AirSafety Archives - Aviation Today

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / August 3, 2026

Nazca, Peru: All 13 people aboard an Aerodiana sightseeing flight were killed after a Cessna Caravan C-208 (Grand Caravan) crashed […]

Atlanta, United States: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a serious runway separation incident involving two Delta Air Lines aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after the jets came into close proximity during simultaneous arrival and departure operations late on July 27. The incident involved Delta Air Lines Flight DL1568, arriving from Pittsburgh, and Delta Air Lines Flight DL2472, departing for Rochester, New York. According to the FAA and flight-tracking data, Flight 1568 was on final approach when the crew initiated a go-around after the departing aircraft had not cleared the runway environment in time. As the arriving aircraft climbed away from the runway, it came into conflict with the departing Delta jet. Both flight crews received Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) resolution advisories, prompting immediate evasive action. Air traffic controllers instructed the departing aircraft to turn and continue climbing while the arriving aircraft followed its missed-approach procedure. The crews complied with the alerts and ATC instructions, allowing both aircraft to safely regain separation. According to publicly reported flight data, the aircraft came within approximately 1,800 feet horizontally and 600 feet vertically at their closest point before increasing separation. No injuries were reported, and both flights continued safely after the event. Flight 1568 subsequently entered a holding pattern before landing safely in Atlanta, while Flight 2472 continued its scheduled flight to Rochester. Air traffic control audio reviewed by multiple media outlets captured the urgency of the event. Controllers quickly issued revised instructions after recognizing the developing conflict, while one pilot was heard expressing surprise at how close the aircraft had come. The communications indicate that both the controllers and flight crews acted promptly in response to the TCAS warnings, helping prevent a more serious incident. The FAA confirmed it is investigating the occurrence to determine the sequence of events, including runway occupancy, aircraft spacing and air traffic control actions. As of the latest update, the agency has not released preliminary findings or identified a probable cause. No damage to either aircraft has been reported, and no onboard injuries have been disclosed. The airline's operating crews followed established safety procedures, including compliance with TCAS resolution advisories and ATC instructions, allowing both flights to continue safely.

Incidents

FAA Investigates Close Call Between Two Delta Air Lines Aircraft At Atlanta Airport

Aviation Today News Desk / July 30, 2026

Atlanta, United States: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a serious runway separation incident involving two Delta Air

around 180 passengers came dangerously close to a serious accident while approaching London Heathrow Airport earlier this month, after a reported air data system failure led to a loss of airspeed information during the aircraft's final descent. The incident, which occurred on July 6 aboard Flight BA919 from Düsseldorf, Germany, is now under investigation by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The aircraft was descending over east London at approximately 4,000 feet near Canary Wharf when one of its air data systems reportedly malfunctioned. Air data systems provide pilots with critical flight information including airspeed, altitude and other performance parameters essential for safely controlling the aircraft, particularly during the approach and landing phases. According to reports first published by The Sun, the loss of air data reportedly resulted in the Airbus A320 entering an aerodynamic stall, a condition in which the wings no longer generate sufficient lift because the aircraft's angle of attack becomes excessive. Unlike an engine failure, a stall does not mean the engines stop operating; instead, the aircraft risks losing altitude rapidly unless immediate corrective action is taken. Reports said the first officer initially attempted to recover the aircraft before the captain intervened directly in the cockpit to regain control. A source described the recovery as particularly challenging because it occurred at low altitude during the final approach, stating that such physical intervention by a captain is highly unusual. Several reports described the event as one of the most serious aviation near misses in the United Kingdom in recent years. According to reports, the occurrence has been recorded as a "loss of control in-flight" and described as "pilot induced." However, the AAIB has not released any preliminary findings, and the cause of the incident, including the sequence of events leading to the reported loss of control, remains under investigation. It is therefore too early to determine whether crew actions, equipment failure, or a combination of factors contributed to the event. In a statement, British Airways confirmed that it is cooperating with the AAIB's investigation into the serious incident. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in line with its standard practice, has declined to comment while the investigation remains ongoing. The AAIB's investigation into Flight BA919 is expected to examine aircraft systems, recorded flight data, cockpit voice recordings, maintenance history, crew actions and operational procedures before determining the cause of the incident and issuing any safety recommendations.

Incidents

British Airways A320 Investigated Following Reported Loss Of Airspeed Near Heathrow

Aviation Today News Desk / July 30, 2026

London, United Kingdom: A British Airways Airbus A320 carrying around 180 passengers came dangerously close to a serious accident while

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after taking off from a private airfield in McClain County, Oklahoma, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The accident occurred on the afternoon of June 29 near East Cottonwood Road in Goldsby, approximately 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. Emergency responders from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), local fire departments and other agencies rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a plane crash. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the aircraft had departed from Paradise Air Haven Airport, a privately owned airfield near Goldsby, when it encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff. OHP Lt. Mark Southall said preliminary information gathered from witnesses indicated the aircraft failed to climb as expected. "Witnesses reported the aircraft did not gain enough altitude after takeoff before descending into a nearby field," Southall said. The aircraft crashed into a pasture near East Cottonwood Road before erupting into flames. First responders found the wreckage engulfed in fire. Authorities confirmed that both occupants died at the scene. No injuries were reported on the ground. Officials have not yet publicly released the identities of the two victims, pending notification of their families. The FAA and the NTSB have launched separate investigations into the accident. The FAA is assisting with the initial investigation, while the NTSB will lead the inquiry and determine the probable cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, pilot qualifications, maintenance records, weather conditions, operational history and witness statements as part of the investigation.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing and crash-landed in a field near an expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district on June 29, prompting an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aircraft, registered as VT-AFB, had departed from Aligarh Airport on a solo training sortie with only the trainee pilot on board. According to the DGCA, the flight was part of a routine solo training exercise when the aircraft encountered an emergency, forcing the pilot to carry out a precautionary landing in an open field near an under-construction expressway in Kasganj. The trainee pilot has been identified by multiple local media reports as aged 28 years. Chetak Aviation confirmed that she had accumulated the required flying hours to undertake solo flights and had been training with the flying training organisation for over a year. According to the flying school, the aircraft took off from Aligarh at approximately 1:05 p.m., while the emergency occurred at around 3:00–4:00 p.m. near Kasganj. Soon after exiting the aircraft, the trainee pilot contacted the academy to report the occurrence, following which local police and emergency responders were alerted. The DGCA, in its official statement, said, "Chetak Aviation Cessna 152 aircraft VT-AFB engaged in solo flying at Aligarh has crash landed in a field in Kasganj. She (trainee pilot) is reported to be safe. DGCA is investigating the occurrence." Chetak Aviation stated that the aircraft came down beside the expressway and that the pilot remained safe. Kasganj Police said she was taken to a local hospital for medical examination and her condition was stable. The exact cause of the emergency landing has not yet been established. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a technical snag while airborne, compelling the pilot to attempt a forced landing. The flying training organisation said it would determine the cause only after examining the aircraft and speaking with the trainee pilot. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend rapidly before coming to rest in a field adjacent to the roadway. Some local reports claimed the aircraft may have struck overhead power lines before landing, although this has not been confirmed by the DGCA. The crash site drew large crowds of local residents, while police officials quickly secured the area and facilitated the pilot's evacuation. Photographs and videos circulating online showed the aircraft lying on its side with visible damage to one wing and the rear fuselage after skidding off the landing area. Following the occurrence, the DGCA initiated a formal investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the emergency landing. According to subsequent reports, all training flights operated by Chetak Aviation have been suspended until the investigation is completed. The incident marks the second trainer aircraft occurrence in Uttar Pradesh within four days. On June 26, a trainee pilot sustained serious injuries at Kanpur's Chakeri Airport after disembarking from a Tecnam P2006T trainer aircraft operated by Garg Aviation while its engine was still running and was struck by the rotating propeller. That incident is also under investigation by the DGCA.

Aircraft Crashes

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa's Gauteng province on Saturday afternoon, with aviation authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the accident. Bird Aviation confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time on June 27. The academy said emergency services responded immediately and the relevant aviation authorities were notified in accordance with regulatory requirements. In an official media release, the flight school said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation and that no additional details can be released until investigators have completed their work. The academy stated that the families of the aviators had been informed and extended its condolences to those affected by what it described as a devastating loss. Bird Aviation also said it would withhold the identities of the occupants until all required family notifications had been completed and the necessary permissions had been granted. South African emergency response agencies, including ER24, Netcare911 and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, responded to the crash after the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre activated its emergency response network. Both occupants of the aircraft were found to have sustained fatal injuries. Following recovery operations, the crash site was handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which has opened an official investigation into the accident. Bird Aviation said it is fully cooperating with investigators and will continue assisting the relevant authorities, including SACAA, SAPS and the appropriate consulate. The academy also thanked emergency medical personnel, first responders, law enforcement agencies and aviation authorities for their professionalism and support during the response. Authorities have not yet disclosed the aircraft's planned route, the circumstances leading to the crash or a possible cause. As of June 29, the identities of the two people killed have not been publicly released. Separately sources indicated that the deceased were Indian nationals; however, Aviation Today has been unable to independently verify their identities at the time of publication. According to Gulte, one of the victims was N. Charan Teja, a Telugu trainee pilot from Andhra Pradesh, India, who was undergoing flight training at Bird Aviation in South Africa. The report said Teja had moved to South Africa to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot and was among the two occupants killed in the June 27 crash near Fochville. However, South African authorities and Bird Aviation had not officially confirmed the identities of the victims at the time of publication. The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C, registered ZS-ESZ, although investigators have not yet issued an official preliminary report. The investigation remains ongoing.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / June 29, 2026

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa’s Gauteng

La Baule-Escoublac, France: A twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed during its approach to La Baule-Escoublac Airport in western France on June 19, 2026, killing both people on board and triggering an investigation by French aviation authorities. The aircraft went down in a field near the airport while preparing to land after a flight from Rennes. Emergency services responding to the scene found the wreckage engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation. Despite the rapid response of firefighters and rescue teams, both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims were identified as 69-year-old Claude Guillemot, co-founder of video game publisher Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, and a flight instructor from Rennes who was accompanying him on the flight. French authorities had not publicly released the instructor's name as of June 22. According to local officials, the aircraft involved was a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle, a pressurized twin-engine piston aircraft widely used for private and business aviation operations. Local authorities indicated that the aircraft was owned by Guillemot. The flight had departed Rennes earlier in the day and was arriving at La Baule when the accident occurred. Several reports indicated that Guillemot was expected to attend an aviation gathering in the coastal town over the weekend, though authorities have not formally linked the flight to the event. Witnesses quoted by French media reported seeing the aircraft maneuvering during the final stages of its approach before it descended and impacted the ground. However, investigators have not confirmed the circumstances leading to the crash. The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and other relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. No preliminary findings have been released, and officials have not indicated whether weather, mechanical issues, operational factors, or other circumstances may have contributed to the crash. Guillemot was one of the five Guillemot brothers who founded Ubisoft in 1986. While his brother Yves Guillemot became the company's longtime chief executive, Claude played a key role in the group's development and later served as chairman of Guillemot Corporation, the gaming hardware company behind brands such as Thrustmaster and Hercules. Under the leadership of the Guillemot family, Ubisoft grew into one of the world's largest video game publishers, producing globally recognized franchises including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Rayman, Just Dance, and The Division. French investigators continue to examine the wreckage and gather evidence as they work to determine what caused the fatal crash near La Baule.

Aircraft Crashes

Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Among Two Killed In Fatal Cessna 421 Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / June 22, 2026

La Baule-Escoublac, France: A twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed during its approach to La Baule-Escoublac Airport in western France on June

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near a residential neighborhood and playground in Bowie, Maryland, late on June 20, prompting a multi-agency overnight search and a federal investigation into the cause of the accident. According to Maryland State Police (MSP), the aircraft went down at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time in a wooded section of Archer Park near Scarlett Oak Court, just east of Washington, D.C. The aircraft, identified as a Piper PA-28-181 Archer II bearing registration N249WF, was operating a flight from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Authorities said the aircraft was believed to be associated with a Montgomery County-based flight school named Washington International Flight Academy and may have been conducting a training flight at the time of the accident. All three occupants onboard the pilot and two adult passengers were fatally injured. Emergency medical personnel pronounced them dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet publicly released their identities pending notification of next of kin. The crash occurred only a short distance from homes in a townhouse community and near a neighborhood playground. No injuries were reported among residents on the ground. "We are very fortunate that nobody else was injured in this crash," Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said during a press briefing. "Of course, it's an absolute tragedy that we've lost three individuals in this incident, but we're also very fortunate that nobody else in the neighboring residential area was hurt." A large-scale search operation was immediately launched involving Maryland State Police, Prince George's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Bowie city officials, and Prince George's County Fire and EMS personnel. Ground units and aviation assets searched through the night before locating the wreckage at approximately 3:45 a.m. on June 21. Officials said darkness, dense vegetation, and the absence of eyewitness reports complicated search efforts and delayed the discovery of the aircraft. Residents living near the crash site reported hearing a loud boom shortly before midnight. Some initially believed the sound was fireworks or distant thunder. Photographs and video from the scene showed debris scattered across a wooded area, with some wreckage reportedly landing near a playground and in residential backyards. "It was an absolutely tragic incident," Russo said. "It could have been even worse because of the proximity to a town home community in Bowie." Aviation enthusiasts familiar with local flight operations also assisted in narrowing down the aircraft's last known location using publicly available flight-tracking data. One flight instructor told local media that he and several others followed the aircraft's final radar track into the wooded area while first responders were searching for the wreckage. At present, investigators have not identified a cause for the crash. Authorities have not disclosed whether the pilot reported any emergency or technical difficulties before the accident. Online flight-tracking enthusiasts have suggested the aircraft may have transmitted a 7700 emergency squawk and experienced a loss of altitude before impact. However, those observations have not been confirmed by investigators and remain unofficial. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened a formal investigation. The NTSB is leading the inquiry and is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, pilot qualifications, weather conditions, flight track data, air traffic communications, and wreckage evidence. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site on June 21. Federal investigators have indicated that no preliminary conclusions regarding the cause of the accident are available at this stage. The wreckage remains secured as investigators continue documenting evidence and reconstructing the aircraft's final moments.

Aircraft Crashes

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

Aviation Today News Desk / June 22, 2026

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near

Las Vegas, United States: A British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating Flight BA271 from London Heathrow Airport to Las Vegas landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport on June 15 after a passenger's cellphone caught fire during the flight, prompting the crew to request assistance upon arrival. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred while the aircraft was approaching Las Vegas after a flight of approximately nine and a half hours. The crew reported that a mobile phone had caught fire inside the passenger cabin and caused scorching to part of the cabin interior. Air traffic control audio recorded during the flight captured a pilot informing controllers that the aircraft was making an emergency arrival into Las Vegas following a cabin fire. "We've had a fire in the cabin," the pilot said. The crew later clarified that the source of the fire was a mobile phone and reported that it had "scorched the inside of the cabin" but that the situation was under control. As the aircraft neared its destination, the crew requested what was described as "maximum assistance" upon arrival. The pilot asked airport personnel to help deplane passengers in an orderly manner while minimizing concern inside the cabin. "We're trying to keep the panic to a minimum in the cabin," the pilot said in the radio transmission. Airport officials confirmed that British Airways alerted authorities to the onboard fire before landing. The Clark County Fire Department dispatched emergency units to respond to the aircraft as a precaution. The FAA said Flight BA271 landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time. Airport officials stated that the fire had been extinguished before landing and that the aircraft taxied normally to the gate. British Airways said passenger and crew safety remained its highest priority throughout the incident. "The safety of our customers and crew is the highest priority, the flight landed safely and customers disembarked normally," the airline said in a statement. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members, and passengers exited the aircraft through normal procedures after arrival. While some media reports described the event as an emergency arrival, British Airways told CBS News that the aircraft arrived as scheduled and did not formally declare an emergency despite the onboard fire report. The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the passenger involved, the make or model of the cellphone, the exact location of the device within the cabin, or what may have caused the battery to ignite. FAA data show that lithium battery-related incidents continue to be a concern for airlines worldwide. The agency recorded 82 such incidents during 2025 and had already logged 40 incidents in 2026 as of June 15.

Incidents

British Airways 787 Lands Safely In Las Vegas After Passenger’s Cellphone Catches Fire

Aviation Today News Desk / June 17, 2026

Las Vegas, United States: A British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating Flight BA271 from London Heathrow Airport to Las Vegas

Incidents

Virgin Australia Boeing 737 Returns To Melbourne After Mid-Air Engine Issue

Aviation Today News Desk / June 16, 2026

Melbourne, Australia: A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 operating a scheduled domestic service from Melbourne to Perth was forced to return

AirSafety

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

FAA Investigates Close Call Between Two Delta Air Lines Aircraft At Atlanta Airport

British Airways A320 Investigated Following Reported Loss Of Airspeed Near Heathrow

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Among Two Killed In Fatal Cessna 421 Crash

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

British Airways 787 Lands Safely In Las Vegas After Passenger’s Cellphone Catches Fire

Virgin Australia Boeing 737 Returns To Melbourne After Mid-Air Engine Issue

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