Flight Safety Information - June 18, 2025 No. 121 In This Issue : Incident: Easyjet A320 near Munich on Jun 17th 2025, smell of smoke in cabin : Incident: American B738 near Denver on Jun 15th 2025, little bit of potential engine trouble, engine shut down in flight : Incident: India B788 at Hong Kong on Jun 16th 2025, engine fuel filter problem : Boeing 787’s emergency-power system likely active before Air India crash, WSJ reports : Trainee Captain Reportedly Faints in Cockpit Moments After Landing Plane Full of Passengers : Air India's Boeing 787 fleet compliant with existing safety standards: DGCA : SkyWest Orders 60 New Embraer E175 Aircraft : EGYPTAIR discloses order for an additional 6 Airbus A350 aircraft : Japan's ANA finalises orders for up to 92 aircraft : These Airlines Would Be Hardest Hit By A Boeing 787 Grounding : Skyview Charter Selects JDA for Part 135 Certification Support : Graduate Research Request : Calendar of Events Incident: Easyjet A320 near Munich on Jun 17th 2025, smell of smoke in cabin An Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration G-EZUA performing flight U2-8239 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Santorini (Greece), was enroute at FL350 about 20nm west of Munich (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Munich due to the smell of smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Munich's runway 08R about 40 minutes later. A replacement A320-200 registration G-EZWK is estimated to reach Santorini with a delay of about 7 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Munich about 7 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5292d7ec&opt=0 Incident: American B738 near Denver on Jun 15th 2025, little bit of potential engine trouble, engine shut down in flight An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N944AN performing flight AA-2556 from San Francisco,CA to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was enroute at FL390 about 60nm southeast of Denver,CO (USA) when the crew requested to divert to Denver advising ATC they had a "little bit of potential engine (CFM56) problem" that might require them to shut the engine down. The aircraft turned around, the crew subsequently declared Mayday and required FL270, shut the engine down, further descended to FL220 and landed safely on Denver's runway 16L about 40 minutes later. A passenger reported the crew announced they were observing an engine oil leak and needed to shut that engine down. After landing they were told, a mechanic had observed physical damage to the engine. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Denver about 38 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5292cf5e&opt=0 Incident: India B788 at Hong Kong on Jun 16th 2025, engine fuel filter problem An Air India Boeing 787-8, registration VT-NAC performing flight AI-315 from Hong Kong (China) to Delhi (India), was climbing out of Hong Kong when the crew stopped the climb at FL220 advising ATC they needed to stay close to the airport and did not want to continue enroute, they would likely return to Hong Kong. After working the related checklists the crew told ATC, they had a fuel filter problem for the right hand engine (GEnx) and were ready for a return to Hong Kong. The aircraft landed safely on Hong Kong's runway 25R about 40 minutes later. The flight was cancelled. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 30 hours, then returned to Delhi as flight AI-1315. https://avherald.com/h?article=5292cc10&opt=0 Boeing 787’s emergency-power system likely active before Air India crash, WSJ reports (Reuters) -Investigators believe the Air India Boeing Dreamliner had its emergency-power generator operating when it crashed last week in India's Ahmedabad, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday citing people familiar with the probe. Boeing said it will defer to India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau for comment. Engine maker GE Aerospace did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. India's federal civil aviation ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' email seeking comment. Reuters couldn't immediately verify the WSJ report. The system, known as the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), generates electricity and hydraulic pressure to ensure pilots can control the plane even if both engines fail. The preliminary finding raise questions about whether the plane's engines functioned properly during takeoff, the report said. The Dreamliner was fitted with GE Aerospace's GEnx engines. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people bound for Britain's Gatwick Airport began losing altitude seconds after takeoff. All but one passenger died in the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade, with around 30 ground fatalities. India's aviation safety watchdog said on Tuesday that surveillance of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet revealed no major safety concerns. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-787-emergency-power-system-074237088.html Trainee Captain Reportedly Faints in Cockpit Moments After Landing Plane Full of Passengers The June 10 incident reportedly occurred while the passenger jet was still taxiing at Sydney Airport in Australia • A Qantas trainee captain reportedly fainted moments after he landed a Boeing 737 passenger jet at Sydney Airport on June 10 • The aircraft was still on the taxiway when the trainee captain told his first officer he didn’t feel well and fainted • Another captain on board took over and passengers were able to safely disembark the plane after it reached the gate • A Qantas trainee captain reportedly fainted moments after landing a passenger jet in Sydney. The pilot had just touched the Boeing 737 down at Sydney Airport in Australia when the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 10 shortly before 7 p.m. local time, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The flight, Qantas QF804, was coming from Canberra Airport. In the middle of taxiing, the trainee captain reportedly told his first officer that he didn’t feel well before losing consciousness. There were 113 passengers, eight crew members and three total pilots on board. One of the three pilots then took over and was able to safely taxi the aircraft to the gate. Passengers disembarked the plane without any further issue while the pilot was treated by paramedics, according to the outlet. “The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is our priority and we’re supporting the individual following the incident," a representative for Qantas tells PEOPLE. PEOPLE also reached out to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Earlier in March, another Qantas pilot reportedly experienced a medical emergency mid-flight, prompting the plane to make an urgent landing in Sydney. The plane was reportedly traveling from Brisbane when its captain began experiencing chest pains, leading to a priority landing request at Sydney Airport, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. There were 127 passengers and six crew members on board at the time. After the captain began feeling the discomfort, he reportedly asked for a defibrillator to be used on him, however the equipment was not used in the end, according to the outlet. The first officer, who flew the aircraft while the captain was being attended to, alerted air traffic controllers of the emergency and requested an expedited landing of the Boeing 737-800. The outlet reports that he declared a "medical PAN" to air traffic control, which stands for “possible assistance needed.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to news.com.au, a spokesperson for Qantas said in a statement at the time: “One of our pilots experienced chest pains during a flight from Brisbane to Sydney on Monday.” “The other pilot was operating the aircraft at the time and landed the aircraft into Sydney as normal,” they added. “The pilot was treated by paramedics at the gate and transferred to hospital.” https://people.com/qantas-pilot-faints-moments-after-landing-plane-full-of-passengers-11756447 Air India's Boeing 787 fleet compliant with existing safety standards: DGCA Safety checks on 26 of 33 aircraft find Air India's B787 fleet compliant but DGCA seeks better coordination, spare availability to address network delays The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said it did not find any major safety issues with Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, following an intensive four-day inspection prompted by a fatal crash last week. However, the civil aviation regulator flagged concerns about recent maintenance-related issues that had been contributing to delays across the airline’s network. At least 13 international flights of Air India were cancelled and several others took off way behind the schedule on Tuesday primarily due to mandatory safety inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft. Operational stress was compounded by weather-related disruptions, airspace restrictions, and crew duty-time limitations, all of which added further strain to the airline’s wide-body network. The DGCA, in a statement late in the evening, noted that it had examined 26 of Air India’s 33 Dreamliners between June 13 and June 17, with the aircraft and their maintenance systems found compliant with safety regulations. “The recent surveillance conducted on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns,” the regulator said. It advised the Tata group airline to improve internal coordination between engineering, operations, and ground handling teams, and to ensure adequate availability of spare parts to reduce passenger inconvenience. The DGCA had ordered “enhanced safety inspections” for all 33 Dreamliners in the airline’s fleet after the crash last Thursday, when an Air India B787 flying to London went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all 241 passengers and crew. By 3 pm on Tuesday, 24 aircraft had successfully completed the mandated checks. Two more were expected to have cleared the checks by the end of the day. One aircraft was scheduled for inspection on Wednesday. Four aircraft undergoing heavy maintenance will be checked before their release, while two others grounded in Delhi shall be inspected before re-entering service, the regulator said. “A more systematic and real-time defect reporting mechanism is required to ensure that safety-critical departments receive timely updates,” it noted, adding that this would help strengthen decision-making and reduce disruptions. The regulator also reviewed the wider operational challenges facing the aviation sector following recent airspace restrictions, especially over Iran, which have forced rerouting and delayed flights. Airlines were advised to keep passengers informed and explore alternative routing options to reduce the fallout. Together, Air India and Air India Express operate over 1,000 flights daily. The DGCA reiterated its direction to both carriers to strictly follow passenger facilitation norms and keep flyers adequately informed in the event of delays or cancellations. The DGCA also reviewed recent operational data on Air India’s wide-body operations, with focus on the Boeing 787 fleet, which has seen a number of cancellations over the past several days. On June 12, the day of the crash, Air India operated 50 B787 flights and cancelled five. The number of cancellations rose significantly in the following days: On June 13, the airline operated 41 B787 flights while 11 were cancelled; on June 14, it operated 47 such flights and cancelled 12. The trend continued on June 15, with 41 operated and 14 cancelled, followed by 39 operated and 11 cancelled on June 16. Between midnight and 3 PM on June 17, Air India operated just 30 Dreamliner flights, cancelling 13. These operational figures indicate continued disruption to the wide-body schedule, even as DGCA inspections progressed. The regulator said it will continue to monitor the performance of all scheduled airlines closely. Speaking on the spate of cancellations and delays, a senior Air India executive said: “It’s not that every cancellation is due to the safety inspections, but there’s no denying that the fleet-wide checks have strained availability and turnaround times.” On Tuesday, Air India cancelled flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris after its pre-flight checks identified an issue. “The mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue which is being presently addressed. However, in view of the flight coming under the restrictions on night operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, the said flight has been cancelled,” the airline said. The return flight from Paris to Delhi on June 18 was also cancelled as a result. Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was cancelled due to longer-than-usual turnaround times. In a separate statement, the airline clarified: “Flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, and not due to any technical snag as claimed.” Air India added that it had arranged alternative travel, hotel stays, and full refunds or rescheduling for passengers. Other affected services on Tuesday included cancellations of AI153 (Delhi-Vienna), AI133 (Bengaluru-London), and AI915 (Delhi-Dubai). AI145 (Goa-London) faced a delay of over 90 minutes, while AI148 (Paris-Delhi) and AI2026 (Frankfurt-Delhi) were delayed by about two hours each. The Sydney-Delhi flight (AI301) departed more than two and a half hours behind schedule. Domestically, flight AI424 from Ahmedabad to Delhi was delayed by over five hours. The ripple effect has extended to scheduled services for Wednesday, with AI169 (Amritsar–London Gatwick), AI151 (Delhi–Zurich), and AI308 (Delhi–Melbourne) all cancelled. According to another Air India official, the inspection process itself was taking time. “If the checks find anything even slightly off, rectification has to happen then and there, and that takes additional time,” the person said. Further complications arose when such delays caused flight crews to exceed Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which are a set of mandatory limits on how many hours pilots and cabin crew can be on duty or fly within a given period, designed to ensure they are adequately rested. If a crew runs out of FDTL hours, the flight must be delayed or cancelled unless a replacement crew is available. Unfavourable weather in several parts of the country, including Delhi, as well as ongoing airspace restrictions over Pakistan and parts of West Asia amid the Israel-Iran conflict, further narrowed operational flexibility on Tuesday. Air India did not respond to Business Standard's query on this matter till the press time. https://www.business-standard.com/industry/aviation/dgca-finds-no-major-safety-issues-in-air-india-boeing-787-fleet-125061701259_1.html SkyWest Orders 60 New Embraer E175 Aircraft SkyWest to purchase and operate 16 E175 aircraft under a multi-year contract for Delta, with deliveries expected beginning in 2027 SkyWest also secured firm delivery positions with Embraer for 44 additional E175s from 2028 to 2032 for potential future flying contract opportunities, with purchase rights on 50 additional E175s The 16 new E175 aircraft are expected to replace 11 CRJ900s and 5 CRJ700s currently under contract with Delta ST. GEORGE, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) (“SkyWest”) today announced an agreement to purchase and operate 16 new E175 aircraft under a multi-year contract for Delta Air Lines (“Delta”). The 16 new E175 aircraft are expected to replace 11 CRJ900s and 5 CRJ700s currently under contract with Delta. The aircraft will be purchased by SkyWest from Embraer, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. SkyWest also secured firm delivery positions with Embraer for 44 additional E175s from 2028 to 2032. SkyWest intends to take delivery of the 44 additional E175s, subject to SkyWest entering into flying agreements with one of its major airline partners in respect of such aircraft. The firm delivery positions and purchase rights on 50 additional E175 aircraft announced today would provide SkyWest with ongoing fleet flexibility over the next decade. Commenting on the agreement, Chip Childs, President and CEO of SkyWest, said, “We’re pleased to strengthen our Delta partnership and to continue to grow our E175 fleet. This aircraft order enables us to advance our long-term fleet strategy, enhance our dual-class footprint, and continue to lead the industry in delivering an exceptional product for Delta and each of our flying partners.” About SkyWest SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for SkyWest Airlines, SWC, and SkyWest Leasing, an aircraft leasing company. SkyWest Airlines has a fleet of nearly 500 aircraft connecting passengers to over 265 destinations throughout North America. SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines carrying 42 million passengers in 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250618426153/en/SkyWest-Orders-60-New-Embraer-E175-Aircraft EGYPTAIR discloses order for an additional 6 Airbus A350 aircraft Paris, France, 18 June 2025 – EGYPTAIR has disclosed a firm order for an additional six A350-900s as part of its expansion strategy to meet growing demand for air travel. The agreement takes the airline’s total order for the type to 16 A350-900. “We are continuously working to modernise our fleet and deliver a more comfortable and optimised travel experience. This collaboration with Airbus builds on a long-standing relationship that spans decades, marked by multiple successful deals and strategic partnerships in the aviation sector. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to integrating the next-generation aircraft into our fleet. It will enable us to meet rising demand for long-haul travel, support our network expansion plans over the next five years, and contribute to Egypt’s broader efforts to promote more sustainable air transport.” said EGYPTAIR Chairman and CEO Captain Ahmed Adel. “This is the second time EGYPTAIR has placed an order for the A350 and the decision is testament to the value the aircraft provides. The A350 is set to be a pillar in EGYPTAIR’s journey, and we look forward to these aircraft playing a pivotal role in the airline’s continued success, growth and decarbonisation ambition," said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and has set new standards for intercontinental travel. It offers the longest range capability of any commercial airliner in production today. Powered by the latest generation of Rolls-Royce engines, the aircraft is designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles / 18,000 kilometres non-stop, using 25% less fuel than previous generation types and with a similar reduction in carbon emissions. The A350-900s are equipped with a comfortable and spacious Airspace cabin, wide seats, high ceilings and alluring ambient lighting. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030. At the end of May 2025, the A350 had won over 1,390 orders from 60 customers worldwide. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-release/2025-06-egyptair-discloses-order-for-an-additional-6-airbus-a350-aircraft Japan's ANA finalises orders for up to 92 aircraft ANA Holdings, parent of ANA - All Nippon Airways, has finalised previously announced orders for up to 92 aircraft with Airbus, Embraer, and Boeing during the 2025 Paris Air Show. "This order will be the catalyst for improving the profitability of domestic flights and the expansion of international flights which is an area of future growth of our airline business. We will fully utilise this opportunity in order to become an industry-leading airline with sustainable growth," the airline told ch-aviation. The Japanese airline group signed an agreement to purchase twenty-four A321-200Ns and three A321-200NY(XLR)s. Ten A321neo and the three A321XLRs will be delivered to subsidiary Peach Aviation, making the low-cost carrier the first operator of the A321XLR in Japan. The rest of the A321neo aircraft will be delivered to ANA. The A321neo will start delivering in the 2030 fiscal year (starting April 1, 2030), and the A321XLRs in FY2032 (from April 1, 2032). ANA Holdings also finalised a deal for fifteen E190-E2s with purchase rights for five more. Deliveries are set to run between FY2028 and FY2032, marking the debut of the E2 aircraft series in Japan. In addition, the holding company formally ordered twenty-three B787-9s and eighteen B737-8s, with purchase rights for four more narrowbody aircraft. The B787-9s are scheduled for delivery from FY2028 to FY2031, while the B737-8s are expected to be inducted between FY2029 and FY2033. Five newly ordered B787-9s and ten B737-8s were previously optioned by the airline. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/154991-japans-ana-finalises-orders-for-up-to-92-aircraft These Airlines Would Be Hardest Hit By A Boeing 787 Grounding Air India Flight 171 crashed last Thursday while taking off from Ahmedabad, India. The crash killed 241 people onboard the flight's Boeing 787 Dreamliner and at least 38 people on the ground; there was only one survivor who miraculously crawled out of the plane's wreckage. As the focus shifted to determining what caused the tragic incident, the Federal Aviation Administration faced questions on whether the Boeing model is safe enough to remain flying while the investigation is ongoing. If the American-built airliner is grounded, U.S. carriers would be disproportionately impacted. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, "It'd be way too premature" to ground the Boeing 787 during a press conference, Reuters reports. He criticized people for using videos and photos of the crash to analyze the incident, and stated that the agency "will follow the facts and put safety first." Duffy is partially correct. Speculation is rampant because of the plane's apparent controlled glide into a medical school canteen. According to the BBC, experts contend that the plane's GEnx engines may have experienced an astronomically rare double failure despite the lack of visible telltale signs. If the FAA does put safety first and decides to ground the Dreamliner, nearly 1,120 Boeing planes would be taken out of service. United Airlines and American Airlines would be the heaviest impacted by a grounding, as they fly 141 Boeing 787 planes combined. The only carrier that operates more 787s is Japan's Air Nippon Airways. However, it should be noted that most 787s flown by ANA are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent engines, not the General Electric turbofans. The duration of the grounding would depend on the fault found and the risk's severity. The Boeing 737 Max was out of service for 20 months after the aircraft's two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. To lift the grounding, the FAA stipulated requirements for Boeing to fix the MCAS flight stabilization feature and properly train pilots to deal with the system. The debacle cost the American aviation giant over $80 billion through cancelled orders, legal fees, fines and victim compensation. https://www.yahoo.com/autos/airlines-hardest-hit-boeing-787-212500450.html Skyview Charter Selects JDA for Part 135 Certification Support OLNEY, MD - JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) today announced that Skyview Charter, a Tampa, FL company, has contracted JDA for Part 135 Certification, Safety Assurance System (SAS) and Safety Management System (SMS) support. All new Part 135 operator applicants are managed by their FAA Flight Standards Office (FSDO) under SAS, a data-supported/risk-based approach for both initial certification as well asoperator surveillance and certificate management. JDA’s Part 135 certification support includes manuals, SMS and a Statement of Compliance specifically tailored to help new charter operators satisfy FAA requirements based on a Design Assessment using SAS Data Collection Tools (DCT’s). "As a new 135 operator applicant I needed expert advice and assistance especially with the SAS and SMS requirements and JDA offered the best solution in the market. I needed to be certain that I could get my operating certificate as efficiently as possible to ensure new business opportunities could be met and JDA has the expertise to make that happen,” said Patryk Pochwatka, Principal and Owner. “JDA’s experts have comprehensive knowledge and expertise in SMS, SAS, the DCTs and methodology. We have the top experts in the industry today who also provide SAS and SMS instruction to FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors at the FAA Training Academy. Our team will complete the Certification Process Design Assessment like the FAA, ensuring that an operator’s formal application package aligns with the SAS and Part 5 SMS,” said Tom Stuckey, JDA Vice President of Business and Commercial Aviation Solutions and manager of the JDA Part 135 program. To learn more about JDA’s 135, SAS and SMS support program contact Tom Stuckey at 301-941-1460 (ext 210) or 817-733-6808, or via email to tstuckey@jdasolutions.aero. # # # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ About JDA - For more than 31 years, JDA has been a leading aviation industry consultant, delivering innovative solutions for aviation client challenges in safety, compliance, certification, obstruction evaluation, technology infusion and airport support. JDA offers a wide range of certification and operations-related services and products including technology transfer, new carrier certification, obstruction evaluation, safety-based manual systems, SAS Conformance Audits, and Safety Management Systems. For additional information on JDA Aviation Technology Solutions visit JDA at www.jdasolutions.aero or call 301-941-1460 to arrange for a private briefing. www.jdasolutions.aero Graduate Research Request - 1 My name is Mohammed Muazu, a Doctoral Researcher (Doctor of Aviation (Av.D Candidate) at the College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology. I am conducting a cross-national research study on aviation professionalism among stakeholders in the United States and Nigeria. I warmly invite all aviation professionals, students, safety practitioners, aircraft engineers/technicians , air traffic controllers, crew members, and others across the aviation industry to participate in a brief, anonymous online survey. The goal is to better understand professionalism in aviation and contribute to global safety and professional standards. I kindly seek your support in sharing the survey link and attached poster with your members or networks. Your input will be invaluable: https://fit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWplkvmjbSZ7Kjs. Thank you for your time and support. Mohammed Muazu Doctoral Candidate (Doctor of Aviation (Av.D) Programme) College of Aeronautics Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne USA mmuazu2020@my.fit.edu CALENDAR OF EVENTS · South Texas Business Aviation Association June 20th at the Galaxy FBO at Conroe Airport, Texas. . NTSB set hearing date in Boeing 737-9 plug door incident investigation - June 24, 2025 . Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA) Conference, June 25 & 26 2025 Riyadh Air Headquarters . 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 . 2025 PROS IOSA SUMMIT - SEPT 10-11 - Denver, CO · 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