Flight Safety Information - August 2, 2024 No. 154 In This Issue : Incident: KLM B739 at Newcastle on Aug 1st 2024, flaps problem : Incident: ACT B744 at Paris on Jul 31st 2024, cabin did not pressurize : Incident: Swiss BCS1 near Hanover on Aug 1st 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Ryanair B738 at Bucharest on Jul 31st 2024, unreliable airspeed : Gearbox, Crew Blamed for Deadly Japan Osprey Crash in Results of Air Force Investigation : Navy resumes flights of some Goshawk training jets : Korean Air Removes Instant Noodles From Inflight Menu As Turbulence Safety Measure : Cantwell says FAA oversight of Boeing lacking : Transport Canada Issues A220 Emergency AD : Spirit Airlines To Furlough Hundreds Of Pilots After Disappointing Q2 : Delta CEO says IT outage cost the airline $500 million, and it has 'no choice' but to seek damages from CrowdStrike : Calendar of Events Incident: KLM B739 at Newcastle on Aug 1st 2024, flaps problem A KLM Boeing 737-900, registration PH-BXO performing flight KL-961 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Newcastle,EN (UK), was on final approach to Newcastle's runway 25 when the crew initiated a missed approach at about 1100 feet MSL due to a problem with the flaps. The aircraft climbed to 3500 feet and entered a hold while troubleshooting the flaps. The aircraft was finally able to position for runway 25 and landed at a normal speed about 25 minutes after the go around. The return flight KL-952 was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Newcastle about 11 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51be4904&opt=0 Incident: ACT B744 at Paris on Jul 31st 2024, cabin did not pressurize An ACT Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Qatar Airways, registration TC-ACR performing flight QR-8252 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Doha (Qatar), was climbing out of Paris when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 reporting problems with the cabin pressure. The aircraft dumped fuel and returned to Charles de Gaulle Airport for a safe landing on runway 09R about one hour after departure. According to information The Aviation Herald received there was a problem with one of the outflow valves. The aircraft returned to service about 17 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51bdf6cd&opt=0 Incident: Swiss BCS1 near Hanover on Aug 1st 2024, cracked windshield A Swiss International Airlines Bombardier C-Series CS-100, registration HB-JBD performing flight LX-1222 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Gothenburg (Sweden) with 123 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 170nm south of Hanover (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Hanover due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft landed safely on Hanover's runway 09L about 40 minutes later. The airline cracks developed in the outer pane of the windshield prompting the crew to divert to Hanover as a precaution. https://avherald.com/h?article=51bdd96e&opt=0 Incident: Ryanair B738 at Bucharest on Jul 31st 2024, unreliable airspeed A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-ENC performing flight FR-9161 from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Paris Beauvais (France) with 153 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Otopeni's runway 26R when the crew stopped the climb at FL110 reporting inconsistent airspeed indications. The aircraft burned off fuel and returned to Otopeni for a safe landing on runway 26L about 85 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Bucharest about 18 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51bdc4ef&opt=0 Gearbox, Crew Blamed for Deadly Japan Osprey Crash in Results of Air Force Investigation The deadly crash of an CV-22B Osprey off the coast of Japan that claimed the lives of eight airmen in November was caused by a catastrophic failure in the gearbox of its left proprotor and how it was handled by crew members, according to the Air Force investigation into the crash. A copy of the investigation obtained by Military.com says investigators found that components inside the gearbox began cracking and releasing debris, which then wedged between other components and eventually caused the left proprotor to stop turning, putting the aircraft into an unrecoverable spin. The incident was the last of three deadly crashes that struck the Osprey community in recent years and triggered a monthslong grounding of the aircraft. While Ospreys resumed flight in March, they were cleared to fly without a full understanding of what brought down the Air Force flight in Japan and adhered to a restriction that bars flying more than 30 minutes from an airfield. The investigation reveals that throughout the flight of Gundam 22 -- the call sign of the aircraft that crashed -- the pilots received warnings that there were tiny metal chips in their gearbox but that they were being addressed by an internal system of sensors and magnets. However, after a third warning, Air Force policies say that the crew needed to "land as soon as practical" -- a formal condition that means "extended flight is not recommended" but leaves the landing site and length of flight up to the pilot in command. The crew decided to continue with the mission before two more warnings and a more serious alert of a persistent chip in the gearbox meant the crew had to land "as soon as possible." They diverted to Yakushima Island in Japan, which has a small airport. The chips were actually part of a gear that was slowly disintegrating inside the gearbox. Eventually, a large enough piece of the gear sheared off and severely damaged other parts of the gearbox, stopping the left proprotor from spinning. "That resulted in a complete roll. … The aircraft did two full rolls and ended up impacting the water," Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told reporters at a briefing Wednesday. Gundam 22 crashed into the water off the coast of Yakushima as the crew was waiting to land. Given this series of decisions, the report said that the pilots "inadequately prioritized continuing the mission over considerations related to the risk of extended flight without redundancy." However, the phenomenon of chipping in the aircraft gearboxes is not new and, while the report faults the crew, Conley also told reporters that the airmen didn't actually violate any policy and broadly acted in accordance with their training. In February 2024, NBC reported that "since July 2022, there have been at least seven instances of metal chips found in the [Osprey] gearboxes, though no fatalities have resulted." The crash report also notes that the chipping problem was known to the military office that oversees the Osprey and that there was "inadequate action" on its part in dealing with the issue, which "prevented comprehensive awareness of [proprotor gearbox] risks, and substantially contributed to the mishap." Despite that, the report also found fault with the crew -- whom the Air Force previously called "the best of us" and "naturally talented" pilots -- saying that they had "an insufficient sense of urgency throughout the entire mishap sequence" and, once a fifth warning cropped up and the pilots finally decided to land, they did not choose the closest airfield. It's not immediately clear from the report that the crew had any other indications that something was seriously wrong with their aircraft, and Conley said that "this is the first time that this specific part has failed on a V-22 of any any type in almost 800,000 flight hours." The three-star general and V-22 pilot also described the warnings the crew was seeing as "kind of like a check engine light in your car -- you could drive your car for 10 years and not get any or you could drive next week and get three different ones for multiple reasons." Conley told reporters that "the chips are a byproduct of just the gearboxes themselves. … It's not unique to a V22" and that the first five alarms meant "that the detector had detected the chip and successfully burned it off." He also confirmed that the pilots "followed their training to read the checklists and to look for secondary indications," undercutting the report's conclusion that the pilots took unnecessary risks with "a potentially serious mechanical problem." Although he said the crew's actions contributed to the mishap, Conley told reporters that "there's nothing to indicate that they did anything deliberately to violate any policy." Since the crash, AFSOC protocol has changed, and crews are advised to land as soon as practical after a single chip burn and "as soon as possible" after a second chip burn, he said. The crash off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, on Nov. 29 marked the deadliest CV-22 incident in the Air Force's history. Killed in the crash were Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann; Maj. Eric V. Spendlove; Maj. Luke A. Unrath; Capt. Terrell K. Brayman; Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy; Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage; Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson; and Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher. Following more than 40 days of a massive search effort, the remains of the airmen -- with the exception of Spendlove -- were recovered. The Air Force, alongside the other military services that fly the Osprey, grounded their V-22s shortly after the crash. Within roughly four months, the Pentagon cleared the services to fly again. While the other branches quickly resumed flight, the Air Force was more cautious. The service said last month that only a handful of its aircraft were flying at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. The Air Force also said it planned to examine the number of pilots and aircrews for the Osprey as part of a reevaluation. Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, head of Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the V-22 program, said during a House hearing testimony last month that he does not expect V-22s to return to full unrestricted flight operations until "mid-2025." However, Conley, the AFSOC commander, told reporters Wednesday that, while the service is not using the CV-22 in combat operations, the timeline explained by Chebi may now be bumped up. "We're not providing any combat capability, but I'll tell you we're getting close," Conley said. "I don't want to discuss the specifics of operational deployments, but we're getting back in the ballpark where I think we will be supporting combatant commanders this year, this calendar year." https://www.yahoo.com/news/gearbox-crew-blamed-deadly-japan-154725552.html Navy resumes flights of some Goshawk training jets Some Goshawks resumed flying July 24, 2024, following a two-week safety pause in the fleet, the Navy said in a statement this week. (August Clawson/U.S. Navy) The Navy recently returned some of its Goshawk training jets to the skies after a two-week safety pause but still is evaluating the airworthiness of the remaining planes, according to the service. T-45C flights resumed July 24, a Navy statement Thursday said. That decision came after a determination that a portion of the fleet could safely restart operations, Navy spokesman Lt. John Lobkowicz said in the statement. It was unclear Friday how many of the tandem jets had been deemed safe for flight and how many remained on the ground. But the service has about 149 of them, USNI News reported in May. Goshawks primarily are used to train Navy and Marine aircraft carrier pilots. The Navy is considering replacing the aging class, which has been operational since 1991, according to USNI. The fleet was grounded July 10 after a Goshawk assigned to Training Air Wing 2, based in Kingsville, Texas, experienced an in-flight engine malfunction after takeoff from Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The plane made an emergency landing at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth with the pilot reporting no injuries, the Navy said. But a subsequent engine inspection revealed unspecified damage. The incident remains under investigation by the Chief of Naval Air Training and Naval Air Systems Command, the service said. In April, the Navy grounded the fleet after a Goshawk assigned to Training Air Wing 1 experienced an engine malfunction related to a blade fault, USNI reported. The planes were cleared to fly again on May 9. Goshawk flights also were put on a two-week safety pause in 2022 after a blade failure in the turbofan engine. https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-08-02/goshawk-flights-resume-navy-14705672.html Korean Air Removes Instant Noodles From Inflight Menu As Turbulence Safety Measure Summary • Korean Air removes instant noodles from the economy cabin menu to prevent burn injuries during turbulence. • Snacks like sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets will be offered instead of noodles. • In response to increased turbulence incidents, Korean Air ends cabin services 40 minutes before landing. Airlines have been erring on the side of caution lately due to the increasing cases of severe turbulence. Korean Air has introduced some changes to in-flight services in recent months, the latest one being the removal of instant noodles from the economy cabin of flights, keeping in mind the safety of passengers and cabin crew. Korean Air removes instant noodles Korean Air has tweaked the economy class menu of its flights by removing instant noodles from the list of options available. This has been done to prevent burn-related injuries to passengers and crew members in light of increasing cases of severe turbulence. The airline, however, is replacing the noodles with a bunch of other snack options. In a statement to Simple Flying, the airline's communications team said, “Korean Air has renewed its in-flight snack service to offer a variety of snacks such as sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets in Economy Class. This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents. To enhance passenger satisfaction and diversify snack options, a self-service snack bar is available on long-haul flights. We are committed to ensuring passenger safety and will select snacks on each route based on customer preferences.” A BBC report explains that instant noodles are being removed from economy class cabins and not business or first class cabins because in the economy cabin, the noodles are all served at once (increasing the chances of spillage) instead of being brought individually in the premium cabins. Previous changes in service procedures Korean Air has made some changes to its policies related to in-flight services in recent months. To minimize the turbulence risk to passengers and crew members, the carrier has also started wrapping up cabin services on all medium- and long-haul routes 40 minutes before landing since July 1. This is 20 minutes earlier than the previous service protocol. The carrier explained that the number of turbulence-related incidents has doubled in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2019. Korean Air said an airplane is particularly susceptible to turbulence as it descends because of the temperature differences between altitudes. Increasing incidents of severe turbulence There have been several cases of mid-flight turbulence in recent months, some severe enough to cause serious injuries to passengers and crew members. In May, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 traveling from London Heathrow to Singapore Changi Airport was hit by severe turbulence, which caused serious injuries to many passengers, even claiming the life of one. The aircraft experienced a rapid change of altitude and g-force and eventually diverted to Bangkok, where dozens of passengers had to be treated for critical injuries. Singapore Airlines changed its meal-service policy soon after , suspending the service of hot drinks and meals when the seatbelt sign is on. Not too long after the SIA incident, a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321 flight from Istanbul to Izmir faced severe turbulence during which a flight attendant was flung to the ceiling before falling hard on the floor, suffering from a broken backbone. The same month, emergency services at Dublin airport met a Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 after turbulence injured six passengers and six crew members on the flight. https://simpleflying.com/korean-air-instant-noodles-turbulence-safety/ Cantwell says FAA oversight of Boeing lacking WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has requested the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a root cause analysis of its oversight of aviation manufacturers, according to an announcement from Cantwell’s office. In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, Cantwell said she had serious concerns about the FAA's audits of Boeing and its suppliers, questioning whether the results indicate ongoing production issues or ineffective regulatory oversight. "While the FAA has rightly focused on Boeing’s production quality shortcomings, I am concerned about whether FAA action — or inaction — contributed to Boeing’s problems,” Cantwell said in the letter. “As the Committee’s 2021 Whistleblower Report detailed, Boeing took full advantage of the FAA’s policies in support of ‘efficiency’ at the expense of regulatory compliance. The report made it clear that the FAA ‘trusted’ Boeing to comply, despite years of evidence to the contrary.” The letter, sent July 27, follows recent incidents such as the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident in January, where a door plug created by Boeing blew out in mid-air resulting in three injuries. This prompted Cantwell to request a special technical audit of Boeing's production line, according to the announcement. The audit revealed multiple instances where Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, which makes fuselages for Boeing’s planes, failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. “We will respond directly to the senator,” Donnell Evans, Public Affairs Specialist of FAA said in answer to a request for comment on the matter. Boeing also refused to give comment but did send prior statements made by Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope. In that statement, following the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident, Boeing has submitted a comprehensive Product Safety and Quality Plan to the FAA. Calhoun is stepping down as CEO of the aircraft manufacturer at the end of this year, according to an announcement from the company. The plan listed on the press release includes containment and mitigation actions taken immediately after the accident, new key performance indicators for production system health, and initiatives in seven areas including safety management, simplifying processes, supplier defect reduction, employee training, production system compliance, engagement and communication and installation plan improvements. In May, Cantwell was a sponsor of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which includes measures to improve aviation safety, such as putting more safety inspectors on factory floors, addressing air traffic controller shortages and enhancing aircraft certification reforms. These measures build upon the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act of 2020, passed in response to the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. In her letter to Whitaker, Cantwell emphasized the importance of conducting a root cause analysis to identify deficiencies in the FAA's oversight of aviation manufacturers. She requested that the FAA develop corrective actions and a plan for implementing them and report back to the Committee on its findings. “FAA’s effective regulatory oversight is key to ensure Boeing, other aviation manufacturers and the United States remain the gold standard for aviation safety,” Cantwell said in the letter. “To this end, we believe it critical for FAA to undertake this process of self-evaluation.” https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2024/aug/02/cantwell-says-faa-oversight-of-boeing-lacking/ Transport Canada Issues A220 Emergency AD Transport Canada issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) requiring detailed visual inspections of Airbus A220-100/300 main landing gear for the possibility of a missing fuse pin. The Canadian authority said that during scheduled maintenance, one of the pintle fuse pins in the left-hand main landing gear of an A220 narrowbody airliner was discovered to be missing. “A missing or damaged pintle fuse pin would lead to a significant redistribution of loads in the main landing gear (MLG) assembly and reduce the capability of the MLG assembly to withstand those loads, potentially resulting in the collapse of the MLG during takeoff,” Transport Canada said. Effective Aug. 3, the emergency AD (CF-2024-28) requires that within 24 flight cycles from the effective date, maintainers perform a detailed visual inspection of the pintle housing assembly to verify that the pintle fuse pins are present and correctly installed. They should contact Airbus Canada “for an approved disposition” in any case in which a pintle fuse pin is incorrectly installed or missing. The directive applies to Airbus (formerly Bombardier CSeries) A220-100s (Model BD-500-1A10), serial numbers 50001 through 50065 and 50067 through 50076; and A220-300s (Model BD-500-1A11), serial numbers 55001 through 55284, 55286 and 55289. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/transport-canada-issues-a220-emergency-ad Spirit Airlines To Furlough Hundreds Of Pilots After Disappointing Q2 Summary • Spirit Airlines is furloughing 240 pilots due to engine issues. By year-end, it aims to save $75 million in costs. • The airline plans to cut costs by suspending pilot recruitment, offering unpaid leaves, and downsizing. • Spirit added new fare categories, including Priority Check-In and increased baggage weight allowance. Earlier today, Spirit Airlines revealed its second-quarter financial results and announced that it would furlough hundreds of pilots. Challenges of the second quarter In April, Spirit Airlines , one of the United States' largest ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCC), announced that it would reduce its pilot headcount because of engine issues. Airlines worldwide are experiencing problems relating to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, and some of Spirit's planes will be grounded longer than expected. In an announcement earlier this year, Spirit said 260 pilots would be furloughed starting September 1. During its second quarter financial results call earlier today, Spirit discussed how it would cut costs to improve its financial situation. According to the airline, it is on track to achieve $75 million in run-rate cost savings by the end of the year. Cuts include: • Temporarily suspending the recruitment of pilots and flight attendants and related training costs • Offering voluntary unpaid leaves of absence to flight attendants • Right-sizing overhead and non-crew operational positions • Reducing discretionary capital spending • Furloughing approximately 240 pilots and downgrading approximately 100 captains In addition to the cuts above, Spirit has made several adjustments to its network. Comparing Q3 2024 to 2023, Spirit gained a net total of 35 cities after exiting 42 and adding 77. In several markets, Spirit increased flights during the week, a lower risk than adding weekend flights. "The continued intense competitive battle for the price-sensitive leisure traveler further reinforces our belief that we are on the right path with our transformation plan to redefine low-fare travel with new, high-value travel options that will allow Guests to choose an elevated experience at an affordable price. I want to thank our entire team for their dedication and patience as we execute on these initiatives intended to drive improvement in overall revenue production and put us on the path to profitability." - Ted Christie, President and Chief Executive Officer Aircraft utilization decreased 6.2% over 2023, driven by the problems with the P&W engines. During the second quarter, aircraft utilization was at 10.6 hours. Fleet update Last quarter, Spirit added eight planes to its fleet, ending the quarter with 210 planes. In addition to adding four Airbus A320neos and four A321neos, Spirit retired five A319s. Because of the groundings, Spirit secured $37.2 million in credits from P&W, just on time lost during the second quarter. The airline estimates that throughout the year, 20 aircraft will be grounded. Transforming the customer experience Earlier this week, Spirit announced a major change to its offering, unveiling four new fare categories. The new fare options will add Priority Check-In at more than 20 airports, eliminate change and cancelation fees, and increase checked baggage weight to 50 pounds. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. With the new changes, the Big Front Seat will no longer be available as a single purchase but will be included with the fare. Spirit aims to make the passenger experience more friendly, comfortable, and cost-effective. https://simpleflying.com/spirit-airline-pilot-furlough/ Summary • Spirit Airlines is furloughing 240 pilots due to engine issues. By year-end, it aims to save $75 million in costs. • The airline plans to cut costs by suspending pilot recruitment, offering unpaid leaves, and downsizing. • Spirit added new fare categories, including Priority Check-In and increased baggage weight allowance. Earlier today, Spirit Airlines revealed its second-quarter financial results and announced that it would furlough hundreds of pilots. Challenges of the second quarter In April, Spirit Airlines , one of the United States' largest ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCC), announced that it would reduce its pilot headcount because of engine issues. Airlines worldwide are experiencing problems relating to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, and some of Spirit's planes will be grounded longer than expected. In an announcement earlier this year, Spirit said 260 pilots would be furloughed starting September 1. During its second quarter financial results call earlier today, Spirit discussed how it would cut costs to improve its financial situation. According to the airline, it is on track to achieve $75 million in run-rate cost savings by the end of the year. Cuts include: • Temporarily suspending the recruitment of pilots and flight attendants and related training costs • Offering voluntary unpaid leaves of absence to flight attendants • Right-sizing overhead and non-crew operational positions • Reducing discretionary capital spending • Furloughing approximately 240 pilots and downgrading approximately 100 captains In addition to the cuts above, Spirit has made several adjustments to its network. Comparing Q3 2024 to 2023, Spirit gained a net total of 35 cities after exiting 42 and adding 77. In several markets, Spirit increased flights during the week, a lower risk than adding weekend flights. "The continued intense competitive battle for the price-sensitive leisure traveler further reinforces our belief that we are on the right path with our transformation plan to redefine low-fare travel with new, high-value travel options that will allow Guests to choose an elevated experience at an affordable price. I want to thank our entire team for their dedication and patience as we execute on these initiatives intended to drive improvement in overall revenue production and put us on the path to profitability." - Ted Christie, President and Chief Executive Officer Aircraft utilization decreased 6.2% over 2023, driven by the problems with the P&W engines. During the second quarter, aircraft utilization was at 10.6 hours. Fleet update Last quarter, Spirit added eight planes to its fleet, ending the quarter with 210 planes. In addition to adding four Airbus A320neos and four A321neos, Spirit retired five A319s. Because of the groundings, Spirit secured $37.2 million in credits from P&W, just on time lost during the second quarter. The airline estimates that throughout the year, 20 aircraft will be grounded. Transforming the customer experience Earlier this week, Spirit announced a major change to its offering, unveiling four new fare categories. The new fare options will add Priority Check-In at more than 20 airports, eliminate change and cancelation fees, and increase checked baggage weight to 50 pounds. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. With the new changes, the Big Front Seat will no longer be available as a single purchase but will be included with the fare. Spirit aims to make the passenger experience more friendly, comfortable, and cost-effective. https://simpleflying.com/spirit-airline-pilot-furlough/ Delta CEO says IT outage cost the airline $500 million, and it has 'no choice' but to seek damages from CrowdStrike Delta CEO said the IT outage cost $500 million in losses from revenue and passenger compensation. The tech issues, linked to a flawed CrowdStrike update, led to over 5,000 flight cancellations. CEO Ed Bastian said in an interview with CNBC that the carrier has "no choice" but to seek damages. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the mass IT outage, which resulted in days of delays and cancellations, cost the airline $500 million. Delta canceled several thousand flights over several days after an IT meltdown caused by a flawed update issued by Texas-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Bastian told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday that the half-a-billion figure accounts for "not just the lost revenue, but the tens of millions of dollars per day in compensation and hotels." CrowdStrike has offered free consulting advice but no other assistance, Bastian said. When asked if Delta would sue CrowdStrike over the disruptions, Bastian responded: "We have no choice." "We're not looking to wipe them [CrowdStrike] out, but we're looking to make certain we get compensated — however they decide to — for what they cost us," he said later in the interview. "We have to protect our shareholders, we have to protect our customers, our employees, for the damage, not just to the cost of it, but to the brand, the reputational damage," Bastian said. As many airlines began to recover, Delta struggled to restore operations to full capacity, resorting to manually rebooting up to 40,000 systems affected by the outage. "If you're going to be having priority access to the Delta ecosystem in terms of technology, you've got to test the stuff," Bastian said. "You can't come into a mission-critical 24/7 operation and tell us we have a bug — it doesn't work." Earlier this week, CNBC reported that Delta had hired high-profile law firm Boies Schiller Flexner to pursue damages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft. The company's chair, David Boies, is known for representing Al Gore against George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election dispute and the US government's antitrust case against Microsoft. It is unclear if Delta has yet filed any lawsuit. When contacted by Business Insider Thursday, CrowdStrike said it had no knowledge of a suit. Delta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Department of Transportation has already opened an investigation into Delta and whether the airline followed the law and supported customers during the disruption. https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-ceo-says-outage-cost-111846591.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS 2024), Aug. 13-15, Beijing, China. • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London • 2024 Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) - September 17-18, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • DEFENCE AVIATION SAFETY 2024 - 2 OCTOBER - 3 OCTOBER 2024 - LONDON • International Congress of Aerospace Medicine ICAM 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, 3 - 5 October 2024 • Aviation Health Conference back on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October 2024 • Safeskies Australia Conference, Canberra Australia - 16th and 17th of October 2024 - www.safeskiesaustralia.org • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis