FlightOperations Archives - Aviation Today

San Francisco, United States: An Air India co-pilot was denied entry into the United States and deported back to India after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana upon arrival in San Francisco, triggering internal and regulatory investigations. The pilot was travelling from Delhi to San Francisco on Tuesday as a “deadheading” crew member, a standard aviation practice where flight crew travel as passengers to position themselves for operational duty. The co-pilot was scheduled to operate a subsequent return flight from San Francisco to India, reportedly to Kolkata, but was unable to do so following the incident. Upon arrival at San Francisco International Airport, US authorities allegedly discovered marijuana in the pilot’s baggage during routine inspection procedures. Following the discovery, the pilot was deemed “inadmissible” under US laws and was not permitted to enter the country. He was subsequently sent back to India on the next available flight without being allowed to leave the airport premises. Air India confirmed the development in an official statement, saying, “One of our crew members travelling from Delhi to San Francisco on April 14, for positioning to operate a subsequent flight, was found to be inadmissible as per local laws and has been sent back to India.” The airline has since derostered the pilot and initiated an internal investigation into the matter. Reiterating its stance, Air India stated that it maintains zero tolerance for legal violations and will take “appropriate strict disciplinary action” in accordance with company policies. The incident has also been reported to India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is expected to examine the case under existing safety and conduct regulations. While the full extent of regulatory action remains unclear, the case typically invites scrutiny under strict aviation norms governing substance possession and professional conduct.

Air India Co-Pilot Deported From US Over Alleged Marijuana Case, Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / April 18, 2026

San Francisco, United States: An Air India co-pilot was denied entry into the United States and deported back to India […]

Pune, India: Flight operations at Pune Airport were temporarily suspended late Friday night after an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft was involved in a hard landing incident that rendered the runway unusable for several hours, before authorities restored operations early Saturday morning following emergency repair work. The disruption began at approximately 10:25-11:00 PM on April 17, when an IAF fighter aircraft experienced a “hard landing” during arrival. A senior IAF officer said the exact cause of the incident would be established only after a formal court of inquiry. Given Pune Airport operates a single runway under a dual civil-military use model, the incident resulted in an immediate and complete suspension of both arrivals and departures. As per the Airport Director, IndiGo cancelled 31 arrivals and 34 departures, while Air India cancelled three arrivals and three departures. SpiceJet called off two arrivals and three departures, and Akasa Air cancelled two arrivals and three departures. Air India Express also reported five arrivals and five departures being cancelled. Authorities have not officially disclosed the exact aircraft type involved in the incident. However, it has been consistently identified as an IAF fighter aircraft across reports. The aircrew onboard were confirmed safe, with no injuries reported. Officials also confirmed that there was no damage to civilian property or airport infrastructure beyond the runway obstruction. The runway was declared temporarily unavailable late Friday night. All take-offs and landings were halted, affecting numerous scheduled night flights. Airlines were alerted, and multiple flights were cancelled, delayed, or diverted due to the closure. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed the disruption and estimated that runway restoration would take around five hours. The Indian Air Force, in its official communication, stated, “Pune runway is temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an IAF aircraft. The aircrew are safe and there is no damage to civil property. Efforts are underway to operationalise the runway and resume normal operations at the earliest.” Minister Mohol added, “Thankfully, the aircrew are safe and there has been no damage to civil property… it may take approximately 5 hours to restore normal runway operations.” Following the incident, airport authorities and the IAF initiated rapid recovery and inspection work “on a war footing” to clear the runway and ensure safety compliance. Authorities confirmed that all necessary safety checks were completed before reopening the airport to commercial traffic. Officials have not released a confirmed cause, and a detailed investigation is underway.

Incidents

IAF Aircraft Hard Landing Shuts Pune Airport; Operations Resume After Disruption

Aviation Today News Desk / April 18, 2026

Pune, India: Flight operations at Pune Airport were temporarily suspended late Friday night after an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft

Melbourne, Australia: A China Airlines Airbus A350-900 has been grounded in Melbourne following a rare ground-handling incident that resulted in significant structural damage to the aircraft’s forward passenger door during post-arrival operations. The aircraft, registered B-18902 and operating flight CI57 from Taipei, had completed its journey and arrived in Melbourne on April 14 when the incident occurred at the gate. The aircraft unexpectedly rolled backward while still connected to the jet bridge, causing the forward left (L1) door to be partially torn from its hinges and inflicting substantial damage to the aerobridge. All passengers and crew had already disembarked at the time, and no injuries were reported. Initial findings indicate that the aircraft’s unintended movement while docked led to stress on the door assembly and surrounding fuselage structure. The force of the movement caused the jet bridge to remain fixed while the aircraft shifted, resulting in the door being pulled out of alignment and damaged at the hinge points. Such damage is considered serious, as passenger doors form part of the aircraft’s pressurized structure and require extensive inspection and certified repairs before returning to service. Australia’s aviation safety authority has launched an investigation into the occurrence, focusing on ground-handling procedures, equipment usage, and potential human factors that may have contributed to the aircraft’s movement. The cause of the accident is yet to be confirmed, although initial reports suggest that the chocks had not been placed correctly in front of and behind the tires of the massive widebody aircraft. It’s believed the aircraft started to roll back with the forward left-hand door still open, causing the door to come into contact with the jetbridge and badly damaging it. The affected aircraft remains out of service in Melbourne pending repairs and safety clearance. The temporary loss of the widebody jet is expected to have a limited but notable impact on China Airlines’ long-haul scheduling, particularly on routes connecting Asia with Australia and beyond. The Airbus A350-900 forms a key part of the airline’s long-haul fleet, supporting premium international routes across Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Incidents

China Airlines A350 Grounded In Melbourne After Jet Bridge Incident Damages Cabin Door

Aviation Today News Desk / April 15, 2026

Melbourne, Australia: A China Airlines Airbus A350-900 has been grounded in Melbourne following a rare ground-handling incident that resulted in

Hamburg, Germany: Eurowings Airbus A319 operating flight EW7462 was forced to make a precautionary return to Hamburg Airport shortly after departure on April 10, following a reported engine-related issue, prompting a temporary suspension of airport operations. The aircraft had departed Hamburg bound for London when the crew identified a technical malfunction, believed to be linked to one of the engines. The pilots followed standard safety procedures, entering a holding pattern over northern Germany reportedly near the Bremen-Oldenburg region before deciding to return to the departure airport. The aircraft landed safely approximately 40 to 60 minutes after takeoff. Emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, were deployed as a precaution and remained on standby during the landing. The aircraft subsequently came to a stop on a taxiway, where it was secured. There were more than 130 passengers and crew members onboard. No injuries were reported, and passengers disembarked normally using mobile stairs. Airport authorities briefly halted arrivals and departures during the incident, causing short-term operational disruption. Eurowings confirmed that the return was a precautionary measure and emphasized that safety was never compromised. The airline arranged alternative travel for affected passengers while technical teams initiated inspections of the aircraft. While initial reports indicate a possible engine warning or malfunction, the exact cause remains under investigation.

Incidents

Eurowings Flight A319 Makes Emergency Return To Hamburg After Engine Malfunction

Aviation Today News Desk / April 13, 2026

Hamburg, Germany: Eurowings Airbus A319 operating flight EW7462 was forced to make a precautionary return to Hamburg Airport shortly after

Investigation

AAIB Flags Safety Lapses In Pawan Hans Helicopter Crash That Killed 1, Injured 4

Aviation Today News Desk / April 6, 2026

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has identified multiple safety lapses in the Pawan Hans

Incidents

Air India Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Lucknow After Mid-Air Smoke Alert

Aviation Today News Desk / March 31, 2026

Lucknow, India: A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight made an emergency landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Monday

Incidents

United Airlines Jet Near-Miss With Black Hawk Helicopter; FAA Probes Safety Breach

Aviation Today News Desk / March 27, 2026

Santa Ana, United States: A United Airlines passenger jet narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk

Incidents

Air India Flight Returns To Delhi After Mid-Air Technical Snag; DGCA Launches Probe

Aviation Today News Desk / March 27, 2026

New Delhi, India: An Air India Airbus A350-900 operating flight AI111 from Delhi to London Heathrow was forced to return

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.

Incidents

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

Aviation Today News Desk / January 29, 2026

Las Vegas, United States: A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a rear landing gear wheel shortly after departing Harry Reid

Investigation

NTSB Finds Fatigue Cracks In MD-11 Pylon Linked To Deadly UPS Flight 2976 Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / November 21, 2025

Louisville, United States: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Thursday its preliminary investigation into the Nov. 4 crash

FlightOperations

Air India Co-Pilot Deported From US Over Alleged Marijuana Case, Probe Underway

IAF Aircraft Hard Landing Shuts Pune Airport; Operations Resume After Disruption

China Airlines A350 Grounded In Melbourne After Jet Bridge Incident Damages Cabin Door

Eurowings Flight A319 Makes Emergency Return To Hamburg After Engine Malfunction

AAIB Flags Safety Lapses In Pawan Hans Helicopter Crash That Killed 1, Injured 4

Air India Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Lucknow After Mid-Air Smoke Alert

United Airlines Jet Near-Miss With Black Hawk Helicopter; FAA Probes Safety Breach

Air India Flight Returns To Delhi After Mid-Air Technical Snag; DGCA Launches Probe

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

NTSB Finds Fatigue Cracks In MD-11 Pylon Linked To Deadly UPS Flight 2976 Crash

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