Flight Safety Information - October 28, 2024 No. 214 In This Issue : Incident: Wideroe DH8D at Trondheim on Oct 24th 2024, unsafe gear on arrival : Accident: United A319 at Newark on Oct 24th 2024, bird strike : Incident: UPS MD11 at Chicago on Oct 24th 2024, unreliable airspeed, systems coming and going : Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fuselage Cracked and Damaged Upon Landing : Nepal releases Thai AirAsia plane after pilot issues apology : Woman dies after backing into airplane propeller while taking pictures, officials say : Hobby Airport delays and diverts flights after aircraft's "hot brakes" blocks runway, officials say : Singapore Airlines 777-300ER Windshield Cracked, Flight Diverted : Hawaiian Airlines Cuts Hawaii-Based Workers As Merger With Alaska Airlines Proceeds : SmartLynx Airlines receives Foreign Air Transport Operator Certificate in USA : F-16 Navigation System Failure in Bad Weather Led to Crash off Korea: New Report : Air Force solves pilot crisis by increasing service commitment to 20 years : European airlines' Q3 struggle with plane delays, high costs : Delta London to Boston Flight Perform Go-Around to Avoid Collision with JetBlue A220 : Elevate Your Organization's Safety Practices with ERAU’s SMS Course in Daytona Beach Nov. 19-21 : Calendar of Events Incident: Wideroe DH8D at Trondheim on Oct 24th 2024, unsafe gear on arrival A Wideroe de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration LN-WDR performing flight WF-1364 from Bergen to Trondheim (Norway), was on approach to Trondheim when the crew received indication the landing gear was down but not locked. The aircraft entered holds while the crew was working the related checklists. About one hour after entering the holds the aircraft landed safely on Trondheim's runway 09 and vacated the runway at the end onto the parallel taxiway. The airline reported the crew received indication something was wrong with the landing gear, it is still unclear whether there was actually a fault with the landing gear. The aircraft is still on the ground in Trondheim about 48 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f6f38d&opt=0 Accident: United A319 at Newark on Oct 24th 2024, bird strike A United Airbus A319-100, registration N834UA performing flight UA-2053 from Newark,NJ to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA), was climbing out of Newark's runway 04L when a bird impacted the left hand wing at about 9000 feet. The crew advised ATC they wanted to level off at 10,000 feet after a bird strike that left a "pretty good dent" at their left wing. The aircraft returned to Newark for a safe landing on runway 04R about 30 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK BIRD ON DEPARTURE, RETURNED TO LAND AND A LARGE DENT WAS OBSERVED ON THE MID LEFT LEADING EDGE SLAT.", rated the damage substantial and the occurrence an accident. A replacement A319-100 registration N892UA reached Dallas with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Newark about 22 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f66a1b&opt=0 Incident: UPS MD11 at Chicago on Oct 24th 2024, unreliable airspeed, systems coming and going A UPS United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, registration N251UP performing flight 5X-753 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Chicago Rockford,IL (USA) with 4 crew on board, was descending towards Rockford Airport when the crew declared emergency reporting they had unreliable airspeed. When queried by the controller about other systems like navigation systems, the crew reported they not only had unreliable airspeed but other systems were coming and going, they suspected they had received a lightning strike. The aircraft landed safely on Rockford's runway 19 about 25 minutes later. The aircraft is still on the ground in Chicago about 6.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51f64a24&opt=0 Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fuselage Cracked and Damaged Upon Landing The aircraft's tail and rear fuselage made hard contact resulting in 2.47g force with the Runway 02L SHANGHAI- Major Chinese carrier, China Southern Airlines (CZ) Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fuselage sustained heavy damage and crack amid a tail Strike during landing. The accident occurred when a state-owned airline operating flight CZ3534 from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) encountered a tail strike on October 21, 2024. China Southern Airlines (CZ) Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fuselage sustained heavy damage and crack amid a tail Strike during landing. According to reports, China Southern Airlines 787 sustained structural damage on Monday as it made a heavy landing at Guangzhou Airport. China Southern operates more than 15 daily flights on a 731-mile flight route between Shanghai and Guangzhou mostly using a widebody fleet. According to Flight Radar 24 data, China Southern Flight CZ3534 took off from Shanghai at 3:05 AM UTC. The flight remained airborne for around one hour and 50 minutes until it aligned with the runway for landing. The aircraft’s tail and rear fuselage made hard contact resulting in 2.47g force with the Runway 02L. The plane continued to taxi despite a tail strike and reached its designated gate. The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as B-1243. Further, it is a 6.5-year-old aircraft and is powered by GEnX engines. The aircraft is grounded and will be fascinating to see how they will make it airworthy again. China Southern Airlines operates a huge fleet of 655 aircraft, which includes almost all variants of Airbus, Boeing, COMAC, and Embraer Jets. Guangzhou-based carrier maintains a fleet of 28 Dreamliner, out of this 18 are 787-9 variant. China Southern Airlines (CZ) Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fuselage sustained heavy damage and crack amid a tail Strike during landing. Aviation community members raise critical concerns about the CZ 787 structural damage and flight crew decisions. One aviation expert identifies potential missed opportunities in flight crew decision-making. The analysis suggests an alternative approach involving rejected landing procedures, de-rotation maneuvers, and go-around thrust application could have minimized damage. The expert highlights how maintaining a nose-up attitude against flight computer inputs resulted in compromised aircraft control. Engineering specialists question the repairability of the carbon fiber tail section. The extensive damage pattern raises concerns about structural integrity, particularly given the advanced composite construction methods used in modern aircraft. Technical analysis reveals the mid-fuselage crack’s significance surpasses visible surface damage. Boeing’s repair capabilities face additional challenges due to ongoing labor strikes affecting 30,000 workers. Similar Incidents Such heavy landing and tail strike incidents are not very rare but they do cause significant costs to airlines and can lead to severe damage to aircraft and its systems. In September 2024, IndiGo Airlines (6E) flight 6E6054 from Delhi (DEL) to Bengaluru (BLR) with Airbus A321neo, registered as VT-IBI, experienced heavy damage after a tail strike. Following this, the Indian aviation watchdog, DGCA grounded the pilot as it began an investigation into the incident. I am sure the Chinese aviation authority will also carry out a detailed assessment of CZ’s 787 incident. Last year, DGCA issued a fine of 30 Lakhs INR on IndiGo for four back-to-back tail strikes. Similarly, in April 2023, Qatar Airways flight QR614 from Doha (DOH) to Islamabad (ISB) using Airbus A350, registered as A7-ALN reported a tail strike. Qatar pilots after the tail strike performed a go-around and later landed normally. It was a minor damage but took it around a month to return to service. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/10/24/boeing-787-fuselage-crack-damaged-upon-landing/ Nepal releases Thai AirAsia plane after pilot issues apology Earlier, the plane was instructed to hold at 14,000 feet above Simara for 45 minutes. A Thai AirAsia aircraft, detained for four hours at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) after arriving without official clearance, was released on Sunday evening following an apology from its pilot-in-command. The Airbus A320, captained by Mathawat Aphiratnathapong, was allowed to depart for Bangkok at 6:57 pm after issuing a formal apology. TIA General Manager Jagannath Niraula explained that the pilot claimed the flight had been arranged by the Nepalese agent Universal Tours and Travels, which asserted the flight had necessary clearance. Upon the pilot’s written apology, TIA authorised the plane’s release. Earlier, the plane was instructed to hold at 14,000 feet above Simara for 45 minutes. With only 30 minutes’ fuel left, the captain requested permission to land, which was granted. The flight carried 176 passengers to Kathmandu and was scheduled to return with 160 passengers to Bangkok. According to tourism ministry sources, Universal Tours and Travels, directed by Parashar Prasai, previously arranged Thai AirAsia flights with conditional approval to land in Bhairahawa from October 2. This authorisation was contingent on settling a Rs270 million debt owed by AirAsia prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prasai provided a bank guarantee to clear the arrears, leading to a conditional permit allowing flights to Kathmandu on the understanding that services would soon shift to Bhairahawa following a feasibility assessment. The Civil Aviation Authority’s Deputy Spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul clarified that the airline lacked clearance under the winter schedule, which began on Sunday, and was only authorised for Kathmandu flights from October 2 to 27. Nepal’s flight schedules are revised seasonally: the winter schedule runs from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March, while the summer schedule spans from late March to late October. Attempts to reach Universal’s director, Prasai, for comment were unsuccessful, and he did not respond to messages. https://kathmandupost.com/weather/2024/10/27/nepal-releases-thai-airasia-plane-after-pilot-issues-apology Woman dies after backing into airplane propeller while taking pictures, officials say WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - A woman in Kansas died after backing into a moving airplane propeller while taking photos, according to officials. According to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter, 37-year-old Amanda Gallagher was taking photos at the Air Capital Drop Zone of people getting on and off of planes when she backed into an active airplane propeller. The woman who died after backing into a moving airplane propeller while taking photos at Air... The woman who died after backing into a moving airplane propeller while taking photos at Air Capital Drop Zone on Saturday afternoon has been identified as 37-year-old Amanda Gallagher.(GoFundMe) She was unresponsive when EMS arrived and was taken to a hospital where she later died from her injuries, KWCH reported. Gallagher’s family has set up GoFundMe to help with her funeral costs. Gallagher was described as kind, adventurous, creative and a beautiful person inside and out. https://www.wsmv.com/2024/10/28/woman-dies-after-backing-into-airplane-propeller-officials-say/ Hobby Airport delays and diverts flights after aircraft's "hot brakes" blocks runway, officials say HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Hobby Airport announced flight delays after an Alert II was signaled after an aircraft experienced "hot brakes" on the runway on Saturday evening. The video above is from ABC13's 24/7 livestream. According to the airport, ARFF and airport ops have responded to the alert to tow the aircraft off the runway. Airport officials said the incident has resulted in flight diversions to nearby cities like Austin and flight delays. Flights diverted will be arriving later in the night, airport officials said. At 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, the airport reported an average departure delay of 1 hour and 24 minutes, and it is expected to continue increasing. https://abc13.com/post/hobby-airport-hot-brakes-alert-causes-delays-flight-diversions-nearby-cities-like-austin/15474350/ Singapore Airlines 777-300ER Windshield Cracked, Flight Diverted There were 249 passengers and 17 crew members including flight and cabin crew onboard the Boeing 777-300ER, registered as 9V-SWI. SINGAPORE- Changi-based Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight from Singapore (SIN) to Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan was forced to divert to Taipei (TPE) after a Boeing 777-300ER windshield cracked midair today (October 28, 2024). The flag carrier of Singapore operates multiple daily flights to Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita (NRT) using a mix of Airbus and Boeing widebody fleet. Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight from Singapore (SIN) to Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan was forced to divert to Taipei (TPE) after a Boeing 777-300ER windshield cracked midair today (October 28, 2024). Singapore Airlines Windshield Cracked According to FlightRadar24 data, Singapore Airlines flight SQ636 took off from Singapore at 11:16 PM local time. Exactly in a mid-journey, the flight crew reported a crack in the windshield, when the flight was at 36,000 feet or FL360. Following this, they decided to divert to Taipei at 3:54 AM local time. There were 249 passengers and 17 crew members including flight and cabin crew onboard the Boeing 777-300ER, registered as 9V-SWI. It is a 17.7-year-old aircraft and mostly serves Asia Pacific routes. Following the incident, the Singaporean carrier provided accommodation to all its passengers. The airline is sending an alternate Boeing 777, registered as 9V-SWL to Taipei operating flight SQ9876 to transfer passengers from Taipei to Tokyo Haneda. The airline issued an apology to all its passengers for the inconvenience caused to them. Further, the airline said that the safety of our passengers and crew members is our top priority. American Airlines (AA) Flight 94 diverted to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) following windshield damage. Similar Incidents Earlier in June 2024, Virgin Atlantic (VS) Boeing 787 encountered windshield damage during a transatlantic flight between London Heathrow (LHR) and San Francisco (SFO). The incident occurred while cruising at 38,000 feet in the airspace between Greenland and Iceland, where external temperatures reached -58 degrees Celsius. The flight crew of VS41 immediately assured passengers of their safety, confirming no cabin decompression had occurred. Virgin Atlantic’s spokesperson explained the windshield’s multi-layered construction, emphasizing that the damage affected only the nonstructural, wear-resistant outer layer. In a separate incident in February 2024, American Airlines (AA) Flight 94 diverted to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) following windshield damage. The Boeing 777-200, en route from New York’s JFK to Madrid, departed at 7:28 p.m. but encountered problems approximately two hours into its journey. Massachusetts State Police reported an Alert 2 activation at 9:46 p.m., prompting the unscheduled landing. The Boeing 787 windshield is very susceptible to cracking, during my training, I found out that Air India always keeps dozens of windshields in spares for the 787 fleet as they crack frequently. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/10/28/singapore-airlines-777-windshield-cracked-flight-diverted/ Hawaiian Airlines Cuts Hawaii-Based Workers As Merger With Alaska Airlines Proceeds The airlines are expected to shed more Hawaii-based employees as they combine operations over the next year. Hawaiian Airlines will cut 57 out of nearly 1,400 Hawaii-based non-union jobs by year’s end as a result of its merger with Alaska Airlines, the company announced, and more job cuts are likely over the next six to 12 months. Hawaiian’s job cuts include 52 of 825 employees at its corporate headquarters and four of 213 at its air cargo hangar. One more worker will be cut from Hawaiian’s 87 employees working at its passenger terminal at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Together those facilities alone employ 1,125 non-union workers, Andy Schneider, executive vice president of Alaska’s “People Team” wrote in a letter dated Friday to Jade Butay, director of Hawaii’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are in the process of integrating operations following Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023) “Employment separations are expected to begin on or about December 31, 2024,” Schneider wrote. Hawaiian Airlines for now remains separate from Alaska, while the companies go through a phased process of combining operations. Hawaiian is one of Hawaii’s largest private employers with some 7,500 employees, the vast majority holding well-paying union jobs. It’s also the isolated state’s dominant airline providing vital transportation for residents and cargo, as well as tourists that drive the economy. And, at least for now, Hawaiian is the state’s sole major Hawaii-based carrier, following the demise of Aloha Airlines in 2008. The layoffs announced Friday follow previous news that all of Hawaiian’s 6,000 union workers will remain employed by Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian. When announcing the deal’s closing in September, Hawaiian’s interim chief executive, Joe Sprague, said Hawaiian will maintain its corporate headquarters near the Honolulu airport and that only a “small number” of non-union workers would be let go. But that “small number” of 57 workers is expected to grow as the companies integrate. Airline mergers are enormously complex undertakings, involving thousands of workers, varying corporate cultures and complicated operations. As a result, the FAA requires the airlines to operate separately according to a prescribed, six-phase process that culminates with the two airlines being given a certificate to operate as one entity. As the airlines move closer to being one, Hawaiian is likely to shed more non-union jobs, Hawaiian spokesman Alex Da Silva said. “We expect some non-contract interim positions tied to specific integration milestones to conclude once projects are completed in the next 6 to 18 months,” Da Silva said. The announced layoffs in Hawaii follow a series of one-on-one meetings with non-union workers about their future with Hawaiian, he said. “A vast majority of our approximately 1,400 Hawaiian Airlines non-contract employees received a permanent or interim position based in Hawaii with the combined company to continue to support Hawaiian’s extensive operational presence across the islands and the work to integrate both airlines,” Da Silva said. The interim offers extend for at least six months from September, Da Silva said, and company hopes to retain most people for a year or longer, including some permanently. In addition to the 57 people laid off in Hawaii, the company shed another 16 located on the mainland. The 73 employees included workers who either turned down offers or didn’t receive them. https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/10/hawaiian-airlines-cuts-hawaii-based-workers-as-merger-with-alaska-airlines-proceeds/ SmartLynx Airlines receives Foreign Air Transport Operator Certificate in USA SmartLynx Airlines, a globally acknowledged ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance), cargo and charter operator, has received the Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC) granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America (USA). The certification allows the airline to begin operations to, from, and within the United States. The received Certificate acknowledges that SmartLynx aircraft registered under Latvian AOC (Air Operator Certificate) is compliant with the high standards and regulations of the United States. With the certification received, SmartLynx will now be able to support airlines that operate cross-continental full charter and ACMI flights to and from this destination. Edvinas Demenius, CEO of SmartLynx Airlines: “Air operation Certificates are part of our infrastructure. It is crucial for an airline, especially ACMI, to have access to different regions. The USA is the biggest and one of the most regulated aviation markets in the world and being able to provide our services there brings a lot of value to the airline and boosts our competitiveness. Approximately a third of our fleet operates under Latvian AOC. Therefore, this step allows us to expand our operations and gives more flexibility.” In 2023, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States of America (USA) completed the audit of the state agency “Civil Aviation Agency” (CAA), awarding Latvia the 1st category. It allowed aircraft operators registered in Latvia, like SmartLynx, to begin carrying out passenger flights on behalf of US airlines and commercial flights to the US, including from airports in other countries. Since 2019, SmartLynx Airlines has operated flights to and from the USA under a Maltese AOC. Now, aircraft registered under the Latvian AOC are also eligible to operate these flights. In 2024, passenger demand for flights has reached pre-pandemic levels for the first time. As a result, this year SmartLynx has transported a record number of passengers – 7.21 million (January to September), which is 52% more than in the same period last year (4.72 million). https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/smartlynx-airlines-receives-foreign-air-transport-operator-certificate-in-usa F-16 Navigation System Failure in Bad Weather Led to Crash off Korea: New Report A critical failure of an F-16’s navigation system and its backup, coupled with poor weather conditions, led to a crash off the coast of South Korea last December, destroying the $28 million fighter, according to an Air Force Accident Investigation Board release Sept. 26. The F-16 was flying from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, for a training mission on Dec. 11, 2023. The pilot, who ejected safely, sustained no serious injuries and was returned to full flight duties a few weeks later. The investigation found the crash was primarily due to a failure in the aircraft’s embedded global positioning and inertial navigation system known as EGI. The EGI combines GPS and inertial navigation that tracks movement using onboard sensors. When the EGI fails, the pilot loses access to critical navigation and must rely on backup instruments. But in this case, the backup also failed the pilot; investigators faulted a malfunctioning backup Standby Attitude Indicator (SAI) and poor weather conditions with limited visibility as causes of the pilot’s disorientation that contributed to the crash. The SAI shows the jet’s orientation—whether it’s level, climbing, or turning. Although the exact cause of the EGI failure remains unclear due to the loss of the black box, a power outage is suspected to have triggered the malfunction, as seen in similar past incidents. “Based on the data available, I could not determine why the EGI malfunctioned,” Col. Philip Lancaster, the board president, wrote in the report. “The ‘most likely’ cause of failure is a loss of power which may or may not be visible to the pilot.” The incident began shortly after the 8:23 a.m. takeoff of a four-ship formation of F-16s from Kunsan during a routine exercise. The pilot involved in the mishap encountered dense cloud cover, forcing him to rely fully on the aircraft’s navigation system to fly, a state known as instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). About 15 minutes into the flight, the jet’s EGI system malfunctioned, wiping out the pilot’s critical navigation and attitude displays that are essential for keeping the plane level or on course. “The absence of the EGI failure while in IMC may have prevented this mishap,” the report stated. With the EGI down, the pilot tried to rely on the backup SAI, which had already shown some faulty pitch and bank data earlier in the flight. Hoping for clear skies, the pilot then started a descent through the clouds. The system kept giving conflicting readings, showing a climb while airspeed and altitude instruments indicated a descent. This mismatch of data with the cloudy conditions led to the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation—a condition where the pilot could not accurately interpret the aircraft’s position relative to the horizon. “After transitioning to the SAI, the Mishap Pilot had difficulty maintaining level flight and overall spatial orientation due to the weather conditions and a poorly performing SAI, so the [pilot] prioritized a descend below the forecasted ceiling (believed to be 3,500 ft) where clear sky was expected,” the report stated. The pilot told one of his wingmen to follow closely, about 500 feet behind, while relaying altitude and airspeed information during the descent. However, the report noted that radar data alone from the other F-16 wasn’t enough to resolve the mishap pilot’s spatial awareness. When the other pilot’s radar showed the mishap plane slightly climbing, the mishap aircraft’s SAI still indicated a nose-up position with continued altitude loss. “When unable to find airspace free of clouds at 3,000 feet, the Mishap Pilot attempted to level off, causing further disorientation,” the report read. At around 8:42 a.m., the pilot attempted to eject, though without the black box data, the exact timing and aircraft position at ejection remain uncertain. Shortly after, the F-16 crashed into the Yellow Sea, approximately 81 nautical miles west of Kunsan. The jet, belonging to the 8th Fighter Wing, was completely destroyed, with a valued loss of $28,259,045. The pilot was rescued by a Republic of Korea Navy ship and treated for hypothermia. Since last year, Kunsan has experienced three F-16 crashes, occurring in May and December of 2023, and January of this year. No personnel have been injured in any of the crashes, and the Air Force has stated that the incidents do not appear to be related. “The Air Force is working to limit the impacts of temporary power fluctuations on flight instrument systems in the F-16,” the service said in a statement following the release of the report. The investigation report for the third F-16 crash in January this year is still being conducted and its results will be published “as soon as they are available,” the statement added. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-16-navigation-system-bad-weather-crash-korea/ Air Force solves pilot crisis by increasing service commitment to 20 years WASHINGTON—As the U.S. Air Force continues to do more with less, the organization has implemented a new service commitment of 20 years for pilots, effective immediately. The dismal retention rate of pilots leaving the service for commercial airlines after hitting their 10-year active duty service commitment (ADSC) has caused the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) to develop creative solutions, resulting in the new policy. “Ultimately, the cost to train our pilots is ever increasing, and we are trying to capitalize on that large initial investment by keeping them for the entirety of their careers,” said Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin. “Those already signed to a 10-year ADSC have the option of taking the 20-year deal or a less than honorable discharge, a fair trade in today’s current global dynamics.” https://www.duffelblog.com/p/air-force-solves-pilot-crisis-by European airlines' Q3 struggle with plane delays, high costs LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's major airlines including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are expected to report another quarter dragged down by rising costs and limited planes, with no sign of delivery delays from planemakers Boeing and Airbus improving any time soon. While demand has remained stable, costs for maintenance, adverse weather, air traffic control issues and disruption in the Middle East have continued to weigh on carriers. Delays of new plane deliveries are the biggest ongoing headache, though, forcing airlines to fly older models that are more expensive to maintain and use more jet fuel and cut traffic estimates. Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr warned the airline is now expecting a five-year delay on its Boeing 777X deliveries. "We don't expect to get them until 2026. And we need them," he told journalists earlier this month. The German carrier is expected to report on Tuesday a third-quarter operating profit of 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion), down 9% from a year ago and a margin of 12.1%, according to a company-led analyst poll. The airline is losing up to $550,000 per flight on its route from Frankfurt to Beijing as a result of flying older jets with few passengers, according to a Bloomberg report. Lufthansa did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. British Airways, owned by IAG, has said it will cancel more long-haul flights due to delivery delays from engine maker Rolls-Royce. Air France-KLM is also set to take a hit on third-quarter revenue, according to analysts, due to lower ticket bookings tied to the Paris Olympics. It reports results on Nov. 7. These challenges have dragged airline shares down in the last six months. And while they've recovered slightly in the last month, investor worries over the sector's health have prevailed. Only IAG has seen a substantial hike in its share price, up over 20% in the last six months as it continues to build on its strength in the North Atlantic market and faces fewer delivery delays. The airline is expected to report on Nov. 8 an operating profit of 1.78 billion euros, according to a company-led analyst consensus, up 2% from last year. BLEAK OUTLOOK Some airlines have said that the worst is yet to come. Delivery delays could hit harder in 2026 as current supply chain issues impact new plane production. That said, with fewer available seats due to constrained capacity, airlines can charge higher fares if demand stays robust as it is expected to, analysts say. But that dynamic does not seem to be playing out. "Ordinarily one might expect a lower level of capacity as a result of these delays to boost results, in a robust demand environment. Yet most carriers in Europe and North America are producing disappointing results," said Neil Glynn, managing director at AIR Control Tower. They will also get a financial boost next year from lower jet fuel prices if they lower the amount of hedges they have. ($1 = 0.9228 euros) https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/european-airlines-q3-struggle-plane-050240061.html Delta London to Boston Flight Perform Go-Around to Avoid Collision with JetBlue A220 The incident occurred when a Delta flight DL59 operated by Airbus A330-200, registered as N855NW was attempting to land at Runway 33L. BOSTON- On October 27, 2024, an Atlanta-based, Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Boston Logan (BOS) performed a go-around to avoid collision with aircraft taking off from the Boston Airport. Don’t get confused with Delta flight DL2196 which also did go-around a few days ago and we will share more details later in the article. Delta Flight Go-Around at Boston The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported the incident and is currently investigating it to find out what happened and how to avoid such incidents in the future. FAA wrote, “An air traffic controller instructed Delta Air Lines Flight DL59 to perform a go-around at Boston Logan Int’l Airport because another plane was departing at the same time the Airbus A330 was attempting to land. The incident occurred at around 12:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, October 27. There was no loss of safe operation.” Now let us establish a flight timeline using FlightRadar24 data. Delta Flight DL59 took off from Heathrow at 9:28 AM local time. The seven-hour journey was smoothly carried up until it was about to land in Boston. At around 12:43 PM, the DL aircraft which almost landed on the runway was instructed by ATC to do a go-around as another aircraft, probably belonging to JetBlue Airways (unconfirmed) was taking off. The FlightRadar24 data shows that JetBlue flight B6531 to San Juan (SJU) using Airbus A220 aircraft, registered as N3125J took off from Boston at 12:43 PM. So it can be the one that affected Delta’s landing. The incident occurred when a Delta flight operated by Airbus A330-200, registered as N855NW was attempting to land at Runway 33L. After performing a go-around, the Delta flight landed safely on the second attempt at around 12:55 PM local time. Delta Spokesperson told Aviation A2Z in an email statement, Delta Air Lines Flight 59 from Heathrow to Boston performed a go-around per request by Air Traffic Control. The aircraft landed safely without incident and taxied to the gate within 10 minutes of its scheduled arrival time.” Delta Spokesperson Furthermore, the Spokesperson said, “Delta will cooperate with the FAA on their investigation.” Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Boston Logan (BOS) performed a go-around to avoid collision with aircraft taking off from the Boston Airport. Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – Delta Boeing 737-800 N3753, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25906481 Similar Incident A few days ago on October 24, another Delta flight DL2196 from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) performed a go-around to avoid a collision with an aircraft at Boston Airport. The Boeing 737-800, registered as N376DA, circled the airport before completing a successful landing on Runway 27 in a second attempt. Boston 25 television obtained air traffic control communications revealing controllers instructing the obstructing aircraft to clear the runway. The delayed taxiing aircraft prompted immediate safety protocols from air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration credited the air traffic controller’s rapid response for preventing a potential collision. The go-around maneuver, a standard safety procedure when landing conditions become unsafe, allowed Flight 2196’s pilots to abort their initial approach. This safety protocol enables aircraft to attempt another landing under more favorable conditions. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/10/28/delta-boston-flight-go-around-to-avoid-collision-with-jetblue/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT - November 5 - 7, 2024 (Rio De Janeiro) • NATA’s Aviation Business Conference (ABC) - November 12-13,2024, Nashville, TN • Elevate Your Organization's Safety Practices with ERAU’s SMS Course in Daytona Beach Nov. 19-21 • The Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA) - 26/27 of November 2024; Manama, Bahrain • Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) • Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver Colorado, March 27-29, 2025 • AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore • The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 Curt Lewis