Flight Safety Information - August 8, 2025 No. 158 In This Issue : 7 August 2025 - African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Cessna 560XL Citation XLS accident 6 dead : ICAO Secretary General advances regional safety, training goals through high-level engagements in Singapore : F.A.A. Plans to Hire 8,900 Air Traffic Controllers but Still Expects Shortages : Emirates Becomes The Largest Airline So Far To Ban Power Banks Over Fire Fears : Passengers still feeling impact of United Airlines technical glitch, ground stop : 'Only Took One Puff': Flight Attendant Opens Bathroom Door on Passenger Caught Vaping : Minister begins monthly meetings with airline heads to boost aviation safety (India) : DFW Airport to undergo construction prompting 90 days of delays and detours : Project rebirth proposes AI airplane crash survival system with inflating external airbags technology : Calendar of Events 7 August 2025 - African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Cessna 560XL Citation XLS accident 6 dead Date: Thursday 7 August 2025 Time: c. 14:20 LT Type: Cessna 560XL Citation XLS Owner/operator: African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Registration: 5Y-FDM MSN: 560-5674 Fatalities: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 2 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Mwihoko, Githurai 45 area, Kiambu County - Kenya Phase: En route Nature: Ambulance Departure airport: Nairobi-Wilson Airport (WIL/HKNW) Destination airport: Hargeisa Airport (HGA/HCMH) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: An AMREF Cessna 560XL Citation XLS crashed in a residential area in Mwihoko, Githurai 45 area, Kiambu County. Initial information suggests four occupants died in the crash, as well as two persons on the ground and the aircraft was destroyed. The flight took off from runway 14 at Wilson Airport (WIL/HKNW) at 14:12 LT (11:12 UTC). About five minutes later the aircraft entered a high rate of descent and impacted terrain 3 minutes about 22 km northeast of the airport. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/534928 ICAO Secretary General advances regional safety, training goals through high-level engagements in Singapore International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, has advanced key organizational priorities through a series of high-profile speaking engagements and bilateral meetings during a four-day mission to Singapore. The mission reinforced partnerships critical to achieving ICAO’s strategic goals and building training capacity to assure the sustainable growth of the region’s air connectivity. Mr. Salazar delivered three major addresses that underscored ICAO's strategic messaging on safety, security and workforce development. He opened the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium on 14 July, alongside International Maritime Organization Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez, addressing more than 500 delegates from over 80 countries on common challenges. On 15 July, Mr. Salazar delivered the keynote address at the 3rd APAC Summit for Aviation Safety, emphasizing ICAO's Global Aviation Safety Plan as the pathway to zero commercial aviation fatalities by 2030. The following day, the Secretary General officially opened the inaugural ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Training Symposium alongside Singapore Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling, highlighting regional training cooperation as essential to sustainable aviation development. Secretary General Salazar's bilateral meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was a particularly significant opportunity for enhancing cooperation to strengthen rules-based frameworks and ensuring a safe, connected, and sustainable global transport system, while advancing Singapore as both an aviation hub and key partner in advancing regional air navigation systems. The meeting was also attended by IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez. Mr. Salazar conducted a bilateral meeting with the Acting Transport Minister of Singapore, Jeffrey Siow, to identify and discuss matters of mutual interest with Singapore's transport leadership. He also met with Mr. Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. The Secretary General also held several bilateral meetings, including with Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, Sri Lanka's Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and H.E. Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services. The speaking engagements and bilateral meetings collectively reinforced ICAO's core advocacy messaging around regional partnership and capacity building. Throughout his activities, Mr. Salazar emphasized that achieving zero aviation fatalities requires collaborative stakeholder engagement, also highlighted workforce development as fundamental to sustainable aviation growth. He positioned ICAO's strategic priorities for 2026-2050 within a framework of strengthened multilateral cooperation and regional capacity building. Mr. Salazar was accompanied throughout his mission by the Director of the Air Navigation Bureau, Mrs. Michele Merkle, ICAO’s Regional Director for the Asia and Pacific (APAC) region, Mr. Tao Ma, and the Deputy Director of the Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau, Mr. Miguel Marin. https://www.icao.int/news/icao-secretary-general-advances-regional-safety-training-goals-through-high-level-0 F.A.A. Plans to Hire 8,900 Air Traffic Controllers but Still Expects Shortages The Federal Aviation Administration says it plans to “supercharge” hiring and training between now and late 2028. It would not be enough to end a shortage of controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday that it expects to hire at least 8,900 air traffic controllers by late 2028, but according to the agency’s own numbers, this would not solve a nationwide staffing shortage. In a work force plan for air traffic controllers between now and the end of fiscal year 2028, which runs through September, the F.A.A. detailed the ways in which it intends to “supercharge” hiring and training to address a shortfall of nearly 3,000 controllers. But the report also revealed that because of projected losses from its current pool of controllers and washouts among its recruits, the F.A.A. expects to have only about 1,000 additional certified controllers by the end of fiscal 2028. The report illustrates the difficulties confronting the F.A.A. as it scrambles to address a national staffing crisis among air traffic controllers, a focal point of its efforts to improve aviation safety after a midair collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport in January killed 67 people. Last week, during a three-day investigative hearing into that crash before the National Transportation Safety Board, F.A.A. officials said the local controller on duty had been working two jobs on the night of the crash, overseeing both plane and helicopter traffic. Despite going against official guidelines, the practice was common at the tower, the officials testified, an example of the staffing shortages that have become endemic at busy towers across the country. A recent study commissioned by Congress found that the F.A.A. has been relying too heavily on controllers working overtime to keep its towers staffed, which increases the likelihood of them experiencing fatigue in a job that involves life-or-death decisions. “Our success depends on highly skilled and dedicated air traffic control and aviation safety inspector workforces,” Bryan Bedford, the F.A.A. administrator, said in a statement accompanying the report on Thursday, adding that increasing both is a priority for his agency. Are you a federal worker? We want to hear from you. The Times would like to hear about your experience as a federal worker under the second Trump administration. We may reach out about your submission, but we will not publish any part of your response without contacting you first. “Putting the best and brightest in our towers and in the field will allow us to make flying safer, reduce delays and cancellations,” Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, said in a statement released with the report. The F.A.A. has said that there is robust interest in the job, but the task of getting qualified controllers into towers remains fraught. Over the next three years, the F.A.A. is expecting to lose almost 6,900 controllers and trainees, with the biggest projected drain coming from attrition at its academy in Oklahoma City. As the agency attempts to push more students through, the number of recruits who fail out is expected to increase, the staffing report said, projecting that more than 3,200 trainees would drop out before ever entering an air traffic facility. Other significant sources of attrition include upcoming retirements, controllers becoming eligible for promotions or transfers, and a projected increase in the number of candidates who graduate from the academy but fail to get certified during additional on-the-job training. The F.A.A. requires controllers to retire at 56, though many become eligible years earlier. Mr. Duffy has offered incentives to keep experienced air traffic controllers on the job as long as possible. Yet such incentives on their own do not appear to be enough to address what in some cases are critical staffing shortfalls, including at some facilities in the New York region. The F.A.A.’s report offered further details about these dire shortages. As of last September, it said, the center in Long Island that monitors air traffic in and out of the New York area had only 198 certified controllers and another seven certified controllers-in-training of a needed 321. The report also showed that the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility on Long Island, known as N90, which has struggled with staffing, had 113 certified controllers and another 11 certified controllers-in-training out of a needed 226. On Wednesday, the F.A.A. said that it would launch a one-week, targeted hiring campaign to add staff to N90, offering recruits in the area a specialized training program for the New York airspace. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/us/politics/faa-air-traffic-controllers.html Emirates Becomes The Largest Airline So Far To Ban Power Banks Over Fire Fears The Dubai-based mega carrier Emirates has become the largest airline so far to ban the use of portable power banks on all of its flights over fears that the popular devices could explode at 38,000 feet. Emirates joins a growing list of airlines around the world to place restrictions on the use of power banks, although these restrictions go much further than many of its rivals. Taking effect on October 1, Emirates passengers will be banned from using power banks onboard, either to charge their own devices or by using the inseat power supply to charge the device. In addition, Emirates will place further restrictions, including: • Passengers will only be allowed one power bank. • Power banks must be kept in the seat pocket or in a bag that is under the seat in front. • Power banks must not be put into the overhead bins. • Power banks must not exceed 100 Watt Hours. • Emirates says it has made the decision to ban passengers from using power banks on its flights following a “comprehensive safety review,” which has taken place in the wake of a growing list of concerning in-flight incidents involving power banks. The most serious of these incidents was a power bank fire that broke out on an Airbus A321 operated by Air Busan in South Korea in January. A passenger’s power bank overheated in the overhead locker as everyone was still boarding the plane, but the fire wasn’t detected until it had started to spread. Flight attendants were unable to extinguish the fire and had to order an emergency evacuation of the plane. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but the plane was completely gutted by fire. Power banks use lithium-ion batteries, which can be prone to overheating, especially when they are damaged or when they are charging another device or being charged. When a lithium-ion battery overheats, it can lead to a process known as thermal runaway in which heat is quickly transferred from one fuel cell to another. This process can create a fierce fire, which can prove very difficult to extinguish. While many modern gadgets, including mobile phones and vapes, are powered by lithium-ion batteries, Emirates says power banks pose a greater risk because they do always have an internal trickle system which slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging. “Emirates’ new regulations will significantly reduce risks associated with power banks by prohibiting their use while onboard the aircraft,” the airline said in a statement on Friday. “Storing power banks in accessible locations within the cabin ensures that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond and extinguish the fire.” Other airlines that have already placed restrictions on the use of power banks in-flight include Southwest Airlines and Lufthansa, as well as a slew of Asian-based carriers. Southwest Airlines: Since May 28, passengers must keep their power banks within easy reach and must not charge devices when the power bank is locked out of sight in a bag in the overhead locker. Power banks can, however, still be used in-flight. Lufthansa: Power banks can not be charged using the in-seat power supply. They must also be kept within easy reach and within sight if being used to charge another device. The rules also apply to low-cost subsidiary Eurowings. Singapore Airlines: Passengers can bring power banks on board its flights, but they must not be used to charge other devices or be charged via the in-seat power supply. As has been the case for many years, airlines ban power banks from being stored in checked luggage. The reason for this is very simple – fighting a fire in the cargo hold of a plane would be next to impossible, and the consequences of a power bank overheating in checked luggage could be devastating. While the Busan Air accident might be the most dramatic, there is no denying that there has been a steadily growing slew of recent incidents involving power banks, which the aviation industry can’t ignore for much longer. I would actually say I’m surprised that not more airlines have not already imposed new rules or that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) hasn’t drawn up new guidelines to deal with the threat posed by power banks. Airlines are generally very good at learning from one another, so I hope this isn’t a case of refusing to take action until airlines have dealt with enough incidents on their own planes. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/08/08/emirates-becomes-the-largest-airline-so-far-to-ban-power-banks-over-fire-fears/ Passengers still feeling impact of United Airlines technical glitch, ground stop Delays continued Thursday for some United Airlines passengers after a technical glitch the day before caused the airline to ground hundreds of flights across the country. The ground stop has been lifted. But a day afterward, passengers were still feeling the impact. United said a "technology issue" prompted them to request the ground stop and hold departures at about 5:12 p.m. Wednesday. They released a statement around 9 p.m. Wednesday saying that issue had been resolved, and they were working to get flights moving again. On Thursday, there were two canceled United Airlines flights at O'Hare. It was not nearly as chaotic as Wednesday night, but some passengers who were impacted by the ground stop were waiting at the airport a day later — and hoping their evening flights would go smoothly. "It was the type of thing where it kept getting delayed and delayed and delayed and delayed," said Nathan Lee. "It was so annoying frankly while we were sitting there." Lee was in Washington, D.C., headed back to Chicago He was sitting on the plane when the pilot announced the ground stop. "There's a national issue. They're not telling us anything," Lee quoted the pilot. "We don't know if we're going to be leaving tonight, but I guess we'll find out in about an hour or so." It was unclear what exactly caused the technology problem that prompted the ground stop. DePaul University professor and transportation expert Joe Schwieterman said everything is centralized in a computer. "You have gate shortages at the airport. You have flight crew requirement and so forth," said Schwieterman. "So when something goes down, one little component of that system, the whole thing can require kind of a reset of the whole airline, a ground stoppage." Schwieterman noted that other airlines have experienced similar problems in recent years. "It appears to be one of these digital failures, you might say. What we saw last year when this happened, like with Southwest, the whole thing can unravel — and you can just have days of torture for travelers," he said. "We think United avoided this, but there's always risk." Many were put up in hotels Wednesday night until a new flight became available. "Financially, it isn't fun for the airline," Schwieterman said. Daniela Betancourt and her family were given a discount for their room. "They tried to get us a hotel, but they couldn't," Betancourt said, "so they gave us a discount, but we found a cheaper option." United rebooked their flight for Thursday. "We got rebooked," said Betancourt. "I mean, we didn't have to rebuy, repurchase, but it's still an expensive mistake." Lee's flight left at 3:20 p.m., and Betancourt a few hours later. But both Betancourt and Lee said they came to O'Hare hours early on Thursday, because they didn't want a repeat of what happened Wednesday. "We're taking no chances. Trying to get through as smooth as possible — keep our heads down, you know," added Lee. "Maybe I'm superstitious, but I'm just really hoping nothing goes wrong." Betancourt and her family came six hours ahead of time. "Precaution," said Betancourt. "We don't want to miss this flight." CBS News Chicago reached out to United Airlines to confirm whether all flights and services had been restored. There had not been a response as of late Thursday. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/passengers-still-feeling-impact-united-airlines-ground-stop/ 'Only Took One Puff': Flight Attendant Opens Bathroom Door on Passenger Caught Vaping Flight Attendant Opens Bathroom Door on Passenger Caught Vaping A passenger on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to San Francisco was met by police upon arrival after being caught vaping in the bathroom mid-flight. The incident occurred on August 4 and involved Peter Nguyen, who was confronted by a flight attendant during the flight. The Brief A passenger on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to San Francisco was met by police after being caught vaping in the bathroom mid-flight. Peter Nguyen recorded the encounter, claiming he only took one puff before a flight attendant confronted him and allegedly put her hands on him. American Airlines stated that Nguyen was removed from the aircraft due to disruptive behavior, and emphasized that vaping on a plane is a federal offense. A passenger on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to San Francisco was met by police upon arrival after being caught vaping in the bathroom mid-flight. The incident occurred on August 4 and involved Peter Nguyen, who was confronted by a flight attendant during the flight. The other side: Peter Nguyen, who recorded the encounter, told Storyful that he "only took one puff" of his vape before the flight attendant forced entry into the bathroom. "I told her I was just using the bathroom and I apologized for vaping and I was recording," Nguyen said. In the video, the flight attendant can be seen reaching toward his phone as it records. Nguyen alleges that she put her hands on him during the confrontation. Airline's Response What they're saying: American Airlines confirmed that Nguyen was met by the San Francisco Police Department upon landing. "A customer on American Airlines flight 2860 with service from Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) was removed from the aircraft upon arrival at SFO due to disruptive behavior. We thank our customers for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience," an American Airlines spokesperson said. Legal Implications According to the Federal Aviation Administration, vaping on a plane is a federal offense, highlighting the seriousness of the incident. The airline's response underscores the importance of adhering to federal regulations during flights. https://www.fox26houston.com/news/only-took-one-puff-flight-attendant-opens-bathroom-door-passenger-caught-vaping Minister begins monthly meetings with airline heads to boost aviation safety (India) The monthly evaluations are part of a broader attempt to bring systemic accountability and proactive oversight amid increasing government scrutiny of airline operations Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu has held the first of his monthly meetings with the heads of Indian airlines as part of efforts to strengthen aviation safety and keep track of their activities. The monthly evaluations are part of a broader attempt to bring systemic accountability and proactive oversight amid increasing government scrutiny of airline operations, particularly Air India, following a series of safety-related incidents. At least 15 operational issues and serious safety incidents have been reported since the June 12 Air India crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad. The incidents include aborted take-offs, emergency returns, runway excursions, and auxiliary power unit fires, raising concerns about the quality of safety and maintenance practices. “The first such [monthly] meeting was held on Tuesday...senior management officials, including the chief executive officers (CEOs) of Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, attended the meeting. ...the minister chaired it,” said an official aware of the matter. A second official said Naidu will preside over these meetings in the first week of every month. “The CEOs...will present monthly developments to the minister and those related to safety and maintenance,” said a second official. “This is being done for a robust system needed for the growing Indian aviation sector.” The aviation ministry last month began meetings with Air India’s top management, instructing the airline to ensure the highest safety standards while setting a month-long timeline to review its operations. The first such meeting was held on July 23, where maintenance protocols and safety compliance were key points of discussion. The monthly reviews are expected to help restore public confidence in Indian carriers and ensure strict adherence to global safety benchmarks. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the regulator, ramped up its oversight, conducting multiple spot checks. It has issued directives for mandatory inspections of Air India’s B787 fleet, and carried out checks at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/minister-begins-monthly-meetings-with-airline-heads-to-boost-aviation-safety-101754640034246.html DFW Airport to undergo construction prompting 90 days of delays and detours The 90-day period is the first phase of three for the International Parkway Project. DFW Airport has begun its new phase of construction along International Parkway this week, causing detours and delays near Terminal B. Travelers are recommended to add an additional 30-45 minutes to their typical travel plan to navigate detour and possible congestion. Starting the first week of August, the airport will begin demolishing the existing flyover bridge into Terminal B and connecting a new entrance in the form of a newly constructed bridge. This is the first of three 90-day phases for the airport’s International Parkway Project, which is transitioning access into Terminals A, B and C into new right-hand exits from International Parkway. American Airlines' seasonal schedule includes first-ever flights from DFW to Venice Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 6, a portion of South Service Road will be temporarily closed for approximately 52 hours, according to DFW Airport staff. Scheduled to reopen in the early morning of Saturday, Aug. 9, the closure will provide construction crews with the required area needed to safely demolish a portion of the existing flyover bridge. Beginning Aug. 6, Terminal B will only be accessible via the southbound entrance into the terminal from International Parkway. Detour signage will be in place to guide traffic. With a historic magnitude of construction taking place across the airport’s roads and terminals, customers are encouraged to utilize tools such as the DFW Airport mobile app and sign up for construction updates. For more information, including detour maps, visit the DFW airport's website. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dfw-airport-undergo-construction-90-days-delays-detours/3900813/ Project rebirth proposes AI airplane crash survival system with inflating external airbags technology Project rebirth uses Inflatables to survive airplane crash Project Rebirth introduces the idea of an AI-powered airplane crash survival system that uses inflating external airbags to reduce impact during abrupt landing. A concept by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan from BITS Pilani (Dubai), it works by using sensors and AI software, which can detect when a crash is going to happen. If the system predicts that the crash cannot be stopped, and if the aircraft is flying below 3,000 feet, it activates the system automatically, wrapping the aircraft with inflating external airbags (pilots can also stop the system manually if needed). The system, which appears on The James Dyson Award 2025 entries, also monitors engine status, direction, speed, altitude, temperature, and pilot activity before it makes the decision on its own. The team’s idea employs a set of high-speed airbags placed at the front, bottom, and back of the aircraft. These multi-layered materials are dubbed to deploy in under two seconds and absorb impact and reduce damage to the aircraft and people on board. If the engines are still working, the reverse thrust feature is activated, which slows the aircraft down before it hits the ground. If the engines aren’t working, gas thrusters get triggered to reduce the aircraft’s speed and stabilize it during landing. The last part of the system, which forms part of The James Dyson Award 2025 entries, is the rescue aid. Here, Project Rebirth suggests painting the aircraft’s shell with bright orange and equipping the vehicle with infrared beacons, GPS devices, and flashing lights for the airplane crash survival system. These make the crash site easy to find, allowing the rescue teams to get to the site faster. project rebirth airplane crash the idea of the AI airplane crash survival system uses inflating external airbags to reduce impact The design of Project Rebirth is based on three goals: slowing down the aircraft before it hits the ground, absorbing the force of the crash, and helping rescuers arrive quickly. The team from BITS Pilani, Dubai campus, has studied existing systems used in planes and the military and looked at crash reports and scientific materials like Kevlar, TPU, Zylon, and smart fluids. From here, the AI airplane crash survival system has emerged. So far, a small prototype of the system has already been built, which uses sensors, carbon dioxide canisters, and microcontrollers. The AI software controls all the safety parts for Project Rebirth’s airplane crash survival system. It reads changes in speed, force, and vibration, then it starts the safety actions in order. The team has already tested the system in computer simulations, with results showing a reduced impact by more than 60 percent. They’ve also prepared data, results, and designs, with a plan to work with airplane manufacturers and labs to build full-size models and test the project in wind tunnels and crash simulations. The team adds that Project REBIRTH is made to work in both new and old airplanes as a crash survival system and that airlines can install the system on planes already in service. So far, Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan’s AI airplane crash survival system named Project Rebirth appears among The James Dyson Award 2025 entries. https://www.designboom.com/technology/project-rebirth-proposes-ai-airplane-crash-survival-system-inflating-external-airbags-james-dyson-award-08-07-2025/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis