Flight Safety Information - August 31, 2023 No. 169   In This Issue : Incident: Austrian B763 at Vienna on Aug 30th 2023, could not retract the slats : Incident: Southwest B737 at Denver on Aug 29th 2023, engine failure : Incident: Transat A332 near Nantes on Aug 30th 2023, burning odour in cockpit : Incident: France A332 enroute on Aug 21st 2023, lithium ion battery's thermal runaway : Incident: Sunwing B38M at Holguin on Aug 29th 2023, runway excursion during line up : Nigeria ready for aviation safety audit, says Keyamo : Fear at Ben-Gurion Airport as vehicle rams through security checkpoint : TSA officers catch man who works at Philadelphia International Airport with a loaded gun : Russia will not probe Prigozhin plane crash under international rules : FAA Concerned Lightning Could Cause 777 Explosions : Air India’s Simulator Training Facilities Reportedly Under The Microscope : Swiss Air flight attendants caught doing dangerous stunt for social media shoot : IATA calls on Mexican government to seek alternatives to proposed flight cuts at Mexico City airport Incident: Austrian B763 at Vienna on Aug 30th 2023, could not retract the slats An Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration OE-LAE performing flight OS-87 from Vienna (Austria) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing out of Vienna's runway 29 when the crew could not retract the slats and stopped the climb initially at 10,000 feet. The aircraft entered a hold at FL160 and returned to Vienna for a safe landing on runway 34 about 75 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft suffered slat problems, the passengers were rebooked onto other flights. https://avherald.com/h?article=50dc3567&opt=0 Incident: Southwest B737 at Denver on Aug 29th 2023, engine failure A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N961WN performing flight WN-856 from Denver,CO to Austin,TX (USA) with 22 people on board, was climbing out of Denver's runway 17R when the crew stopped the climb at 13000 feet reporting they had a mechanical, subsequently advising they had an engine #2 failure (CFM56, right hand) and wanted to return to Denver. The aircraft landed safely back on Denver's runway 16R with emergency services on stand by about 25 minutes after departure and taxied to the gate. https://avherald.com/h?article=50dbccaa&opt=0 Incident: Transat A332 near Nantes on Aug 30th 2023, burning odour in cockpit An Air Transat Airbus A330-200, registration C-GUBH performing flight TS-573 from Lyon (France) to Montreal,QC (Canada), was enroute at FL380 about 110nm southeast of Nantes (France) when the crew donned their oxygen masks and decided to divert to Nantes reporting a burning odour in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on Nantes' runway 03 about 25 minutes later. https://avherald.com/h?article=50dbc703&opt=0 Incident: France A332 enroute on Aug 21st 2023, lithium ion battery's thermal runaway An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCO performing flight AF-914 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Accra (Ghana), was enroute about three hours into the flight when a passenger's mobile phone battery began to emit electrical smell, heat and smoke prompting cabin crew to recover the smartphone and discharge fire extinguishers and water onto the battery. The battery was subsequently put into a secure container. The aircraft continued to Accra for a safe landing about 6:45 hours after departure from Paris. A passenger reported there was suddenly a pungent electrical odour, the passenger checked his phone which was okay, then looked around. One of the seat neighbours had the smartphone on charge and understood it was that phone that was about to suffer a thermal runaway. Cabin crew got hold of the phone, put it onto the floor and discharged two or three fire bottles and cans of water onto it, then took it away in a secure container. https://avherald.com/h?article=50dbb62a&opt=0 Incident: Sunwing B38M at Holguin on Aug 29th 2023, runway excursion during line up A Sunwing Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-GMXH performing flight WG-645 from Holguin (Cuba) to Montreal,QC (Canada), was taxiing for departure from runway 23 when during line up the aircraft went beyond the turn pad area and onto the runway shoulder causing the right main gear to sink into the asphalt. The aircraft was disabled closing the aerodrome over night, a number of aircraft inbound to Holguin needed to divert. The aircraft was towed to the apron the following morning. https://avherald.com/h?article=50dbc369&opt=0 Nigeria ready for aviation safety audit, says Keyamo The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to civil aviation safety and achieving safety standards in the aviation industry. Keyamo gave the assurance when he met with the visiting team of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Abuja, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood. The ICAO team’s visit is precipitated on the much-awaited audit of the nation’s airports and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme. Addressing the ICAO team, Keyamo said the Federal Government had spared no effort in preparing for the audit. He said. “Nigeria is fully aware that ensuring safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-friendly civil aviation system, with modern and adequate infrastructure require adequately funded autonomous Civil Aviation Authority and an Independent National Safety Investigation Bureau, together with well-established aviation service providers. “In its bid to ensure continuous compliance with ICAO Standards and to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing air transport sector, Nigerian Government has continued to maintain and to reposition the industry for efficiency and the path of sustainable growth. “Whilst Nigeria is not new to audits, no stone was left unturned in the preparation for this audit, to ensure a significant rise in the effective implementation of all the safety functional areas. Safety remains Nigeria’s priority, non-negotiable and it supersedes all other considerations for civil aviation.” On the role of the ICAO team, Keyamo said, “Nigeria no doubt recognizes the role of ICAO which is aimed at constantly addressing and enhancing global aviation safety through coordinated activities. “It is noted that the mission you embarked upon to Nigeria is a very important one aimed at, not only promoting global civil aviation safety through the monitoring of Contracting States’ safety oversight capabilities but improving their systems.” https://punchng.com/nigeria-ready-for-aviation-safety-audit-says-keyamo/ Fear at Ben-Gurion Airport as vehicle rams through security checkpoint Security guards instruct travelers to lay down on the floor inside the airport after West Bank car thief breaks past security checkpoint in Ben-Gurion Airport A resident of Nablus, located in the West Bank, who was driving a stolen car, broke through the checkpoint to Ben Gurion Airport early Thursday and was arrested shortly afterward. During the incident, travelers who were at the airport were asked to lie on the floor, and all entrances and exits to the airport were closed. Avi Ifergan, who returned to Israel from the United States, was waiting for his luggage while his wife and three children were in the arrivals hall. "I returned from the U.S., and my wife was waiting for me with our three children," he told Ynet, "suddenly security guard rushed in and said there was an emergency." Ifergan added the entire airport was in panic as a result of the incident. "My wife called and said they heard gunfire outside. Everyone was in a panic," he said, "We lay on the floor for about fifteen minutes - it was very tense and uncomfortable. I understood that the airport’s checkpoint was breached and that the shots were likely aimed at the vehicle’s tires. Now it's over, I’ve managed to calm down.” Ben Gurion Airport during the incident Dan, one of the passengers who was waiting at Ben Gurion Airport during the breach, added: "We were in line for a shuttle, waiting for our luggage. Security guards yelled at us to ‘lie on the floor, we have an emergency' We waited for 10 minutes while lying on the floor." https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjiafptah TSA officers catch man who works at Philadelphia International Airport with a loaded gun Man cited on weapons charge; employee ID confiscated PHILADELPHIA – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport prevented a man who works at one of the airport retail concession shops from bringing his handgun through the security checkpoint yesterday, Monday (Aug. 28). The 9mm gun was loaded with nine bullets, including one in the chamber. The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the local police. The man, a resident of Philadelphia, told officials that he had taken his gun to a shooting range and forgot that he still had his loaded gun with him. The mistake resulted in being cited by police and having his employee ID confiscated. Without his ID badge, he cannot work at the airport. The man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach as high as $15,000, depending on the circumstances. “This was a good catch on the part of our TSA team here at Philadelphia,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “As we all know, passengers are not permitted to carry their firearms through our security checkpoints. That also goes for individuals who work at the airport. In this instance, the man represented a possible insider threat with him being someone who worked in the airport.” Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to individuals who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to individuals with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried through a checkpoint. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges. https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2023/08/29/tsa-officers-catch-man-who-works-philadelphia-international-airport Russia will not probe Prigozhin plane crash under international rules An investigation was launched into the crash of an aircraft in the Tver region in Russia on 23 August 2023, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency said in a statement, adding that Yevgeny Prigozhin was among the passengers. Russia has informed Brazil’s aircraft investigation authority that it will not probe the crash of the Brazilian-made Embraer jet that killed mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin under international rules “at the moment”, the Brazilian agency told Reuters on Tuesday (29 August). Prigozhin, two top lieutenants of his Wagner Group and four bodyguards were among 10 people who died when the Embraer Legacy 600 crashed north of Moscow last week. Wagner boss Prigozhin listed in Russian plane crash with no survivors Russia’s most powerful mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin was on board a plane which crashed on Wednesday evening north of Moscow with no survivors, two months to the day after he led an abortive mutiny against the army top brass. He died two months to the day after staging a brief mutiny against the Russian defense establishment that posed the biggest challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s rule since he rose to power in 1999. Brazil’s Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), in the interests of improving aviation safety, had said it would join a Russian-led investigation if it were invited and the probe held under international rules. Russia’s aviation authority was not obligated to say yes to CENIPA, but some former investigators said it should, as the US and other Western governments suspect the Kremlin of being behind the 23 August crash of the Embraer Legacy 600, which has a good safety record. The Kremlin denies any involvement. Prigozhin was publicly critical of Moscow’s prosecution of its invasion of Ukraine. The Wagner mercenaries fought battles there on Russia’s side. According to the Montreal-based United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the flight from Moscow with a destination of St Petersburg was domestic, so it is not subject to international rules known throughout the industry by their legal name “Annex 13.” No obligation to accept international rules “They are not obliged, only recommended to do that,” CENIPA head Air Brigadier Marcelo Moreno told Reuters after the agency sent an email last week asking Russia whether it would open such a probe. “But if they say they’ll open the investigation and invite Brazil we will participate from afar.” US aviation safety consultant and former investigator John Cox said an internal Russian investigation would always be questioned without the participation of Brazil, the country where the plane was manufactured. “I think it’s very sad,” Cox said after being told of the Russian response. “I think it hurts the transparency of the Russian investigation.” CENIPA said in an emailed statement it got the response from the Interstate Aviation Committee – Commission on Accident Investigation (IAC) on Tuesday, with the Russian authority saying it would not open for now a probe under Annex 13. In air crash investigations, experts work to improve aviation safety without assigning blame, but probes are often tainted by political interests. CENIPA and manufacturer Embraer want to prevent future accidents but face challenges in getting information from the investigation due to sanctions on Russia and Moscow’s reluctance to allow outside scrutiny. Some 802 Embraer regional jets with 37 to 50 seats, built on the same platform as the Legacy 600 corporate aircraft, are in service, underscoring Brazilian interest in the probe. Embraer declined comment. Jeff Guzzetti, a former US air crash investigator, said Russia should accept assistance from Brazil, even if CENIPA can only participate remotely. “If they don’t, well, then that’s a sure sign that it’s not going to be a transparent investigation.” Drawing their name from an annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation – commonly known as the 1944 Chicago Convention – the rules represent a low-key but effective form of international cooperation that has rarely been challenged. By promoting unusually close technical co-operation across political frontiers and steering clear of issues of blame, Annex 13 has been credited with improving air safety dramatically since it was first introduced, safety officials said. https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russia-will-not-probe-prigozhin-plane-crash-under-international-rules/ FAA Concerned Lightning Could Cause 777 Explosions The FAA has issued an update to an AD on hundreds of Boeing 777s because it’s concerned they might explode if struck by lightning. The AD was issued this week to update earlier action to address cracks in wing chords. When it reviewed the wing problems, the agency discovered that there were errors in the AD relating to the replacement of cap seals on fasteners in a section of the wing that penetrates the center fuel tank. “If these seals are not replaced properly, and the associated fastener has poor electrical bonding to the airplane structure for any reason, the fastener may spark during a lightning strike and cause a fuel tank explosion,” the FAA said in the AD. The agency said it expects the AD to apply to 291 U.S.-registered aircraft. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/288168/ Air India’s Simulator Training Facilities Reportedly Under The Microscope The airline has Boeing and Airbus simulator training facilities in Mumbai and Hyderabad, respectively. SUMMARY • Air India's simulator training facilities in Mumbai and Hyderabad have been temporarily suspended due to lapses found during DGCA's inspections. • The facilities are crucial for maintaining licenses and certifications of Air India's pilots. • This development follows the DGCA's observation of lapses in Air India's internal safety audits a few days ago. Following previous reports of the Indian aviation regulator, the DGCA, finding lapses in Air India’s internal safety audits, the carrier’s simulator training facilities in the country have reportedly been suspended temporarily. The DGCA is said to be verifying certain details before it can allow the carrier to resume simulator training at the two facilities in India. Air India’s Airbus and Boeing simulator training facilities suspended A few days ago, India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), temporarily suspended the approval of Air India’s Boeing simulator training facility in Mumbai. According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the aviation watchdog found certain lapses and is reviewing the matter. The PTI quotes a source as saying, “DGCA has temporarily suspended Air India’s Boeing simulator training facility for certain lapses. The regulator is verifying some documents related to the matter.” This was followed by reports of the DGCA also suspending the airline’s Airbus simulator training facility in Hyderabad. Once again, the reason cited for this was lapses found during the DGCA’s inspection. Air India conducts simulator training for its pilots flying the widebody Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft at the facility in Mumbai. In Hyderabad, it trains its pilots on the simulator for its narrowbody fleet of the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. It remains to be seen how long the suspension will last, as Air India relies on the two facilities to maintain the licenses and certifications of its pilots. Any lapses could affect the pilot's availability and, consequently, the airline’s operations. The airline operates a mixed fleet of Airbus narrowbodies and Boeing widebody planes and will soon start receiving the first of its Airbus A350 aircraft on order. Lapses found in internal safety audits The latest developments come close on the heels of the DGCA observing lapses in Air India’s internal safety audits some days ago. The airline failed an internal safety audit upon further verification by a two-member surveillance team from the DGCA. Under this internal safety audit, a list of 13 checks on different aspects of Air India's operations is typically carried out, including but not limited to policy changes, ramp operations, loading management, cargo handling, maintenance, and cabin surveillance. The surveillance team was not satisfied with the outcome of the enhanced verification of the unspecified 13 safety checkpoints. It found falsified reports made by Air India on some issues and also went through CCTV footage, auditee statements, official records, and passenger manifests as part of its investigation. The DGCA is expected to carry out a detailed investigation and make suggestions for corrective actions in the days to come. https://simpleflying.com/air-india-simulator-training-facilities-suspended/ U.S. Fines American Airlines $4.1 Million for Lengthy Tarmac Delays In 43 instances in recent years, the airline kept passengers stranded on the tarmac for hours in violation of federal rules, the Transportation Department said. For domestic flights, airlines are not allowed to keep passengers sitting on the tarmac for more than three hours without giving them a chance to deplane.Credit...Joe Raedle/Getty Images The Transportation Department fined American Airlines $4.1 million on Monday, saying the carrier violated federal rules by keeping passengers stranded on airport tarmacs for hours on dozens of occasions in recent years. The agency said the fine was the largest penalty it had ever doled out for tarmac delays. The violations stem from 43 domestic flights between 2018 and 2021 in which passengers were stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours without being given a chance to deplane, according to the department. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/28/us/politics/tarmac-delays-american-airlines.html Swiss Air flight attendants caught doing dangerous stunt for social media shoot An airline cabin crew strikes a pose in a very unusual location, much to the dismay of management. A Swiss International Airline cabin crew is taking a lot of flak for stunt they pulled while in the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires. Reports say the crew publicly posing for pictures and selfies earlier this month on top of the wing of one of the airline's parked Boeing 777 aircraft. And while Buenos Aires can be translated as "fair winds," this incident could end up being a mighty ill wind that will blow no good for some crew members. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was awaiting its return leg to Brazil and onward to Zurich International Airport, Simple Flying reported. Videos taken by passengers at the terminal gates show that three crew members opened the over-wing exit on the right side of the aircraft and stepped out onto the wing. The clip features one female flight attendant apparently dancing on the wing before she is joined by a male colleague. A second man, believed to be a senior cabin chief, comes out and pulls bodybuilding poses. “According to the airline, there were no passengers on board at the time,” Breaking Aviation News & Video tweeted. “Instead, they were able to watch the dangerous action of the crew from the terminal.” "Oh, very professional," one person tweeted. "Will take a pass on Swiss going forward." Incident 'extremely dangerous' "Young happy people enjoying not putting anyone in danger…but today’s world wants everything by the book," another one said. "SWISS will, eventually, love this - getting their brand in front of eyeballs," read another tweet. They're not loving it right now, that's for sure. Airline management labelled the incident as “unprofessional” and “extremely dangerous,” adding that the crew members are allowed to climb onto the wing only in case of “emergency evacuation.” "What looks like fun in the video is life-threatening,” Michael Pelzer, a Swiss Airline spokesperson, told The Sun. "The wings of the Boeing 777 are about five meters (16.4 feet) high. A fall from that height onto the hard surface can be devastating." Head of Cabin Crew and Vice President of Swiss International Air Lines Martin Knuchel released a video criticizing the crew's behavior. "Hey guys, I'll be honest," he said. "I'm angry and disappointed. What if the passengers no longer trust us when they see this video? This has to stop, there must be no more videos likes this." Knuchel said the case will be dealt internally as a disciplinary matter, adding that "to counteract the first rumors, we won't just fire someone." And it could've been worse. A JetBlue (JBLU) - Get Free Report flight attendant made headlines in 2010 when he grabbed and guzzled two beers and exited a plane by deploying the evacuation slide and slipping right down to the tarmac. https://www.thestreet.com/travel/swiss-air-flight-attendants-caught-doing-dangerous-stunt-for-social-media-shoot IATA calls on Mexican government to seek alternatives to proposed flight cuts at Mexico City airport IATA conveyed concern about potential decisions that could disrupt air connectivity, impact tourism The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday urged the Mexican government to take alternative measures to its plans to announce flight reductions at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM). The IATA said in a statement to Reuters that it could not accept "any unilateral and uncoordinated decisions" that would hamper connectivity. "Given the impact that this measure could have on passengers, air connectivity and tourism, we hope that the authorities will consider alternatives," IATA said. While flights have been reduced in the past, the Mexican government has not yet announced a fresh round of cuts at the busiest airport in Latin America. Officials have previously capped flights at the airport in an attempt to reduce saturation of the capital's airspace. AICM director Carlos Velazquez told Reuters earlier this month that flight cuts were being considered, among other measures. Mexico's Transportation Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Mexico last year moved to diversify its airspace around the capital, opening the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) north of Mexico City and turning back to the largely forgotten Toluca airport to the west of town. However, those two airports still move just a fraction of the traffic seen at the AICM. The government has increasingly intervened at the AICM since ruling earlier this year by decree that cargo airlines had to stop operating out of the hub. Mexico City International Airport Aeromexico aircrafts and other planes are parked at gates at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico Jan. 19, 2023. (REUTERS/Henry Romero/File Photo) Peter Cerda, IATA's regional head, cautioned that any decision to reduce capacity at the AICM must be made through "collaborative and open processes among all stakeholders." Mexico's air transportation chamber, CANAERO, said earlier in the week that the sector had not been consulted in recent discussions regarding potential flight cuts. Instead of cutting flights, the aging hub "urgently" needs funds destined to carrying out repairs, the chamber said. While the AICM's airport usage tax is one of the highest in Latin America, the funds go to paying off some $4.2 billion in outstanding bonds for the canceled, partially built Texcoco airport meant to alleviate traffic at the AICM. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador canceled the project after his election, slamming it as too expensive and stained by corruption. Lopez Obrador instead moved to convert a military base on the northern outskirts of the city into the AIFA. https://www.foxnews.com/world/iata-calls-mexican-government-seek-alternatives-proposed-flight-cuts-mexico-city-airport Curt Lewis