Flight Safety Information - May 2, 2025 No. 089 In This Issue : JFK flight makes emergency landing at CVG : Ex-CHP captain slapped a flight attendant's butt, exposed himself on flight, prosecutors say : FAA offers incentives for air traffic controllers in bid to ease shortage : Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 million over 12 months, seeks aid : Airbus will avoid Trump tariffs by delivering planes to US airlines in countries outside America, its CEO says : Ryanair Drops $33B Bombshell on Boeing Over Trump's Tariffs : JetBlue's plan for domestic partnership faces union backlash : Trump selects Qatar’s plane to turn into presidential jet as Air Force One delays : L3 Harris tapped to modify Qatari jet as potential new Air Force One after years of Boeing delays : Southeast Regional Chapter (SERC) of ISASI Annual Meeting, July 25 to July 27th in Memphis : Calendar of Events JFK flight makes emergency landing at CVG DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — No injuries were reported after an in-flight emergency occurred on a regularly scheduled Delta flight to Cincinnati. According to Delta, Endeavor Air was operating Delta Connection flight 4985 through a CRJ-900 from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on April 30. The plane was already en-route to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron Kentucky, when the smoke alarm in the lavatory was activated towards the latter part of the flight. Upon the alarm, the emergency was initiated for air traffic control to provide priority handling for the incoming flight. At the time of the reported incident, 64 customers, two pilots and two flight attendants were aboard the aircraft. Individuals on board were deplaned and taken by bus to the terminal. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” said Delta. “We thank our customers for their cooperation and apologize for the experience.” Delta said initial indicators did not indicate any smoke. When WDTN.com reached out to CVG for information, we received the following statement: “Airport emergency and operations crews responded to a reported incident on an inbound aircraft,” said a CVG spokesperson. “No impact on operations.” An apology will be provided to customers by company representatives, according to Delta. Both Delta and Endeavor are working alongside aviation authorities to find out what occurred. https://www.yahoo.com/news/jfk-flight-makes-emergency-landing-181033805.html Ex-CHP captain slapped a flight attendant's butt, exposed himself on flight, prosecutors say A former California Highway Patrol captain was charged with sexually abusing a flight attendant while traveling to Los Angeles from Florida last month, prosecutors announced Thursday. Prosecutors allege that Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, downed a bottle of prosecco during the April 13 flight, slapped a male flight attendant's butt and yelled, "I love you," and showed another male flight attendant a pornographic picture, according to the criminal complaint. Woodbury, of Azusa, is charged with a felony count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison. Woodbury's attorney, Annick Jordan, declined to comment on the case. Woodbury, who is out of custody on bond, could not immediately be reached for comment. It is unclear when Woodbury stopped working for the CHP. The U.S. attorney's office wrote in a news release that he had "been dismissed from state service." Woodbury was traveling in Jet Blue's business class section from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Los Angeles International Airport when the alleged abuse occurred, according to the criminal complaint. Before the flight left the gate, Woodbury allegedly showed a flight attendant a picture of a dog with a blurred image of two men having sex in the background. The man responded, "Oh my God," and Woodbury laughed and said, "I was wondering how long it would take you," prosecutors wrote in the criminal complaint. Woodbury then suggested the two men go on a cruise together. "When [the attendant] demonstrated how the plane's oxygen masks worked, he saw Woodbury looking at him and made a hand pumping motion," the complaint states. When a different flight attendant was collecting meal trays, Woodbury used his left hand to slap the attendant's buttocks and yell that he "loved him," according to the complaint. Later in the flight, the complaint alleges, Woodbury pulled down his pants to expose his penis to the first flight attendant, who was standing at the front of the plane. Prosecutors allege that Woodbury asked for more wine and exposed himself a second time after he was told he could have only a nonalcoholic beverage. Woodbury returned to his seat and slept for the rest of the flight. As he was escorted off the plane by LAX police officers, he shouted to one of the flight attendants, "This is all your fault because you didn't go to the bathroom with me," according to the criminal complaint. Woodbury later told police that the flight attendant solicited him to go to the bathroom, but he declined, according to the court record. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-chp-captain-slapped-flight-024409939.html FAA offers incentives for air traffic controllers in bid to ease shortage Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy says cash bonuses are part of a plan to “supercharge” hiring and retention of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced incentives aimed at recruiting air traffic controllers and retaining controllers who are nearing retirement. Even as it has pushed thousands of federal employees to leave their jobs, retire early or face the possibility of being laid off, the Trump administration is showering one group of government workers with praise and cash bonuses to get them to stay on. On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled a package aimed at bolstering the number of air traffic controllers in the system, including bonuses for new hires and incentives to keep those closer to retirement on the job for a few more years. The plan builds on an earlier initiative that boosted pay for newly recruited controllers and sought to speed the process for getting new candidates into the training pipeline. The Federal Aviation Administration employs about 13,800 air traffic controllers at more than 300 facilities but is still more than 3,000 short of the number needed to be considered fully staffed. According to some estimates, it could take as long as eight years to close that gap. “Today’s actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation — bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines,” Duffy said. The strain on the individuals responsible for safely guiding planes safety through the national airspace system has been well-documented for decades but came into sharper focus in January after an Army helicopter and an American Airlines commuter jet collided in the skies above Washington on Jan. 29, killing 67 people. Though the probe into the crash is ongoing, one aspect investigators have examined is whether the control tower at Reagan National Airport was adequately staffed on the evening of the crash. The mandatory retirement age for air traffic controllers is 56, but there are exceptions. Controllers can retire at 50 with 20 years of service or at any age with 25 years of service. Under Duffy’s plan, controllers willing to defer retirement would receive a lump-sum payment of 20 percent of their basic pay for each year they continue to work. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, who appeared alongside Duffy for the announcement at the Transportation Department’s headquarters, said the initiative was an important first step. He added: “It’s a real, tangible move toward building and sustaining the workforce that America needs.” Duffy said he hoped the new incentives, combined with a push to recruit more controllers from the military, would enable them to reach full staffing in three or four years. Stress and burnout are chronic problems in air traffic control. In March, a supervisor in the National Airport tower was arrested and charged with assault following an altercation with another controller. FAA officials changed leadership at the tower, increased staffing and brought in a team of mental health professionals. It can take three years or more to become a fully certified controller. The training is rigorous. The FAA’s academy accepts roughly 1,800 trainees a year, but 30 percent or more typically drop out. Still more leave before they complete on-the-job training. Duffy’s said one way officials are trying to improve the success rate is by expediting academy admission for those with the highest scores on screening exams. Those who graduate from the academy can earn $60,000 a year, on average. Within three years, controllers can earn six figures. According to the most recent FAA figures, the average salary for a controller was roughly $158,000. Under Duffy’s plan, trainees will receive a $5,000 bonus when they graduate from the FAA academy and can receive an additional $10,000 bonus if they are willing to work at one of 13 hard-to-staff FAA facilities. Those who have left the academy and are currently in training at FAA facilities will receive a $5,000 bonus. Duffy said Thursday that the money to fund the incentive payments is coming from the existing budget. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/01/duffy-bonuses-air-traffic-controllers/ Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 million over 12 months, seeks aid NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Air India expects to face around $600 million in additional costs if a ban from Pakistan's airspace lasts for a year, and has asked the federal government to compensate it for the hit, a company letter seen by Reuters shows. Indian airlines are bracing for higher fuel costs and longer journey times after Pakistan shut its airspace to the country's carriers in a tit-for-tat retaliation following an attack on tourists in Kashmir last week. Air India on April 27 asked the Indian government for a "subsidy model" proportionate to the economic hit, estimating a loss of more than 50 billion Indian rupees ($591 million) for each year the ban lasts, according to a letter sent by the airline to the Civil Aviation Ministry seen by Reuters. "Subsidy for affected international flights is a good, verifiable and fair option ... the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves," the letter said. "The impact on Air India is maximum due to airspace closure, due to additional fuel burn...additional crew." Air India declined to comment. India's Civil Aviation Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Air India's letter was sent after the government asked its executives to assess the impact of the airspace ban on Indian carriers, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The Tata Group-owned airline is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar turnaround after a period of government ownership, and growth is already constrained by jet delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus. It reported a net loss of $520 million in fiscal 2023-2024, on sales of $4.6 billion. Air India, which has a 26.5% market share in India, flies to Europe, the United States and Canada, often crossing Pakistan's airspace. It operates many more long-haul routes than bigger domestic rival IndiGo. Data from Cirium Ascend shows IndiGo, Air India and its budget unit Air India Express had roughly 1,200 flights combined from New Delhi scheduled for Europe, the Middle East and North America in April. The Indian government is considering options to reduce the hit to the airline industry from the closure of Pakistan's airspace, three other people familiar with the matter said. One of the sources said Indian carriers met with the Civil Aviation Ministry to work on possible solutions, including flying over difficult terrain closer to China, and some tax exemptions. In its letter, Air India asked the government to liaise with Chinese authorities for certain overflight clearances, without elaborating. It also asked the government to approve the carrying of extra pilots on flights on the United States and Canada to account for longer travel times. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/exclusive-air-india-sees-pakistan-122426194.html Airbus will avoid Trump tariffs by delivering planes to US airlines in countries outside America, its CEO says Airbus's CEO said it's exporting US airlines' planes to other countries to avoid tariffs. An A350 for Delta Air Lines is scheduled to fly from Toulouse, France, to Tokyo for delivery. It's the same tactic used during a previous trade war between the EU and the US. Airbus is working to avoid Donald Trump's tariff plan by sending planes to US airlines via other countries. "We're looking at opportunities to export to somewhere else than [the] US, especially for airlines who have international operations, and we have that flexibility," CEO Guillaume Faury said on the company's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. He explained that if Airbus sends parts to its final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, the planemaker has to pay the 10% tariff. Alternatively, if the plane is built in Europe and then sent to the US, the airline would pay the import fee. "There's obviously a contradiction that […] actually nobody wants to pay the additional cost," Faury added. In February, the Airbus boss said that tariff costs would be passed onto airlines, which would, in turn, mean higher ticket prices. However, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said on an earnings call last month that the carrier would not pay any tariffs and instead would defer aircraft deliveries. Now, it looks like the two parties have found a way around the conundrum. Flight tracking data shows a new A350-900 for Delta was scheduled to fly Wednesday from Toulouse, France — Airbus' headquarters — to Tokyo's Narita Airport. This flight was canceled, but a new one was scheduled for Saturday, according to data from FlightAware. This is the same tactic that was used when Airbus faced tariffs during a previous trade war between the US and the European Union. "We are doing what we were doing five years ago in a similar situation," Faury said. The World Trade Organisation had permitted tariffs on aircraft as high as 15% as the two sides accused the other of unfair subsidies for Airbus and Boeing, until a truce was struck in 2021. At the time, Delta decided to use new Airbus planes exclusively for international flights, which meant they were never officially imported, as an airline spokesperson told Simple Flying in 2019. On Wednesday's earnings call, Faury called for a return to zero tariffs on all civil aerospace parts and airplanes. Airline stocks have reacted with particular volatility to tariff announcements. Travel is often one of the first things people cut back on during economic uncertainty. Several airlines withdrew their financial forecasts as they announced first-quarter earnings last month. Airbus kept its outlook in place, which excludes tariffs, owing to the uncertainty around the situation. Its first-quarter net income rose by a third to 793 million euros ($898 million), beating expectations, and its share price jumped 2%. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airbus-avoid-trump-tariffs-delivering-102645193.html Ryanair Drops $33B Bombshell on Boeing Over Trump's Tariffs Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) just fired a warning shot and it landed squarely on Boeing's (NYSE:BA) front porch. CEO Michael O'Leary says the airline could cancel its jaw-dropping $33 billion order for 330 Boeing jets if U.S. tariffs start driving up prices. His message? If the aircraft get more expensive because of politics, Ryanair will walk. O'Leary made it clear in a letter to Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi: Ryanair isn't in the business of paying for Washington's trade wars. And if Boeing loses its price edge? He's open to alternatives even China's Comac. This isn't a bluff. Ryanair already flies over 600 Boeing 737s and has deliveries scheduled deep into the next decade. But as the global supply chain gets hit by rising fees and airline execs scramble to avoid tariff landmines like Delta (NYSE:DAL) rerouting Airbus (EADSY) deliveries through Tokyo O'Leary is reminding everyone that lowest cost wins. Always. He's not buying into the geopolitics. He's buying based on numbers and he's not ruling out anyone who can give him better terms, whether it's Airbus or a Chinese manufacturer. The bigger concern? Retaliation. While China's already slapped back at the U.S., the EU could be next. That's where the real pressure hits. Tariffs may have skipped the aviation sector since 1979, but the buffer is eroding. O'Leary's bottom line is blunt: Ryanair isn't in this for nationalism, it's in it for survival. And if Boeing and the U.S. want to keep Ryanair in the fold, they'd better keep the pricing sharp. Is this just tough talk or the start of a seismic shift in global aircraft deals? Let's wait and see. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ryanair-drops-33b-bombshell-boeing-163252495.html JetBlue's plan for domestic partnership faces union backlash (Reuters) -A plan by JetBlue Airways to sign a domestic partnership with another airline faces opposition from its pilot union, which has warned the move could "fundamentally reshape" the U.S. carrier and impact the future of its workers. The head of JetBlue's pilot union told members on Wednesday that a job protection provision in their existing contract does not allow the company to enter into a commercial agreement, according to a letter seen by Reuters. On Tuesday, Reuters exclusively reported that the New York-based airline and United Airlines are negotiating a partnership, which is expected to focus on providing greater connectivity to customers and allowing them to earn and use frequent-flier miles. In the letter, the JetBlue Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council Chair, Wayne Scales, said the union was working with attorneys and other professional staff to challenge threats posed by the proposed partnership. "This is not a company operating with the best interests of its pilots in mind – at all," he wrote. The union and JetBlue are currently negotiating a new contract for pilots. In an emailed response, JetBlue said it is fully aware of its contractual obligations and will comply with any applicable provisions. A United spokesperson said the company does not have anything to share. The pilot union said it did not have additional comments. JetBlue has yet to return to sustained profitability after the COVID-19 pandemic. Slumping travel demand, driven by economic uncertainty linked to President Donald Trump's trade war, is worsening these financial challenges. The airline has cut capacity due to weak demand in key markets, and offered early retirements to dozens of pilots to reduce labor costs. One of the airline's few bright spots at the moment is the growth in its revenue generated from customer loyalty programs, aided by new partnerships. The company is relying on alliances with other airlines to bolster that revenue stream by offering customers greater connectivity. Scales alleged that JetBlue had not consulted the union, or addressed its concerns about such an alliance. JetBlue said it has told the pilot union that the company would brief it and its crewmembers if and when it reaches an agreement for domestic partnership. The carrier's existing pilot contract permits the company to enter into a code-share agreement where one airline sells seats on flights operated by another airline, or into a joint venture only when its aircraft utilization and the number of active pilots on its payrolls go up. JetBlue told investors on Tuesday that it was negotiating with a larger domestic airline without giving additional details, saying an announcement was expected in the current quarter. Industry sources told Reuters that JetBlue and United had yet to finalize the details and cautioned that the situation could still change. JetBlue's aircraft utilization fell to 9.7 hours per day in the first quarter, down from 10.2 hours per day a year ago. The company had about 4,800 active pilots in April compared with around 4,950 a year ago, according to a seniority list seen by Reuters. "Until we have answers, every pilot at JetBlue has reason to be concerned about what's being negotiated behind closed doors," Scales wrote. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/exclusive-jetblues-plan-domestic-partnership-181201943.html Trump selects Qatar’s plane to turn into presidential jet as Air Force One delays In response to ongoing concerns about Boeing's delays, President Donald J. Trump has asked L3Harris Technologies to provide an interim presidential aircraft by the end of the year, according to The Wall Street Journal. This decision marks a significant change in how presidential flights will be handled. Boeing, which was awarded a $3.9 billion contract to deliver two next-generation Air Force One aircraft, has fallen significantly behind schedule by years and is now billions of dollars over budget. Qatari jet to become Trump’s presidential aircraft Trump’s newly selected contractor, L3Harris, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, is tasked with retrofitting a previously Qatari-owned Boeing 747 as a temporary command and control platform. Multiple officials familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has demanded frequent updates on the project. On April 18, Boeing's Chief Executive met with Trump in the Oval Office to discuss the delays, though representatives from the White House, Boeing, and L3Harris declined to comment publicly. The new effort is not a full-scale replacement. According to Andrew Hunter, the US Air Force’s acquisition chief under the Biden administration, the timeline leaves little room for deep modification. “You could do some paint, you could do some communications upgrades, and I suspect it would be hard to do too much beyond that on that timeline,” Hunter told The Wall Street Journal. Nonetheless, Trump is pressing forward. The interim aircraft will complement the aging VC-25A fleet, two heavily modified Boeing 747-200Bs that have served as Air Force One since the George H.W. Bush administration. Both aircraft need a lot of maintenance and have limitations on their use. This situation shows that the US Air Force is losing trust in Boeing’s ability to meet its commitments. During the Biden administration, then–Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall thought about canceling the contract entirely. “If we’re going to get this thing delivered and get it at a reasonable time and cost, I think you have to go in and be somewhat ruthless about the requirements,” Kendall said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Air Force One delay Boeing's delivery schedule has been delayed significantly. Internal estimates now suggest that the handover may not happen until 2035, more than ten years later than originally planned. These delays are mainly due to engineering problems, such as issues with the aircraft's door cutouts and complex wiring. These challenges have put more pressure on Boeing’s performance. Before his first inauguration, Trump’s advisers explored whether the Boeing contract could be canceled or if legal action could be pursued. That consideration has resurfaced within his circle as frustration intensifies. L3Harris, a growing mid-tier defense contractor formed from the 2019 merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corp., already works with Boeing on communications systems for the VC-25B program. In February, Trump publicly hinted at abandoning Boeing. After inspecting the Qatari 747 in West Palm Beach, he remarked, “I’m not happy with Boeing.” As The Wall Street Journal reported, Trump had previously enlisted Elon Musk to assist in expediting the original Air Force One program, even contacting Boeing officials directly and touring the San Antonio facility. Musk’s involvement was described by then-Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg as beneficial. Speaking at a February investor event, Ortberg said Musk helped “reduce onerous requirements” imposed by the Air Force and White House. Still, Boeing has struggled with FAA certification and personnel security clearances on the classified program. Discussions within the Pentagon have even broached the possibility of painting existing Air Force One jets in Trump’s preferred color scheme, an idea shelved by the Biden administration over concerns about increased heat signature and electronic interference. As time goes by, Boeing is struggling. L3Harris is stepping in as a strong alternative, and how well it does could change how future contracts for secure executive transport are handled. https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-selects-qatar-plane-turn-164150758.html L3 Harris tapped to modify Qatari jet as potential new Air Force One after years of Boeing delays • L3Harris Technologies is set to work on modifications to a used Qatari Boeing 747 that could become a new Air Force One aircraft. • Boeing’s modifications on a pair of 747 jumbo jets to become the new Air Force One aircraft are years behind schedule and more than $2 billion over budget. • Trump looked at the Qatari plane this past winter when it was parked in Florida. The U.S. is working with L3Harris Technologies to modify a used Qatari government jumbo jet in what could become a new presidential plane, according to a person familiar with the matter who wasn’t authorized to speak to the media. The work comes after President Donald Trump earlier this year expressed frustration about delays in modification work from Boeing . Trump struck a deal with Boeing in his first term to retrofit two 747s to serve as the next Air Force One aircraft. But after delays, the planes might not be ready before the end of his term. L3Harris and Boeing declined to comment. The White House didn’t immediately comment. Trump told reporters in February that he is considering alternatives for the delayed Boeing 747s, which have cost Boeing more than $2 billion in overruns. “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something,” he said, according to a Reuters report at the time, as he toured the Qatari 747 that was parked at Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport. Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, said on an April 23 earnings call that “we continue to work with the customer to revise the program plan to allow for an earlier first delivery while maintaining our focus on safety and quality.” Ortberg said in January that the company had been working with Trump advisor Elon Musk to deliver the planes sooner. Despite Trump’s frustration with Boeing’s delays in delivering the new Air Force One planes, the U.S. Air Force in March awarded Boeing a contract to build the country’s next-generation fighter jet, a deal analysts estimate to be worth around $20 billion or more. “In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there’s never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have, to payload. And this has been in the works for a long period of time,” Trump said in a news release on March 21. “America’s enemies will never see it coming.” https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/01/trump-air-force-one-l3-harris-boeing-delays.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 70th annual Business Aviation Safey Summit (BASS), May 6-7, 2025, Charlotte, N.C., organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with NBAA and NATA. · 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 . Airborne Public Safety Association -APSCON / APSCON Unmanned 2025 in Phoenix, AZ | July 14-18, 2025 . 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis