Flight Safety Information - January 29, 2025 No. 021 In This Issue : Accident: Busan A321 at Busan on Jan 28th 2025, fire during departure preparations : Incident: Caribbean AT72 at Port of Spain on Jan 27th 2025, engine failure on final approach : Incident: TUI Belgium B38M at Brussels on Jan 27th 2025, aircraft returned after debris was found on taxiway and runway : Incident: Delta A339 at Minneapolis on Jan 27th 2025, flight control problems : Incident: BoA B737 at Cochabamba on Jan 27th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine problem : ATR De-Icing Component Checks Are More Frequent After EASA Directive : Plane crash in South Sudan kills at least 20 people : Probe begins into cause of Air Busan fire : Armenia to introduce improved safety measures in aviation : JetBlue In Partnership Talks With Multiple Airlines After NEA Collapse : Argus Sees Business Aircraft Ops Ticking Up in 2025 : JetBlue Offers Some Pilots $400,000 to Retire Early : Spirit Airlines rejects Frontier's bid, expects to exit bankruptcy in first quarter Reuters : Calendar of Events Accident: Busan A321 at Busan on Jan 28th 2025, fire during departure preparations An Air Busan Airbus A321-200, registration HL-7763 performing flight BX-391 from Busan (South Korea) to Hong Kong (China) with 169 passengers and 6 crew and one maintenance engineer, was being pushed back while preparing for departure from Busan when a fire broke out in the back of the cabin. The push back was stopped, and the aircraft was evacuated via slides resulting in 4 minor injuries. The fire was extinguished about 75 minutes later, however, the fire had already broken through the crown of the aircraft. The aircraft was destroyed. South Korea's Ministry of Transport reported emergency services were doing everything they could to save the A321-200 HL-7763 flight BX-391. The exact cause of the fire is being investigated. https://avherald.com/h?article=523644ed&opt=0 Incident: Caribbean AT72 at Port of Spain on Jan 27th 2025, engine failure on final approach A Caribbean Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9Y-TTC performing flight BW-1541 from Trinidad to Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) with 68 passengers and 4 crew, was on final approach to Port of Spain's runway 10 when the left hand engine (PW127M) failed. While the flight crew continued the approach, cabin crew instructed the passengers to brace for landing. The aircraft landed safely on runway 10. The aircraft is still on the ground in Port of Spain about 17 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=523656d7&opt=0 Incident: TUI Belgium B38M at Brussels on Jan 27th 2025, aircraft returned after debris was found on taxiway and runway A TUI Airlines Belgium Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration OO-MAX performing flight TB-3465 from Brussels (Belgium) to Oran (Algeria), departed Brussels' runway 25R and climbed to FL370. Near Limoges (France) the crew was informed that debris had been found at the taxiway and runway in Brussels believed to have originated from their aircraft. The crew turned around and returned to Brussels preparing the cabin for an emergency landing. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25R about 90 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Brussels for safety reasons after debris had been found on taxiway and departure runway, that as the airport authority believed came from their aircraft. The French Air Force on a training mission nearby inspected landing gear but could not visually determine any anomaly. After landing back in Brussels it became apparent there was nothing wrong with the aircraft. However, the flight could not continue due to crew duty time limits and was postponed to the next day. The aircraft remained on the ground in Brussels for about 16 hours, then departed again and reached Oran with a delay of about 19 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52364a0d&opt=0 Incident: Delta A339 at Minneapolis on Jan 27th 2025, flight control problems A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-900, registration N410DZ performing flight DL-121 from Minneapolis,MN (USA) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan), was climbing out of Minneapolis' runway 30L when the crew requested to descend down to 5000 feet again to remain clear of cloud, subsequently request to further descend to 4000 feet to remain clear of cloud and in VMC. The crew advised they had possible flight control problems, they needed to figure out what was going on, they likely would return to Minneapolis but weren't sure yet. The aircraft landed safely on runway 30L about 65 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Minneapolis about 22 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52364233&opt=0 Incident: BoA B737 at Cochabamba on Jan 27th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine problem A BoA Boliviana de Aviacion Boeing 737-700, registration CP-2923 performing flight OB-648 from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz (Bolivia) with 137 passengers and 7 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Cochabamba's runway 32 when the crew rejected takeoff due to an engine (CFM56) problem. The aircraft stopped on the runway, smoke emanated from the right hand engine, smoke also developed in the cabin. The aircraft was evacuated via slides. No injuries are being reported. Emergency services responded and sprayed both left and right hand engines. The airline reported the crew rejected takeoff from runway 32, "after assessing the situation and in coordination with the airport's Fire Department, decided to evacuate the aircraft as a preventive measure". The aircraft is still on the ground in Cochabamba about 19 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=5236350c&opt=0 ATR De-Icing Component Checks Are More Frequent After EASA Directive An airworthiness directive for ATR turboprops has come into force that requires more regular inspections of the pressure regulator and shut-off valves (PRSOV) that regulate the engine bleed air used for airframe and engine de-icing. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) gave the instruction after a design review with ATR identified the need to reduce the current interval of the functional test of each PRSOV and extend its scope. The change, which became effective on Jan. 24, is intended to reduce the risk of losing anti-icing protection for the engines’ air intakes. Functional checks are now required at intervals ranging from 650 flight hr. to 1,050 flight hr., depending on the model of ATR. All ATRs are required to have their first check within the next six months. The airframer told Aviation Week that it has developed a pro-active maintenance procedure that provides instructions for the functional testing of the affected components, which was distributed to all ATR operators through a dedicated communication. “It is important to note that, to date, ATR has had no in-service events related to this failure condition,” ATR said. De-icing of ATRs has come under scrutiny following the fatal accident of a Voepass Linhas Aéreas ATR 72-500 in August 2024. A preliminary report filed a month after the Flight 2283 crash said investigators would be looking to see whether a de-icing system malfunctioned and how the flight crew reacted in response to the issue and increasingly dangerous icing conditions. The final accident report has not been issued yet. According to ATR, airframe de-icing of the wings and horizontal stabilizer leading edges is activated when ice accretion is observed by the flight crew, while engine de-icing is activated when the aircraft flies in visible moisture. Wing, empennage and engine de-icing are ensured by pneumatic de-icers consisting of dual chambers boots, inflated alternately by air bled from the high-pressure compressors of engines 1 and 2. The PRSOV is vital to regulating the pressure of the bleed air to maintain consistent functionality. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/atr-de-icing-component-checks-are-more-frequent-after-easa Plane crash in South Sudan kills at least 20 people The plane (Beechcraft 1900D) crashed near oil fields shortly after takeoff for the capital, Juba. At least 20 people have been killed in a plane crash in the north of South Sudan, Unity state’s minister for information said. The aircraft came down near the oil fields in Unity state at about 10:30am (08:30 GMT) shortly after taking off for the capital, Juba, on Wednesday. “The plane crashed 500 metres from the airport… 21 people were on board. As for now, there’s only one survivor,” Gatwech Bipal Both told AFP news agency. The survivor, a South Sudanese engineer working at the oil field, was taken to Bentiu State hospital, the minister said. He added that the aircraft, chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and operated by Light Air Services aviation company, was on a routine mission to the area. Earlier, the United Nations’s Radio Miraya reported that the pilot and co-pilot were among those killed. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/29/plane-crash-in-south-sudan-kills-at-least-20-people Probe begins into cause of Air Busan fire Passengers say fire started from overhead compartment, criticize lack of orderly response, Air Busan says all appropriate measures were taken The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Wednesday dispatched officials and set up an emergency response team in joint with the National Fire Agency to investigate the cause of a fire that broke out on an Air Busan flight Tuesday evening. At 10:26 p.m., the Air Busan plane, an Airbus A321-200, bound for Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport in Busan, caught fire at its tail before takeoff. All 176 people on board -- 169 passengers and seven crew members -- managed to evacuate safely by 11:31 p.m. Seven people were being treated for injuries as of Wednesday afternoon, with four of them being crew members with chest discomfort due to smoke inhalation and three with tailbone and back pain sustained while evacuating. With testimonies of some passengers suggesting the fire broke out in an overhead compartment, acting President and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Wednesday ordered a thorough investigation into the case. “With some passengers even having suffered injuries while evacuating, swift follow-up measures are called for,” Choi said in his message released by the Finance Ministry. According to the Transport Ministry’s aviation technical information system, the Air Busan aircraft had been in service for over 17 years, with no accident history in the past 12 years. Airplanes come under tighter inspection by the ministry after 20 years of service. Meanwhile, passengers were quoted in local news reports as saying the fire appeared to have started from baggage stored in an overhead luggage compartment at the back of the plane. “There was a crackling sound coming from the overhead luggage compartment, followed shortly by smoke,” a passenger who was sitting in the rear of the plane told Yonhap News Agency. “A flight attendant told us to stay seated and came with a fire extinguisher, but thick smoke had already filled the air by then and sparks were bursting out from the compartment.” The passenger added, “As more smoke began to fill the cabin, a passenger sitting by the emergency exit opened the emergency gate, while another flight attendant opened the emergency gate on the other side, allowing passengers to evacuate. It was extremely chaotic and frightening.” The exact source behind the “crackling” sound has not yet been identified by authorities. Another passenger who was sitting at the front of the plane stated that they only became aware of the fire after hearing someone shout “Fire!” at the back. “After all the passengers had taken their seats and fastened their seatbelts, we heard someone shout ‘Fire!’ from the back. There was no specific announcement made about the fire as smoke quickly began to spread toward the front of the cabin,” a passenger told News1. “People from the back came running toward flight attendants (in the front), shouting, ‘There’s a fire! Open the door!’. I was so scared that I didn’t know what to do. People were pushing each other and falling amid the chaos.” Some passengers also directed their criticism toward crew members on board the aircraft as well as the airline’s response. They said the crew members initially told the passengers to remain seated as they tried to extinguish the fire. “They didn’t tell the passengers near the fire to evacuate, nor did they instruct people to leave their belongings behind. The chaos escalated as some were busy trying to grab their luggage while others tried to escape,” one passenger was quoted as telling Yonhap. Following the evacuation, passengers told local media that there “didn’t seem to be a proper protocol or manual in place,” as airline officials only told passengers to go home or to go to the nearest hotel without further instructions. Air Busan, in the meantime, said that upon receiving a report of the fire from the crew, the captain immediately shut down the hydraulic and fuel systems to prevent secondary damage. The pilot then declared an emergency evacuation to ensure all passengers could swiftly evacuate the aircraft. The air carrier further explained that there was no time to make a planewide announcement, but that staff followed all appropriate procedures, including having a passenger who had previously been briefed by crew on emergency exit operations open the door for evacuation. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10408401 Armenia to introduce improved safety measures in aviation The Armenian government plans to introduce stronger safety measures in civil aviation. A new bill seeks to make amendments in the national civil aviation safety program and ensure its compliance with international standards. The new regulations will feature improved control systems, among others. Foreign airlines conducting commercial flights to Armenia shall develop and introduce additional safety measures under the new regulation. Quality control staff will undergo mandatory trainings to ensure more effective inspections and audit. The notification system between Armenia, ICAO and other countries will become faster and more effective.Stricter pre-flight inspections of aircraft will be introduced to ensure prevention of hazardous materials or devices. Visa issuance will be implemented with new standards, while detailed inspections, including police record inspection, will be conducted for persons entering the specially supervised zones of the airports. The safety requirements of small aviation airfields, helicopter pads, as well as procedures of inspection of private pilots will be regulated. Modern security technologies will be installed in airports. Airport and other aviation-related employees will undergo regular trainings. https://armenpress.am/en/article/1210660 JetBlue In Partnership Talks With Multiple Airlines After NEA Collapse JetBlue is currently talking with several airlines about potential partnerships in the United States following the dismantling of the Northeast Alliance (NEA) with American Airlines , an extensive codeshare agreement focused on flights in Boston and New York. Potential partnerships During JetBlue’s Q4 2024 and 2024 earnings call on January 28, Joanna Geraghty, the chief executive officer (CEO) of JetBlue , said that the airline was having conversations “with a number of carriers right now.” The airline and its potential partner carriers are discussing possible future partnerships. However, while Geraghty mentioned that there was nothing to announce right now, she did say that Leo Sorokin, the District Judge of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, who ruled against the NEA in May 2023, laid out a framework that was acceptable “under at least the prior administration.” Earlier during the call, the JetBlue CEO noted that with the new administration in Washington, DC, focused on efficiency, there is an opportunity to structurally improve the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) and fix the problems related to air traffic control (ATC). “We look forward to partnering with the new leaders at the DOT and FAA to make this happen.” JetBlue Shrinking Capacity In 2024 To Refocus After Failed Spirit Airlines Merger With deferred aircraft deliveries and Pratt & Whitney engine turnaround time issues, JetBlue's yearly capacity will contract. Relaxed regulatory environment While Geraghty did not explicitly mention the incoming administration's potentially more relaxed approach toward regulations and competition that could assist airlines, her peers have. For example, during United Airlines’ Q4 2024 earnings call, Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines , said that he had a lot of confidence in this administration that is “focused on doing things that unlock American innovation and entrepreneurialism.” “[…] remove regulatory burdens and expand the economy. And so I think, my base case is that the net-net of that is going to be a strong, robust economy and strong, robust demand for United Airlines.” Similarly, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom mentioned that the current administration “will be very cognizant of regulatory issues that can benefit both the airlines and our customers as well, and we'll be working closely with them on that.” Nevertheless, during the earnings call, Marty St. George, the president of JetBlue, clarified that the airline already has several dozen airline partners worldwide, including many international ones. While JetBlue is focusing on working out what “might make sense for us in a domestic partnership,” it will not take its eye off the ball off international partnerships, St. George added. Both American Airlines and United Airlines did not directly answer whether they would change their DEI policies in the wake of the new administration. Retrenching in Boston and refocusing on leisure However, St. George noted that JetBlue was still getting back to its peak capacity at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) before NEA. The executive recalled that with the introduction of the JetForward plan in July 2024, the airline realized that in the entire Northeast, it had given up on a lot of leisure lift when it moved aircraft from Northeast leisure traffic into New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to cover business traffic. “So we finally finished unwinding LaGuardia growth in 2024 and that traffic, those [available seat miles (ASM), are now being redeployed to where they originally were, which was Northeast leisure.” Its network was one of the key focus points of the JetForward plan. As mentioned by Ursula Hurley, the chief financial officer (CFO) of JetBlue, the airline made a number of meaningful Northeast network changes in late 2024. https://simpleflying.com/jet-blue-partnership-talks-multiple-airlines-after-nea-collapse/ Argus Sees Business Aircraft Ops Ticking Up in 2025 • Argus forecasts a 0.2% gain in business aircraft flights in North America • Large cabins posted fewer operations in North America in 2024, but hours flown were actually higher. Business aircraft activity in North America is expected to inch up slightly this year, with Argus International estimating a 0.2% gain. In its just-released 2024 Business Aviation Review, the industry analyst and safety expert forecast that North America will see 3.4 million business aircraft flights in 2025, up from 3.1 million flights in 2024. Globally, business aircraft accounted for 4.8 million flights last year. Argus anticipates that most months—seven out of 12—will see improved numbers with the first half of the year culminating in a 0.1% gain and the second half a 0.3% uptick. However, Argus predicted that January may see the biggest surge, with a 5.2% improvement, followed by the biggest dip of 3.8% in February. These predictions come as Argus believes that business aviation appears to have “finally settled into its normal following all the peaks and valleys from Covid.” Looking into 2025, some of the largest questions surround the continuing shrinking of Part 91 operations. Part 91 operations in North America dipped 4.8% in 2024. “It raises the question of where did that flying go,” Argus added in its review. Part 91 accounted for 50.6% of all flight activity in North America in 2019. In 2024, business aviation flew 300,000 more flights, but Part 91 had 30,000 fewer flights than in 2019. “As a result, the industry segment that always made up slightly more than half of our industry now makes up 45% of overall activity,” Argus noted. Part 135 operations have accounted for about the same percentage of business aviation flights in North America in 2019 and 2024. But fractional operations have taken a bigger chunk of the pie, going from 13.1% to 18.5%, and saw a 225,000-flight gain in 2024, when compared with 2019. “As we move through 2025, we will continue to monitor this, but, on the surface, it looks like the move away from owner-flown aircraft into managed fleets or fractional ownership is certainly a reality,” Argus said. It further pointed to questions about the large-cabin market, which experienced 6.9% fewer flights in North America in 2024, the biggest drop of any of the aircraft categories. At first glance, that market looks stagnant at best and declining at worst. But, Argus added, the hours flown—versus total operations—tell a different story: they actually increased by 2.4% and were up across Part 91, fractional, and Part 135 flying. “The airplanes themselves are flying more, even though their number of cycles went down.” Other uncertainties surround whether the new U.S. administration will help or discourage business aircraft operations in the U.S. and abroad. While Argus plans to release its forecast for European operations shortly, the analyst added that questions surround whether operations there will continue to slide or whether the rest of the world—except for the Middle East—will continue to see improvements. “All these questions and observations do point to one obvious point: Business aviation overall is doing well,” Argus concluded. “The entire global industry declined about 1.4% in 2024, thanks in large part to the areas outside of North America and Europe remaining positive. As we move into 2025, perhaps we will see some much-appreciated tailwinds.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-01-28/argus-business-aircraft-ops-ticking-2025 JetBlue Offers Some Pilots $400,000 to Retire Early Airline leadership calls the deal a ‘win-win.’ JetBlue is looking to trim its pilot ranks with voluntary separations for some of the carrier’s more senior aviators. Last week, the airline and the Air Line Pilots Association inked a letter of agreement to formalize the voluntary early separations. The agreement, which was viewed by AirlineGeeks, states that the early separations will take effect April 1. Bidding opened for the program last week and will close in early February. Pilots age 59 on or before March 31 and considered “active” will be eligible for the early-outs. Payouts For pilots who opt in, JetBlue will pay out 55 hours of their hourly pay rate until their FAA-mandated retirement date or 18 months from the separation agreement’s effective date, whichever is less. This means that a 12-year A320 captain, for example, who was set to turn 65 on Dec. 12, 2027, could receive a payment of $416,293.02. The agreement also uses the example of an E190 captain with eight years of seniority and a Dec. 12, 2025, retirement date. With a program effective date of April 1, this pilot could receive a $160,858.91 payout. Pilots who choose to retire early will also be eligible for certain retiree travel benefits. In a separate message to pilots, ALPA leadership stated that the early retirements are “intended to help mitigate the impact of Captain reductions in management’s upcoming planned Supplemental System Bid.” In November, the New York-based carrier said it would downgrade over 300 captains and displace some first officers later this year. A ‘Win-Win’ During JetBlue’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Joanna Geraghty said the company was “looking forward” to offering early retirements. The airline reported a $44 million loss last quarter. “I think it’s a win-win for JetBlue and for some of our pilots who are ready to pursue something after they retire,” she added. “So it continues to be a focus on how do we manage some of our elevated labor costs in a world where we have as many aircraft on the ground that we have right now with the Pratt & Whitney issue.” The airline continues to have multiple Airbus A220 and A321neo aircraft grounded due to Pratt & Whitney engine woes. More groundings are expected later this year. https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/01/28/jetblue-offers-some-pilots-400-000-to-retire-early/ Spirit Airlines rejects Frontier's bid, expects to exit bankruptcy in first quarter Reuters (Reuters) - Spirit Airlines on Wednesday said it expects to exit bankruptcy in the first quarter and rejected a merger with rival Frontier Group, saying it was not favorable for the low-cost carrier. It received a proposal from Frontier earlier this month, where in its shareholders would $400 million in debt and a 19% share in Frontier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Spirit rejected the proposal as it would not provide the anticipated shareholder value and raised concerns over the timing and successful completion of the deal. The Florida-based airline declared bankruptcy in November after grappling with prolonged periods of financial losses, unsuccessful merger efforts and a substantial levels of debt. The airline said it expects to complete its restructuring process in the first quarter. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spirit-airlines-rejects-frontiers-bid-124455839.html 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 • CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis