pilot error Archives - Aviation Today

CENIPA Blames Icing, Crew Errors And Safety Culture In Fatal Voepass ATR 72 Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / July 25, 2026

Vinhedo, Brazil: Brazil’s Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) has released its final investigation report into the August 9, […]

South Africa

South Africa Reports Surge In Fatal Flight Training, GA Accidents As Death Toll Hits 24

Aviation Today News Desk / May 17, 2026

Gauteng, South Africa: South Africa’s aviation safety authorities have raised fresh concerns over the state of general aviation and pilot

Investigation

In-Flight Photo Attempt Blamed For South Korean F-15K Jet Collision, Audit Reveals

Aviation Today News Desk / April 23, 2026

Daegu, South Korea: A mid-air collision between two Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K fighter jets has been attributed to

United States

Pilots Under FAA Review For Non-Essential Radio Transmissions In Washington Airspace

Aviation Today News Desk / April 17, 2026

Washington, United States: The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after airline pilots were recorded making animal noises over

Corpus Christi, United States: A training flight ended in a serious accident Monday evening after a single-engine aircraft struck power lines and crashed just short of the runway at Corpus Christi International Airport, leaving two occupants critically injured. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. local time during the aircraft’s approach phase. The aircraft, identified as a Piper PA-28, went down near Highway 44 frontage road, triggering an emergency response from multiple agencies. The aircraft was operated by Splendid Aviation, a flight training school. The company confirmed that the flight involved a certified instructor and a student pilot, both of whom sustained injuries in the crash. Emergency crews transported the victims to a nearby hospital before they were later transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for advanced treatment. In a public statement, the flight school said the aircraft “came into contact with power lines while on approach”, adding that it is cooperating fully with investigators and refraining from speculation on the cause. First responders, including the Corpus Christi Fire Department, arrived shortly after receiving reports around 7:20 p.m. and found the aircraft down on the roadway and on fire. The crash site prompted a large-scale emergency response involving, Corpus Christi Police Department, Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, Annaville Fire Department and Airport authorities Damage to power lines contributed to hazardous conditions at the site, with local reports indicating power disruptions in the surrounding area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with support from the FAA. Officials confirmed the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances during the approach phase, and no preliminary cause has been established. Investigators are expected to examine, flight path and altitude during final approach, obstacle clearance and situational awareness, pilot training dynamics and instructor intervention and aircraft condition and operational factors. Authorities have emphasized that it is too early to determine the cause of the accident. The Piper PA-28, a widely used training aircraft, is a single-engine, light utility airplane commonly deployed in flight schools worldwide due to its reliability and training suitability.

Aircraft Crashes

Instructor And Student Pilot Critically Injured After Aircraft Crashes Into Power Lines

Aviation Today News Desk / April 15, 2026

Corpus Christi, United States: A training flight ended in a serious accident Monday evening after a single-engine aircraft struck power

Investigation

Icelandair Probes Pilot After Unauthorised Low Flyover On Final Flight Pre-Retirement

Aviation Today News Desk / April 14, 2026

Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland: Iceland’s flag carrier Icelandair has launched an investigation after one of its senior pilots conducted an unauthorised low-altitude

Mexico City, Mexico: In a landmark ruling that reshapes the narrative of one of Cuba’s deadliest aviation disasters, a Mexican court has held charter airline Aerolíneas Damojh (Global Air) responsible for the 2018 crash of a Boeing 737 in Havana, concluding that the aircraft suffered from severe maintenance failures and “should never have flown.” The decision, based on court documents dated March 31 and reviewed by multiple international outlets, marks a significant legal departure from earlier findings that attributed the accident primarily to pilot error. An independent expert assessment presented during proceedings determined that the crash of Cubana de Aviación Flight 0972 was an “institutional accident” caused by systemic maintenance negligence. The report emphasized that the pilots were merely the “final line of defense” and were unable to prevent the catastrophe once critical failures had already developed. The judge accepted these findings and ruled that the aircraft’s operator, Global Air, bore responsibility for placing an unfit aircraft into service. The court ordered Global Air to pay USD 1.5 million in compensation to each of the families of the four Mexican crew members who initiated the lawsuit. Notably, the airline failed to appear in court and was tried in absentia, while the aircraft’s insurer also named in the case was ultimately cleared of financial liability. Legal representatives for the plaintiffs described the ruling as “groundbreaking”, arguing that it validates long-standing concerns about the airline’s maintenance practices and operational standards. The accident occurred on May 18, 2018, when a Boeing 737-200 (registration XA-UHZ) crashed shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport in Havana while operating a domestic flight to Holguín. Of the 113 people onboard, 112 were killed, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Cuba in decades. Only one passenger survived. The aircraft was owned and operated by Global Air, a Mexican charter airline, and was leased to Cuba’s state carrier Cubana de Aviación under a wet lease agreement. The Mexican ruling directly contradicts Cuba’s 2019 official investigation, which attributed the crash primarily to pilot error and weight miscalculation, citing deficiencies in crew performance and operational procedures. In contrast, the Mexican court concluded that chronic maintenance deficiencies and systemic oversight failures were the root cause, reframing the accident as a broader organizational failure rather than an isolated human error. Global Air had faced prior operational scrutiny in Mexico, including temporary suspension following the crash as authorities examined its compliance with safety regulations. Reports cited during the case highlighted a history of technical issues and complaints, raising questions about the aircraft’s airworthiness long before the accident occurred. Beyond the initial lawsuit, broader legal proceedings are underway. Lawyers representing victims confirmed that: A class-action civil lawsuit covering all victims is in progress A criminal complaint for homicide has been filed against the airline and responsible parties However, the criminal investigation in Mexico has reportedly stalled due to limited cooperation from Cuban authorities. Samuel González, counsel for the victims’ families, described the judgment as a hard-fought and “groundbreaking” decision for Mexico. He said the ruling reinforces early admissions made in Havana by the airline’s own head of maintenance, who acknowledged to relatives that the aircraft should not have been cleared for operation. “That aircraft operated for nearly a decade without proper maintenance,” González said. “The crash occurred in Cuba, but the risk was universal.” Efforts to reach representatives of the airline for comment were unsuccessful. González also indicated that the carrier may be moving toward bankruptcy proceedings, warning that any attempt to misuse the process would be legally challenged.

Investigation

Mexican Court Rejects Pilot Error, Blames Maintenance In 2018 Cuba Crash That Killed 112

Aviation Today News Desk / April 13, 2026

Mexico City, Mexico: In a landmark ruling that reshapes the narrative of one of Cuba’s deadliest aviation disasters, a Mexican

Marana, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed and caught fire at Marana Regional Airport, located northwest of Tucson, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. According to officials, the aircraft identified as a Piper PA-32 single-engine airplane veered off the runway before erupting in flames. Both occupants on board the aircraft died in the crash, and no other injuries were reported on the ground. Marana Mayor Jon Post confirmed that the incident involved only one aircraft and that no other planes were affected. City spokesperson Vic Hathaway added that the identities of the victims have not yet been released. Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, but the aircraft was already engulfed in flames, limiting the possibility of rescue. Officials have not disclosed whether the accident occurred during takeoff or landing, though early indications suggest a runway excursion prior to the fire. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident and will lead efforts to determine the cause. Investigators are expected to examine multiple factors, including aircraft condition, pilot actions, and environmental conditions at the time of the crash. The airport, situated approximately 20 miles northwest of Tucson, primarily serves general aviation traffic and does not handle commercial airline operations. While fatal general aviation accidents remain relatively rare, runway excursions followed by post-impact fire are typically associated with loss of control during critical phases of flight such as takeoff or landing. However, authorities have cautioned that it is too early to determine the exact cause of this crash. The investigation remains ongoing, with further updates expected from federal authorities in the coming days. Two Separate Arizona Aviation Incidents Leave Occupants Injured: April 8, 2026: In a separate aviation incident on the same day, a Cessna 150G crash-landed near Cave Creek, Arizona, ending up upside down in a desert area near a landfill. Both occupants survived and were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, with no impact on the ground. April 7, 2026: A small aircraft crashed into a residential home in Fort Mohave, Arizona, at approximately 11:30 a.m. according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. Despite the impact, no one inside the house was injured, while the two occupants of the aircraft were transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Onboard Killed In Fiery Small Aircraft Crash At Marana Regional Airport In Arizona

Aviation Today News Desk / April 9, 2026

Update: 10th April, 2026 The two victims killed in the crash at Marana Regional Airport have been identified as Chris

Aircraft Crashes

Flight Instructor And Student Injured In Northeast Philadelphia Training Flight Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / April 2, 2026

Philadelphia, United States: A training aircraft operated by a local flight school crashed in a residential park in Northeast Philadelphia

Investigation

TSB Links Mechanical And Human Factors To Fort Smith Crash That Killed 6, Injured 1

Aviation Today News Desk / March 21, 2026

Fort Smith, Canada: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its final investigation report into the January 23,

pilot error

CENIPA Blames Icing, Crew Errors And Safety Culture In Fatal Voepass ATR 72 Crash

South Africa Reports Surge In Fatal Flight Training, GA Accidents As Death Toll Hits 24

In-Flight Photo Attempt Blamed For South Korean F-15K Jet Collision, Audit Reveals

Pilots Under FAA Review For Non-Essential Radio Transmissions In Washington Airspace

Instructor And Student Pilot Critically Injured After Aircraft Crashes Into Power Lines

Icelandair Probes Pilot After Unauthorised Low Flyover On Final Flight Pre-Retirement

Mexican Court Rejects Pilot Error, Blames Maintenance In 2018 Cuba Crash That Killed 112

Two Onboard Killed In Fiery Small Aircraft Crash At Marana Regional Airport In Arizona

Flight Instructor And Student Injured In Northeast Philadelphia Training Flight Crash

TSB Links Mechanical And Human Factors To Fort Smith Crash That Killed 6, Injured 1

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