Flight Safety Information - February 7, 2025 No. 028 In This Issue : Incident: British Airways A319 at Zurich on Feb 6th 2025, brakes problem : Incident: Scoot A320 near Ho Chi Minh City on Feb 5th 2025, technical fault : 6 February 2025 - Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX accident : Airbus A320-271N - On-Board Fire/Diversion (Greece) : Black Hawk helicopter had safety system turned off during Washington plane crash : Aviation Coalition Pledges Commitment To Safety : Washington state bill aims to support pilots' mental health : FAA to review airports with high nearby helicopter, airplane traffic : Singapore Airlines Removes Two Passengers for Abusing Cabin Crew : FAA Probe Underway After Japan Airlines 787 Wing Slices Rudder of Parked Aircraft : Elon Musk’s Plans to ‘Plug In’ to ATC System Trigger Backlash : FAA Slows Reagan Airport’s Flight Arrival Rate to Ease Controller Stress : Turkish Airlines adopts CAE’s advanced crew management solutions : Flight 5342: How American’s CARE Team answered the call : US formally seizes second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Maduro : Calendar of Events Incident: British Airways A319 at Zurich on Feb 6th 2025, brakes problem A British Airways Airbus A319-100, registration G-EUPN performing flight BA-708 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Zurich (Switzerland), was on approach to Zurich's runway 14 when the crew reported brakes problems and entered a hold. The aircraft landed safely on runway 14 about 25 minutes after entering the hold, vacated the runway and stopped clear of the runway. The crew requested to be towed to the apron. https://avherald.com/h?article=523c3d01&opt=0 Incident: Scoot A320 near Ho Chi Minh City on Feb 5th 2025, technical fault A Scoot Airbus A320-200, registration 9V-TRS performing flight TR-124 from Singapore (Singapore) to Changsa (China), was enroute at FL360 about 200nm eastnortheast of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) when the aircraft deviated from its assigned flight by 200 feet, returned to the assigned flight level and again deviated above before initiating a descent and later a diversion to Ho Chi Minh City. The aircraft landed safely on Ho Chi Minh City's runway 25L about 75 minutes after leaving FL360. A replacement A320-200N registration 9V-TNF was dispatched to Ho Chi Minh City, departed the following morning and reached Changsa with a delay of about 18 hours. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Ho Chi Minh City due to a technical fault. A relief flight was organised. The occurrence aircraft departed Ho Chi Minh City after 13.5 hours on the ground, returned to Singapore and to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=523c1d8d&opt=0 6 February 2025 - Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX accident Date: Thursday 6 February 2025 Time: c. 15:20 LT Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Owner/operator: Bering Air Registration: N321BA MSN: 208B5613 Year of manufacture: 2020 Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: 10 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Aircraft missing Category: Accident Location: between Unalakleet and Nome, AK - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Unalakleet Airport, AK (UNK/PAUN) Destination airport: Nome Airport, AK (OME/PAOM) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Bering Air flight BRG445, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, has gone missing during a flight from Unalakleet (UNK) to Nome (OME), Alaska. There are ten POB and a search operation is in progress. The flight took off from runway 33 at UNK at 14:38 LT (23:38 UTC). It turned left and started tracking 287° over the water of Norton Sound toward OME. The aircraft climbed to a cruising altitude if about 7700 feet. The descent to OME was started at 15:11. The last ADS-B datapoint captured by Flightradar24 was at 15:16:34 while the aircraft was descending through 5300 feet, at 38 nm from OME. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/475576 Airbus A320-271N - On-Board Fire/Diversion (Greece) Date: Thursday 6 February 2025 Time: 13:35 UTC Type: Airbus A320-271N Owner/operator: Swiss International Air Lines Registration: HB-JDH MSN: 12338 Engine model: P&W PW1127G-JM Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Location: N of Athens - Greece Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Zürich-Kloten Airport (ZRH/LSZH) Destination airport: Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV/LLBG) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Swiss International Air Lines flight LX252, an Airbus A320-271N, was en route at FL370 in Greek airspace when a thermal runaway a passenger's power bank caused a diversion to Athens. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/475485 Black Hawk helicopter had safety system turned off during Washington plane crash A Black Hawk helicopter. The aircraft has advanced surveillance technology known as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) A key safety system was turned off in a US army helicopter when it crashed into an American Airlines flight last week, killing 67 people. Ted Cruz, the chairman of the Senate commerce committee, told reporters that the Black Hawk helicopter had switched off an advanced surveillance technology known as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). “This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off,” Mr Cruz said on Thursday, following a briefing from federal transport bodies. Mr Cruz said the helicopter would still have appeared on radar because it had a transponder on it, but said ADS-B would have been significantly more accurate. The helicopter wreckage is pulled from the Potomac River Part of the helicopter wreckage is pulled from the Potomac River - Jose Luis Magana Investigators are still working to establish what precisely caused the collision between the helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 close to Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. All 64 people onboard the jet, which included a number of teenage figure skaters, and the three service members in the helicopter were killed in the US’ deadliest air disaster since 2001. Mr Cruz, the Texas senator, said he had asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a review of helicopter routes near other congested airports. Last week, Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the commerce committee, questioned why military aircraft had been allowed to fly with their ADS-B equipment turned off since 2018 under federal regulations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed earlier this week that the helicopter was roughly 100ft above altitude restrictions when the crash occurred. It was flying roughly 300ft above the ground when it collided with the passenger jet on Wednesday evening, even though the maximum altitude for helicopters around the National Airport is 200ft. It is unclear precisely how high the helicopter was flying because the data, received by the airport’s air traffic control tower from radar systems, is rounded to the nearest hundred feet. https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-hawk-helicopter-had-safety-220611247.html Aviation Coalition Pledges Commitment To Safety Thirty aviation associations pledged a commitment to safety following last week’s deadly midair crash in Washington, D.C. In the wake of recent deadly aviation accidents, the nation’s top aviation leaders are reaffirming their commitment to safety vowing “to ensure accidents like these never happen again.” In a joint statement issued Wednesday, a coalition of 30 aviation groups, including AOPA, ALPA, the Air Traffic Control Association, NBAA, EAA, GAMA and others, called on policymakers to provide the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the necessary resources and staffing to enhance safety across the U.S. aviation system. The groups emphasized that the U.S. National Airspace System remains the global gold standard, with nearly 50,000 flights safely departing and landing each day. “We are confident that the NTSB, working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Defense (DOD) and other parties, will identify root causes and issue recommendations for the aviation industry and the U.S. military to prevent future accidents,” the coalition wrote. The statement follows a separate release earlier this week from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which praised the professionalism of the air traffic controllers involved in the fatal midair crash while also calling for increased staffing to address ongoing challenges. “As we have stated before, all air traffic controllers—regardless of race or gender—are well-trained and highly skilled dedicated professionals who keep the national airspace system safe and maintain its efficiency on behalf of all Americans,” NATCA noted. “We have performed these duties while working short-staffed, often six days a week, 10 hours a day for years at a time, with outdated equipment and facilities that are in many cases more than 60 years old and long overdue to be replaced and modernized.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/aviation-coalition-pledges-commitment-to-safety/ Washington state bill aims to support pilots' mental health A measure before Washington's Legislature aims to make it less financially risky for airline pilots to seek mental health treatment, which the bill's supporters say could reduce the potential for dangerous incidents in the air. Why it matters: The bill was inspired by a 2023 incident in which an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot allegedly tried to shut down a plane's engines on a flight from Everett, Washington, causing an emergency landing in Portland. That pilot now faces criminal charges. Last week's plane crashes in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia have brought renewed attention to aviation safety. Zoom in: The Washington state bill would ensure pilots could access the state's paid family leave benefits if they report a mental health issue that causes the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend their medical certification, making them temporarily unable to fly. Though most mental health issues aren't permanently disqualifying, pilots who report such problems have to go through a special recertification process, which can take a year or more and lead to a big loss in income, supporters of Senate Bill 5396 said a public hearing last week before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. Pilots and a doctor told committee members that the bill would encourage more pilots to seek mental health care by ensuring they can rely on state medical leave payments to help offset the income they lose while awaiting FAA recertification. Catch up quick: State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) said the 2023 incident involving the former Alaska Airlines pilot "has raised awareness of the challenges for pilots to access necessary care." Liias, the lead sponsor of the new bill, described the pilot as "attempting to self-medicate for depression" at the time. The pilot, Joseph Emerson, told the New York Times he thought he was dreaming during the flight and had taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier. Emerson has pleaded not guilty to 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person, a class A misdemeanor, and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree, a class C felony, in connection with the incident, which occurred on a flight that left from Paine Field in Liias' district. What they're saying: "Pilots perform incredibly important work for us," Liias said during last week's committee hearing. "We want to make sure they are healthy and safe as they do that work." The big picture: A 2022 study that surveyed more than 3,700 pilots found that 56% of them "reported a history of healthcare avoidance behavior" because they feared losing their aeromedical certificate. Friction point: Airline companies, including Alaska and Delta, raised concerns about part of the legislation that would require employers to pay pilots their full wages after state family leave benefits run out, should pilots still be waiting for medical recertification. The state medical leave program pays up to $1,542 per week for 12 weeks. What we're watching: The bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee vote. Most non-budgetary bills must pass out of committee by Feb. 21 to stay in play. https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/02/06/pilot-mental-health-aviation-safety FAA to review airports with high nearby helicopter, airplane traffic WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday it has begun reviewing airports with high volumes of mixed helicopter and airplane traffic nearby after a fatal collision last week near Reagan National Airport in Washington. In the aftermath of the crash between an American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, the FAA has imposed significant restrictions on helicopter flights around Reagan National until at least late February, and two of the airport's lesser-used runways remain closed. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/faa-review-airports-with-high-nearby-helicopter-airplane-traffic-2025-02-06/ Singapore Airlines Removes Two Passengers for Abusing Cabin Crew SIA disclosed its comprehensive crew training protocols, emphasizing their preparedness to identify and address potentially threatening passenger behavior. SINGAPORE- The best carrier in the World, Singapore Airlines (SQ) or SIA reaffirmed its commitment to workplace safety following a passenger’s verbal and physical abuse of cabin crew aboard Flight SQ826 on February 6, 2025. The incident occurred during the taxi for takeoff on the Singapore (SIN)-Shanghai (PVG) route, scheduled for a 1:15 AM departure. The flight crew executed immediate safety protocols, returning the aircraft to the terminal gate. Airport authorities at Changi Airport (SIN) took custody of the disruptive passenger and their companion, ensuring the safety of the remaining passengers and crew members. Singapore Airlines spokesperson emphasized the airline’s zero-tolerance policy toward abusive behavior, maintaining strict confidentiality regarding the passenger’s identity. The incident resulted in a flight delay of 1 hour and 46 minutes, with eventual departure at 3:01 AM. The flight was operated by Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, registered as 9V-SCS. The airline issued an apology to affected passengers while reinforcing its prioritization of customer and staff safety. A TikTok video captured part of the disruptive incident on SIA Flight SQ826, showing a woman shouting in Mandarin while cabin crew attempted to manage the situation. The footage documents the crew’s efforts to maintain order during the February 6 incident. SIA disclosed its comprehensive crew training protocols, emphasizing their preparedness to identify and address potentially threatening passenger behavior. The airline’s spokesperson detailed the crew’s vigilance requirements and their authority to handle security concerns within the aircraft cabin. The airline maintains stringent pre-boarding screening measures, authorizing ground staff to deny boarding to disruptive passengers. FBI investigators have charged Business Class passenger Robert Solesky with flight crew interference after forcing an American Airlines flight AA167 to divert to Anchorage on January 5, 2025. The New York to Tokyo flight encountered disruption due to Solesky’s intoxicated behavior, with potential penalties including 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Flight attendants documented growing concerns about Solesky’s inebriated state during the intended 14-hour transpacific journey, leading to the emergency landing in Alaska. The FBI’s involvement underscores the severity of the incident and its implications for aviation safety protocols. In a separate incident last month, Hong Kong authorities arrested two women following a disturbance on Cathay Pacific flight CX581 from Sapporo. The altercation erupted when passenger Zhang, aged 60, traveling with a three-year-old child, became agitated by the child’s crying. The situation escalated when Hong Kong resident Tsui, 32, threw a water bottle at Zhang, initiating a physical confrontation involving cushion-throwing. Police intervention became necessary upon the flight’s arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, highlighting the increasing challenges of managing passenger behavior in confined aircraft environments. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/02/07/singapore-airlines-removes-two-passengers-for-abusing-crew/ FAA Probe Underway After Japan Airlines 787 Wing Slices Rudder of Parked Aircraft Incident occurred as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport faced weather challenges brought on by snow and ice in the region. The FAA and authorities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) are trying to determine the events that led to the wing tip of a taxiing Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787-9 striking the rudder of a parked Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 on Wednesday. The accident happened at approximately 10:40 a.m. PST, Reuters reported. Video of the incident and aftermath was posted online, quickly going viral. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred as the airport faced weather challenges with more that 100 flights either canceled or delayed by snow and ice in the region. Delta Air Lines Flight 1921 from Seattle to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was parked on a ramp between S Concourse and the south maintenance hangars awaiting deicing. According to Delta, there were 142 passengers on board the aircraft. JAL Flight 68 was destined for Narita International Airport (RJAA) in Tokyo. The airline did not respond to FLYING's request for comment. According to technical specs from Boeing, the wingspan of the 787-9 is 197 feet. Both aircraft were deplaned and the FAA temporarily paused flights at the airport, NBC News reported. The Port of Seattle Fire Department and airport operations responded to the scene and helped move the damaged aircraft off the ramp. The accident is being investigated. https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-probe-underway-after-japan-airlines-787-wing-slices-rudder-of-parked-aircraft/ Elon Musk’s Plans to ‘Plug In’ to ATC System Trigger Backlash A team of men between the ages of 19 and 24 may make unspecified changes to the nation’s air traffic control system with President Donald Trump’s support. Proposed DOGE involvement in the nation’s air traffic control system follows a fatal midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). [Courtesy: Mark Stebnicki/Pexels] Aviation and government stakeholders are challenging U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s plans for a team of inexperienced engineers to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control system. In separate posts on X, Duffy and Musk on Wednesday said the team running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—reported by Wired magazine to be six men between the ages of 19 and 24—would “plug in” to the ATC system and make “rapid safety upgrades.” DOGE is a temporary organization created by executive order shortly after President Donald Trump took office. “Hope your unvetted 22-year-olds fix things fast,” said former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a post on Thursday directed at Duffy. Duffy in response said, “I’m returning this department to its mission of safety by using innovative technology in transportation and infrastructure…And yes, we’re bringing the 22-year-olds with us.” The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told FLYING it would welcome any serious initiative to modernize the ATC system, but not without a seat at the table. “It is critical that the experts who know and understand the intricacies and have detailed knowledge of the very complex system—the dedicated aviation safety professionals represented by NATCA—are involved in the process from design to testing and to implementation,” the union said in a statement. At least one government official echoed that sentiment. On Thursday afternoon, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, shared a letter she wrote to Duffy raising questions about a conflict of interest with Musk. While Cantwell said she had agreed to work with Duffy to modernize FAA safety systems, Musk and DOGE were not part of that deal, the senator said. “It is a conflict of interest for someone whose company is regulated by the federal government to be involved in anything that affects his personal financial interest, his company or his competitors,” Cantwell wrote. “We have ethics and recusal laws for a reason—to prevent corporate interference in protecting the public interest.” Musk and DOGE have been given a mandate by Trump to find ways to reduce government spending, and it appears the FAA—an agency SpaceX has clashed with in the past—may be their next target. Musk last year vowed to sue the FAA over proposed fines against SpaceX and even went as far as calling for then-administrator Mike Whitaker’s resignation. Ultimately, Whitaker stepped down on January 20, and the Trump administration swiftly issued a memorandum to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices at the FAA. After last week’s fatal midair collision between a passenger jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk—which killed all 67 passengers on both aircraft—Trump suggested DEI initiatives could be producing unqualified controllers, prompting the NATCA president Nick Daniels to refute the claim. Trump has ordered the FAA to review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made in the past four years. Duffy and Musk did not elaborate on what kind of “safety upgrades” DOGE might make to the ATC system. Nor did the FAA, which directed FLYING to the Department of Transportation (DOT) when asked whether DOGE has communicated any specifics about the changes. The DOT did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk in his social media post did mention last week’s FAA Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) outage, which lasted a few hours and caused no major disruption to air travel. A NOTAM outage in 2023 was more significant, forcing the FAA to ground all U.S. flight departures. While DOGE’s prerogative is unclear, the FAA could certainly benefit from any upgrade that helps it increase ATC staffing. The agency is about 3,000 controllers short of its target, and per a CBS News report, more than 90 percent of the nation’s control towers are understaffed. Tower staffing conditions were reportedly abnormal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) at the time of last week’s collision. The FAA on Monday said it had 25 certified controllers at KCDA, short of its target of 28. “Our air traffic controllers are the best. Full stop,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, in an X post on Tuesday. “They deserve our support, our investment in the best technology, [and] focus on increased staffing that will take many years because the qualifications and training are significant.” Duffy last week said the FAA has resumed hiring for controllers and other staff following a previous moratorium on new federal employees. Safety-related FAA positions are not eligible for the early buyout being offered to other federal employees, Duffy clarified. United Airlines declined to comment on the plans, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it would wait to see what comes of DOGE’s potential involvement before commenting. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines directed FLYING to Airlines for America, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. https://www.flyingmag.com/aviation-government-stakeholders-react-to-elon-musks-plans-to-plug-in-to-atc-system/ FAA Slows Reagan Airport’s Flight Arrival Rate to Ease Controller Stress Reduction follows restriction on helicopter flights near DCA Lawmakers seek review of congestion risks at other airports US aviation safety regulators are slowing the rate of aircraft arrivals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to help ease the strain on air traffic controllers in the aftermath of a deadly midair collision last week. The Federal Aviation Administration notified airlines of the planned change in an email sent Wednesday that was seen by Bloomberg News. It will reduce the number of hourly arrivals to 26 from 28, according to the email. That number already is reduced because two of the airport’s three runways remain closed. The change will increase average flight delays to 50 minutes from 40 currently, according to the email. The slowdown is the latest change to flight activity imposed by the agency since a US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet last week, killing 67 people. The FAA earlier imposed new restrictions on helicopter traffic near the airport during the initial phase of the National Transportation Safety Board’s crash investigation. “NTSB and FAA investigators have expressed concern for our tower personnel on duty, who have an increased level of stress while also having a front row view of the accident recovery,” Timothy Arel, chief operating officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, said in the email. The change will reduce risk and allow for additional coordination, he said. The agency later said in a statement on Thursday that it was slowing traffic in and out of Reagan airport due to weather conditions and ongoing recovery efforts after the crash. Wreckage of the regional jet recovered from the Potomac River has been moved to a secure location for further examination, the NTSB said in an update Wednesday. Recovery personnel are also working on retrieving the Black Hawk from the water. Lawmakers Briefed Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz said he’s asked the FAA to review helicopter routes at other airports in the US “to determine where there are risks of a similar such collision.” The Texas Republican said the FAA agreed to conduct that review. The regulator didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Cruz and other members of the panel were briefed on Thursday about the current status of the crash investigation by representatives of the US Army, FAA and NTSB. “We ought to be looking and seeing whether there are similar kinds of circumstances in other places,” Kansas Republican Jerry Moran told reporters after the briefing. Moran said the FAA vowed to inform the Senate Commerce Committee if it changes its policy toward helicopter flights near Reagan airport. The Transportation Department said last week that it would revisit the recent restrictions on helicopter traffic after the NTSB completes the initial phase of its probe into the crash. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/faa-slows-reagan-flight-arrival-rate-to-ease-controller-stress?embedded-checkout=true Turkish Airlines adopts CAE’s advanced crew management solutions CAE has announced a long-term agreement with Turkish Airlines to implement its next-generation Crew Management product and the Unified Task Board—an advanced solution for managing airline operations and disruptions in real time. Turkish Airlines is also a long-time user of CAE's Flight Plan Management product. The Unified Task Board enhances situational awareness across the airline's Operations Control Centre (OCC) by consolidating data from multiple systems into a single interface. It auto-calculates disruption scenarios, enabling faster decision-making and optimised recovery management. “With the integration of CAE's Flight Plan Management, Crew Management and Unified Task Board solutions, Turkish Airlines is equipping its team to enhance operations and maximise overall performance,” said Pascal Grenier, CAE's Division President of Flight Solutions. Ahmet Acar, Senior Vice President of Crew Planning at Turkish Airlines, highlighted the airline's commitment to operational excellence, stating that these solutions will improve efficiency, minimise disruptions, and create a better working environment for crew members. CAE's suite of Flight Operations Solutions provides airlines with enhanced decision-making capabilities, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency through automation and real-time data integration. https://avitrader.com/2025/02/07/turkish-airlines-adopts-caes-advanced-crew-management-solutions/ Flight 5342: How American’s CARE Team answered the call Every year, American Airlines team members volunteer to become part of the CARE Team, a specially trained group focused on supporting passengers, family members, loved ones and team members who have been affected by an airline-related incident. The CARE Team was created in response to the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act (ADFAA) of 1996. Nearly 2,000 team members across the airline have received this comprehensive training to respond in times of crisis. During the night of Jan. 29, American started deploying its CARE Team to Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, to support the families of the passengers and crew members of Flight 5342. More than 220 CARE Team members immediately and selflessly answered the call and have been working around the clock to comfort and support the families and loved ones. They represent more than 80 different departments from 30 locations around North America. To be part of the CARE Team, team members must complete intensive, multi-day and ongoing training led by American’s Emergency Planning and Response team, which has decades of experience in providing and training others on trauma-informed care. Their focus is to respond to the immediate physical and logistical needs of affected family members and loved ones in their time of need. Responsibilities include being present for family members; coordinating travel arrangements; arranging accommodations as well as childcare, elder care or pet care; facilitating and arranging transportation for critical meetings in the weeks following the accident; and obtaining clothes, toiletries and other necessary items. “We’re unified by one mission: to be sure the families of our passengers and crew members are taken care of in the most delicate, detailed and sensitive manner.” Being part of the CARE Team means working early mornings through late nights and taking calls at all hours of the day. It means spending an indefinite period away from their current job and homes. It means full-time dedication. Hundreds of team members have been willing to put their own needs aside to support our customers. Because care, in any form, never stops. https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2025/Flight-5342-How-Americans-CARE-Team-answered-the-call-TM-02/default.aspx US formally seizes second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Maduro Secretary of State Marco Rubio stands by the Venezuelan government airplane he announced is being seized during a press conference in the Dominican Republic, on February 6, 2025. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally seized a second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government on behalf of the United States on Thursday. The relationship between Caracas and Washington has been marked by tensions for decades and the plane’s seizure follows a similar instance in September when a Venezuelan aircraft was seized while in the Dominican Republic. Both aircraft were used by high-level Venezuelan officials throughout their travels, according to Edwin Lopez, the country attaché for US Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo. The other aircraft was flown to Florida at the time of its seizure in September, under the Biden administration. The plane seized on Thursday, a Dassault Falcon 200EX with the tail number YV-3360, was under US sanction, Lopez said. The aircraft has been held in Santo Domingo since April 2024. Rubio, in the Dominican Republic on his first trip as top US diplomat, watched as a warrant was taped on the door of the aircraft. The aircraft was purchased in 2017 by the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA from the US, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. Following the imposition of sanctions on PDVSA, the plane was “serviced and maintained on multiple occasions using parts from the United States,” which violates US export control and sanctions laws. Lopez told Rubio that thanks to the leadership at the US Embassy, they were able to get the money to fix the second plane and proceed with the seizure Thursday. It will be taken to Miami in the coming months. “Collectively, the two planes, they give us a treasure trove of intelligence,” including a list of all of Venezuela’s Air Force members “and their personally identifiable information, receipts, and flight manifests,” Lopez explained to Rubio. “What’s going to be of value as well is the transponders,” which will allow them to get information that was blocked by the pilots in flight, he added. CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for comment. A long-running investigation In September 2024, after the other plane linked to the Maduro regime was seized and flown to Florida, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN the second plane – the one formally seized Thursday – was being investigated in the Dominican Republic. Authorities have known of the two planes for at least five years. A 2020 news release from the US Treasury says the plane seized by Rubio “was used throughout 2019 to transport senior members of the former Maduro regime,” including a trip to an OPEC meeting in the United Arab Emirates. In September, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland said the aircraft seized at that time was “illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.” The US had requested it be immobilized so they could search it for “evidence and objects linked to fraud activities, smuggling of goods for illicit activities and money laundering,” according to the foreign minister of the Dominican Republic Roberto Alvarez. After that plane’s seizure, officials described it as the Venezuelan equivalent of the American president’s Air Force One. The Venezuelan government described the plane’s seizure in September as “piracy” and accused Washington of escalating “aggression” toward Maduro’s government. For years, US officials have sought to disrupt the flow of billions of dollars to the regime in Venezuela. Homeland Security Investigations — the second largest investigative agency in the federal government — has seized dozens of luxury vehicles, among other assets, heading to Venezuela. Federal agencies have gone after corruption in Venezuela but pressure from the US intensified following Maduro’s controversial reelection for a third presidential term in July. Last year, the US reimposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector in response to the Maduro government’s failure to allow “an inclusive and competitive election” to take place. In March 2020, the US Department of Justice charged Maduro, together with 14 current and former Venezuelan officials, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption. Maduro’s government have long denied any involvement in drug trafficking and has dismissed criticism of last year’s election results. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-formally-seizes-second-plane-020712354.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 • Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels • · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 • ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO • CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis