aviation news Archives - Page 9 of 46

Varanasi, India: An IndiGo Airlines flight bound for Bengaluru was forced to make an emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on Sunday night after it was struck by a bird mid-air, aviation and airport officials said on Monday. The aircraft, operating as flight 6E-437 from Gorakhpur to Bengaluru, was carrying 216 passengers and crew when the bird impact occurred shortly after takeoff. The strike damaged the front portion of the aircraft, prompting the flight crew to seek an immediate diversion to the nearest safe airport, officials reported. According to airport authorities, the pilot promptly informed Varanasi Air Traffic Control about the situation and executed a precautionary emergency landing at Varanasi. All passengers and crew were evacuated from the aircraft safely without any reported injuries. Airport Director Puneet Gupta confirmed that the aircraft sustained damage to its nose section as a result of the bird strike, but emphasized that the crew’s swift action ensured a safe outcome. Passengers were assisted after the landing, with some being flown to Bengaluru on other flights on Monday and others accommodated on alternative services arranged by the airline. IndiGo has initiated further technical inspections of the aircraft before it resumes service, sources indicated. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review the incident as part of standard procedural requirements for bird strike events, though no formal DGCA statement has been released yet. Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Jaipur On January 12, 2026, an Air India flight en route from New Delhi to Vijayawada was diverted to Jaipur International Airport after an elderly passenger fell critically ill mid-air. The aircraft, operating as AI-2517 on an Airbus A320, made an urgent landing in Jaipur early Monday morning following the onboard medical emergency. Once on the ground, the passenger was swiftly deplaned and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while all other passengers remained safe. Flight tracking data confirmed the diversion to Jaipur, and no official statement has yet been issued by Air India.

IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Varanasi After Bird Strike, All Onboard Safe

Aviation Today News Desk / January 13, 2026

Varanasi, India: An IndiGo Airlines flight bound for Bengaluru was forced to make an emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri […]

New Delhi, India: Akasa Air has formally joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), marking a significant milestone for the young Indian carrier and strengthening its standing within the global aviation ecosystem. With this development, Akasa Air becomes the fifth Indian airline to be part of IATA, joining Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, and SpiceJet. The membership places the airline among more than 360 carriers worldwide that together account for over 80 percent of global air traffic. Akasa Air’s inclusion follows the successful completion of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a globally recognised safety and operational assessment programme that is a mandatory requirement for IATA membership. The audit evaluates an airline’s flight operations, maintenance systems, safety management, security, and organisational processes against international standards. According to IATA’s official member directory, Akasa Air operating under SNV Aviation Private Limited is now listed as an IATA member airline in the Asia-Pacific region. Industry experts view the development as a key step in Akasa Air’s international integration, particularly as the airline expands overseas operations and explores deeper cooperation with global carriers. IATA membership provides access to industry-standard settlement systems, safety data sharing, regulatory coordination platforms, and global best practices. Akasa Air founded in 2020 by Vinay Dube and in substantial backing of the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, the renowned Indian investor widely referred to as the “Big Bull” of the stock market. Akasa Air commenced commercial operations in August 2022 and operates a fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The airline serves a growing domestic network and has gradually expanded international services since 2024. Company leadership has previously outlined long-term ambitions to scale fleet size and rank among the world’s leading airlines over the next decade. For India’s aviation sector, Akasa Air’s entry into IATA reflects the continued expansion and maturation of the country’s airline industry, at a time when passenger demand and global connectivity from India are rising steadily.

Airlines

Akasa Air Joins IATA Within Four Years Of Launch, Becomes India’s Fifth Member Airline

Aviation Today News Desk / January 12, 2026

New Delhi, India: Akasa Air has formally joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), marking a significant milestone for the

Airlines

Allegiant To Acquire Rival Sun Country In $1.5 Billion Deal, Expanding Leisure Network

Aviation Today News Desk / January 12, 2026

Las Vegas, United States: U.S. low-cost carrier Allegiant Travel Company has reached a definitive agreement to acquire rival Sun Country

Bogota, Colombia: Colombian music popular singer-songwriter Yeison Jiménez, 34, was killed Saturday afternoon in a small aircraft crash while en route to a concert in Medellín, officials and his representatives confirmed. All six people aboard the plane died when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the Boyacá region, authorities said. The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics reported that a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo bearing registration N325FA departed from Juan José Rondón Airport in Paipa bound for Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín. The aircraft failed to gain altitude and came down in a rural area between Paipa and Duitama late Saturday afternoon. Jiménez was among the six victims. The others onboard were identified as pilot Captain Fernando Torres, team members Jefferson Osorio, Juan Manuel Rodríguez and Óscar Marín, and Jiménez’s longtime photographer, Weisman Mora. In a statement shared on social media, Jiménez’s team mourned the loss and described him not only as a prominent artist but as a “son, brother, friend and a human being full of dreams and courage.” The statement expressed gratitude for the support from fans and asked for privacy for the families during this time of grief. Colombian authorities have launched formal inquiries into the crash. The Technical Directorate for Accident Investigation is conducting the technical aviation investigation, while the Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía) has opened a parallel criminal inquiry, a standard procedure in fatal aviation accidents, to determine whether any legal issues arose in connection with the flight. Officials have not yet released a preliminary cause of the crash. Forensic teams have transferred the victims’ remains to Bogotá for identification and autopsy in line with legal protocols. Caldas, Jiménez rose from humble beginnings to become one of Colombia’s most popular figures in the música popular genre, a style rooted in regional folk traditions meshed with Mexican influences. He achieved significant milestones, including selling out Bogotá’s Movistar Arena multiple times in 2024 and becoming the first Colombian artist in his genre to sell out El Campín Stadium in 2025. His wife and three children are still alive. Fans and fellow artists across Latin America have been sharing condolences and tributes on social media following the news of his death.

Aircraft Crashes

Fatal Colombia Aircraft Crash Kills Six People Including Popular Singer Yeison Jiménez

Aviation Today News Desk / January 12, 2026

Bogota, Colombia: Colombian music popular singer-songwriter Yeison Jiménez, 34, was killed Saturday afternoon in a small aircraft crash while en

Investigation

AAIB Flags Safety Reporting Gaps, Seeks DGCA SMS Review After IndiGo Near-Miss

Aviation Today News Desk / January 11, 2026

New Delhi, India: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended a comprehensive one-time inspection of airlines’ safety management systems

Hong Kong, China: A power bank carried by a passenger aboard an Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul to Hong Kong overheated and caught fire mid-air on Thursday night, injuring one passenger and emphasizing ongoing aviation safety concerns related to lithium-battery devices. The incident occurred on Flight OZ745, an Airbus A330-214 operating from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) with 284 passengers on board. Around two hours into the flight, a portable battery charger (power bank) carried in the cabin ignited, producing smoke and flames near the economy class seating area. Cabin crew responded within minutes, extinguishing the fire with onboard fire extinguishers. The device’s owner sustained a minor hand burn during the incident, while no other passengers or crew were seriously injured. Despite the onboard fire, the aircraft continued its scheduled flight and landed safely in Hong Kong at approximately 10:52 pm, just minutes behind schedule. Authorities in Hong Kong, including the Airport Authority and local police, were not required to intervene after landing. Eyewitness accounts posted on social media described a brief moment of panic among passengers before the crew contained the situation. “For a moment, I thought I was going to die,” one passenger wrote, highlighting the anxiety such incidents can provoke even when managed effectively. Asiana Airlines confirmed the matter was handled according to established safety procedures and that aviation regulators will be notified as part of standard post-incident processes. In a similar incident on 20 March 2025, Hong Kong Airlines Flight HX115, an Airbus A320 flying from Hangzhou to Hong Kong, was forced to make an emergency diversion to Fuzhou Changle International Airport after a fire broke out in an overhead luggage compartment. The blaze, believed to have been caused by a portable power bank, was extinguished onboard by crew and passengers, and all 168 people on board disembarked safely with no injuries reported. In response to rising incidents involving lithium‑ion batteries, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has updated safety regulations to prohibit charging power banks during flights and mandate that such devices be carried only in hand luggage, not checked baggage. Domestic carriers like IndiGo have further restricted storage, requiring passengers to keep power banks within reach and not in overhead bins. South Korea bans storing power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead bins and requires insulated handling, while Hong Kong and mainland China restrict uncertified batteries. Airline-level measures include Singapore Airlines and Scoot banning in-flight charging from April 2025, Thai Airways, AirAsia, EVA Air, and China Airlines restricting in-flight use. Emirates has banned the use of power banks onboard since 1 October 2025, allowing only one device under 100 Wh in cabin baggage, stored under the seat or in the seat pocket, and strictly forbidding charging or use during flight. Current rules at a glance: allowed with conditions carry power banks under specified watt-hour limits (typically 100 Wh) with clear labeling; prohibited placing in checked luggage, charging in-flight, or storing in overhead bins.

Incidents

Power Bank Ignites Mid-Air On Asiana Airlines Flight, 1 Passenger Sustains Minor Burns

Aviation Today News Desk / January 10, 2026

Hong Kong, China: A power bank carried by a passenger aboard an Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul to Hong Kong

Paris, France: Malaysia Airlines flight MH21, operating a scheduled long-haul service from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), was forced to turn back and land safely in Paris on 7 January 2026 after the flight crew detected an anomaly in the aircraft’s guidance systems shortly after departure. The Airbus A350-941, registered 9M-MAB, departed CDG at 11:55 a.m. local time, approximately 45 minutes behind its scheduled departure, reportedly due to ongoing snowfall and reduced airport operational capacity at Paris. Shortly after take-off and while climbing through around 4,572 metres (15,000 feet) over central French airspace, the flight crew identified an irregularity affecting the aircraft’s guidance system, a critical suite of avionics that integrates autopilot, flight management and navigation functions to determine and maintain the planned flight path. Upon detecting the issue, pilots activated the aircraft’s emergency transponder code “7700”, the universal aviation signal indicating a general emergency, and immediately communicated with French air traffic controllers to request priority handling and clearance to return to CDG. The A350 remained under controlled flight while returning to Paris and landed safely at 3:36 p.m. local time. Emergency response teams were positioned on standby at the airport as a precaution, though no injuries or further technical complications were reported. Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) confirmed in a statement that the aircraft’s return was a precautionary measure taken in line with established safety procedures for technical irregularities, and not in response to any imminent danger. Passengers disembarked normally. Those affected were either reaccommodated on alternative carriers where possible or provided with hotel accommodations near the airport while awaiting onward travel arrangements. A replacement service, designated MH21D, was scheduled to depart from CDG later on 8 January. In its official communication, Malaysia Airlines expressed regret for the disruption to travel plans and reiterated that flight safety remains the airline’s overriding priority. The carrier confirmed that the aircraft will undergo detailed technical checks before it is permitted to operate further services.

Incidents

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH21 Returns To Paris After In-Flight Guidance System Anomaly

Aviation Today News Desk / January 9, 2026

Paris, France: Malaysia Airlines flight MH21, operating a scheduled long-haul service from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Kuala

Birmingham, United Kingdom: An Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar, India, to Birmingham, UK, declared a general emergency due to low fuel on the evening of 8 January 2026 after prolonged holding caused by severe winter weather and the temporary closure of Birmingham Airport. The aircraft was safely diverted to London Heathrow Airport where it landed without incident, airline and flight tracking data show. Flight AI117, registration VT‑NAC, was approaching Birmingham in worsening weather as Storm Goretti brought heavy snowfall and dangerously low visibility, leading airport authorities to suspend runway operations. Visibility dipped well below the minima required for a safe landing, forcing the crew to abort the initial approach and enter a holding pattern. With extended time spent circling near the destination, fuel reserves fell toward critical levels. In response, the crew transmitted Squawk 7700 the transponder emergency code indicating a serious onboard issue requiring urgent air traffic control priority signalling a general emergency due to low fuel. This prompted expedited handling and coordination with UK air traffic control for diversion. Air Traffic Control cleared the Boeing 787 to divert to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), chosen for its longer runways and advanced Category III Instrument Landing System (ILS) capable of accommodating landing in degraded weather conditions with enhanced safety margins. The aircraft touched down safely on Heathrow’s runway 09L and subsequently taxied to gate B49 with no reported injuries to passengers or crew. Air India flight operations encountered significant disruption as snow continued to impact Birmingham Airport operations throughout the evening. The airport’s decision to close the runways was part of ongoing safety precautions amid rapid snow accumulation and deteriorating meteorological conditions. A declaration of Squawk 7700, a universal aviation emergency code does not automatically reflect a catastrophic failure; rather, it alerts all air traffic units that the flight requires priority handling due to a critical situation, in this case driven by fuel management considerations following a prolonged holding pattern.

Incidents

Air India 787 Declares Emergency Over Low Fuel, Safely Diverts To London Heathrow

Aviation Today News Desk / January 9, 2026

Birmingham, United Kingdom: An Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar, India, to Birmingham, UK, declared a general

Airlines

IndiGo Inducts India’s First A321XLR, Launches India’s First Direct Flights To Greece

Aviation Today News Desk / January 8, 2026

New Delhi, India: IndiGo has inducted India’s first Airbus A321XLR aircraft, marking a major milestone in the airline’s long-term international

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport saw a sharp reduction in flight cancellations for Thursday as the prolonged winter storm that crippled Europe’s busiest hub for air travel showed signs of easing, though delay risks remain and residual disruption persists. Airlines and airport officials reported only a small number of scheduled flights affected for 8 January, marking a significant improvement from the previous days of winter chaos that saw hundreds of flights scrapped daily. Officials from Schiphol and Dutch flag carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines confirmed that around 60 inbound services scheduled for Thursday had been cancelled by late Wednesday afternoon, largely due to aircraft being unable to return after cancellations earlier in the week. Only a handful of departing flights have been removed from the Thursday schedule. In total, six departures out of 565 scheduled Thursday flights were cancelled by various carriers, and approximately 30 incoming flights were expected to experience delays of varying durations. A spokesperson for Schiphol emphasised that weather conditions were expected to be milder than earlier in the week, and that airlines “do not expect as many cancellations as in recent days”. However, passengers were urged to plan for delays and to check flight status before arriving at the airport. The airport’s operational challenges began on 2 January 2026, when persistent snowfall, strong winds and freezing conditions first caused widespread cancellations. Over the following days, airlines cancelled around 3,500 scheduled flights at Schiphol on average hundreds per day as snow and ice compounded staffing and logistical issues. On 7 January, more than 700 flights were cancelled, again due to heavy snow and high wind, leaving long lines of stranded passengers and disrupted connections across Europe. A major factor behind the cancellation surge was the strain on de‑icing operations. KLM, responsible for most de‑icing services at Schiphol, reported that its supplies of glycol‑based de‑icing fluid were running critically low after days of continuous usage, prompting emergency procurement efforts from suppliers in Germany. Airport ground crews worked around the clock to clear runways and taxiways, but continuous snowfall and freezing precipitation created persistent bottlenecks that reduced the airport’s capacity to handle arriving and departing flights. Travelers faced lengthy delays and cancellations through the week, with many spending nights in airport terminals. Schiphol staff provided cots, blankets, food and beverages for those unable to depart. Although Thursday’s forecast suggests fewer cancellations than earlier in the week, weather warnings including Code Yellow alerts for freezing rain and sleet remained in place for the Netherlands, raising the possibility of renewed disruption, particularly if conditions deteriorate over the coming days.

Airlines

Schiphol Sees Fewer Cancellations After 3,500-Flight Cancellations During Winter Storm

Aviation Today News Desk / January 8, 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport saw a sharp reduction in flight cancellations for Thursday as the prolonged winter storm that

aviation news

IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Varanasi After Bird Strike, All Onboard Safe

Akasa Air Joins IATA Within Four Years Of Launch, Becomes India’s Fifth Member Airline

AAIB Flags Safety Reporting Gaps, Seeks DGCA SMS Review After IndiGo Near-Miss

Power Bank Ignites Mid-Air On Asiana Airlines Flight, 1 Passenger Sustains Minor Burns

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH21 Returns To Paris After In-Flight Guidance System Anomaly

Air India 787 Declares Emergency Over Low Fuel, Safely Diverts To London Heathrow

IndiGo Inducts India’s First A321XLR, Launches India’s First Direct Flights To Greece

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