Flight Safety Information - August 1, 2025 No. 153 In This Issue : Incident: ACT B744 at Amsterdam on Jul 30th 2025, engine shut down in flight : Airbus A319-131 - BirdStrike (Austin) : Airbus A320-232 - Birdstrike (San Antonio) : Boeing sued by flight attendants over Alaska Airlines MAX 9 mid-air panel blowout : Another cutting-edge F-35 fighter jet falls out of the sky. Here's what to know. : United Airlines flight forced to turn back to Heathrow as ‘fumes’ fill part of plane after take-off : Man Who Tried to Stab Flight Attendant, Open Cockpit Door Is Already Free : Flight Attendant on plane that flipped over during landing blames ‘inexperienced pilot’ for crash as she sues the airline : Ryanair calls for air traffic control chief to resign after latest failure : Plane Crash Hearing Witness Called Out for Allegedly 'Elbowing FAA Employee Mid-Sentence': ‘Not Gonna Put Up with That’ : FAA fails to resolve persistent issues with SkyWest maintenance, audit says : Brisbane Airport achieves world-first IATA security certification through proactive risk management and continuous improvement initiatives : Mission Aviation Fellowship celebrates 80 years of service : Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines resume flights to Israel : Airbus Delivers 306 Aircraft in First Half of 2025 : Vueling to Operate 50 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Ordered by IAG Group : Calendar of Events Incident: ACT B744 at Amsterdam on Jul 30th 2025, engine shut down in flight An ACT Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Emirates, registration TC-ACF performing flight EK-9903 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was descending through about FL110 towards Amsterdam when the crew reported the failure of the outboard right hand engine (CF6). They had tried to restart the engine without success. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 36C about 20 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground in Amsterdam for about 20 hours, then continued its schedule. https://avherald.com/h?article=52b0a655&opt=0 Airbus A319-131 - BirdStrike (Austin) Date: Thursday 31 July 2025 Time: c. 08:55 LT Type: Airbus A319-131 Owner/operator: United Airlines Registration: N806UA MSN: 788 Year of manufacture: 1998 Engine model: IAE V2522-A5 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Incident Location: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, TX (AUS/KAUS) - United States of America Phase: Standing Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Denver International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN) Destination airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, TX (AUS/KAUS) Investigating agency: NTSB Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: United Airlines flight UA1892, a Airbus A319-100, N806UA, had arrived from Denver and was parked on a stand when a post-flight inspection revealed birdstrike evidence on the nose and left-hand forward fuselage. The bird debris was cleaned and no damage was found. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/531463 Airbus A320-232 - Birdstrike (San Antonio) Date: Thursday 31 July 2025 Time: c. 07:00 LT Type: Airbus A320-232 Owner/operator: United Airlines Registration: N439UA MSN: 683 Year of manufacture: 1997 Engine model: IAE V2527-A5 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Category: Incident Location: San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT/KSAT) - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT/KSAT) Destination airport: Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD) Investigating agency: NTSB Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: United Airlines flight UA2629, an Airbus A320-232, N439UA, was on takeoff roll when a bird struck the F/O’s windscreen post. The aircraft continued the flight. Various flights held in the area of San Antonio after the incident so the birds could disperse. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/531470 Boeing sued by flight attendants over Alaska Airlines MAX 9 mid-air panel blowout In separate lawsuits, they are seeking compensation for past and future economic damages, citing physical and mental injuries, emotional distress and other financial costs. “Each of the four flight attendants acted courageously, following their training and putting their passengers’ safety first while fearing for their lives,” Tracy Brammeier, the attorney representing each of the plaintiffs, said. “They deserve to be wholly compensated for this life-altering traumatic experience.” Boeing declined to comment, while Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The lawsuits were filed on Tuesday in Seattle’s King County Superior Court and accuse Boeing of negligence and failure to exercise reasonable care in the production, sale and repair of 737 MAX jets and its parts. “Boeing knew or should have known of the quality control issues present in its production of the 737 MAX line of aircraft,” the filings said. The incident sparked a crisis for the planemaker and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the company and declare that Boeing was not in compliance with a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Boeing had failed to provide adequate training, guidance and oversight to prevent the incident. The board criticized Boeing’s safety culture and its failure to install four key bolts in the panel during production, and accused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of ineffective oversight. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/boeing-sued-flight-attendants-over-085858368.html Another cutting-edge F-35 fighter jet falls out of the sky. Here's what to know. The crash of an F-35 stealth fighter jet in California joins a list of accidents in recent years that have highlighted controversy surrounding the aircraft. The U.S. Navy said July 30 that the jet crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, and its pilot safely ejected. The cause of the crash was still under investigation and no further details were provided. The crash is one of a dozen such F-35 accidents since 2018, most of which involved U.S.-operated jets, and comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the entire aviation industry after a series of commercial, military and small-aircraft disasters in 2025, said Blake Stringer, director of the Center for Aviation Studies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University. "That should be an unacceptable number of crashes," Stringer said. "It's an opportunity for experts to analyze data, look for the trends and statistical patterns and determine what recommended course of actions (is) needed to increase the safety." F-35s, stealth fighter jets known for being the military's most expensive weapon system and credited with revolutionizing modern American warfare, are still a relatively new program for the U.S. military, Stringer said. They were created with affordability in mind so different branches of the military could use a standardized airframe with the ability to satisfy varying requirements, Stringer said. The affordability piece hasn't exactly panned out. Since 2015, when the jets were declared mission-ready, growing governmental and civilian concerns about the costs of the F-35 program have clouded their reputation as among the most technically advanced aircraft in the U.S. arsenal. Before becoming president, Donald Trump tweeted in 2016 that the F-35 program’s cost “is out of control." Each F-35 costs tens of millions of dollars to build, and the Defense Department had about 620 of them in 2024, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released in June 2025. "F-35s’ operating and support costs exceeded $5 billion in 2023," the report found. Why do the fighter jets keep crashing? The latest crash was not the first in the United States in 2025: In January, an F-35 plummeted to the ground in Alaska, causing a fiery explosion at an Air Force base that was captured in dramatic video footage. In that crash, officials said the pilot, who safely ejected, experienced an "in-flight malfunction." In May 2024, a pilot in New Mexico was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before it crashed near an airfield in Albuquerque. In September 2023, a pilot ejected from an F-35 and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The jet flew unmanned for several minutes before it crashed into a field about 60 miles away. Reports of downed F-35s draw national headlines and fresh waves of concern over the aircraft's safety and reliability. Though it's still too early to say what caused this week's crash or whether it's part of a pattern, it should prompt a closer look at the data, Stringer said. Safety failures, workplace shortages, infrastructure decay and other factors are affecting military aviation and the commercial airline industry, he said. Government reports: F-35s are costly, underused The F-35 program is estimated to top at least $2 trillion over the coming decades, with plans to buy about 1,800 more by the mid-2040s, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report last year. The fleet suffers from shortfalls in availability, the rate at which jets are mission-ready at any given time, government reports including the GAO and the Congressional Budget Office have found. In the past few years, availability has ranged from 50% to 60% of the U.S. fleet, which is under the program's target of 65%, the CBO said. More than 1,000 National Guard troops leaving L.A. Newsom says Trump's 'political theater backfired' LA Times American man bitten by shark as he dangled leg from boat in Bahamas The Independent Crashes and any other malfunctions of the costly jets can add to concerns about availability, Stringer said. "It’s important to acknowledge, yes, these are costly, but the cost comes with the capabilities that these systems bring," he said. In May 2023, the Government Accountability Office said the jet program was more than a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original estimates. Costs to maintain the fleet have increased 44%, from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023, the agency said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/another-cutting-edge-f-35-194559181.html United Airlines flight forced to turn back to Heathrow as ‘fumes’ fill part of plane after take-off A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco made a dramatic turnaround back to Heathrow after “fumes” filled up the plane’s food preparation area. Flight UA949 took off from London Heathrow at 12.45pm on Wednesday 30 July for an 11-hour flight to the Californian city. The Boeing 777 managed only 27 minutes in the air before unexpectedly returning to its departure base. The plane reached as far as Milton Keynes, then ditched its flight path and looped back to London, flight tracking data shows. United Airlines told The Independent: “United flight 949 from London Heathrow to San Francisco returned to London shortly after take-off to address fumes in the aircraft’s galley.” The galley is the area in which cabin crew prepare food and store trolleys, and is where the toilets are typically found. “The flight landed safely, passengers deplaned normally at the gate, and we’re working to get our customers to their destinations as soon as possible.” After landing, three fire engines met the plane on the taxiway. There were 272 passengers onboard at the time, along with 13 crew members. Heathrow airport confirmed that the plane landed safely and did not have a wider impact on flight operations that day. After the diversion back to the airport, the flight was ultimately cancelled. The aircraft is still at London Heathrow and is expected to take off at 8.50pm on Thursday 31 July, FlightRadar shows. Heathrow, along with all other UK airports, were disrupted yesterday due to an unrelated air traffic control issue. The incident comes just days after another United Airlines flight was forced to immediately divert back to Washington Dulles Airport after a mechanical issue. The Munich-bound flight took off at 5.40pm local time on Friday, 25 July, yet circled back to the airport moments later. The airline confirmed that the flight returned to the ground shortly after take-off to “address a mechanical issue”. All 219 passengers and 11 crew members deplaned as normal at the gate after the aircraft landed safely. “The flight was subsequently cancelled, and we arranged alternate travel arrangements to take customers to their destination as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for the airline added. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/united-airlines-flight-forced-turn-143841720.html Man Who Tried to Stab Flight Attendant, Open Cockpit Door Is Already Free A 35-year-old Massachusetts man was sentenced to time served on Tuesday, July 29, following an incident on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston. Francisco Severo Torres of Leominster, MA, was charged with interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. In March 2023, Torres allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door mid-flight, leading to an altercation between himself and flight attendants. "Upon inspection, a flight attendant found that the door’s locking handle had been moved out of the fully locked position -- approximately a quarter of the way towards the unlocked position," officials at the Department of Justice reported. Flight attendants saw Torres near the door shortly before and believe he had tampered with the lock. One United crew member confronted Torres, who began shouting and asking if there was camera footage that showed he touched the door. The man proceeded to get out of his seat and approached two flight attendants standing in the aisle. The DOJ claims that video evidence shows Torres yelling "I'm taking over this plane" and that he would "kill every man on this plane." He continues to attack one of the flight attendants with a tampered metal spoon, stabbing him in the neck three times. No major injuries were reported in the incident, and Torres was detained by on-flight crew and passengers before being arrested once the flight arrived in Boston. Torres has a history of mental health issues dating back to 2014. Court records show that Torres has previously spent time in mental health facilities. While on the plane, he reportedly yelled about his father, Dracula. Torres spent just over two years in jail following the incident in May of 2023. On Tuesday, a judge sentenced him to 26 months in prison, the length of time he was held in custody. Torres will now be on supervised release for an additional five years and is not allowed to board a commercial aircraft during that time. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/man-tried-stab-flight-attendant-194606889.html Flight Attendant on plane that flipped over during landing blames ‘inexperienced pilot’ for crash as she sues the airline An off-duty flight attendant recognized for her bravery during a Delta plane crash in Toronto earlier this year is now suing the airline, alleging it compromised safety and knowingly endangered passengers. The suit accuses Delta and its regional carrier, Endeavor Air, of negligence for assigning an "inexperienced" pilot and failing to adequately train the flight crew. CBC News reported that a 15-page lawsuit filed this week in a federal court in Michigan by Vanessa Miles claims she suffered serious injuries in the crash and is seeking at least $75 million in damages. “Delta declines to comment on pending litigation and continues to fully support the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s ongoing investigation,” a Delta spokesperson told The Independent on Thursday. On February 17, Flight 4819, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Endeavor, flipped upside down and skidded down the runway in a fiery landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, resulting in at least 21 people being hospitalized. The flight had departed from Minneapolis with 80 passengers and crew on board. Video and photos of the plane upside down on the snowy runway quickly made headlines. According to the lawsuit, the 67-year-old was employed as a flight attendant with Endeavor at the time of the crash but was not on duty that day. Instead, she was traveling as a passenger, a common industry practice known as "deadheading," to position herself for her next assignment. Michael Morse, the owner of the law firm representing Miles, said she remains an Endeavor employee but has been unable to return to work due to her injuries. "Something went wrong here," Morse told CBC News. "Incidents like this don’t occur without someone’s negligence." In the lawsuit, Miles describes losing consciousness while hanging upside down in her seatbelt after the aircraft came to rest on its roof. When she came to, she was "soaked in jet fuel and surrounded by smoke.” A Detroit resident, Miles was hospitalized in Toronto and sustained multiple injuries, including trauma to her knees and back, a fractured left shoulder and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the filing. "Defendants knowingly, willfully, and repeatedly place profits over safety, resulting in this catastrophic incident and Plaintiff's severe injuries," the complaint reportedly reads. Miles isn’t the only person suing the airlines over this incident. At least 19 lawsuits have been filed by both Canadian and American passengers against Delta and Endeavor Air, CBC News reports. In its preliminary report released in March, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board said that the aircraft experienced a rapid descent and an abnormal nose pitch in the final moments before landing. However, the agency stated it was still too early to determine the exact cause of the crash. The TSB’s full investigation report is expected to be published by fall 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/flight-attendant-plane-flipped-over-141746628.html Ryanair calls for air traffic control chief to resign after latest failure The boss of Britain’s air traffic control service is facing calls to resign over what critics said was the latest in a string of failures under his watch. Ryanair said Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of Nats, should stand down following a radar failure on Wednesday that grounded hundreds of flights at the height of the holiday season. The meltdown caused delays of more than four hours, disrupting travel for thousands of people. While the exact cause of the failure is not yet known, Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s chief operating officer, said the latest malfunction made it “clear that no lessons have been learnt” following similar crises at Nats. An IT breakdown at Nats in 2023 grounded flights and affected more than 700,000 passengers. The air traffic control service has also faced acute staff shortages, prompting questions about a “woke” recruitment policy. Mr McMahon said: “It is outrageous that passengers are once again being hit with delays and disruption due to Martin Rolfe’s continued mismanagement. “Rolfe is out of his depth and must step aside to make way for someone who can do the job properly.” Accusing Mr Rolfe of “incompetence,” he said that if he failed to resign, then Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, should intervene and remove him from his post. He added that Nats required urgent reform “so that airlines and passengers are no longer forced to endure these preventable delays”, A British Airways insider said that though the cause of the radar outage was not yet known, “Nats are responsible for the radar, so you have to say that the buck stops with them”. EasyJet said it was “extremely disappointing” to see an air traffic control failure once again causing disruption at the busiest time of the year. David Morgan, the carrier’s chief operating officer, said: “While our priority today is supporting our customers, we will want to understand from Nats what steps they are taking to ensure issues don’t continue.” Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, has called for Mr Rolfe to quit on several occasions. Mr O’Leary blamed the sluggish response to the 2023 incident over the August bank holiday on Mr Rolfe having allowed engineers crucial to the functioning of Nats to work from home on the busiest weekend of the year. He said that meant they were “sat watching Football Focus in their jim-jams” at the time of the outage. The Ryanair boss went on to compare Nats – which runs the airspace over Britain and the whole of the eastern Atlantic – to Dad’s Army, and said that it was “short-staffed every summer”. Mr O’Leary has accused Mr Rolfe of being “overpaid” and called him a “clown”. ‘Major failure’ BA last year wrote to staff blaming Nats, which controls flights at the country’s busiest airports, for the failure of jets to get away from Heathrow following weather related delays in September. Mr Rolfe has also been criticised for presiding over a recruitment policy that he admitted meant Nats “spent a lot of time working on our diversity and inclusion agenda,” despite a chronic shortfall in headcount. An independent report into the 2023 meltdown commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority and published last November said it represented a “major failure” on the part of Nats. It made 34 recommendations, instructing Mr Rolfe to review back-up plans and his allocation of engineering resources, as well as provide earlier notification of any future disruption. UK-bound services operated by carriers including Ryanair, British Airways (BA) and easyJet were unable to depart, while those already in the air were diverted to Paris and Brussels. The majority of outbound services were also grounded, with only those operating at a lower altitude on domestic trips and short flights to the Continent able to operate. Ryanair said that Nats, formerly known as National Air Traffic Services, must foot the bill for the disruption and compensate carriers and their customers accordingly. Nats declined to comment and said it was investigating the breakdown. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ryanair-calls-air-traffic-control-192314585.html Plane Crash Hearing Witness Called Out for Allegedly 'Elbowing FAA Employee Mid-Sentence': ‘Not Gonna Put Up with That’ The dramatic moment concluded the end of the morning hearing on the deadly mid-air Jan. 29 crash Brian Brant On day 2 of the ongoing probe into the Jan. 29 plane crash, National Transportation Safety Board Chief Jennifer Homendy alleged that an agency supervisor "elbowed an FAA employee mid-sentence" "We want people to feel fully transparent and feel safe in providing us answers," the chairwoman added, before saying she would be changing panelists' seating when they returned from lunch The dramatic moment capped off a session full of new questions and alarm over systemic issues that could have contributed to the crash As the investigative hearing continues into the deadly mid-air crash between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet in January, National Transportation Safety Board Chief Jennifer Homendy called out an agency supervisor for allegedly elbowing an FAA employee mid-testimony. "Me, members of the audience, NTSB staff and members watching virtually had all reported that one of the supervisors had elbowed an FAA employee mid-sentence," Homendy said on Thursday, July 31. Homendy said that while she wasn't going to make an assumption about why that happened, as a result, the person "stopped speaking." It wasn't immediately clear when that interaction happened during the morning session, or which individuals she was referring to. "We want people to feel fully transparent and feel safe in providing us answers," the NTSB chairwoman continued. Homendy then said she would be changing the panelists' seating when they returned from lunch. “I’m not gonna put up with that,” she said. That dramatic moment capped off a session full of new questions and alarm over systemic issues that could have contributed to the Jan. 29 mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. Thursday morning's session mainly focused on staffing concerns at the airport's air traffic control, and in keeping with the tone of the proceedings thus far, the room was filled with dissenting opinions and pointed remarks. The previous day, tensions simmered as Homendy raised concerns that it took six months for the Federal Aviation Administration to send information about staffing in the air traffic control tower. When Nick Fuller, acting deputy chief operations officer with the FAA, said that the agency had shared the "latest and greatest" information about the crash on Wednesday, Homendy disagreed. "You transferred people out instead of taking ownership of the fact that everyone in FAA in the FAA tower was saying there was a problem," the chairwoman said. "But you guys are pointing out, 'Welp, our bureaucratic process. Somebody should have brought it up at some other symposium.' Are you kidding me? 67 people are dead. How do you explain that? Pointing to the over two dozen steps the agency must undergo to enact a policy change, she exclaimed, "Fix it. Do better." 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 Among other details in the agency's preliminary report issued earlier this year, investigators said that there were thousands of close encounters at the airport in recent years, the "vast majority" of which occurred during landings. There were 15,214 reported instances of planes and helicopters being less than 400 feet apart between October 2021 and December 2024, the report found. The investigation hearings will continue on Friday, Aug. 1. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/plane-crash-hearing-witness-called-213719485.html FAA fails to resolve persistent issues with SkyWest maintenance, audit says WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration has failed to resolve persistent issues with SkyWest Airlines' maintenance practices that its inspectors worried could contribute to an accident, a government report said on Thursday. SkyWest is the largest U.S. regional airline and operates flights for United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. An audit by the Transportation Department Office of Inspector General said FAA safety inspectors have been unable to fully resolve issues relating to SkyWest's remote return-to-service maintenance practices for more than four years. Under this practice introduced in 2018, centrally located maintenance controllers at SkyWest's headquarters in Utah oversee SkyWest mechanics or contract mechanics performing maintenance at the aircraft's location, the report said. The audit said FAA inspectors found that SkyWest was "inappropriately deferring maintenance for minimum equipment list items, dispatching aircraft for flights without required inspections, and using pilots to perform maintenance tasks not approved in SkyWest’s maintenance manuals." SkyWest said it was committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance across all aspects of its operations. It said it had also taken numerous actions to help the FAA "identify and resolve any issues in either of our processes to better support SkyWest’s safety efforts." Since 2021, the FAA has been working to resolve 32 issues at SkyWest. The report said at the time of the inspector general's analysis, the FAA had resolved 26 issues but noncompliance persisted with SkyWest’s remote return-to-service maintenance practices. Even though several FAA inspectors identified similar systemic hazard issues, the agency did not initiate a systemic risk review until two years after issues were found. The report said FAA inspectors were frustrated their efforts were being delayed "and concerned that the airline’s remote maintenance practices could contribute to an accident." The FAA said it agreed with six of the seven recommendations and planned to implement them by July 2026. The FAA said it also agreed delays in submissions can hinder safety assessments. In March 2020, an accident in New York revealed pilots were performing unauthorized maintenance procedures, the report said. In 2023, remote return-to-service maintenance actions may have resulted in flights that did not meet FAA safety requirements, it added. The report cited an aircraft released for flight without a required operational altimeter and another flight that included an improperly deferred fuel fault advisory message. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-fails-resolve-persistent-issues-131449968.html Brisbane Airport achieves world-first IATA security certification through proactive risk management and continuous improvement initiatives Brisbane Airport has become the first globally to secure IATA’s SeMS certification, demonstrating leadership in aviation security, innovation, and commitment to international safety standards. Brisbane Airport (BNE) has become the first airport globally to complete a security assessment under the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) new Security Management Systems (SeMS) programme. IATA, representing over 350 airlines and 80% of global air traffic, developed SeMS to provide a structured approach to managing aviation security risks through proactive governance, continuous improvement and industry best practices. The certification process involved an on-site visit to Brisbane Airport in June and a full audit of its security approach. The review covered six core components: Corporate Governance, Resource Management, Threat and Risk Management, Quality Assurance and Control, Emergency and Incident Management, and Security Documentation. Brisbane Airport achieved the highest level of entry and was commended for executive leadership engagement, cross-functional collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, and alignment with global standards. Security is embedded in strategic decision-making and operational processes, supported by senior leadership. The airport’s collaboration across business units ensures a unified approach to risk and incident management, while forward-thinking initiatives strengthen security processes. “At Brisbane Airport, safety and security go hand in hand,” said CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff. “Being the first airport in the world to undergo this assessment reflects our commitment to leading the way in aviation security and delivering a safe, trusted experience for the 24 million passengers who travel through our airport every year. As Australia’s third busiest airport, and a rapidly growing destination ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was important for us to benchmark ourselves against the highest international standards.” Stephen Leah, Head of Security & Emergency Management at Brisbane Airport, accepted the certification at a ceremony at IATA headquarters in Geneva. Sheldon Hee, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific, stated, “SeMS is key to transforming global aviation security from a compliance mentality to one that is proactive in identifying and mitigating security risks and driving continuous improvements. This is a major transition that must involve the entire sector and we commend Brisbane Airport in leading the way by undertaking this rigorous assessment.” Brisbane Airport is Australia’s most connected domestic airport, with 34 direct international destinations. It is undergoing a $5 billion Future BNE transformation, including security screening upgrades at both terminals. https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/291043/brisbane-airport-achieves-world-first-iata-security-certification-through-proactive-risk-management-and-continuous-improvement-initiatives/ Mission Aviation Fellowship celebrates 80 years of service International (MAF) — Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), one of Idaho’s largest nonprofit organizations, marked its 80th anniversary with a vibrant Family Festival at its headquarters at the Nampa airport. The celebration honored eight decades of aviation service to some of the world’s most remote and underserved communities. “On any given day, MAF aircraft are transporting people and supplies to places where access can mean the difference between life and death,” said David Holsten, MAF President and CEO. “For 80 years, our mission has remained the same: to share the love of Jesus Christ so that lives can be transformed both physically and spiritually.” Special guests at the event included Boise State University Head Football Coach Spencer Danielson and Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling, who signed a proclamation declaring it “MAF Appreciation Day” in Nampa, recognizing MAF’s local and global impact. In her comments to the crowd before signing the proclamation, Mayor Kling said, “I am so grateful for the work of the Idaho Friends of MAF who were instrumental in drawing MAF to Nampa. It was a perfect alignment because Nampa is a city of faith.” Coach Spencer Danielson said he learned about the work of MAF several months ago and was impressed with the organization and the reason they do their work. “I often talk to the team about finding your ‘why.’ What’s your impact? It is going to be different for every one of you here. But we are all called to make an impact in the lives of others, just like MAF.” MAF’s Nampa campus is home to approximately 200 staff members who support the organization’s global operations, which include 42 aircraft and 400 personnel serving in 12 countries. The facility includes aircraft maintenance and training hangars, administrative offices, family housing for pilots, and an RV park for volunteers. Idaho’s rugged backcountry provides an ideal training ground for MAF pilots, who must master flying in tight mountain valleys and landing on short, unimproved airstrips—skills essential for their work in isolated regions across Africa, Asia, Eurasia, and Latin America. Founded in 1945 by a group of World War II pilots, MAF was born from a vision to use aviation as a tool for hope and healing. One of its founders, former WASP pilot Betty Greene, conducted MAF’s inaugural flight in 1946, transporting two Bible translators into the interior of Mexico. Today, MAF continues to serve as a lifeline for communities in need, delivering medical care, disaster relief, education, and spiritual support where few others can go. Learn more at MAF.org. https://www.mnnonline.org/news/mission-aviation-fellowship-celebrates-80-years-of-service/ Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines resume flights to Israel Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines returned to Israel on Friday, becoming the latest major carriers to restore service following the 12-day war with Iran in June. The German flag carrier has resumed daily service to Israel from both Frankfurt and Munich, while Austrian Airlines has restarted flights from Vienna. The move comes weeks after other major international carriers including Air France, Air Europa and United Airlines renewed service to Tel Aviv during the busy summer travel season. Other international carriers planning to resume service to Israel later in the year include Delta Air Lines, which is set to restart flights next month, and British Airways, which is scheduled to resume operations in late October. Meanwhile, Terminal 1 at Ben-Gurion International Airport—serving low-cost carriers and domestic flights—is set to reopen on Sunday for the first time since the war with Iran. Among major European budget airlines, Hungary’s Wizz Air is leading the return to Israel, with flights scheduled to resume next week. Europe’s largest low-cost carrier, Ireland’s Ryanair, plans to restart service in October, while London-based EasyJet has postponed its return to Tel Aviv until next spring. https://www.jns.org/lufthansa-and-austrian-airlines-resume-flights-to-israel/ Airbus Delivers 306 Aircraft in First Half of 2025 Global – Airbus has reported strong first-half (H1) 2025 results, highlighting solid commercial and financial performance despite persistent supply chain constraints. The company delivered 306 commercial aircraft, generated €29.6 billion in revenue, and confirmed its guidance for full-year 2025, targeting 820 deliveries and €7 billion in EBIT Adjusted. 306 aircraft delivered in H1 2025: 41 A220 232 A320 Family 12 A330 21 A350 494 gross orders and 402 net commercial aircraft orders placed in H1, raising the order backlog to 8,754 aircraft. Revenue increased 3% year-on-year to €29.6 billion, though commercial aircraft revenue dipped 2% due to fewer deliveries. EBIT Adjusted rose to €2.2 billion, up from €1.4 billion in H1 2024. Net income reached €1.5 billion with reported earnings per share of €1.93, up from €1.04 a year prior. Free cash flow before customer financing was -€1.6 billion, largely due to inventory buildup and delayed engine deliveries affecting over 60 completed aircraft. Airbus reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, targeting: ~820 aircraft deliveries ~€7.0 billion EBIT Adjusted ~€4.5 billion free cash flow (pre-customer financing) Production Outlook The A320neo program continues its ramp-up toward 75 aircraft/month by 2027, despite engine delays from Pratt & Whitney and CFM. Airbus targets increased production across programs: A330: Rate 5 by 2029 A350: Rate 12 by 2028 A220: Rate 14 by 2026 Source: Airbus https://afm.aero/airbus-delivers-306-aircraft-in-first-half-of-2025/ Vueling to Operate 50 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Ordered by IAG Group The 737 MAX 8-200 and MAX 10 aircraft will be received from the end of 2026 and will join the low-cost carrier’s Airbus fleet. Vueling will receive the 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft ordered by the IAG Group (Fictional image using AI) IAG Group has finally announced which of its airlines will receive the 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft ordered in 2022: Vueling. In its first-half earnings report, the parent company confirmed that it will allocate the aircraft to its low-cost subsidiary. The 25 high-seat-density 737 MAX 8-200s and 25 737 MAX 10s are expected to begin deliveries starting in late 2026, IAG said. Vueling currently operates a fleet of 143 Airbus A320 family jets, but only 27 are from the Neo series, the more efficient and rival to the 737 MAX. This represents the return of the 737 to the group, which operated Boeing jets for British Airways until years ago. There was some expectation that part of the order would be absorbed by the British carrier, but the choice of the MAX 8-200 and MAX 10 models signaled a focus on configurations with many seats, more typical of the budget market. Vueling will follow a similar profile to its rival Ryanair, which operates dozens of 737 MAX 8-200s with nearly 200 seats and will also receive the 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of the family and still pending certification. https://www.airdatanews.com/vueling-to-operate-50-boeing-737-max-aircraft-ordered-by-iag-group/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation, 5 to 7 August 2025 Woburn MA 01801 USA. . 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 . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . 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