Flight Safety Information - November 26, 2024 No. 235 In This Issue : Incident: Belavia E195 enroute on Nov 24th 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Wideroe DH8A at Bodo on Nov 22nd 2024, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Hong Kong A333 near Taipei on Nov 24th 2024, suspected fuel leak : Incident: EAT Leipzig A332 at Hong Kong on Nov 24th 2024, engine shut down in flight : Accident: United B738 at Cleveland on Nov 21st 2024, lightning strike damaged windshield, frame and tail : American Airlines plane strikes Frontier Airlines aircraft’s wing at Boston Logan, FAA will investigate : Flight turbulence is getting worse, and now we know why : Elon Musk finds new adversary in Lockheed Martin after F-35 report : JetBlue plane being towed hits Cape Air plane, marks 2nd incident at Logan Airport in 1 day : Salt Lake City International Airport prepping the runways for snow : Spirit Airlines plans normal operations out of Pittsburgh through bankruptcy filing : Lawmakers push FAA to prioritize air traffic control modernization : Calendar of Events Incident: Belavia E195 enroute on Nov 24th 2024, cracked windshield A Belavia Embraer ERJ-195, registration EW-400PO performing flight B2-949 from Minsk National (Belarus) to Kaliningrad (Russia), was enroute at FL300 about halfway into the flight when the crew decided to return to Minsk due to the captain's windshield cracking. The aircraft descended to FL200 for the return and landed safely back. A replacement E195 registration EW-513PO reached Kaliningrad with a delay of about 9 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Minsk about 35 hours later. https://avherald.com/h?article=520c635b&opt=0 Incident: Wideroe DH8A at Bodo on Nov 22nd 2024, engine shut down in flight A Wideroe de Havilland Dash 8-100, registration LN-WIY performing flight WF-844 from Bodo to Stokmarkness (Norway), was climbing out of Bodo's runway 07 when the crew stopped the climb at about FL150 due to an engine (PW120A) problem. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Bodo for a safe landing on runway 07 about 45 minutes after departure. The rotation was cancelled. The airline reported a technical fault which prompted the crew to shut one of the engines down. The passengers were rebooked onto later flights. The aircraft is still on the ground in Bodo on Nov 25th 2024. https://avherald.com/h?article=520c6182&opt=0 Incident: Hong Kong A333 near Taipei on Nov 24th 2024, suspected fuel leak A Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration B-LNR performing flight HX-640 from Hong Kong (China) to Fukuoka (Japan) with 283 passengers and 13 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 80nm northeast of Taipei (Taiwan) when the crew decided to divert to Taipei reporting they suspected a fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Taipei's runway 05L about 40 minutes later. The aircraft is still on the ground in Taipei about 14 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=520bb387&opt=0 Incident: EAT Leipzig A332 at Hong Kong on Nov 24th 2024, engine shut down in flight An EAT Leipzig Airbus A330-200, registration D-ALOS performing flight QY-547 from Hong Kong (China) to Almaty (Kazakhstan), was climbing out of Hong Kong's runway 07R when the crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet reporting an engine (Trent 772) failure. The crew subsequently advised that the right hand engine had been shut down and positioned for an approach to runway 07R completing a safe landing on the runway. The aircraft needed to be towed off the runway. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong about 13 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=520bb21a&opt=0 Accident: United B738 at Cleveland on Nov 21st 2024, lightning strike damaged windshield, frame and tail A United Boeing 737-800, registration N77530 performing flight UA-2226 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Cleveland,OH (USA), was descending towards Cleveland when the aircraft received a lightning strike causing damage to the windshield. The crew continued for a safe landing on Cleveland's runway 24R about 55 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DAMAGING THE WINDSHIELD, FRAME AND LEFT BURN MARKS ON THE TAIL, CLEVELAND, OH." and reported on of the flight crew members received minor injuries. The aircraft is still on the ground in Cleveland about 21 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=520a70ff&opt=0 Flight Recorders Found After Lithuania Cargo Jet Crash Investigators probing the deadly cargo plane crash in Lithuania found the aircraft's flight recorders on Tuesday, the justice ministry said, as they sought to establish what caused the disaster. The DHL plane coming from the German city of Leipzig crashed early Monday near the Vilnius airport, killing one crew member and raising questions over whether the tragedy could be connected to a recent series of sabotage cases. The Baltic country's officials have been looking into alleged acts of incendiary devices being planted on cargo planes, but refrained from linking the crash to the ongoing probes. Lithuania's justice ministry said in a statement that the flight recorders were "retrieved from the debris of the plane" at approximately 11:30 am (0930 GMT) on Tuesday. Analysis of flight recorder data could supply critical clues over the crash of the aircraft, which skidded several hundred metres before hitting a residential building about one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the airport. The ministry also said German officials have arrived in Lithuania to assist with the aviation security investigation, and authorities are also awaiting the arrival of experts from the United States and Spain. Police Chief Arunas Paulauskas said it could take two to three days to examine the scene. Lithuania has also opened a criminal investigation into the crash, with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte urging people to refrain from "jumping to conclusions" while it is ongoing. But German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Monday "we must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident". German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius later said there were "no findings" as yet that indicated there had been an explosive charge on the aircraft that could have caused the crash. https://www.barrons.com/news/flight-recorders-found-after-lithuania-cargo-jet-crash-d98d3706 American Airlines plane strikes Frontier Airlines aircraft’s wing at Boston Logan, FAA will investigate One of the most hectic travel weeks of the year has sure been busy at Boston Logan International Airport. A plane reportedly hit another aircraft while at a Boston Logan gate on Monday, according to officials. “While under tow, an American Airlines aircraft struck the wingtip of a Frontier Airlines aircraft that was parked at the gate at Boston Logan International Airport around 12 p.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 25,” the FAA said in a statement. The American aircraft was a Boeing 777, and the Frontier aircraft was an Airbus A321. “The incident occurred in an area that’s not under air traffic control,” the FAA added. “The FAA will investigate.” No injuries were reported. “Planes are being deboarded, and need to be checked for damage,” a Massport spokesperson said in a statement. The American Airlines plane was reportedly arriving from London, and was pulling into the Boston gate when its wingtip hit the parked Frontier plane’s wingtip. “American Airlines flight 109… made contact with a nearby parked aircraft,” American Airlines said in a statement. “There were no reported injuries, and customers deplaned the aircraft shortly after. “The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection by our maintenance team,” the airline added. “We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this caused.” A Frontier Airlines spokesperson said in a statement, “Earlier today, while a Frontier Airlines aircraft was parked and awaiting pushback at Boston Logan International Airport, an American Airlines aircraft made contact with the Frontier plane.” The Frontier aircraft was preparing to depart on Flight 3601 from Boston to Dallas-Fort Worth. “There were 200 passengers on board at the time of the incident,” the Frontier spokesperson said. “No injuries were reported among passengers or crew on the Frontier aircraft.” This incident at Logan comes a day after Massport officials contacted the CDC when “various illnesses” were reported on incoming flights. The Delta and Avianca flights, which originated in different cities, arrived in Boston at around the same time Sunday afternoon as strong gusty winds whipped around the region. Massport Fire responded to the two international flights, which reportedly had people with “various illnesses.” Two people were transported to the hospital. https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/11/25/american-airlines-plane-strikes-frontier-airlines-aircrafts-wing-at-boston-logan-faa-will-investigate/ Flight turbulence is getting worse, and now we know why If you’ve noticed your flights feeling bumpier, you’re not alone. Scientists say that increased turbulence is becoming more frequent—and it has a lot to do with our changing climate. Turbulence occurs when an aircraft flies through irregular airflows. These are often caused by colliding air masses or obstacles like mountains. It’s usually harmless but can be unnerving and, in rare cases, dangerous. A particularly tricky kind of turbulence is known as clear-air turbulence. This kind of turbulence offers no visual warning like clouds or storms. For pilots, it’s the same as hitting an invisible pothole, and for passengers, it’s the moment your coffee unexpectedly leaps from your cup and into your lap. But what is causing this increase in turbulence? Well, scientists think it could have something to do with climate change. New reports have revealed that turbulence, especially clear-air turbulence, is intensifying. As global temperatures climb, the atmosphere is growing less stable. Jet streams are becoming stronger and more erratic. These shifts have created the perfect conditions for increased turbulence to flourish. For airlines and passengers alike, this uptick is pretty significant. Worse turbulence poses safety risks, particularly when passengers aren’t buckled up. More severe turbulence also means higher costs for airlines as longer flight routes to avoid turbulent zones burn more fuel, and frequent jostling increases wear and tear on aircraft, which drives up maintenance costs. It’s clear that climate change is shaping more than just our planet’s surface—it’s also reshaping the skies, too. As increased turbulence continues to be a problem, the aviation industry is likely going to start looking for ways to help fight climate change. This could mean renewed interest in attempts to undo the damage done by global warming, many of which have their own significant side effects—including terrifying acid rain. https://bgr.com/science/flight-turbulence-is-getting-worse-and-now-we-know-why/ Elon Musk finds new adversary in Lockheed Martin after F-35 report Tech entrepreneur shares video of drones flying and captions ridiculing comment on American defense company, leading to its stock crashing Tesla CEO Elon Musk sparked controversy over the weekend by criticizing Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet program, a key defense initiative. Musk’s remarks, delivered via X (formerly Twitter), caused Lockheed shares to drop 3.8% on Monday, closing at $521.89 and wiping out nearly $5 billion in market value. Musk shared a video on Sunday showing drones flying in coordinated formations, captioned, “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.” His comments drew attention not only because of his influence as the head of Tesla and SpaceX but also due to his advisory role with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hytcw1qqyg JetBlue plane being towed hits Cape Air plane, marks 2nd incident at Logan Airport in 1 day U.S. Department of Transportation officials are investigating after federal authorities said a JetBlue plane under tow rear-ended the back of a Cape Air plane Monday night at Boston Logan International Airport. The incident marked the second incident at the airport involving two commercial planes in the same day. The Cape Air plane departed Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts at 5:35 p.m. and landed in Boston at 6:14 p.m., according to FlightAware, a site which tracks flight paths. The impact took place about 6:15 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told USA TODAY Tuesday morning. "While under tow, a JetBlue Airbus A321 struck the back of Cape Air Flight 617, a Tecnam P2012," Rick Breitenfeldt, a FAA spokesperson, told USA TODAY. Passengers board a Cape Air Cessna flight at New York JFK on Feb. 17, 2019. At the time of the crash, the Cape Air flight was waiting to park at an airport, the FAA spokesperson said. Two Cape Air pilots taken to hospital According to a statement obtained by USA TODAY from JetBlue, a tug towing an empty JetBlue aircraft "made contact with a Cape Air aircraft" at the airport. No injuries to JetBlue crewmembers were reported. The JetBlue tug was removed from service, and the JetBlue plane "will undergo a thorough inspection," the airline told USA TODAY Tuesday. Cape Air said there were three passengers and two crew members on board the Cape Air flight from Nantucket to Boston, CBS News reported, but no one was injured on board. But the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) which manages and owns Boston Logan, told the outlet two Cape Air pilots were taken to the hospital as a precaution. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/11/26/jetblue-plane-hits-cape-air-plane-boston-airport/76586069007/ Salt Lake City International Airport prepping the runways for snow SALT LAKE CITY — A winter storm is blowing in before Thanksgiving, but it shouldn’t delay any holiday flight plans. Salt Lake City International Airport spokesperson Nancy Volmer said the runways have been pre-treated and snow removal crews are on standby. “We pre-treat the runways just for ice. And then of course we have our snow removal crews on call so we’re ready to remove any snow from the runways or the taxiways to make sure that the flights stay on time,” she said. Officials are expecting 30,000 passengers to move through the airport on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. “This is something that we prepare for and we’ve planned for, so we will definitely make sure that if we have any big storms come through, it [won’t be] because of snow removal that the flights are delayed,” Volmer said. She also said there will be live musical performances at the airport on Wednesday to help alleviate stress. Volmer advises people to get to the airport two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international flights. https://kslnewsradio.com/2158936/salt-lake-international-airport-prepping-for-snow/ Spirit Airlines plans normal operations out of Pittsburgh through bankruptcy filing Passengers at Pittsburgh International Airport can expect Spirit Airlines to operate normally despite the company’s recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, officials said. Bryan Dietz, senior vice president for air service and commercial development at Pittsburgh International, said that Spirit’s financial situation will not have an immediate impact on its operations. Florida-based Spirit Airlines currently operates flights out of Pittsburgh to seven destinations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the New York City area and several cities in Florida. “Spirit has notified us they will continue operating normally as they are today throughout the bankruptcy process with no impact on day-to-day operations for customers,” Dietz said in a press release. “Spirit is an important partner at PIT, and we will support them throughout this process.” Spirit started service at Pittsburgh International in 2017 and has become the airport’s fifth largest carrier, flying nearly 10% of the airport’s total passengers as of October. Last week, Spirit filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition after working out terms with bondholders. The airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and faces looming debt payments totaling more than $1 billion in 2025 and 2026, according to The Associated Press. Spirit assured customers across the country last week that they can book flights and use frequent-flyer points as they typically would. The airline also operates out of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. Officials at the Westmoreland County airport said they also expect Spirit to operate its flights there per usual. Spirit is the only commercial airline that operates out of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. While Spirit has been a significant factor in Pittsburgh International’s growth over the years, the airport has also added several other carriers, including Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Breeze Airways, Sun Country Airlines and Icelandair. Pittsburgh International is currently served by 15 airlines, flying to 62 destinations, up from a nadir of 36 over a decade ago. Dietz said the airport has diversified its fleet well over the last decade, and should be able withstand an airline carrier pulling out, if it comes to that. “The air service diversification strategy our team has pursued over the last 10 years provides stability both for our airport and the region so that we are not reliant on any single carrier,” Dietz said. “PIT continually partners with all airlines to ensure its air service portfolio is maximized for the Pittsburgh market.” https://triblive.com/business/spirit-airlines-plans-normal-operations-out-of-pittsburgh-through-bankruptcy-filing/ Lawmakers push FAA to prioritize air traffic control modernization Aviation Safety Caucus Co-chairs Reps. Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Jack Bergman (MI-01), and Marc Veasey (TX-33) have called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to strengthen oversight of its Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernization efforts. The bipartisan leaders issued a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, highlighting concerns raised in a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The GAO report revealed that more than half of the FAA’s 138 ATC systems are deemed unsustainable or at risk, prompting the lawmakers to demand improved oversight and execution of modernization projects. “The continued safety and efficiency of our national airspace system depend on robust oversight, timely execution, and effective management of these critical investments,” the letter stated. The lawmakers stressed that while progress has been made in addressing aging ATC systems, gaps in oversight remain. They criticized the FAA’s acquisition oversight council for inconsistencies in assessing high-risk factors, which they argue hinder the timely and cost-effective delivery of modernization projects. “Without proper and timely oversight, significant modernization projects are not meeting their cost, schedule, and performance goals, putting the entire system at risk of further operational disruptions,” the letter warned. The letter proposed several recommendations, including: Strengthening the FAA’s acquisition oversight council to ensure thorough evaluations of project plans and risks. Establishing clear processes for annual budget reviews to improve transparency and accountability. Collaborating with air traffic controllers and aviation experts to integrate operational expertise into modernization planning. Finger Lakes Partners (Billboard) The initiative gained bipartisan support, with 28 additional members of Congress signing the letter. Co-signers include Reps. Dina Titus (NV-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). Several major aviation organizations, such as the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), also endorsed the effort. The call for action reflects growing urgency to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic infrastructure. The lawmakers emphasized that achieving modernization goals is critical to maintaining safety, efficiency, and reliability in U.S. airspace. https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2024/11/25/lawmakers-push-faa-to-prioritize-air-traffic-control-modernization/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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 • 59th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium is scheduled March 31 - April 2, 2025 • Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 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