Flight Safety Information - February 27, 2025 No. 042 In This Issue : Incident: Jetblue A320 at Westchester on Feb 25th 2025, engine shut down in flight : Incident: United B752 at Newark on Feb 25th 2025, low oil pressure : Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Feb 22nd 2025, hydraulic leak : Private jet crew blamed for near-crash with Southwest plane at Chicago Midway Airport : EVA Air bans use of portable chargers as concerns grow over inflight fire risks : Flight Safety Foundation Annual Report Warns of Rising Risks from Gaps in Safety Compliance : Horizon Air Offers Aspiring Pilots Training In Hawai'i : Turkish Air Says Boeing Jet Order Could Take Six More Months : Aero Parts Maker for Stealth Bomber, SpaceX Files for Bankruptcy : Calendar of Events Incident: Jetblue A320 at Westchester on Feb 25th 2025, engine shut down in flight A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N618JB performing flight B6-967 from Westchester,NY to West Palm Beach,FL (USA) with 133 people on board, was climbing out of Westchester's runway 34 when the crew reported a "complete" right hand engine failure, the engine was secured, their left hand engine was operating fine. The crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet and diverted to New York JFK,NY (USA) for a safe landing on runway 22L about 25 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "JetBlue Flight 967 diverted to and landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after the crew reported an engine issue around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Airbus A320 was traveling from Westchester County Airport in New York to Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. The FAA will investigate." A replacement A320-200 registration N508JL reached West Palm Beach with a delay of about 2.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52497e84&opt=0 Incident: United B752 at Newark on Feb 25th 2025, low oil pressure A United Boeing 757-200, registration N48127 performing flight UA-1544 from Newark,NJ to Las Vegas,NV (USA), was climbing out of Newark's runway 22R when the crew declared Mayday reporting they had a low oil pressure on the left engine (RB211). The crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet and returned to Newark for a safe landing on runway 22L about 25 minutes later. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 1544 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport around 6:40 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after the crew reported possible engine issues. The Boeing 757-200 was heading to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration N13110 reached Las Vegas with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Newark about 31 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52497797&opt=0 Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Feb 22nd 2025, hydraulic leak A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N813NW performing flight DL-56 from Salt Lake City,UT (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was on approach to Amsterdam's runway 18R when the crew declared Mayday reporting a hydraulic issue. The crew continued the approach for runway 18R and landed safely about 15 minutes later, vacated the runway and stopped for inspection by emergency services, who noticed something flushing off the aircraft and requested the left hand engine (PW4168A) to be shut down. The crew advised they needed to shut down both engines as they were developing a brakes issue, too. Ground advised they should shut down right there, emergency services were still concerned, a tow truck would tow them to the gate. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3.5 hours, then was able to return to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=52497589&opt=0 Private jet crew blamed for near-crash with Southwest plane at Chicago Midway Airport The crew of a Flexjet private jet appears to have disregarded air traffic control instructions, leading to a near-collision with a Southwest Airlines flight at Chicago Midway Airport. The Flexjet entered the runway without authorization, prompting the Southwest flight to perform a "go-around" maneuver to avoid a collision. The NTSB is investigating the incident and will determine if punitive action against the Flexjet crew is necessary. The crew of a private jet is to blame for what was almost a collision between the jet and a Southwest Airlines flight on Tuesday morning at Chicago Midway Airport, a head official for the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed. During an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday morning, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said the crew of the Flexjet was told by air traffic controllers to "line up and wait and hold short of runway 31C, which Southwest was landing on, and they failed to do so." The Flexjet, which was headed to Knoxville, Tennessee, entered the runway "without authorization," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The FAA said it's investigating the incident, which occurred around 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday. Southwest Flight 2504, coming from Omaha, Nebraska, landed safely at the Chicago airport after the crew performed a precautionary "go-around" to avoid a possible conflict with the jet that entered the runway, the airline said in a statement. Southwest said the flight landed without incident. A video posted to the X account Airport Webcams showed the Southwest flight preparing to land on a Midway Airport runway. Just before touching down, the plane can be seen lifting back up into the air as the jet crosses the runway. Homendy said the NTSB will also investigate to determine whether to take any punitive action against the Flexjet crew. "There's a lot of information we still have to collect. We want to know what was going on in the cockpit of that airplane," Homendy said during her interview on Wednesday. "We will collect air traffic control communications. We have asked for the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from Flexjet. We've also asked for the flight data recorder from Southwest." In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, a FlexJet spokesperson said, "We are aware of the occurrence today in Chicago. Flexjet adheres to the highest safety standards and we are conducting a thorough investigation. Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken." Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board, testifies at The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing on the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, MD on May 15, 2024. A live air traffic control broadcast shows that, before entering the runway, the Flexjet crew was told by the ground air traffic controller to "turn left on runway four-left, cross runway three-one left and hold short runway three-one center," according to the broadcast obtained by Reuters. After being told by air traffic controllers to "hold short of runway," the Flexjet ultimately proceeds onto the airstrip prompting the Southwest Airlines flight to go around it, the broadcast indicates. "Flexjet 560 possible pilot deviation. Advise you to contact Midway tower at the number when you're ready to copy," a ground air traffic controller is heard saying in the broadcast. After barely avoiding the business jet, the Southwest Airlines crew even asks, "How'd that happen?" Tuesday's near-miss comes after multiple deadly crashes in recent weeks. On Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with an Army helicopter above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., killing 67. Two days later, a small medical jet carrying a child patient crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood; seven people died, including all six on board the plane and another in a car on the ground. Ten people died in a small plane crash in Alaska on Feb. 6, and, on Feb. 10, one person died and four were injured after two private jets collided at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2025/02/26/chicago-midway-airport-near-crash-blamed-on-private-jet-crew/80539021007/ EVA Air bans use of portable chargers as concerns grow over inflight fire risks Taiwanese carrier EVA Air has announced it will be prohibiting the use of portable chargers on board all of its flights starting from Saturday, March 1, 2025. The move follows increasing industry unease over the unfettered use of such devices inflight and the potential fire risks caused by devices overheating – a process known as thermal runaway. Current EVA Air regulations only prohibit the stowage of portable chargers and lithium batteries from checked-in hold luggage, and the airline requires passengers to correctly stow these devices in their carry-on baggage. However, reflecting current concerns that have been raised following the fire onboard an Air Busan Airbus A321 in Busan in January 2025 which caught fire on the ground in a suspected (but not confirmed) thermal runaway event, portable chargers and spare lithium batteries will be prohibited from use on all fights starting on the above date. the airline has said, “to improve onboard safety.” “Passengers are advised to fully charge electronic devices before boarding and use the AC and USB charging outlets provided at their seat,” the carrier added. According to the Taipei Times, fellow Taiwanese carrier China Airlines is advising passengers not to use portable chargers while in the air, following the lead set by several South Korean airlines earlier in February 2025. China Airlines said that passengers must carry portable charges with them and cannot pack them in checked baggage “for safety reasons.” Mandarin Airlines, China Airlines’ regional subsidiary, is enforcing the same regulations. Meanwhile, on Taiwan’s other major carrier, Starlux Airlines, passengers have been prohibited from using portable chargers on board since the airline’s launch in 2018. Fears over such chargers, which contain lithium-Ion batteries were first brought to light after an accident involving a United Parcel Service (UPS) Boeing 747 in Dubai on September 3, 2010. The cargo-only flight operating from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Cologne Airport (CGN) in Germany developed an uncontained inflight fire that started in one of the containers of cargo on the main deck. The fire was discovered to have started in one of 81,000 lithium-ion batteries contained in that particular container due to thermal runaway. The aircraft crashed killing both crew members. The Air Busan fire occurred on January 28, 2024, just before 22:30 local time, Air Busan flight BX391, bound for Hong Kong, caught fire at Busan-Gimhae International Airport (PUS) immediately before takeoff. All 176 people on board were safely evacuated using escape slides, with three suffering minor injuries. The aircraft’s upper fuselage was largely burnt out, although the wings and engines were mostly unaffected. While an investigation is currently ongoing by the South Korean authorities, it has been widely reported that a fire started in a bag stowed in one of the rearmost overhead bins, likely to have been caused by the thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery. In Europe, airlines currently apply their own guidelines to the use of portable chargers, for now at least. Ryanair, Europe’s largest carrier, now makes an onboard announcement to all passengers advising that the use of portable chargers is no longer allowed on any of its services. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/eva-air-bans-portable-chargers-flight-safety-risk Flight Safety Foundation Annual Report Warns of Rising Risks from Gaps in Safety Compliance ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flight Safety Foundation's 2024 Safety Report underscores growing concerns about the erosion of aviation safety due to lapses in compliance with international standards, regulations, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Despite more than 5 billion passengers traveling safely by air in 2024, a series of accidents and serious incidents late last year and in early 2025 have revealed critical vulnerabilities. The report stresses that while these events remain rare, their frequency and severity in such a short period cannot be ignored. "We cannot allow complacency to creep into operations. Safety standards have evolved for a reason, and adherence to them isn't optional — it's essential," said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. "Compliance alone does not guarantee safety, but without it, safety cannot be achieved." In the report, the Foundation calls for an industrywide recommitment to safety fundamentals, urging regulators, air navigation service providers, airports, air operators, and manufacturers to reinforce compliance as the first step toward rebuilding a resilient safety culture. From runway excursions and turbulence-related events to high-profile near misses and operations in conflict zones, the aviation sector must remain vigilant. "Aviation's safety net is fraying at the edges. It's time for the entire industry to double down on compliance, discipline, and proactive risk management to restore public confidence and protect lives," Shahidi said. The 2024 Safety Report, which is based on an analysis of data drawn from the Foundation's Aviation Safety Network (ASN) database, shows there were 132 accidents involving airliners of all types in 2024 and that 15 of those events were fatal accidents. The report details airliner and corporate jet accidents based on accident category, phase of flight, and type of operation, among other factors. The 2024 Safety Report is available here on the Foundation's website. In addition, users can access interactive ASN dashboards by clicking here. The dashboards enable deeper exploration of the ASN data. On March 12, the Foundation will host a webinar during which safety experts will discuss 2024's results and the safety issues facing the industry in 2025 and beyond. More information is available on the events page on the Foundation website. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flight-safety-foundation-annual-report-warns-of-rising-risks-from-gaps-in-safety-compliance-302386746.html About Flight Safety Foundation (flightsafety.org) Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation's mission is to connect, influence, and lead global aviation safety. Media Contact: Frank Jackman Director, Communications and Research +1 703.739.6700, ext. 116 jackman@flightsafety.org SOURCE Flight Safety Foundation https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flight-safety-foundation-annual-report-warns-of-rising-risks-from-gaps-in-safety-compliance-302386746.html Horizon Air Offers Aspiring Pilots Training In Hawai'i Horizon Air , the regional subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, has helped the group launch Hawaii’s first direct pathway for aspiring pilots to have a direct path to a job at Horizon Air. Training without leaving the islands According to Hawaiian Airlines , which highlighted the program in a post on February 25, Horizon Air is paving the way to the flight deck for aspiring pilots hailing from Hawaii without needing to leave the islands. As such, the carrier invited aspiring pilots to apply and potentially obtain the necessary experience and flight ratings through flight schools in Hawaii. The Horizon Air Pilot Development Program will provide a $12,500 flight training stipend to select students, a conditional job offer at Horizon Air, pilot mentorship and networking opportunities, exclusive access to company events, and personalized support. Carlos Zendejas, the vice president of flight operations of Horizon Air, said that the regional airline was excited to provide Hawaii’s pilots not only an opportunity to land a job at the carrier but also a path that would enable pilots to come home to Hawaii to fly for the rest of their careers. “Horizon’s seven pilot bases and the communities we serve in the Pacific Northwest and beyond offer students some incredible flying experiences while they build their time.” Deal Complete: Will Alaska Airlines Keep Its Promise To Preserve Hawaiian Airlines Brand? Over several occasions, Alaska Airlines has promised to keep the Hawaiian Airlines brand. Game-changing opportunity Anais Rodriguez, a student pilot at Pacific Flight Academy, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, said that having been born and raised in Hawaii, they always had a goal to serve the community at home. “This program is a game-changing opportunity – one that has never existed before – for aspiring pilots from across Hawai‘i to be able to train right here in the state and potentially advance into careers with a world-class airline.” Sylvia Luke, the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, added that aviation plays a crucial role in keeping Hawaii and its residents connected to the world. By training and retaining local pilots, Horizon Air’s program strengthens the future of air travel to and from the Islands, Luke continued. “Investing in local students through Horizon Air not only supports Hawai‘i’s economy but also empowers the next generation of pilots.” Hawaiian Airlines highlighted that more than 430 students across the US have enrolled in Horizon Air’s Pilot Development Program. The airline, which employs nearly 3,500 people and operates 44 Embraer E175 aircraft, is headquartered at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). “Horizon Air anticipates a steady need for skilled pilots as the company grows to support the combined global network of Alaska and Hawaiian.” Alaska Airlines Announces “Alaska Accelerate” Plan For $1 Billion Profit After Hawaiian Airlines Merger Alaska Airlines Group expects $500 million of revenue and cost benefits from the merger by 2027. Replacing 717s? According to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool, in February, Alaska Airlines has scheduled 3,354 weekly flights with the E175, which are operated by either Horizon Air or SkyWest Airlines. None of them are operated on intra-Hawaiian routes, which are monopolized by the Hawaiian carrier and almost exclusively operated by the Boeing 717. However, with the aircraft showing their age, Alaska Air Group, including its chief executive officer (CEO), Ben Minicucci, admitted that they are looking at a replacement option for the intra-island aircraft. Could Horizon Air launch flights between the Hawaiian Islands and replace the 717s on some routes? While most likely an outlandish question to ask, considering the size difference between the two, in addition to other issues that would have to be potentially resolved to make such a decision, Minicucci did remark during the group’s Q4 2024 earnings call that Alaska Air Group acquired Hawaiian Airlines’ network that was not “making money and we have got to go make sure we shift assets around and drive synergies and drive productivity and utilization.” https://simpleflying.com/horizon-air-aspiring-pilots-training-hawaii/ Turkish Air Says Boeing Jet Order Could Take Six More Months Turkish Airlines’ long-awaited order for Boeing Co. aircraft will take as many as six more months to finalize, with contract terms and delivery schedules yet to be ironed out. The deal hangs on slot availability at Boeing and maintenance costs at engine maker General Electric Co., Turkish Chief Executive Officer Bilal Eksi said. While optimistic that an agreement could be reached, he cautioned that the airline is open to going with Airbus SE. “Frankly, we haven’t finalized yet,” Eksi said Tuesday at the launch event of Turkish Airlines Holidays in London. “This means that we cannot find the reasonable level yet.” Turkey’s flagship carrier has been discussing a deal with Boeing since at least mid-2023, when the airline first floated a 600-plane mega-order expected to be split between the two planemakers. Airbus locked down a 230-plane commitment later that year, while talks with Boeing have continued as the US planemaker fought through a series of crises that have slowed aircraft output. Turkish is looking to buy about 300 jets including options from Boeing, consisting of 787 Dreamliners and the smaller 737 Max workhorse, Eksi said on Tuesday. Turkish has said that it aims to nearly double its fleet by the early 2030s, but production delays threatened to frustrate this target. Airbus is also struggling with delivery delays, though Eksi said the issue was not as serious as it is at Boeing. To meet the demand, Turkish is leasing more jetliners, he added. “Every time we are receiving the letter from Boeing, not the aircraft,” he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-26/turkish-air-says-boeing-jet-order-could-take-six-more-months?embedded-checkout=true Aero Parts Maker for Stealth Bomber, SpaceX Files for Bankruptcy (Bloomberg) -- Dynamic Aerostructures, which makes specialized parts for US fighter jets and SpaceX and Blue Origin spacecraft, filed for bankruptcy with plans to sell itself at a court-supervised auction. The aerospace and defense supplier is backed by private equity firm Endeavour Capital. Its operating unit Forrest Machining LLC, also known as FMI Aerostructures, was bought by Endeavour in 2021. FMI’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Ellis blames the Chapter 11 case on quality-control problems discovered after the acquisition, rising inventory costs as a result of inflation, and money-losing customer contracts, in court documents. The business owes lenders nearly $55 million, the filings show. In an emailed statement, Ellis said the goal of filing for bankruptcy is to sell the business, so as to maximize value and strengthen its finances. A deadline of April 7 has been proposed for bids from interested parties, according to the filings. “It is business as usual across FMI,” Ellis added. FMI has supplied structural components for the likes of commercial plane maker Boeing Co. and military jet makers Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp., including Northrop’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. It employs more than 180 people, mostly at its manufacturing plant in Valencia, California. The case is Dynamic Aerostructures, 25-10292, US Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington). https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/aero-parts-maker-stealth-bomber-203508334.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 . . 2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany · · 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 . . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · . CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis