon due to medical emergency via @FlightAlerts777 https://t.co/YHuPaQBHop http://pic.twitter.com/pfWhWwWzLQ
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) May 12, 2017
The Boeing 777 jet was about and hour into its journey and approximately 400 km north west of Mayo when the crew turned around. The flight rerouted to Shannon with cabin crew members battling to resuscitate the elderly woman.
The flight landed safely at 5.15pm and was met by airport emergency services and National Ambulance Service paramedics. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the county coroner informed.
Her body was removed to University Hospital Limerick where a postmortem examination is expected to be carried out while efforts are also being made to repatriate the remains to Canada.
EMERGENCY Eurowings flight #EW9224 diverted to Hamburg due to cracked windshield
LIVE Eurowings #EW9224 to Gothenburg is declaring an emergency and diverting https://t.co/Ujl9thvCIj http://pic.twitter.com/GO94waLIuC
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) May 12, 2017
After sending the alarm, the pilot decided to turn the plane around near Kiel and landed at Hamburg Airport.
Source daily Aftonbladet, citing German media.
NEWS Emirates profits drop by 82% after “Brutal” Year
Profits at Dubai-based airline, Emirates have dropped a massive 82% in what the carrier has described as a “brutal” year. The newly published results for 2016/2017 show the airline made AED1.3 billion ($353 million USD) with profits at its parent company, Emirates Group, dropping 70% from last 2015’s record breaking year.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the CEO of Emirates described the last year as “one of our most challenging years to date.”
NEWS The A350-1000 completed a 12 hour test flight with 310 passengers on board
The A350-1000completed successfully its first and unique “Early Long Flight” with 310 passengers on board, including 10 Airbus Flight Test crew members and 13 Virgin Atlantic cabin crew. Test aircraft MSN065 took off from and landed in Toulouse on May 11th after a 12 hour flight.
ALERT Russian Su-27 came within 20 feet of US Poseidon plane over Black Sea
A Russian fighter jet came within 20 feet of a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea Tuesday, according to a military spokesperson.
A Russian Su-27 fighter approached the U.S. P-8A Poseidon as it was “conducting routine operations in international airspace,” said Capt. Pamela Kunze, a U.S. Naval Forces Europe spokeswoman.
The Russian defense ministry claimed a fighter had “executed a ‘greeting’ maneuver to the U.S. pilots, according to NBC news. “Russia deployed the fighter after “an air target approaching the Russian state border had been located … above Black Sea neutral waters.”
The maneuver was deemed “safe and professional,” according to the Navy. Russian and U.S. Navy ships regularly interact over international territory, according to Kunze.
The interaction was one of the closest interactions between U.S. and Russian forces in recent years. Other interactions at much greater distances have been considered unsafe by the Pentagon before.
ALERT EU sets urgent meeting in Brussels next week about possible US electronics ban extension
U.S. and European officials will discuss airline security issues at a meeting in Brussels next week, including possibly expanding the number of airports that ban passengers from carrying electronic devices bigger than cellphones aboard flights, a European Commission spokeswoman said on Friday.
U.S. Homeland Security Department Secretary John Kelly told European ministers by phone Friday the department does not plan to immediately unveil any new measures, the EU said.
U.S. Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said no final decision had been made on whether to expand the restrictions, and he declined to immediately confirm Kelly’s trip to Brussels.
More on Reuters
VIDEO Emirates #EK75 to Paris CDG emergency landing at Larnaca after birth of a baby boy onboard
Emirates A380 flight from Dubai to Paris CDG had to divert to Larnaca, Cyprus after birth of a baby boy during the flight.
- UPDATE 1912 UTC The mother and baby are in Larnaca hospital. The medical condition of the baby is still unknown.
Emirates rules to fly while pregnant
If you are pregnant and plan to travel once you have entered your 29th week of pregnancy, a medical certificate or letter signed by an appropriately qualified doctor or midwife is required, stating:
- the confirmation of a singleton or multiple pregnancy
- the pregnancy is progressing without complications
- the estimated date of delivery
- the date up to which you are expected to be fit to travel
- that you are in good health
- that there is no reason known to them that would prevent you from flying
Please note that if you choose not to carry a valid medical certificate, you may not be accepted for travel if there is any doubt about your ability to complete the journey safely.
If yours is a multiple pregnancy, no air travel is permitted after the 32nd week of gestation. For single pregnancies, travel after the 36th week of gestation will be permitted only after prior clearance is granted by the Emirates medical department. A medical information form (MEDIF) will need to be submitted for clearance purposes.
Thought should be given to whether the medical facilities at your destination country are adequate to cope with any problems which may arise. Sufficient travel insurance is strongly recommended in case of preterm labour abroad. It is wise to avoid travelling to remote locations whilst pregnant.
Some countries restrict or limit entry of non-national pregnant women. We recommend that you consult with the local consulate or embassy if in any doubt.
Heavy lifting during pregnancy should be avoided, so take care with your baggage.
NEWS Two Muslim men hauled off Thomas Cook #MT685 to Manchester
Two Muslim men have been taken off a plane bound for Manchester after two women accused them of “making gestures”.
They were asked to re-trace their steps through security at Izmir airport in Turkey for extra checks sparked by claims including that they were “going to the toilet to use their phones”.
Their Thomas Cook flight was delayed for 80 minutes before the passengers were given the all-clear for the second time.
Witnesses said two British women told the plane’s cabin crew the men were seen “skipping security scanners” and “making gestures”, delaying the plane’s take-off on Wednesday.
More on The Independent
EMERGENCY Southwest flight #WN1694 diverted to Atlanta due to engine issue
A Southwest flight traveling from Tampa to Nashville made an emergency landing at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Southwest Boeing 737 (reg.N626SW) Flight #WN1694 landed safely after indications that there was a performance issue with on of the aircraft’s engines.
BREAKING Air India #AI849 overshoots the runway at Pune Airport, India
Air India flight #AI849 from Delhi to Pune has overshot the runway during landing at Pune airport.
For a reason still unknown, the Airbus A321 (reg. VT-PPA) has overshot the runway.
Following the incident, an emergency evacuation was carried out. The crew have activated the emergency inflatable slides. All 152 passenger are safe.
The runway has been closed, news agency ANI reported.
NEWS United passenger says crew left her no choice but to pee in a cup
Nicole Harper, a nurse and mother of two from Kansas City, Missouri, said she was on a United flight returning home from Houston on April 10.
Harper suffers from an overactive bladder and told flight attendants she had to use the restroom, she said. When they told her to return to her seat, she said she tried to explain the urgency of the situation.
“I said ‘I’m going to need to use the restroom or I’m going to need a cup,'” Harper told NBC’s Kansas City affiliate. “[They] didn’t understand that I don’t have any control over the situation.”
That’s when Harper said the flight crew did something surprising: They handed her a cup.
Harper filed a complaint with United as soon as the plane landed, she said in a Facebook post. She has since also filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation.
BREAKING Boeing suspends all 737 MAX flights for engine inspections
Boeing said flights of its new 737 Max are temporarily suspended due to engine issues.
Engine supplier CFM International, a venture of General Electric and Safran, notified Boeing of a an issue with low-pressure turbine discs inLeap-1B engine, according to a statement Wednesday by the planemaker.
ALERT Failure in the fuel supply system grounds planes at Lisbon Airport
Planes are stuck on the Tarmac at Lisbon airport amid a failure with the fuel pumping system, say reports.
Portugal’s flagship carrier, TAP, said there were 14 of its planes on the ground and all planes without fuel were unable to take off. Some flights have been cancelled.
The airport authority admitted it did not know when the problem would be resolved.
Until the situation is back to normal, all TAP flights to Lisbon are being diverted to other airports.
— TAP Portugal (@taportugal) May 10, 2017
Some planes coming into land at Lisbon are stopping off at nearby airports first to refuel, while other planes have enough fuel to continue their journeys, so not all planes are affected.
VIDEO Passengers get into fistfight aboard Southwest flight #WN2530
Two passengers got into a fight on a Southwest flight shortly after the plane landed in Burbank, California.
Burbank police identified the suspect as Chaze Mickalo Cable, 37, of Lancaster. He was arrested for assault and battery and held on $50,000 bail.
NEWS Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce pie faced over gay marriage
The man who shoved a lemon meringue pie into Alan Joyce’s face isn’t a disgruntled frequent flyer but a devout Christian who objects to the CEO using Qantas to promote gay marriage. Tony Overheu read a statement on Perth radio station 6PR in which he criticised Qantas and other companies including Airbnb, Wesfarmers and Holden for promoting same-sex marriage, which he described as “corporate bullying aimed at social engineering”.
NEWS British Airways flight #BA189 cancelled after bird found in Dreamliner cockpit
A British Airways flight due to take off from Heathrow to the US had to be cancelled when a bird found flapping inside the cockpit could not be removed by crew.
Efforts to remove the blackbird over several hours culminated in airport ground staff using a recording of birds in distress in an attempt to scare it away, but this succeeded only in forcing the animal into hiding.
@britishairways any update on the bird of flight 189? Very concerned about his well being. #birdsonaplane #starlingsindistress
— Sam Twidle (@xsamanthapaige) May 8, 2017
Passengers on Monday’s flight #BA189 to Newark, New Jersey, were transferred to a later service.
One passenger, Anna Dolganov, told the Guardian “A blackbird flew into the face of the pilot and started flying around the cockpit.”
More on The Guardian.
EMERGENCY Man has died onboard Delta Airlines #DL71 that diverted to Shannon Airport
A Man has died on board a transatlantic flight that diverted to Shannon Airport today despite the best efforts of crew members who performed CPR for over an hour.
The 88-year-old, who was travelling with his wife, have fallen ill about three hours into flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta.
The flight was almost three hours into its 9-hour journey when the crew requested clearance from controllers to turn around and divert to Shannon.
The Airbus A330-300 (reg. N815NW) landed safely shortly after midday and was met by airport fire crews who accompanied the Airbus A330-300 jet to the terminal.
The crew also asked that a cardiac ambulance be standing by for their arrival. Medics quickly boarded the jet to assess and treat the passenger however the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The flight crew requested that fire crews be standing by as a precaution because the aircraft had to make an overweight landing which can result in a jet’s braking system overheating.
There were 244 customers and 12 crew on board.
BREAKING Right wing of Jet Airways flight hits another aircraft before takeoff from Delhi airport
A Jet Airways flight collided with another aircraft before take off today afternoon.
The Jet Airways flight #9W603 was scheduled to fly from Delhi to Srinagar and suffered partial damage in the incident.
According to information available online the scheduled departure of the flight #9W603 was 2.50 pm.
The right wing of the Srinagar-bound Jet flight clipped the tail of anotherJet Airways aircraft before takeoff.
NEWS United Airlines say sorry for flying passenger 3,000 miles in wrong direction
The airlines have been forced to apologise after accidentally flying a passenger 3,000 miles in the wrong direction.
Lucie Bahetoukilae, who speaks no English, was intending to catch a plane to Paris and was horrified when she landed in San Francisco.
United Airlines have said sorry for the ‘horrible failure’ to correctly check Ms Bahetoukilae’s boarding pass.
It took Ms Bahetoukilae 28 hours to reach her intended destination after the cock up on April 24.
A United Airlines spokesperson said: ‘We deeply apologise to Ms. Bahetoukilae for this unacceptable experience. When she arrived in San Francisco we ensured she got on the next flight to Paris and refunded her ticket.’
ALERT Air Asia #D7377 hits severe turbulence, 5 passengers injured
Five passengers were injured when an AirAsia X flight from Taipei to Kuala Lumpur encountered severe turbulence on Thursday.
In a statement, the airline said Flight D7377en route to Kuala Lumpur from Taipei with 291 passengers and 11 crew members on board, encountered the turbulence mid-flight on Thursday.
The Airbus A330-300 landed safely at Kuala Lumpur at 4.30pm.
ALERT Russian Il-96 with FM Lavrov on-board violated Estonian airspace
On Wednesday evening, an Ilyushin Il-96 flew over Vaindloo, a small island belonging to Estonia without permission, reported the Defense Forces.
The transponder was turned off at the border and the aircraft didn’t follow its flight plan. There was no radio contact with the air traffic control in Estonia.
The plane was carrying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on his way from Moscow to Helsinki.
This was the first time this year that the Estonian airspace was violated by a plane from Russian Federation. Last year, there were seven similar cases.
The Russian Federation embassy was notified about the incident.
BREAKING Departures suspended at London Heathrow terminal 3 due to security alert
Departures were temporarily suspended from London’s Heathrow Terminal 3 over a security issue: Airport spokesperson confirms.
A police spokesman confirmed they were called to reports of a suspicious package this morning at 7.59am.
@HeathrowAirport Please tell us what is going on at Terminal 3. Security screening stopped and there’s a line of at least 1500 people waiting to be screened.
— Joel Charny (@CharnyJ) May 5, 2017
NEWS First Chinese-built passenger plane successfully completes maiden flight
The first large made-in-China passenger plane successfully completed its maiden test flight Friday, marking a key milestone on the country’s ambitious journey to compete with the world’s leading aircraft makers.
The narrow-body C919 jet took off off from Pudong international airport in the commercial hub Shanghai. It successfully landed some 80 minutes later and the five-member crew was handed flowers, with captain Cai Jun describing the flight as “very satisfactory.”
Built by state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the plane represents nearly a decade of effort in a government-mandated drive to reduce dependence on European consortium Airbus and US aerospace giant Boeing.
While delayed since last year, the flight is the latest sign of China’s growing ambition and technical skill, coming one week after the country launched its first domestically made aircraft carrier and docked a cargo spacecraft with an orbiting space lab.
China is a massive battleground for Boeing and Airbus, with the country’s travel market expected to surpass the United States by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Airbus and Boeing estimate that Chinese airlines will need between 6,000-6,800 aircraft at a total price of around $1 trillion.
Both companies congratulated COMAC on the flight.
NEWS Delta is apologizing for kicking a family with two young children off a flight #DL2222 after they already boarded
The incident occurred on April 23, but footage of the ordeal was just posted to YouTube on May 3 by Brian Schear, the customer who can be seen arguing with a flight attendant during an eight-minute exchange.
The family members who were on board the flight — Schear, his wife and their one- and two-year-old children — were eventually escorted off the aircraft and flew to their destination on a later flight with a different airline.
“We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we’ve reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation,” the airline said in a statement issued Thursday. “Delta’s goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologize.”
NEWS WestJet to buy up to 20 Boeing 787-9 Jets for Long-Haul Routes
The move takes a page from Air Canada, which has relied on the Dreamliner’s fuel efficiency to lower operating costs.
The order also helps clarify WestJet’s strategy for competing with the country’s largest carrier by entering new markets in Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
NEWS Virgin Galactic releases video of new reentry system first test
On May 1st, 2017 VSS Unity “feather” re-entry system was activated in flight for the first time.
VSS Unity was piloted by Mark Stucky and Mike Masucci, with pilots Nicola Pecile and CJ Sturckow as well as flight test engineer Dustin Mosher in carrier aircraft VMS Eve. This test flight was the fourth glide flight (and eighth flight overall) of VSS Unity.
VSS Unity Project Engineer, Gabe Williams, describes the vehicle’s unique feathering re-entry system.
ALERT Violent brawl on board All Nippon Airways #NH6 from Narita to LAX (video)
Two passengers aboard a Los Angeles-bound flight in Narita, Japan were filmed in a violent pre-flight altercation Monday night.
Ten minutes before take off a passenger has started a huge fight in his row. In footage of the fight posted on social media, airline staff and other passengers are seen trying to break up the two men.
For the record ANA staff and passengers handled the situation with grace and respect. They did the best they could to diffuse the situation.
— Corey Hour (@CoreyHour) May 2, 2017
According to Japan Today, the airline believes the American seen in the video was intoxicated and he was asked to leave the plane. He initially resisted and hit a female passenger. After being deplaned, the 44-year-old man allegedly tried to choke an ANA employee. He was arrested in Japan and has since been charged with assault.
The flight, which was already delayed due to local weather conditions, took off about an hour and 40 minutes behind schedule due to the altercation.
NEWS Alitalia starts bankruptcy proceedings
Alitalia started bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in a decade, throwing the survival of Italy’s flag carrier in doubt after workers rejected job cuts and concessions linked to a 2 billion-euro ($2.2 billion) refinancing plan.
Shareholders voted unanimously to file for insolvency administration, the carrier said in a statement following a meeting on Tuesday. Under Italian law, the government will appoint supervisors to turn around the company or order its liquidation, and may provide stop-gap funds to maintain operations.
Alitalia, which was mainly backed by Abu-Dhabi based Etihad Airways PJSC, last week said it had exhausted all options to stay solvent after workers nixed a plan involving 1,600 job losses.
NEWS Two supersonic B-1B flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces
North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of strategic U.S. bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength.
The two supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers were deployed amid rising tensions over North Korea’s pursuit of its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of U.N. sanctions and pressure from the United States.
North Korea said the bombers conducted a nuclear bomb dropping drill against major objects in its territory.
VIDEO Porsche Cayenne pulls Air France Airbus A380 to set Guinness World Record
The Porsche Cayenne is now officially a Guinness World Record holder – the German SUV has taken the crown of heaviest aircraft pulled by a production car during a recent publicity stunt at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The new record was set using a standard £66,676 Cayenne S Diesel, which makes use of a 4.1-litre V8 twin-turbo producing 380bhp, but more importantly, 850Nm of torque. With those figures it was able to tug a colossal, 285 tonne, 516 seat, 73 metres long Airbus A380 supplied by Air France over a distance of 42 metres.
VIDEO Very Low Takeoff Cessna Citation Takeoff from St. Maarten/SXM
Flying low above Maho Beach back in March.
BREAKING 19 passengers seriously injured after strong turbulence on Aeroflot #SU270 from Moscow to Bangkok
An Aeroflot Boeing 777-300 flight #SU270 hit several successive areas of turbulence en route from Moscow to Bangkok.
Russian Embassy in Thailand provides all necessary assistance to the Russian citizens who were flying by Aeroflot airlines from Moscow to Bangkok and were injured due to turbulence hitting the aircraft, a Consul on duty told Sputnik on Monday.
Evgenia Zibrova posted a shocking video with the comment: ‘Numerous air pockets one hour before landing led to broken bones, internal and external bleeding. Lots of people from the tail cabin have broken their noses, several people have probably broken their spines. Babies are covered in bruises, people lost consciousness. Thanks that we are still alive. Aeroflot, please help these people.’
Vladimir Sosnov, deputy head of Russian Consulate in Thailand, said: ‘So far I can confirm that the aircraft was hit by turbulence, passengers got fractures, bruises and sprains, they are in hospital now. Apparently, those who were injured did not have their seat belts fastened.’
The Boeing 777-300 (reg.VP-BGD) landed at 07:30 am local time. The injured passengers were rushed to hospital on arrival in the Thai capital. A source said 19 people were hospitalised in Bangkok, with two undergoing urgent surgery, others were treated with first aid after the incident.