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Chiang Mai, Thailand: Two Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) pilots were killed Thursday morning when their light attack and reconnaissance aircraft crashed during a training mission in Chiang Mai province, military officials confirmed. The aircraft, a Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine, went down at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time in a remote training area of Chom Thong district, about 60 kilometres southwest of Chiang Mai International Airport, according to RTAF spokesperson Air Marshal Chakkrit Thammavichai. The plane was on a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) training flight when it crashed into a forested hillside near Ban Huai Fang village, officials said. Rescue teams were alerted at 10:48 a.m. and reached the site, which was reported to be largely inaccessible by road, requiring responders to hike through rugged terrain. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found the aircraft engulfed in flames with debris scattered over a roughly 20-metre radius, and a crater reportedly formed at the impact point. The bodies of both pilots remained inside the wreckage when rescuers reached the scene. Authorities have cordoned off the crash site while investigators work to determine the underlying cause of the accident. There have been no reported civilian casualties or damage to nearby property. The RTAF has identified the two pilots as Squadron Leader Samatcha Khunmas, an instructor pilot, and Flight Officer Korawit Jenkit. Both were experienced aviators assigned to Squadron 411, Wing 41, which operates from Chiang Mai Air Base. The air force expressed “deepest condolences” to the families of the fallen pilots and pledged full support during the aftermath of the crash. The AT-6TH Wolverine is a two-seat turboprop light attack and reconnaissance aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation in the United States. Thailand procured the model as part of a fleet modernization initiative, commissioning eight AT-6TH aircraft with Squadron 411, Wing 41 at Chiang Mai Air Base in September 2025. The platform supplements Thailand’s defence capabilities in roles including border surveillance, counter-narcotics operations and close air support, and is considered a key asset in the RTAF’s tactical training syllabus. Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, has ordered an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the crash, appointing an aircraft accident board to analyse flight data, mechanical components and operational factors. Officials said the inquiry will follow stringent aviation safety standards to identify causal factors and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Royal Thai Air Force Training Aircraft Crashes In Chiang Mai, Two Pilots Killed

January 31, 2026

Bogota, Colombia: A scheduled domestic flight operated by state-owned airline SATENA crashed in the mountainous Norte de Santander region of northeastern Colombia on 28 January 2026, killing all 15 people on board, authorities confirmed. The twin-engine Beechcraft 1900D turboprop, registered HK-4709, was flying as SATENA Flight 8849 from Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta toward Aguas Claras Airport in Ocaña when it lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control at about 11:54 a.m. local time, roughly 12 minutes into the short domestic service. Search and rescue teams later located the wreckage on a cloud-covered mountainside near Curasica in the municipality of Playa de Belén, confirming there were no survivors among the 13 passengers and two crew members. Among those killed were Diógenes Quintero Amaya, a 36-year-old member of Colombia’s House of Representatives representing the Catatumbo region, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming congressional elections, according to passenger lists released by SATENA. Colombian authorities and local media also reported that members of Quintero’s team were on board. SATENA said flight crews lost contact with the aircraft shortly before its scheduled landing in Ocaña. The plane’s emergency locator transmitter did not activate, which delayed initial detection of the crash site. Once located, national authorities, including the Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil), the Colombian Aerospace Force, and military personnel, coordinated search and recovery operations in difficult terrain, hampered by dense fog and rugged mountains. No definitive cause for the crash has yet been released. Colombian aviation regulators have opened a technical investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the accident and any contributing factors. Officials have not ruled out weather or terrain as influences, given the flight path over challenging mountainous territory near the Venezuela border. The Beechcraft 1900D involved was operated under a wet-lease arrangement by SEARCA on behalf of SATENA. The aircraft type is widely used on short regional routes for its capability to operate in and out of airports with limited infrastructure. The Cúcuta–Ocaña sector is a routine domestic service typically lasting under an hour. Radar data showed the aircraft climbed to approximately 12,900 feet before beginning its descent toward Ocaña, with its last known altitude recorded near 7,900 feet shortly before contact was lost. Colombian officials, including President Gustavo Petro, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, describing the crash as a national tragedy.

All 15 Aboard Die As SATENA Beechcraft 1900D Crashes In Northern Colombia

January 30, 2026

Las Vegas, United States: A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a rear landing gear wheel shortly after departing Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas while en route to London Heathrow Airport, officials and aviation trackers confirmed. The incident occurred on Monday evening, 26 January, when Flight BA274, operated by a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 registered G-XWBN, was climbing out after takeoff around 9:05 p.m. local time. Livestream footage from an automated airport camera showed sparks near the right main landing gear as the aircraft lifted off, followed seconds later by the separation of the right-rear wheel assembly as the gear was retracting. Despite the unusual mechanical failure, the flight continued across the Atlantic Ocean and landed safely at Heathrow Airport at about 14:28 GMT on Tuesday, approximately nine hours after departure. Airport officials at Harry Reid International confirmed the wheel was recovered from the airfield, and that no injuries or damage to airport property were reported as a result of the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified. British Airways said in a statement that “safety and security underpins everything we do” and that the airline is supporting authorities with their investigations into the cause of the separation. The Airbus A350-1000 is equipped with a robust multi-wheel landing gear system, with six wheels on each main landing gear bogie. The detached wheel was the outermost rear wheel on the right main gear. Such redundancy typically allows an aircraft to operate safely even with a single wheel loss, provided all other systems remain within normal operating parameters. Cabin crew conducted an onboard engineering assessment once the aircraft reached cruising altitude and determined there was no immediate safety risk necessitating a diversion to an alternate airport. The decision to complete the transatlantic flight to London was made in consultation with British Airways’ operations and engineering teams. Upon arrival at Heathrow, the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and repairs. Investigators are expected to examine the landing gear assembly and maintenance history to determine the cause of the wheel separation.

British Airways flight Loses Wheel After Las Vegas Takeoff, Lands Safely In London UK

January 29, 2026

Nabire, Indonesia: A Smart Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft carrying 13 people was forced to make an emergency water landing off the coast of Nabire, Central Papua on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew survived the incident without serious injury. The single-engine turboprop, registered PK-SNS, had departed from Douw Aturure Airport (NBX) bound for Kaimana Airport (KNG) shortly after noon local time. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew detected a technical issue with the aircraft’s engine, prompting the captain to attempt a return to the departure airport. With engine thrust diminishing, the pilot executed an emergency landing at the Logpond Kaladiri area, a shallow coastal waterway adjacent to the airport. The aircraft came down at approximately 13:40 WIT (Western Indonesian Time), skidding into the water near Karadiri Beach before finally coming to rest. Officials from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Nabire and local police were on scene to assist with evacuation efforts. All 13 occupants comprising 11 passengers and 2 crew members were safely evacuated and accounted for. Many were initially taken to RSUD Nabire hospital for evaluation and later released. Nabire Police Chief AKBP Samuel Tatiratu confirmed there were no fatalities or serious injuries. “All passengers and crew are reported to be in good condition and safe,” Tatiratu said. Preliminary information from the Ministry of Transportation’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation indicates the incident was triggered by engine malfunction shortly after takeoff, prompting a Return-to-Base decision, followed by an emergency landing when thrust power continued to degrade. The aircraft belongs to PT Smart Cakrawala Aviation and operates scheduled regional services in eastern Indonesia. Authorities, including the Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi (KNKT), are expected to launch a formal investigation into the mechanical issue to determine precise causes and contributing factors. Local residents who witnessed the event assisted rescue personnel in pulling survivors from the water while emergency services coordinated further safety assessments at the scene.

Smart Air Cessna Makes Emergency Water Landing Off Nabire Coast, All 13 On Board Safe

January 29, 2026

Pune, India: A chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning, killing multiple people including Pawar, officials and news agencies reported. The crash occurred during what authorities described as an emergency landing attempt in Baramati, located in Pune district. Early reports suggest the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure while on final approach to the runway. According to preliminary information from the Press Trust of India (PTI) cited reports, Ajit Pawar and at least five other individuals on board died in the accident. The DGCA said all six on board, including Pawar, two staff members, and two crew and the pilot were killed in the crash. The wreckage showed significant structural breakup after the aircraft crashed, and that emergency services were deployed to the site immediately after the incident. Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a series of political events related to the forthcoming Zilla Parishad elections. Media reports stated that the aircraft was a chartered Learjet 45 and was carrying the deputy chief minister along with security personnel, pilots and other passengers. Baramati Airport manager Shivaji Taware told reporters the aircraft went off the side of the runway before crashing, though exact details of what precipitated the accident are still under investigation. State emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, responded swiftly to the crash site. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other aviation authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Factors such as technical issues, weather, or procedural error are yet to be confirmed. Official statements from the Maharashtra government and spokespersons for the NCP are anticipated later today as authorities gather more information and complete an initial assessment of the accident.

Plane Crashes During Emergency Landing At Baramati, DCM Ajit Pawar, 5 Others Killed

January 28, 2026

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Lufthansa Group has announced on Wednesday, its plans to strengthen its workforce by recruiting 10,000 new employees in 2025. This extensive hiring campaign is part of the company’s strategy to support its global operations and maintain its standing as a leader in the aviation industry | Aviation Today

Lufthansa Group Announces Plans to Recruit 10,000 Employees in 2025

New Delhi: Regional air connectivity is an important goal for the Indian government, as air passenger traffic is expected to reach 40 crore by 2029. During a conference in New Delhi on Monday, Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam stressed the country's aviation sector's enormous growth potential | Aviation Today

India’s Air Passenger Traffic Set to Hit 40 Crore by 2029: Civil Aviation Secretary

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Middle East Aviation Market Set to Reach $33.7 Billion by 2029 with $151 Billion in Airport Investments

In a recent statement, Willie Walsh, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), described India as a "fascinating market" and a top destination. He made reference to the more than 1,000 aircraft that local carriers like Air India and IndiGo have ordered, saying, "I think somebody with an ambition to be a pilot should be looking at India because of the aircraft orders | Aviation Today

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