Flight Safety Information - July 15, 2025 No. 140 In This Issue : Incident: Royal DH8B at Fomboni on Jul 14th 2025, overran runway : Incident: Peace B735 at Port Harcourt on Jul 13th 2025, overran runway on landing : Air India Chief Raises New Questions About Crash After Preliminary Crash Report Finds No Mechanical Issues : Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash : Delta Flight Forced to Turn Around After Plane Sustains Damage From Hail Shortly After Takeoff : Images show shredded KC-46 boom that led to emergency landing : Chinese passenger plane narrowly avoids mid-air collision with cargo jet over Siberia : Sun Country plane headed to Minneapolis diverted to Los Angeles after engine issue : ICAO Chief Praises Kazakhstan’s Aviation Progress, Eyes Greater Regional Role : LATAM To Update Current A319s Due To New Aircraft Shortage : US senators urge Trump administration to back older retirement age for pilots : Calendar of Events Incident: Royal DH8B at Fomboni on Jul 14th 2025, overran runway A Royal Air de Havilland Dash 8-200, registration 5Y-SYF performing flight 604 from Grande Comore to Fomboni (Comores), landed on Fomboni's runway 13 but overran the runway (1300m/4300 feet long) and came to a stop with the nose gear off the paved surface. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained minor if any damage. The tail number 5Y-SYF (Kenya) is unclear. neither database nor photographic evidence of this tail number exists before the runway overrun. The company Royal Air Sarl, based in Moroni (Comores), offers ground services, fuel services, documentation (flight permit) services and in cooperation with Royal Air Charter offers Medical Evacuations and Charter flights. Royal Air Charter operates ERJ-145 and Cessna Grand Caravans, but no Dash 8. https://avherald.com/h?article=52a520ec&opt=0 Incident: Peace B735 at Port Harcourt on Jul 13th 2025, overran runway on landing An Air Peace Boeing 737-500, registration 5N-BQQ performing flight P4-7190 from Lagos to Port Harcourt (Nigeria) with 127 people on board, landed on Port Harcourt's runway 03 at about 07:45L (06:45Z) but overran the runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs onto the grass. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minor if any damage. Nigeria's Airport Authority confirmed the incident and reported all passengers disembarked safely. https://avherald.com/h?article=52a51cdd&opt=0 Air India Chief Raises New Questions About Crash After Preliminary Crash Report Finds No Mechanical Issues A preliminary report into the June crash found that the plane's fuel control switches had been flipped off one by one An Air India executive is still urging its staff not to jump to any conclusions as the investigation into the crash that killed 260 people last month continues A preliminary report into the June crash found that the plane's fuel control switches had been flipped off one by one India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is still investigating the incident, and Air India is in the process of inspecting all of its jets Although a preliminary report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people last month found that fuel control switches had been flipped off, cutting the fuel supply to the engines, an Air India executive is still urging its staff not to jump to any conclusions as the investigation continues. On Monday, July 14, the Wall Street Journal reported that Campbell Wilson, Air India's chief executive, wrote in a memo to staff following the release of the preliminary report that the investigation by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was "far from over." In the memo, obtained by the WSJ, Wilson wrote that "over the past 30 days, we've seen an ongoing cycle of theories, allegations, [rumors] and sensational headlines, many of which have later been disproven." According to the outlet, the memo didn't mention one of the AAIB's findings, specifically that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's fuel control switches had been turned off one at a time. Instead, Wilson asked staff to focus on the finding that there were no problems with the fuel quality and no issues in the takeoff roll, which is the initial stage of takeoff when an aircraft accelerates on the ground. He said that "there were no observations pertaining to [the pilots'] medical status," and shared that they passed a mandatory preflight Breathalyzer test. The report "provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions," Wilson wrote. PEOPLE reached out to Air India for comment on Monday. According to The New York Times, the plane was operated by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Aircraft debris at the crash site of Air India Ltd. flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty The preliminary report published on Saturday, July 12, stated that soon before the June 12 crash, fuel to the aircraft’s engines was cut off. The plane was on its way from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport at the time. At 8:08 a.m. local time, “the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off," the report states. Black box audio from the cockpit recorded “one of the pilots … asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.” “At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,' " according to the report. Emergency officials responded to the wreckage at 8:14 a.m. “Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders,” the report concluded. The report noted that the FAA previously issued a bulletin in 2018 about "potential disengagement" and difficulties with the fuel-control switches on certain 737s, a different Boeing model. According to the WSJ, the FAA said that some aircrafts were delivered to airlines with their locking mechanism (which stops the switches from being accidentally flipped) deactivated. According to the outlet, the FAA sent a global bulletin on Friday reiterating the information in its 2018 advisory, but it didn't consider the issue to be "an unsafe condition." The WSJ also reported that U.S. pilots who fly the 787 have previously said that the fuel-control switches are difficult to flip by accident, but pilots use the switches to start engines and shut them down quickly in certain emergency situations. 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Air India is now in the process of inspecting its 787 fleet, and the WSJ reported that no faults have been found thus far. “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident," the airline said in a statement in response to the new report. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time." “Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB,” the company's statement added. The passenger jet carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members crashed minutes after takeoff on June 12. The plane hit a college hostel in a residential area when it crash-landed in Ahmedabad, bursting into flames. Only one passenger on board survived. https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-india-chief-raises-questions-194939494.html Some airlines checking Boeing fuel switches after Air India crash NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India on Monday ordered its airlines to examine fuel switches on several Boeing models while South Korea ordered a similar measure on Tuesday, as scrutiny intensified of fuel switch locks at the centre of an investigation into a deadly Air India crash. The precautionary moves by the two countries and airlines in several others came despite the planemaker and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assuring airlines and regulators in recent days that the fuel switch locks on Boeing jets are safe. A preliminary report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people found that the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run position to cutoff shortly after takeoff. One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he had cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. The report noted a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models including the 787 to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it had issued an order to investigate locks on several Boeing models including 787s and 737s, after several Indian and international airlines began making their own inspections of fuel switches. The regulator oversees the world's third-largest and fastest-growing aviation market. Boeing planes are used by three of the country's four largest airlines. PRECAUTIONARY CHECKS Some airlines around the world told Reuters they had been checking relevant switches since 2018 in accordance with the FAA advisory, including Australia's Qantas Airways and Japan's ANA. Others said they had made additional or new checks since the release of the preliminary report into the Air India crash. Singapore Airlines said on Tuesday that precautionary checks on the fuel switches of its 787 fleet, including planes used by its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, confirmed all were functioning properly. The Lufthansa group said it had re-checked switches on its 787s since the Air India incident, after initially inspecting them in 2018, and found no issues. South Korea's transport ministry said it ordered domestic airlines on Tuesday to inspect fuel control switches in accordance with the 2018 FAA advisory. "At that time (2018), it was a recommended measure and was not fully inspected," the statement to media said. Flag carrier Korean Air Lines said on Tuesday it had proactively begun inspecting fuel control switches. Japan Airlines said it was conducting inspections in accordance with the 2018 advisory. Taiwan's EVA Air said that it understood that no further inspections of Boeing 787s were required. INSPECTIONS Boeing referred Reuters' questions to the FAA, which did not respond to a request for comment. Boeing shares closed 1.6% higher on Monday after there were no recommended actions in the report aimed at operators of 787 jets or the GE engines. Over the weekend, Air India Group started checking the locking mechanism on the fuel switches of its 787 and 737 fleets and has discovered no problems yet, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. About half the group's 787s have been inspected and nearly all its 737s, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Inspections were set to be completed in a day or two. The Air India crash preliminary report said the airline had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections as the FAA's 2018 advisory was not a mandate. But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. In an internal memo on Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out. https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-checking-boeing-fuel-switches-123507526.html Delta Flight Forced to Turn Around After Plane Sustains Damage From Hail Shortly After Takeoff The New York-bound flight reached 20,000 feet in altitude before circling back to the airport A Delta Airlines flight was forced to turn around within an hour of takeoff after flying through a hailstorm over the weekend. New York City-bound Delta Flight 169 was scheduled to depart from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport at 2:10 p.m. local time on July 12. After leaving the Barcelona airport, the plane began to experience "weather-related damage” caused by hail, according to the airline's statement shared with PEOPLE. “The flight landed safely in Barcelona and customers were reaccommodated on alternate flights to their final destinations,” the carrier added. “Delta apologizes to our customers for the delay in their travels.” According to flight tracker Flightradar24, the plane departed at 2:36 p.m. and returned to the ground at 3:22 p.m. The flight, operating an Airbus A333, climbed over 20,000 feet in altitude before descending. The recorded flight path shows the aircraft circled a few times before landing. There were no reported injuries to the 276 passengers and 13 crew members onboard. X user @locaeropuerto shared a photo allegedly showing the sustained damage. The nose of the plane is caved in with chipped off paint surrounding it. Earlier this year, passengers on board IndiGo Flight 6E-2142 experienced another terrifying mid-air weather attack. On May 21, the Airbus A321 carrying 227 passengers to Sirinagar, India, flew through a hail and lightning storm. The aircraft experienced strong turbulence that violently shook the cabin. Footage from onboard captures passengers, including children, screaming in fear as the cabin shakes and lightning flashes surround them. Some are seen grabbing the chairs in front of them, seeming to brace for some sort of impact. 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. Although the flight was declared an emergency by the pilot, the plane was able to safely land close to the expected arrival time. No injuries were reported, though the plane suffered a lot of damage. According to a local news outlet, the flight crew followed all of the accurate procedures and protocol to keep the passengers safe. https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-flight-forced-turn-around-192147633.html Images show shredded KC-46 boom that led to emergency landing A KC-46A Pegasus refueling tanker was forced to conduct an emergency landing July 8 after its refueling boom was shredded in a mishap off the East Coast. The unofficial Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco posted photos of the KC-46 Friday, which showed extensive damage to the plane’s refueling boom. The War Zone first reported the damage to the KC-46. The photos show most of the boom is ripped off, with its remaining metal ripped and twisted and a chain hanging down. The underside of the plane’s tail was also dented and scraped, which may have occurred from the damaged boom. John Van Winkle, a spokesperson at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, confirmed one of the base’s tankers was damaged and pictured in the post. The KC-46, which is from McConnell’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing, was refueling F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis that afternoon when the mishap occurred, Van Winkle said. The crew declared an in-flight emergency and landed safely at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina without any injuries, he said. The F-22s returned to their home base. A safety investigation is now under way, Van Winkle said, and no further details could be released. https://www.yahoo.com/news/images-show-shredded-kc-46-153154651.html Chinese passenger plane narrowly avoids mid-air collision with cargo jet over Siberia Two Chinese aircraft allegedly came within seconds of colliding over Russian airspace earlier this month after an unauthorised altitude change by an Air China passenger jet led to the dangerous convergence with a cargo plane. Air China Flight CA967, en route from Shanghai to Milan, abruptly climbed from 34,100 to 36,000ft without instruction from Russian air traffic control on 6 July, reported the South China Morning Post. The manoeuvre brought it within roughly 300 to 400ft (90–120m) of SF Airlines Flight CSS128, a Boeing 767 cargo jet flying from Budapest to Ezhou in central China. International aviation safety protocols require a minimum vertical separation of 1,000ft between aircraft at cruising altitude. The near miss occurred above Tuva, a remote mountainous region in southern Siberia bordering Mongolia, and was captured on live tracking data from Flightradar24. The unauthorised ascent triggered onboard alarms known as the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) in both aircraft, prompting emergency evasive action. Audio recordings circulating on Chinese social media since the weekend suggest the Russian controller was simultaneously handling four aircraft and may have issued unclear instructions. The source of the leaked recordings remains unknown and their authenticity could not be independently verified. Air China, SF Airlines and China’s civil aviation authority have not issued public comments.The Independent has written to them for comments. In the English-language communication, the controller is heard asking: “Are you climbing with instruction or without instruction? Confirm, please.” The Air China pilot replies: “No. Thank you.” It remains unclear why the Air China crew altered altitude but miscommunication of command directed at another aircraft is being considered as a possible reason, reported Belgium outlet Aviation24.be. The pilot’s full response was inaudible due to overlapping radio transmissions. After switching to a private frequency, the two Chinese pilots conversed in Mandarin. The SF Airlines captain expressed concern over the climb, calling it “very inappropriate” and questioned whether the move had been cleared. The Air China pilot attributed the confusion to a Russian controller who he claimed had made “a fuss”, leaving the crew “confused.” He admitted they would need to file an official report. https://www.aol.com/chinese-passenger-plane-narrowly-avoids-105612401.html Sun Country plane headed to Minneapolis diverted to Los Angeles after engine issue Plane forced to land shortly after takeoff A Sun Country airplane headed for Minneapolis ran into engine trouble and was diverted back to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after taking off early Monday morning. The airline said Sun Country Flight 430 “experienced an issue with one engine” and landed safely back at LAX around 12:54 a.m. local time. Information from the flight tracking website FlightAware indicates the Boeing 737 was in the air for about 20 minutes before landing. According to Sun Country, 166 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight were scheduled to take a later plane to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The replacement aircraft landed in the Twin Cities around 3 p.m. Ruth Sorenson described how scary it was on board during the incident. “There was this deafening clash, and it sounded like we hit another plane, and everyone screamed and we tipped to the side, and everyone was screaming and holding hands.” Sun County Airlines issued the following statement Monday evening: Sun Country flight 430 from LAX to Minneapolis-St. Paul experienced an issue with one engine after take-off, declared an emergency, safely returned to LAX at approximately 12:54 am local time, and taxied back to the gate. Our passengers and crew are our priority, and we appreciate the professionalism of our pilots and flight attendants to ensure the safety of our customers. The flight had 166 passengers and six crew members on board. We thank our passengers for their patience and have scheduled another aircraft to return passengers to MSP today. https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/sun-country-plane-headed-to-minneapolis-diverted-to-los-angeles-after-engine-issue/ ICAO Chief Praises Kazakhstan’s Aviation Progress, Eyes Greater Regional Role ASTANA – International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) President Salvatore Sciacchitano recognized Kazakhstan’s swift progress in aviation safety, liberalization, and infrastructure, emphasizing its potential to become a major regional air transport hub connecting Europe and Asia in an interview with The Astana Times. The ICAO’s recently adopted 2025-2050 strategic plan sets ambitious global goals, and Kazakhstan is positioning itself to play a key regional role in achieving them. According to Sciacchitano, global air transport is expected to triple by 2050, making safety, sustainability, and inclusivity essential priorities. “The strategic plan sets goals for zero fatalities in flight operations and net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century. This requires advancing new technologies, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and ensuring every nation meets the highest aviation safety and security standards,” said Sciacchitano. Kazakhstan has made notable progress toward these objectives, with Sciacchitano emphasizing the country’s adoption of modern air transport policies, including open skies liberalization, which enhances market access and global connectivity. “Kazakhstan’s liberalization policy means more opportunities for international airlines and passengers, strengthening its position as a regional hub. The country’s investments in air traffic management and airport infrastructure are key to meeting ICAO’s safety and sustainability goals,” he said. Leading in aviation and equality During his visit to Astana, Sciacchitano met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, commending his leadership in advancing aviation reform and sustainability, and highlighting Kazakhstan’s notable progress in promoting gender equality within the aviation sector. “As I told the President of Kazakhstan today, beyond recognizing the country’s impressive aviation achievements, I want to highlight something truly remarkable. Globally, only 5% of aviation professionals are women. In Kazakhstan, women make up 40% of the civil aviation workforce. This is an extraordinary example of progress toward gender equality and a model for other countries in Europe and around the world,” said Sciacchitano. “The country is advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of gender equality. In my view, this commitment to empowering women is one of the country’s most significant accomplishments in civil aviation,” he added. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded Salvatore Sciacchitano the First Degree Order of Dostyk in recognition of his contribution to the strengthening international cooperation in the aviation field. Sciacchitano highlighted the importance of ensuring no country is left behind in achieving aviation standards. While Kazakhstan has exceeded the global average in terms of safety and security compliance, other countries in the region are progressing at varying rates. ICAO pledged continued support to help them implement international standards. He called Kazakhstan’s aviation progress a “model for the region,” noting the country’s transformation from a marginal player in global aviation to a leader in the region’s air transport development. “Kazakhstan’s geographic location between Europe and Asia and its open market policies create strong potential for it to serve as a key air traffic hub. It’s not just about direct flights but about generating regional connectivity,” he said. Future growth and youth engagement ICAO is focused on cultivating the next generation of aviation professionals to meet rising global demand. Aviation traffic is projected to grow from 4.6 billion passengers per year today to approximately 12.6 billion by 2050, creating a pressing need for skilled professionals across the sector. “What is important is to continue implementing high standards, support infrastructure development, and lead globally in the international aviation market. This includes promoting access for the next generation of aviation professionals,” said Sciacchitano. ICAO’s Next Generation Aviation Professionals program encourages young people to explore aviation careers, introducing initiatives at the state and regional levels to raise awareness among school-age students. “We must create more attention and opportunities for the younger generation,” he said. Kazakhstan’s youth are encouraged to pursue aviation careers through internships, secondments, and training opportunities in global hubs such as Montreal and Paris. “Civil aviation is a driver of socio-economic growth. Kazakhstan’s vision and reforms, under President Tokayev’s leadership, are positioning it as a model for the region, advancing connectivity, economic development, and sustainability,” said Sciacchitano. https://astanatimes.com/2025/07/icao-chief-praises-kazakhstans-aviation-progress-eyes-greater-regional-role/ LATAM To Update Current A319s Due To New Aircraft Shortage LATAM Airlines Group has chosen to conduct an extensive retrofit of the bulk of its existing Airbus A319 fleet. Citing a scarcity of available new aircraft, the airline group will instead be investing $40 million in upgrading 37 of its fleet of 39 A319s. The upgrades will include new economy and premium economy seats, enhanced connectivity and new in-flight entertainment. The A319 is the smallest aircraft in the LATAM fleet, used for regional routes primarily from Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima and São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport. LATAM currently has 39 of the type that are operational, with an average age of 17 years, making it one of the older aircraft types in the fleet. Upgrades to the A319s follow extensive retrofit programs for LATAM's A320s, A321s, and Boeing 787s in recent years. The A319 retrofit program was initiated in May, with two aircraft completed so far and the full fleet expected to be finalized by the second half of 2026. Each aircraft requires two to three weeks of work, with the refurbishments taking place at LATAM's maintenance bases in Brazil, Peru, and Chile. The A319 retrofits will be the first comprehensive overhaul of aircraft that in some cases have flown with the airline and its predecessors (LAN Airlines and TAM Linhas Aéreas) for more than two decades. The updates will include the following: New Collins Meridian seats with greater recline, padding for comfort and fully-adjustable headrests. Improved overhead bin capacity and optimized spaces for personal items, including mounting pads for phones and tablets. Improved connectivity, with new Wi-Fi across all aircraft and USB-A and USB-C ports at every seat. New in-flight entertainment via LATAM Play, accessible from any personal device. Jaime Cornejo, cabin interior manager for LATAM, says that the retrofits will also introduce "a new generation of interiors inspired by the nature, architecture, landscapes, and the urban culture of South America." To achieve this, LATAM is incorporating regional materials, textures, and colors, seeking to create an atmosphere that combines the modern with the authentic representation of the continent. "With this renewal of the A319s, we are not only modernizing our fleet, but also bringing the essence of South America to the interiors of our aircraft. Every detail, from the upholstery inspired by our landscapes to the textures that evoke our culture, was carefully selected. This investment ensures that our fleet is equipped with the latest in comfort and connectivity." LATAM Airlines Group has operated a total of 50 A319s over the years, with 39 currently remaining in service. TAM Linhas Aéreas took delivery of the first of the type in 1999, although the current oldest aircraft in the fleet is CC-COX at 21.7 years, which LAN Airlines received in 2003. The Group has multiple regional subsidiaries, and the assignment of the A319 fleet is currently split between Brazil (18), Chile (15), Ecuador (4), and Peru (2). However, the Chilean fleet is operationally based in Peru and Ecuador, and Lima is the airport in the LATAM network that offers the most A319 flights, with a total of 48 destinations. São Paulo's two largest airports and Brasilia see the bulk of Brazilian A319 flights, the vast majority being shorter domestic connections. There has been speculation that LATAM will place an order with Embraer for a replacement for the A319s. However, the Embraer E195-E2, the largest of the series, would only be able to seat a maximum of 132 using LATAM's current row pitch specifications, well short of the 144 seats aboard its A319s. Instead, LATAM appears to be focused on upgauging its fleet, with deliveries of its 38 incoming 180-seat A320neos nearing completion, while more than 50 of its 220-seat A321neos are still to be delivered. The $40 million investment in the A319 retrofit, therefore, appears to be a commitment to the type until at least the next decade, with it continuing to serve on the thinner regional routes. Similarly, LATAM spent the first half of this decade completing a $400 million refurbishment of its older A320-200s (135 active aircraft) and A321-200s (49 active aircraft). While this was delayed by the pandemic and the carriers' subsequent Chapter 11 proceedings, the retrofit of the larger narrowbodies was designed to extend their useful life by at least another 10 years. LATAM's retrofit programs have not just been limited to its narrowbody fleet. The group now has 37 Boeing 787 aircraft in operation (10 B787-8; 27 B787-9), with a further 19 set to be delivered over the next few years. It is currently in the process of conducting a $360 million refurbishment of 24 of the older aircraft in this fleet, including significant upgrades to the business-class product with the introduction of Recaro R7 private suites. https://simpleflying.com/latam-update-current-a319s-new-aircraft-shortage/ US senators urge Trump administration to back older retirement age for pilots WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of three U.S. senators including Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged President Donald Trump's administration on Monday to support international efforts to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age. In 2023, Congress rejected a push to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the U.S. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. The Air Line Pilots Association has opposed raising the retirement age and said such a move could cause airline scheduling and pilot training issues and also require reopening pilot contract talks. The group of senators is led by Marsha Blackburn and includes her fellow Republican Thune and Democrat Mark Kelly. "Raising or eliminating the pilot retirement age -- coupled with the existing rigorous technical and medical testing that pilots undergo -- would result in a reduction of accidents by closing the experience gap and retaining the greatest level of experience our passengers expect on the flight deck," said the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed by Reuters. They urged Rubio to advocate at the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations, for hiking the retirement age. "If the United States cedes our leadership role in this space on the international stage, China -- who is presently and actively joining our partners to advocate for raising the pilot retirement age -- will gladly fill that void," the senators wrote. The State Department did not immediately comment. The U.S. mission to ICAO in Montreal has been without an ambassador since Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the commercial airline pilot who safely landed an Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River in 2009, stepped down in July 2022. Former President Joe Biden nominated former Florida Governor Charlie Christ to the post in 2023, but he was not confirmed. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-senators-urge-trump-administration-back-higher-pilot-retirement-age-2025-07-14/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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