Flight Safety Information - January 9, 2025 No. 007 In This Issue : Incident: Astana A321 near Aktau on Jan 8th 2025, fuel problem : Accident: TUI B737 at Brussels on Jan 8th 2025, nose gear collapsed at gate : Ryanair is suing ‘disruptive passenger’ for $15,000 in damages : American Airlines plane clips United jet at Chicago's O'Hare Airport : Fuel tank falls from aircraft landing in Florida neighborhood : Mechanics ‘inadvertently’ taxi Alaska Airlines plane into ditch at Ted Stevens airport, officials say : EASA Updates Safety Guidance on Russian Airspace : Reminder – REAL ID Will be Required Come May to Board an Airplane : How hot is too hot on a plane? The FAA wants to know : Embry Riddle Researchers Take a Positive Approach to Training Pilots : Calendar of Events Incident: Astana A321 near Aktau on Jan 8th 2025, fuel problem An Air Astana Airbus A321-200, registration EI-KGK performing flight KC-915 from Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Antalya (Turkey), was enroute at FL320 about 100nm east of Aktau (Kazakhstan) when the crew decided to divert to Aktau due to relief valve failure in the center fuel tank. The aircraft landed on Aktau's runway 11 about 25 minutes after leaving FL320. The airline reported a relief valve in the center fuel tank failed prompting the diversion, the aircraft landed in normal mode. The aircraft is still on the ground in Aktau about 13 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52293ac4&opt=0 Accident: TUI B737 at Brussels on Jan 8th 2025, nose gear collapsed at gate A TUI Airlines Belgium Boeing 737-700, registration OO-JAR performing flight TB-1012 from Malaga,SP (Spain) to Brussels (Belgium), had safely landed on taxied to the gate. The passengers disembarked via the jet bridge. Some time later the nose gear collapsed. The airline confirmed the nose gear collapsed while there were no passengers on board, there were no injuries. First technical checks showed no errors, the airline is not aware of any incorrect human actions, so far it can not be told how the gear collapse happened. https://avherald.com/h?article=52292bd1&opt=0 Ryanair is suing ‘disruptive passenger’ for $15,000 in damages Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, is going after unruly passengers on its flights and has filed for €15,000 ($15,400) in damages from a passenger who disrupted a flight last year. The Ireland-based budget airline announced Wednesday that it has filed legal proceedings against the passenger, who, it said, disrupted a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in Spain in April of last year. “This passenger’s inexcusable behaviour forced this flight to divert to Porto where it was delayed overnight, causing 160 passengers to face unnecessary disruption,” the airline said in a statement published online. The carrier said it has filed a case in the Irish Circuit Court seeking to recover the costs of the delay, which included overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs. There have been several reports of disruptive behavior on Ryanair flights in recent years. In November, the UK’s Independent newspaper reported that a Ryanair flight was forced to alert authorities before landing in Tenerife, Spain after several passengers became disruptive and one person urinated in the aisle. A passenger who disrupted a Ryanair flight to Athens in 2020 was convicted last month in a Greek court and given a five-month suspended jail sentence, along with a €400 ($412) fine. “This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy,” a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement. A spokesperson for Ryanair declined to provide CNN with details of the incident but said it is the first time the company has taken civil action against a passenger in Ireland, marking a new approach to tackling unruly passenger behavior. “We plan to pursue civil action against disruptive passengers as a move towards eliminating disruptive passenger behaviour,” the spokesperson added. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ryanair-suing-disruptive-passenger-15-134318265.html American Airlines plane clips United jet at Chicago's O'Hare Airport According to a statement from United Airlines, "another airline's aircraft made contact with the tail cone of a stationary United plane while on the taxiway awaiting departure" Hundreds of passengers were moved from their flights at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Wednesday after an American Airlines plane clipped a United Airlines aircraft. According to a statement from United Airlines, "another airline's aircraft made contact with the tail cone of a stationary United plane while on the taxiway awaiting departure." American Airlines said the wing tip of flight 1979, headed for Los Angeles, "made contact with a nearby aircraft on the taxiway." The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident, which is now under investigation, happened around 9:50 a.m. No injuries were reported and the aircraft were being inspected following the incident, both airlines said. The 293 passengers and 10 crew members onboard United's Boeing 787 headed for Honolulu were being transferred to a new plane and were expected to depart later Wednesday afternoon. American Airlines said customers "deplaned normally at the gate and will re-depart on a replacement aircraft this afternoon." "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused," the airline said in a statement. The Chicago Department of Aviation did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's request for comment. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/tail-of-united-airlines-plane-clipped-by-another-aircraft-at-ohare-airport/3640914/ Fuel tank falls from aircraft landing in Florida neighborhood EGLIN AFB, Fla. (WFLA)— A 300-gallon fuel tank dropped from a 96th Test Wing F-16 aircraft in a neighborhood on Tuesday, the Eglin Air Force Base announced. According to a post on X formerly known as Twitter, at 11 a.m. on Jan. 7, the fuel tank dropped from the aircraft landing near the Eglin Air Force Base in a neighborhood in Niceville. Georgia inmate posed as Sarasota deputy, stole $12K from woman: DOJ No injuries or fatalities were reported from the incident. https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/fuel-tank-falls-from-aircraft-landing-florida-neighborhood/ Mechanics ‘inadvertently’ taxi Alaska Airlines plane into ditch at Ted Stevens airport, officials say ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Two Alaska Airlines mechanics steered a Boeing 737 off a taxiway Wednesday afternoon at Alaska’s largest airport. No injuries were reported. The plane went off the taxiway and into a ditch at approximately 1:43 p.m., according to the Department of Transportation. Shannon McCarthy, communications director for the DOT, claims no passengers were on the plane at the time of the maneuver and no injuries were sustained. The Department of Transportation maintains no passengers were on the plane and no one was hurt.(Department of Transportation) “These kinds of incidents do happen from time to time, this is what we would consider a stage one — or level one — incident,” McCarthy said. “It’s pretty minor.” Alaska Airlines communications director Tim Thompson said in response to a request for comment that a maintenance team for the airline was repositioning the plane when it “inadvertently exited a taxiway” on the way to a place to park it. Thompson said the airline would work with authorities to see if there is any damage to the 737. McCarthy says fortunately, the plane was maneuvered into the ditch in a testing area, meaning there will be no flight delays or impact to operations. She maintains the situation was reported right away there was a swift response. Alaska Airlines will be in charge of the removal plan, but it’s unknown when the plane will be able to be removed from the ditch. The plane’s condition is also currently unknown. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/01/09/mechanics-inadvertently-drive-alaska-airlines-plane-into-ditch-ted-stevens-airport-officials-say/ EASA Updates Safety Guidance on Russian Airspace The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) concerning Russian airspace, expanding its safety recommendations for flights due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The update replaces previous guidance (CZIB 2022-01R10) and advises against operations within Russian airspace west of longitude 60° East at all flight levels. This guidance applies to all EU airlines and third-country carriers holding EASA safety authorization. The recommendation is effective until July 31, 2025, with the possibility of earlier revisions depending on updates to the safety and security assessment. EASA stated that it will closely monitor developments in coordination with the European Commission to evaluate risks for airlines operating to or from the European Union. Although no EU airlines currently operate flights in or over Russian airspace, EASA highlighted that some third-country carriers continue to use these routes despite conflict-related risks. EASA’s directive aligns with the EU Conflict Zone Alerting System, established after the MH17 incident in 2014 to improve risk assessment and ensure coordinated safety measures across the bloc. Since its launch in 2016, the system has facilitated intelligence sharing among EU Member States, EASA, and aviation stakeholders, issuing timely recommendations to address conflict zone risks. “The primary objective is to consolidate available information and provide a common European perspective on risks for operators and passengers,” the agency states. The system also facilitates cooperation among Member States, EU institutions, and aviation sector stakeholders. The update to these recommendations addresses the need to continuously assess risks associated with Russian airspace in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, providing guidelines aimed at minimizing potential threats to operators and passengers. https://www.aviacionline.com/easa-updates-safety-guidance-on-russian-airspace#google_vignette Reminder – REAL ID Will be Required Come May to Board an Airplane With 2025 now here, a reminder that come the month of May, if you do not have a star or flag on your New York State Driver’s License, you will not be able to travel on a domestic flight. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says all air travelers will be required to have a REAL-ID compliant driver’s license which features a star on it. REAL-ID will be required starting on May 7th for any domestic flight. If you do not have a REAL-ID, you will be required to provide another form of identification such as a passport. New Yorkers may upgrade to a REAL-ID or an enhanced ID at their local DMV office or online by clicking HERE. REAL ID’s are a federally compliant DMV-issued driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there is no additional fee for a REAL ID. Normal transaction fees do still apply. Back in 2005, Congress passed the Federal REAL ID Act which establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits and ID cards. After numerous delays, the REAL-ID implementation will take effect on May 7th. https://www.wxhc.com/reminder-real-id-will-be-required-come-may-to-board-an-airplane/ How hot is too hot on a plane? The FAA wants to know The agency launched a new study as airlines face scrutiny over cabin temperatures that can reach 90 degrees during boarding Aircraft cabin temperatures, long a source of passenger complaints but largely unregulated, will now be the subject of a federal safety study as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s latest reauthorization. Nvidia's dominance in AI will continue, but be cautious with quantum computing stocks, strategist says The FAA said it has contacted the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to begin investigating the subject, though it has yet to develop a full plan pending the study’s scope. The one-year study will examine the health and safety effects of minimum and maximum aircraft cabin temperatures on passengers and crew. Boeing's 737 Max reboot, JetBlue's first class, and a fancy new Delta lounge: Airlines news roundup Airline cabin temperatures became a hot topic this summer amid record heat, and states like California expanded workplace safety regulations to protect indoor workers from rising temperatures. In September, a Politico investigation revealed that neither Delta Air Lines (DAL +0.65% ), United Airlines (UAL +2.08% ), nor Southwest Airlines (LUV -0.53% ) had a maximum cabin temperature at the time that would prevent passengers from boarding. American Airlines (AAL -0.31% ) allows cabin temperatures to reach 90 degrees before considering it too hot to board, while JetBlue (JBLU +3.52% ) recently raised its threshold to 85 degrees from 80 degrees. The study is part of the FAA’s broader oversight of cabin air quality, which currently requires airplane manufacturers to ensure passenger compartments are free from harmful concentrations of smoke, vapor, or toxic fumes. Airlines must maintain ventilation systems that supply about half a pound of fresh air per minute for each passenger – comparable to other public spaces. The FAA already follows and participates in European Union Aviation Safety Agency research on cabin air quality and helps develop industry standards for addressing the cabin environment through various committees. The FAA will use the study’s findings to evaluate current industry standards for aircraft cabin temperatures and potentially develop new safety guidelines for airlines. https://qz.com/faa-airline-air-conditioning-study-1851735170 Embry Riddle Researchers Take a Positive Approach to Training Pilots During her years training pilots as a U.S. Coast Guard flight instructor, Kristy Kiernan made it a point to not only correct trainees’ mistakes but to reinforce their positive actions. This experience led Dr. Kiernan, associate director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, to recognize a knowledge gap in studying pilot performance. While abundant flight data is collected on technical failures and human errors, there is scarce information on what flight crews do right. Now, with the help of a $410,000 NASA grant, Kiernan and her team of graduate and undergraduate students are conducting research aimed at understanding, evaluating and reinforcing positive human performance on the flight deck in commercial aviation. The project, which began in 2023, received a prior grant from NASA, bringing its total funding to more than $700,000. “Human behavior is a huge source of resilience, adaptability and flexibility,” said Kiernan, who is also an associate professor in the College of Aviation. “And if we are not able to study that positive performance in as systematic a way as we have studied error, then we are missing a huge opportunity.” Finding the Missing Pieces The project started after Kiernan discovered the work of Dr. Jon Holbrook and his colleagues at NASA. Holbrook’s team was exploring routine performance to understand the mechanisms behind human adaptability and resilience. Kiernan set out to discover how the industry was currently supporting resilient performance and how it could improve. “While extensive research has been conducted on pilot errors and technical failures, there is comparatively less focus on the positive actions flight crews take to prevent accidents,” said Joel Samu, a College of Aviation Ph.D. student who is working with Kiernan on the project. Samu, a pilot and certified flight instructor, said that focusing on resilience “reveals how adaptive behaviors actively maintain safety.” Collecting data on what pilots are doing right on the flight deck can be challenging, Kiernan said. The first step for the research team — which includes Samu, Human Factors graduate students Joseph O’Brien and Lucas Epperson and senior undergraduate Aeronautical Science student Evelyn Itzkowitz — was to analyze the data gaps. They then needed to locate possible data sources. “We found that overall, the industry is not gathering the right information to be able to evaluate and reinforce resilient performance,” Kiernan said, “but sifting through dozens of interviews, we were able to highlight steps the industry can take to learn from all operations —not just incidents and accidents.” Reinforcing Resilient Behavior The research team has dug deep into National Transportation Safety Board accident reports and flight crew interviews. Additionally, the team is analyzing NASA video and audio data derived from running different flight crews through scenarios with various operational challenges, such as runway changes, weather shifts and passenger issues. “When we analyze that data, we are looking for measures of resilience,” said O’Brien. “For example, where did the pilot intervene to keep a situation from worsening and having an incident occur, or what’s going right on the flight deck to keep it a routine flight?” Andrew Schneider, an assistant professor in the College of Aviation who specializes in researching Aviation English, will help the team conduct a linguistic analysis as part of the project’s second phase. This could include everything from the flight crew members’ language patterns to how the absence of communication affects performance. “Often what pilots are thinking isn’t what they are saying,” said Schneider. “So, if we just look at traditional flight data recordings, we are going to only infer what pilots are thinking. But in these NASA scenarios, we can study what their perceptions were during the flight performance and then analyze the language. In the end, we are trying to understand the decision-making processes of pilots.” The research could improve pilot training in several ways, Kiernan said. “There are a lot of new tools available on commercial flight decks, like video replay of flights, so pilots can look at their own performance and reflect on it and learn from it,” she said. “There are also ways the organization can capture some of that data and formally reinforce it through improved training.” In the end, the Embry Riddle research team hopes to give pilots additional tools for safer and smoother flights. “We want to empower the individual pilot to be able to reflect upon and improve their own performance by looking at what they are doing right and doing more of it,” Kiernan said. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-researchers-take-a-positive-approach-to-training-pilots CALENDAR OF EVENTS · Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) · · "Automation in Transportation: Lessons for Safe Implementation," on March 11-12, 2025, in Washington, DC. · 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