aviation safety Archives - Page 5 of 45

Three British Airways Pilots Fall Sick Mid-Flight Following Hyderabad Stopover

Aviation Today News Desk / July 23, 2026

London, United Kingdom: British Airways has launched an investigation after all three pilots operating Flight BA276 from Hyderabad to London […]

London, United Kingdom: A British Airways Airbus A320neo operating flight BA547 from Rome Fiumicino Airport to London Heathrow was forced to go around during its approach on July 22 after a hydraulic failure affected the aircraft's landing gear. Flight BA547, operated by an Airbus A320-251N registered G-TTNR, departed Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) for London Heathrow (LHR) on Wednesday, July 22. The flight was scheduled to arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5, with the aircraft ultimately landing safely at the airport after the crew dealt with the technical issue. Flight-tracking data confirms G-TTNR was the aircraft assigned to BA547 that day. The aircraft was on final approach to Heathrow's Runway 09L when the crew initiated a go-around after experiencing a hydraulic failure affecting the landing gear. The aircraft climbed to around 4,000 feet and entered a holding pattern before making another approach. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 09L approximately 35 minutes after the go-around. Airport emergency and fire services were positioned to assist the aircraft following the landing as a precaution because of the reported landing-gear issue. The incident also had a temporary operational impact at Heathrow. The airport briefly moved to single-runway operations while the aircraft was being dealt with on the runway. Arrivals were temporarily handled on the other runway before normal two-runway operations resumed after the aircraft was inspected and cleared. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident. Flight-tracking records show that BA547 departed Rome later than its scheduled 11:15 CEST departure time and arrived at Heathrow at about 13:45 BST, around 40 minutes behind its scheduled arrival time of 13:05 BST. The flight normally operates between Rome Fiumicino and London Heathrow, a route of roughly 1,445 kilometres. The available reports identify the problem as a hydraulic failure involving the landing gear. However, no official detailed technical explanation from British Airways, the UK Civil Aviation Authority or the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been publicly identified at the time of writing. The precise cause of the hydraulic failure therefore remains unclear. The aircraft was able to complete its second approach and land safely at Heathrow, with no reported injuries. The temporary runway restrictions were subsequently lifted and airport operations returned to normal.

Incidents

British Airways Flight Reportedly Suffers Hydraulic Failure During Approach To Heathrow

Aviation Today News Desk / July 23, 2026

London, United Kingdom: A British Airways Airbus A320neo operating flight BA547 from Rome Fiumicino Airport to London Heathrow was forced

Incidents

Brussels Airlines Flight SN278 Returns To Accra After Technical Fault On Flight To Lomé

Aviation Today News Desk / July 22, 2026

Accra, Ghana: Brussels Airlines flight SN278 returned safely to Accra on Monday evening after experiencing a technical problem shortly after

United States

Long-Lost Pan Am Flight 526A Wreck Discovered 74 Years After Fatal Atlantic Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / July 22, 2026

Puerto Rico, United States: The wreckage of Pan American World Airways Flight 526A, known as the Clipper Endeavor, has been

United States

GAO Warns FAA Cybersecurity Gaps Could Leave US Aviation Vulnerable To Threats

Aviation Today News Desk / July 21, 2026

Washington, United States: The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified significant shortcomings in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aviation

Boeing

FAA Allows Boeing To Resume Airworthiness Certification For 737 MAX And 787 Aircraft

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will allow Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for all newly built 737 MAX

Pilot Training

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has prohibited Redbird Flight Training Academy, regarded as South Asia’s

Kansas City, United States: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating a scheduled flight from Seattle to Kansas City landed safely at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) late on July 15 after the flight crew reported seeing flames from one of the aircraft's engines during the approach, prompting an Alert 3 emergency response from airport rescue and firefighting personnel. No injuries were immediately reported, and the situation was brought under control within minutes. According to FlightAware data, the aircraft departed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 8:31 p.m. CDT and arrived at Kansas City International Airport at 11:54 p.m., approximately five minutes ahead of schedule. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 MAX 9. Shortly before midnight, Kansas City Fire Department Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) units were dispatched after an Alert 3 was declared for the arriving Alaska Airlines flight. Emergency radio transmissions captured by Broadcastify indicated dispatchers instructed ARFF-1 and supporting units to respond immediately. Within two minutes of arriving at the gate, ARFF personnel reported that the aircraft was parked safely and that no visible fire or smoke was evident. Police officers were already at the scene as emergency crews began assessing the aircraft. A subsequent radio update on July 16 stated that the aircraft had experienced an engine fire involving the No. 2 engine, but responders found that the fire had already gone out upon arrival. According to the radio traffic, the pilot had reported seeing flames, after which the aircraft was evacuated as a precaution while firefighters investigated the situation. Responders advised that the engine fire was extinguished and that everything was under control. The emergency details were obtained from Kansas City Fire Department ARFF radio traffic recorded by Broadcastify. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to investigate the reported engine event, while Alaska Airlines is expected to inspect the aircraft before it returns to service.

Incidents

Alaska Airlines Lands Safely In Kansas City After Reported Mid-Air Engine Fire Scare

Aviation Today News Desk / July 17, 2026

Kansas City, United States: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating a scheduled flight from Seattle to Kansas City

London, United Kingdom: A technical fault on a British Airways aircraft after landing at London Gatwick Airport in the early hours of 15 July 2026 triggered significant disruption across southern England, forcing the temporary closure of the airport's single runway and leading at least nine inbound passenger flights to declare emergencies as fuel levels became critical following prolonged airborne holding. The disruption began shortly after midnight when a British Airways flight arriving from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, landed safely at Gatwick at approximately 00:12 BST. After touchdown, the aircraft experienced what the airline later described only as a technical fault, leaving it unable to immediately vacate the runway. Airport rescue and firefighting vehicles were dispatched as a precaution while the aircraft remained stationary on the runway. British Airways confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that passengers were not placed in danger. "Our flight landed safely and customers disembarked normally following reports of a technical fault with the aircraft," a British Airways spokesperson said. Although the airline has acknowledged the technical issue, it has not disclosed the nature of the fault, the aircraft type, or the aircraft registration. Gatwick Airport has likewise not released further technical information regarding the incident. Because Gatwick operates with a single main runway, the disabled aircraft temporarily prevented arriving flights from landing while emergency responders assessed the situation and efforts were made to clear the runway. During the closure, aircraft already inbound to Gatwick were instructed to enter holding patterns while air traffic controllers worked to manage the growing congestion. As delays lengthened, at least nine inbound flights declared emergency or urgency conditions after fuel reserves fell to operationally critical levels. Flight tracking data cited by multiple media outlets indicated the declarations were associated with low-fuel situations resulting from the extended airborne holding rather than mechanical problems aboard the affected aircraft. Nine flights squawked the 7700 emergency transponder code, reportedly due to low fuel after extended holding. An additional five flights were also diverted to alternate airports. Of the 14 affected flights, five landed at London Luton Airport, four at London Stansted Airport, and one at London Heathrow Airport. The remaining diversions were outside London, with three flights landing at Birmingham Airport and one at Bristol Airport. Several of the affected flights had departed popular Mediterranean holiday destinations, including Lanzarote, Rhodes and Tenerife, before being forced to abandon their approaches to Gatwick. Some aircraft diverted to London Stansted Airport, while others were rerouted to London Luton Airport after determining they no longer had sufficient fuel to continue holding safely. One passenger travelling from Tenerife, whose flight diverted to Stansted instead of Gatwick, posted on social media that passengers remained on board awaiting instructions while airline staff determined the next steps. The traveller said the journey had become considerably longer than normal because of the diversion. The runway was eventually reopened after the British Airways aircraft was moved, allowing Gatwick to resume normal operations. However, the temporary closure caused knock-on delays affecting arrivals and departures during the overnight and early morning operating period. No injuries have been reported in connection with either the British Airways aircraft or any of the diverted flights. Authorities have not announced an investigation beyond the airline's technical inspection of the aircraft, and the exact cause of the fault remains unknown. As of the latest available updates, British Airways has not released additional operational details.

Incidents

BA Technical Fault Shuts Gatwick Runway, Nine Flights Declare Low-Fuel Emergencies

Aviation Today News Desk / July 15, 2026

London, United Kingdom: A technical fault on a British Airways aircraft after landing at London Gatwick Airport in the early

New Delhi, India: More than a year after the crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that the investigation is entering its final stages, with the draft final investigation report expected to be ready in October 2026 after the completion of technical analysis and mandatory international consultations. In a detailed affidavit filed jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the AAIB, the Centre said the investigation activities are expected to be completed within approximately six weeks, subject to the resolution of a few remaining external dependencies. Once the analysis phase is concluded, investigators will prepare the draft final report before circulating it to participating States under international aviation rules. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, striking a residential area near the airport. The accident killed 241 of the 242 people on board, along with 19 people on the ground, taking the total death toll to 260. It became one of India's deadliest aviation disasters in decades. Under ICAO Annex 13, accident investigations are intended solely to improve aviation safety and prevent future accidents, not to determine civil or criminal liability. The AAIB reiterated before the Supreme Court that it is India's sole statutory authority for investigating aircraft accidents and argued there is no legal basis for a court-monitored or parallel investigation, opposing petitions seeking an independent probe. The matter is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court on July 17. The affidavit states that 49 of the 66 mandatory investigative procedures applicable to a major international accident have already been completed. These include preservation of evidence, recovery and examination of the flight recorders, technical analysis of aircraft systems, participation of accredited international representatives and consultations with stakeholders. The remaining work primarily involves completing technical analysis and fulfilling international procedural requirements before the draft report can be finalized. The AAIB explained that the final report could not be completed within one year because of the investigation's complexity and the involvement of multiple international agencies. In accordance with ICAO rules, when an investigation cannot be completed within 12 months, the investigating authority must issue an interim statement describing the progress made. Accordingly, the AAIB released an interim statement around the first anniversary of the accident rather than a final report. Earlier in the investigation, the AAIB's preliminary findings revealed that both engine fuel control switches moved from the RUN position to CUT OFF within seconds of takeoff, causing both engines to lose thrust. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking why the switches had been moved, while the other responded that he had not done so. The switches were subsequently returned to the RUN position, but the aircraft was unable to regain sufficient thrust before crashing. Those findings answered some questions while leaving investigators with significant unresolved issues regarding how the switches moved and whether any mechanical, human or other factors were involved. According to the latest affidavit, investigators are still completing analysis of the remaining technical evidence before reaching final conclusions. Once the draft report is prepared, it must be circulated to the participating States under ICAO Annex 13, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as the accredited representative for the State of Design and Manufacture of the Boeing 787. Those States are entitled to provide "significant and substantiated comments," a consultation process that the Centre said could take 30 to 60 days, depending on the complexity of the responses received. Only after those comments are considered can the AAIB finalize and publish its investigation report. The AAIB also defended maintaining strict confidentiality over sensitive investigative material, including cockpit voice recorder recordings and transcripts, witness statements, air traffic control communications, medical records and draft report contents. It said these protections are mandated by both Indian law and ICAO standards to preserve the integrity of safety investigations.

Investigation

AAIB Says Air India AI171 Crash Investigation To Reach Draft Report Stage In October

Aviation Today News Desk / July 15, 2026

New Delhi, India: More than a year after the crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives,

aviation safety

Three British Airways Pilots Fall Sick Mid-Flight Following Hyderabad Stopover

British Airways Flight Reportedly Suffers Hydraulic Failure During Approach To Heathrow

Brussels Airlines Flight SN278 Returns To Accra After Technical Fault On Flight To Lomé

Long-Lost Pan Am Flight 526A Wreck Discovered 74 Years After Fatal Atlantic Crash

GAO Warns FAA Cybersecurity Gaps Could Leave US Aviation Vulnerable To Threats

FAA Allows Boeing To Resume Airworthiness Certification For 737 MAX And 787 Aircraft

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Alaska Airlines Lands Safely In Kansas City After Reported Mid-Air Engine Fire Scare

BA Technical Fault Shuts Gatwick Runway, Nine Flights Declare Low-Fuel Emergencies

AAIB Says Air India AI171 Crash Investigation To Reach Draft Report Stage In October

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