Flight Safety Information - September 01, 2025 No. 174 In This Issue : Incident: Edelweiss A320 at Zurich on Aug 31st 2025, rejected takeoff due to dual engine trouble : Incident: Spicejet B739 at Delhi and Srinagar on Aug 29th 2025, cabin pressure problems : Incident: Ryanair B738 at Cologne on Aug 27th 2025, rejected takeoff : Incident: Delta B712 at Huntsville on Aug 29th 2025, rejected takeoff : Accident: Skywest E175 near Austin on Aug 28th 2025, turbulence causes 2 injuries : 2 Passengers Injured After SkyWest Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, Pilot Confirms 'There Is Bleeding' : IT outages are plaguing air travel. Here’s what to know : SkyWest grounds all flights at start of busy travel weekend : Suspect Arrested After Alleged Attempt to Hijack Passenger Jet in 'Bizarre' Foiled Terror Plot: Report : Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy Tees Up Painful Cuts in Survival Bid : Russia Accused of Jamming GPS as EU Chief's Jet Tried to Land : Thailand’s Nok Air faces international route ban after safety violations : Embry Riddle, Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority of the Bahamas Formalize Training Partnership to Enhance Aviation Safety : Lead with Confidence, Powered by ERAU’s Certificate of Management in Aviation Safety : ISASI - 2025 - Denver, CO - September 29-October 3, 2025 Annual Seminar - Hotel Rate Deadline approaching (September 5) : Calendar of Events Incident: Edelweiss A320 at Zurich on Aug 31st 2025, rejected takeoff due to dual engine trouble An Edelweiss Airbus A320-200, registration HB-JJN performing flight WK-356 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Kos (Greece) with 166 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Zurich's runway 28 when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 70 knots over ground). Tower advised the crew, before the crew even reported they were stopping, that there was no smoke or fire visible and dispatched emergency services, only then the crew reported they were stopping on the runway. The aircraft stopped on the runway while emergency services responded. About 3 minutes later the crew advised they were ready to vacate the runway, then taxied forward along the runway to taxiway J and vacated the runway and stopped again clear of the runway. Another about 20 minutes later the aircraft returned to the apron. Passengers reported there were some unusual sounds while the aircraft accelerated, then the aircraft stopped. The airline reported the crew received warning messages for both engines (CFM56) prompting the crew to reject takeoff. A replacement A320-200 registration HB-IJU reached Kos with a delay of about 3.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c58c47&opt=0 Incident: Spicejet B739 at Delhi and Srinagar on Aug 29th 2025, cabin pressure problems A Spicejet Boeing 737-900, registration VT-SLC performing flight SG-385 from Delhi to Srinagar (India) with 205 people on board, was climbing out of Delhi when the crew stopped the climb at FL240 due to problems with the cabin pressure. The crew managed to regain control of the cabin pressure, however, the passenger oxygen masks had already deployed. The aircraft continued to Srinagar at FL240 and landed on runway 31 about 90 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Srinagar about 27 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c4ce95&opt=0 Incident: Ryanair B738 at Cologne on Aug 27th 2025, rejected takeoff A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DPP performing flight FR-2353 from Cologne (Germany) to London Stansted,EN (UK), was accelerating for takeoff from Cologne's runway 32R when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 30 knots) and subsequently vacated the runway via runway 24. A passenger reported: "We began throttle up for takeoff and very quickly the brakes were put on quite harshly." At the very time the Boeing was accelerating a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration TC-JSY performing flight TK-1675 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Cologne (Germany), was on short final to runway 24, touched down and crossed runway 32R. The Boeing returned to the holding point and departed from runway 32R about 10 minutes after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c453a9&opt=0 Incident: Delta B712 at Huntsville on Aug 29th 2025, rejected takeoff A Delta Airlines Boeing 717-200, registration N928AT performing flight DL-1708 from Huntsville,AL to Atlanta,GA (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from HUntsville's runway 18R when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed and advised ATC they needed emergency services due to smoke. The aircraft vacated the runway at the first exit about 380 meters down the runway and stopped clear of the runway. The crew inquired whether emergency services were seeing anything from the left hand engine (BR715), emergency services they were not seeing anything unusual from either engine. About 10 minutes later the aircraft taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail, the crew suggested the airport might sweep the runway as a precaution. The FAA reported: "The crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 1708 aborted their takeoff from Huntsville International Airport in Alabama because smoke was coming from an engine. The plane taxied back to the gate, where passengers deplaned. The FAA will investigate the incident, which occurred around 10:55 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 29." https://avherald.com/h?article=52c451fa&opt=0 Accident: Skywest E175 near Austin on Aug 28th 2025, turbulence causes 2 injuries A Skywest Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N110SY performing flight UA-5971 from Aspen,CO to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 45 passengers and 4 crew, was enroute at FL390 about 160nm north of Austin,TX (USA) when the aircraft encountered extreme turbulence causing the aircraft to descent to about FL347 before the aircraft began climbing again. Climbing through about FL374 the crew decided to divert to Austin,TX and initiated the descent towards Austin, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 18R about 35 minutes after leaving FL390. Two passengers were taken to hospital with injuries. The airline reported two adult passengers were taken to hospitals out of abundance of caution. Emergency services that no injuries were life-threatening. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A PRESSURIZATION ISSUE AND SEVERE TURBULENCE, AUSTIN, TX.", two passengers received serious injuries, the occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Austin about 16 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c446b7&opt=0 2 Passengers Injured After SkyWest Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, Pilot Confirms 'There Is Bleeding' SkyWest flight 5971 was en route from Aspen, Colo., to Houston on Aug. 28, but diverted to Austin after losing altitude Turbulence shakes an airplane Two passengers on board a SkyWest Airlines flight were seriously injured after the aircraft experienced "severe turbulence" on Aug. 28, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed. SkyWest flight 5971 was en route from Aspen, Colo., to Houston on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 28. But the Embraer E175 diverted to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and "landed safely" around 8 p.m. local time, per the FAA. According to flight data from FlightAware, about 90 minutes into the trip, the plane dropped nearly 4,000 feet in less than 60 seconds. The aircraft continued to lose altitude for about 10 minutes before it was diverted to Austin. As the plane made its approach, the pilot informed air traffic control of the condition of the injured passengers. "We will need a stretcher," she says in an audio recording obtained by LiveATC.net. "I know that there is bleeding as well." The air traffic controller then confirmed emergency services would be present for the landing. A SkyWest official confirmed the incident to PEOPLE in a statement: "The flight landed safely and was met with medical personnel upon arrival. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard, and we are working with our partner United to assist customers." Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, Texas A spokesperson for the airport told PEOPLE that Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) "evaluated 39 passengers and 4 crew members for potential injuries. Two adult patients were transported to area hospitals out of an abundance of caution." They added: "ATCEMS reported to the airport that no injuries are expected to be life-threatening." Lost month, 25 passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight were hospitalized after their aircraft "encountered significant turbulence" on July 30, according to an airline press release. Delta flight DL56 was en route to Amsterdam from Salt Lake City when it had to be diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). The Airbus A330-900 landed safely, and medical personnel then evaluated the customers and crew. The BBC reported that there were 275 passengers and 13 crew members on board the flight at the time of the incident. 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. Delta plane Turbulence, according to the FAA, is the regular and frequent movement of air that can affect an aircraft — often occurring unexpectedly and without warning. It is caused by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, cold or warm weather fronts, and thunderstorms. It even happens when skies appear completely clear. According to a study published by the American Geophysical Union in 2023, the skies are 55% bumpier today than they were 40 years ago. The study also predicts that clear-air turbulence (CAT), a particularly dangerous type of turbulence, will be more frequent in the future. "The increases in turbulence are consistent with the effects of climate change, according to previous research," a press release stated at the time. "Warmer air as a result of carbon dioxide emission is increasing wind shear in the jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic and globally." "Turbulence makes flights bumpy and can occasionally be dangerous. Airlines will need to start thinking about how they will manage the increased turbulence, as it costs the industry $150 to $500 million annually in the United States alone," Mark Prosser, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in England, said in the 2023 release. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/2-passengers-injured-skywest-flight-171856182.html IT outages are plaguing air travel. Here’s what to know When a United Airlines “technology issue” halted several thousand flights a few weeks ago, it added another incident to a cascade of problems the airlines and national aviation system have seen in recent years. Southwest Airlines had one of the most significant technology meltdowns in recent aviation history three years ago, during Christmas, when crew scheduling software failed, stranding passengers, their belongings and crew members all over the country. Since then, the US has seen multiple Notice to Airmen outages affecting the federal computer system that sends alerts to pilots about conditions that could affect the safety of their flights. Plus airplanes have been grounded by tech issues affecting various airlines and the more wide-reaching CrowdStrike software glitch that’s been described as the “largest IT outage in history.” These operational interruptions, while disruptive to passengers, happen because airlines and aviation officials see safety as paramount, said Eash Sundaram, a tech investor and venture capital and digital executive who previously served as executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer at JetBlue Airways. “The moment the airline doesn’t have an IT system, they shut down the process,” said Sundaram. United’s outage earlier this month was resolved within a few hours and the airline implemented delays and cancellations to return operations to normal. But it shows that commercial air travel for the roughly three million people that take to the sky each day in the United States can be a complex dance, requiring technology that tracks everything from crew members and aircraft to the weight of planes to be running correctly. And if any one of these systems gives out, it can have a cascading effect. While there’s no centralized data tracking tech outages across the national aviation system, “these software problems do happen far more often than anyone would like,” said Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group and a travel industry analyst. Aviation analysts and experts say it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to fixing the technology. What’s the solution? Sundaram said the very complex systems that often go down in these situations are owned or created by an individual airline. Each airline tends to run on its own system. “Delta has its own crew management system, and American has its own crew management system … Nothing is common,” he said. “This is a fundamental issue in the industry.” He pointed to operating systems, the “backbone” systems that support crew, the aircraft and weight and balance systems, as something that could be more universal for airlines. Commercial systems, such as e-commerce sites or check-in kiosks, could remain differentiated by each airline, he said. The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed “Why can’t four or five airlines come together to build it?” Sundaram said. “Why can’t Google invest in it, or why can’t Microsoft invest in it? Large airlines tend to invest on their own, and they build their own stuff, and once they build it, they don’t upgrade it for years, because, you know, it works.” Until it doesn’t. United’s problem a few weeks ago stemmed from an issue with the airline’s weight and balance computer system, known as Unimatic, and was unrelated to recent cybersecurity concerns in the industry, the company said. It’s not clear what caused the problem. The airline hasn’t been a stranger to disruption this year, after multiple air traffic control communications outages impacted its massive operations at Newark Liberty International Airport . The overhaul of the Federal Aviation Administration’s decades-old air traffic control system is currently underway, with a $12.5 billion down payment secured in President Trump’s landmark tax and spending cuts bill passed earlier this year. Despite the chaos at Newark, the internal systems for United ran great, said Harteveldt. “It could be that they were doing some kind of upgrade to the system, or it could be, again, that there was some kind of connectivity issue that caused the weight and balance system to go off, or something like that, but I don’t believe that the problem was triggered by some summer travel volumes,” he said. This week, an air traffic control frequency outage grounded flights into Newark. The ground stop was lifted quickly, but flights were delayed due to “equipment issues” in the Philadelphia TRACON responsible for Newark arrivals and departures. The FAA has previously said Newark’s technology problems should be fixed by October. But airlines’ own technology systems are in play, too. Harteveldt said airlines have been investing in technology, but it’s not always the case that every single airline is running the “latest and greatest software.” As with any technology, upgrades need to be made from time to time. Recent technology outages One of the largest and most catastrophic technology meltdowns was Southwest’s in 2022. The ripple effect of systems failing led to millions in fines and a federal government-led investigation of the airline. The airline’s reputation was damaged, and it had to make efforts to earn customers back. Southwest unveiled an “action plan” after the meltdown which called for increasing the availability of winter equipment and staffing at some airports, investing in technology to help it quickly restart operations during extreme weather and improving communication and decision-making processes across departments that handle flight operations Since then, passengers have seen several outages from various airlines, causing ground stops, ground delays and other disruptions. What’s important to remember, according to Harteveldt, of Atmosphere Research Group, is that when the FAA tells an airline that a technology issue poses a safety issue, the airline puts safety first and complies with the FAA’s request to ground flights. That’s when travelers are disrupted by flight delays or cancellations. “(It’s) not an easy decision, and definitely not fun for anyone on those canceled flights,” he said. In 2023, shortly after Southwest’s meltdown, the FAA’s NOTAM system experienced an outage. The system sends alerts to pilots to let them know of conditions that could affect the safety of their flights. It is separate from the air traffic control system that keeps planes a safe distance from each other, but it’s another critical tool for air safety. FAA issues are external to airlines. However, they impact passengers just as much, if not more, because they can impact the national system for all pilots. In April 2023, Southwest saw another issue with a “firewall failure,” leading to more flights being halted. Later that year, United Airlines delayed its flights due to an “equipment outage.” After a brief stop, flights resumed. The reasons these problems happen vary, according to Harteveldt, but they happen too often. “No airline wants to have a software problem that causes a ground stop to occur, or any other problem that grounds the airline,” he said. Alaska Airlines paused flights in April 2024 after the carrier experienced “an issue while performing an upgrade” to the system that calculates weight and balance. But that didn’t even scratch the surface of what came during the summer of 2024. A software update for Microsoft Windows operating systems issued by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike was the root cause of the chaos that unfolded in July, disrupting airlines, banks, schools and more during the busy summer travel season. Delta Air Lines was hit the hardest, while American Airlines and United Airlines also were impacted. The incident led to Delta suing the cybersecurity firm. Delta addressed the situation with refunds to passengers and other measures, but Delta and CrowdStrike traded accusations before the matter landed in court. On Christmas Eve of last year, American Airlines issued a nationwide ground stop after experiencing a “vendor technology issue.” Those two incidents happening during peak travel periods where travelers were passing through airports led to great levels of disruption. It’s hard to say definitively why these problems happen, said Helane Becker, president of HRBAviation Consultants. In peak periods of travel, TSA records close to or over 3 million people passing through security checkpoints. “It may be happening as much (as years past), but it affects more people when it does happen,” she said, noting the technology incidents often cost airlines tens of millions of dollars. 2025 started off with a NOTAM system outage in February. “There’s a process in place right now to get this system fixed. We want to expedite that and get this new system in place,” said Sean Duffy, Department of Transportation Secretary to CNN at the time. “This is an old system that needs to be upgraded.” That NOTAM outage came just days after a deadly midair collision over the Potomac River near Washington, DC, which caused many passengers to grow hesitant towards flying. In July, Alaska issued a ground stop for an IT outage, stranding some passengers on planes. A few hours later, however, it was lifted. Becker points to heightened attention to aviation safety since the DC collision, a Delta regional jet that flipped on landing in Toronto and other incidents in the airspace. With all that in mind, airlines are continuing to invest in technology and maintaining safety, she said, but it’s not always publicized. “I feel like, in a lot of ways, they’re playing catch up, and I think that … that’s an issue that they have to address,” Becker said. “I always have felt that airlines are always running to the next problem versus getting ahead of the problem.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/outages-plaguing-air-travel-know-125628206.html SkyWest grounds all flights at start of busy travel weekend (NewsNation) — SkyWest Airlines, a partner of multiple major U.S. airlines, was forced to ground all of its planes at the beginning of the busy Labor Day travel weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop Friday night, though it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the issue. The ground stop was lifted shortly after being issued but it still angered flyers. “SkyWest which operates my Delta flight from SLC to Tulsa lost network access so my flight was delayed,” one traveler wrote on X. “There’s been a lot of airline network access loss this year.” SkyWest Airlines has 500 planes that travel to 268 destinations in North America, according to its website. It’s a partner of United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The airline served more than 42 million passengers in 2024. “SkyWest experienced a brief technology issue this evening that has since been resolved,” the company told NewsNation in a statement. “All systems have been restored and we are working to mitigate any delays as we resume normal operations.” Before the outage, the Transportation Safety Administration said it was bracing for record-breaking travel and what could end up being the busiest Labor Day in 15 years. SkyWest passengers injured by severe turbulence The ground stop came a day after two flyers were rushed to a hospital after being injured by turbulence on a SkyWest flight. The plane was headed from Aspen, Colorado, to Houston when it suddenly dropped 4,000 feet in just 60 seconds, CNN reported. “We’re going to need a stretcher, and there is bleeding as well. SkyWest 5971,” a pilot was heard saying on air traffic control audio by LiveATC.net. The plane was diverted to Austin and the injured passengers were taken to a hospital with injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening, the airline said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/skywest-grounds-flights-start-busy-023742823.html Suspect Arrested After Alleged Attempt to Hijack Passenger Jet in 'Bizarre' Foiled Terror Plot: Report The alleged hijacker was planning to take control of a commercial jet at an Australian airport, according to a report released by 'The Australian' newspaper Authorities in Australia say they foiled an alleged terror plot to hijack a passenger jet and fly it overseas A suspect is in custody as authorities continue a wide-ranging investigation Officials say the alleged hijacker planned to seize control of a commercial jet at an Australian airport A suspect has been arrested after authorities foiled what a pilot described as a "bizarre" alleged attempt to hijack a passenger plane in Australia and have it flown overseas. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and intelligence agencies have been engaged in an extensive and possibly lengthy investigation into the alleged hijacking plot, The Australian reported. A person is in custody and there is no ongoing threat to the public, the outlet noted. The publication reported that the alleged hijacker was planning to take control of a commercial jet at an Australian airport before attempting to fly the plane to a Middle Eastern nation. The AFP said in a statement to NewsWire, “This matter is before the court, with open-source reporting on this individual’s court case in July 2025. Suppression orders remain in place,” according to news.com.au. The AFP didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has been briefed on aspects of the investigation amid the alleged terror plot, including the plan to fly the plane overseas, per The Australian. Authorities have been looking into whether there was an antisemitic motive behind the plot, the outlet noted. Plans reportedly involved stopping the plane to refuel as it headed from Australia to the Middle East, the outlet stated. A source familiar with the alleged plot said, "Could that plane have reached the Middle East?,” per the paper, adding, “It would have needed multiple refueling stops, but from what we understand that was the (alleged hijacker’s) intention.” Security has now been increased at Australia's major and secondary airports, per the outlet, with the Department of Home Affairs allegedly meeting airport owners and operators. Australia's Department of Home Affairs didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. Pilot David Oliver spoke about the foiled plot on Australian breakfast television show, Sunrise, per 7 News. “It’s quite bizarre, is the word that I would use,” Oliver said, adding that there are "strict security protocols" in place "both at an airport and onboard the aircraft" these days. “There’s security protocols on the ground which are fairly strict. Both for airport workers and non-airport workers, who have to access certain facilities," he continued. “(For) the aircraft, there is strict protocols for flight access which both the cabin crew and flight crew are privy to that passengers would not know. It would be difficult to get into the flight deck," Oliver said. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Health Minister Mark Butler said on the show that "any report of a potential hijacking" sends "shivers down the spine," per 7 News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/suspect-arrested-alleged-attempt-hijack-142610355.html Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy Tees Up Painful Cuts in Survival Bid (Bloomberg) -- Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc.’s second bankruptcy filing in a year signals that the low-cost carrier is finally facing up to the painful steps needed to ensure its survival. But its board faces daunting challenges on the path ahead, including how to downsize its fleet of leased aircraft while managing the roller coaster market conditions for US air travel that complicate the prospects for a long-term recovery. “The general criticism of the first bankruptcy is that Spirit wasn’t aggressive enough in cost cutting and only using the filing to address debt to some extent (perhaps not enough even then),” Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth wrote in an email. “Spirit has been making many adjustments already since last fall. However, further cuts appear likely.” The bankruptcy, filed late on Friday in New York, lists assets and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion. The petition comes amid active negotiations with some of its largest lessors, secured noteholders and key stakeholders, the carrier said in a statement. Spirit’s petition underscores the difficulty facing discount airlines in the US, from high labor costs to the ever-present struggle to grow enough to protect margins. Much larger and more diversified carriers like United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. are adding to the pressure, selling “basic economy” fares to lure cost-sensitive passengers away from cheaper options at Spirit and rivals like Allegiant Travel Co., Frontier Group Holdings Inc. and even Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest is fighting back with an extensive makeover plan, offering premium fares with more legroom and assigned seats — breaking away from the one-size-fits-all business model it championed for five decades. Spirit and Frontier also have adjusted their business models to include upscale options. Market Turbulence Florida homeowners are facing foreclosure over surprise roofing bills — here's why some ‘can’t even sleep’ out of fear It’s unclear how dramatic an overhaul Spirit could pursue. Ultra-low-cost carriers are hit harder when there’s too much capacity on routes, forcing them to cut fares at the expense of profits. Unlike the industry’s leaders, Spirit lacks long-haul international routes that can make up for weakened demand in the domestic market. Spirit emerged from bankruptcy protection in March, while the US airline industry was in the midst of a sharp decline in flying by consumers concerned with President Donald Trump’s trade war and rising inflation. Flying has bounced back, but the whipsaw market conditions — including a new trend of late bookings — has undermined carriers’ ability to forecast demand. There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what carriers will be able to charge for tickets given airline capacity plans are still being adjusted for the crucial holiday travel period, analysts say. An oversupply could gut fares — heaping extra pressure on lower cost carriers more so than larger operators. If history is any guide, Spirit’s board will have more than market forces to worry about. Part of Spirit’s challenge will be how to downsize its fleet as it works to cut costs. It’s expected to encounter tough negotiations with lessors, which supply the bulk of Spirit’s fleet. In bankruptcy, some airlines have been allowed to return planes on lease, though it’s unclear whether Spirit will be able to win approval to pursue that path. “With the current board and management, we expect a more aggressive review of costs and negotiation with partners, most notably lessors,” Syth said. In a filing, Spirit said it received a written notice of default Aug. 25 from aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings, which said it was terminating dozens of leases on aircraft that were scheduled for delivery to Spirit in coming years. Termination would cost Spirit more than $2 million per lease and apply to dozens of aircraft, the filing said. Spirit disputed the notion of a default, and said the termination of leases was invalid. As of June 30, Spirit had 215 Airbus SE A320-family aircraft, including 148 financed under operating leases with terms expiring between 2026 and 2043. It owns 49 planes and has 18 under finance leases. A Spirit Airlines plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York.Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg A Spirit Airlines plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York.Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg Spirit may try to return as many as 150 leased planes, Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu said. Less than 50% are likely to return to the domestic market, she said, because most carriers already have sufficient capacity to meet demand. “This bankruptcy will be harder and look different than last year,” leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA at Spirit told members on Friday. The airline will likely offer more extended voluntary leaves to employees, the union said. Previously announced pilot furloughs and downgrades will take effect in October and November. Takeover Target Airlines operating in Chapter 11 can be particularly vulnerable as takeover targets and the proceedings could make Spirit more susceptible to a suitor. The carrier’s filing comes a day after Bloomberg reported that Spirit engaged rival Frontier Group Holdings Inc. in high-level talks about the carrier’s ongoing efforts to chart a path forward. Frontier and Bill Franke, the Frontier chairman, have pushed for years for a combination of the two lower-cost carriers. America West Airlines merged with bankrupt US Airways Group in 2005. The combined company, operating under the US Airways name, acquired American Airlines parent AMR Corp. in 2013 to bring that carrier out of bankruptcy. Spirit was bruised by a 2022 takeover battle between JetBlue Airways Corp. and Frontier. Spirit eventually agreed to be acquired by JetBlue in a $3.8 billion deal, but the combination was blocked in January 2024 by a federal judge on antitrust grounds. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spirit-airlines-bankruptcy-tees-painful-163546459.html Russia Accused of Jamming GPS as EU Chief's Jet Tried to Land Russian GPS jamming allegedly targeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's jet as it tried to land at an airport in Bulgaria, officials said. The suspected jamming of GPS at Plovdiv's city airport forced von der Leyen's jet to circle the airport for an hour, a Financial Times report said, citing unnamed officials, before the pilot had to rely on paper maps to land instead of electronic navigation. "We can confirm there was GPS jamming but the plane landed safe," Arianna Podesta, deputy chief spokesperson for the European Commission, told Newsweek in a statement. "We have received information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia." Newsweek has contacted the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the European Union for comment via email. 'Threats and Intimidation' European allies have regularly accused the Russians of GPS jamming targeting seaports and airports as part of Moscow's hybrid warfare against the West, which has escalated over the course of its ongoing invasion of NATO-backed Ukraine. Such incidents range from the disruptive to the outright dangerous, even risking an air disaster. They illustrate the broad and pernicious nature of the conflict between Russia and the West, one that is bubbling away beneath the Ukraine war. "We are well aware that threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia's hostile actions," Podesta told Newsweek. "This will further reinforce our unshakable commitment to ramp up our defense capabilities and support for Ukraine. "This incident underlines the urgency of the President's current trip to frontline Member States, where she has seen firsthand the everyday threats from Russia and its proxies. The EU will continue to invest in defense and in Europe's readiness." Europe, Russia Fight for Trump's Favor on Ukraine Ukraine's European allies are backing Kyiv with military and diplomatic support as it fights Russia off, and they have proposed putting troops on the ground once the war ends to ensure Moscow does not invade again. Russia has ruled that proposal out, and accuses Europe of trying to derail U.S. President Donald Trump's attempts to broker peace because they want to prolong the war, weakening Moscow in the process. Moscow is demanding recognition of its control of land it has seized from Ukraine, and Ukrainian neutrality, meaning no NATO membership. But European allies are urging Trump not to reward Putin and Russia for its illegal invasion. They say Putin will not make peace unless he is forced to do so through deeper sanctions and aiding Ukraine to mount a much stronger defense. Von der Leyen Slams 'Predator' Putin During her visit, von der Leyen met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to discuss defense production, and she sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for not ending his war against Ukraine. "Russia's brutal war against Ukraine is in its fourth year. It is obvious that Putin will not stop there," von der Leyen said in a statement on her meeting with Zhelyazkov. "He has created full-scale yet old-fashioned war economy, precisely because of the biting sanctions that we imposed and he will continue to produce at large scale. So, as we strengthen Ukraine's defence, we must also take greater responsibility for our own." Von der Leyen added: "Putin has not changed, and he will not change. He is a predator. He can only be kept in check through strong deterrence." https://www.newsweek.com/russia-eu-jet-gps-jamming-von-der-leyen-plane-2122534 Thailand’s Nok Air faces international route ban after safety violations Authorities in Thailand have suspended low-cost carrier Nok Air from operating any international flights until further notice, as well as putting a stop to any expansion plans, after multiple safety concerns were raised. The airline must resolve all such deficiencies before resuming such services, said a report by The Nation (Thailand) newspaper. On August 29, 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that it had banned Nok Air from operating international routes and expanding its network, following the airline’s failure to meet safety standards. This move comes amid ongoing compliance checks with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director-General of CAAT, confirmed that the airline must suspend all international operations and refrain from expanding its routes, both domestic and international, until it addresses the safety deficiencies identified during CAAT’s review. The suspensions placed on Nok Air are reported to be part of a broader effort to ensure full compliance with ICAO standards across Thailand’s aviation sector, as the ICAO audit of Thailand’s aviation safety system is currently underway, taking place from August 27 to September 8, 2025. Safety concerns flagged Air Chief Marshal Manat revealed that the CAAT had identified deficiencies in Nok Air’s operations, both in terms of incidents related to personnel and operational performance during the period from 2023 to 2025. The rate of incidents over the past two to three years was described as “significant”, including occurrences such as engine in-flight shutdowns, runway excursions, hard landings, and tail strikes. “Particularly concerning is the engine in-flight shutdown incidents, where the root cause has not yet been determined”, said the CAAT. “An investigation and analysis of the data are required to assess the danger, evaluate the outcomes, and accurately evaluate the risks, enabling the implementation of risk mitigation processes and the development of appropriate recommendations,” it added. Additionally, the CAAT is reported to be concerned regarding the significant number of resignations from pilots, flight instructors, and appointed aviation inspectors from the company, which it says “reflects various internal issues, including organisational safety culture, employee morale, and workforce issues.” “This has increased the risk of personnel lacking the necessary knowledge, experience, and expertise for flight operations. The company has not yet determined the root cause of these incidents or effectively resolved the operational inefficiencies in its flight operations system,” added the CAAT. Manat stated that the airline must resolve these issues within one week before the suspension can be lifted, allowing the airline to resume international flights and expand its routes as usual. The airline’s response Wutthiphum Jurangkool, the current CEO of Nok Air, clarified that while the airline has not operated international flights since June 2025, it continues to operate domestic services under CAAT’s strict oversight. He also addressed the issues raised by CAAT regarding the airline’s maintenance practices, stating that Nok Air “adheres to the maintenance manual approved by CAAT and international standards, with safety audits from the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Furthermore, Nok Air maintains close coordination with CAAT and relevant agencies, including Boeing, to ensure the highest level of safety.” Regarding the employee retention issues flagged by the CAAT, Wutthiphum commented that despite competitive pressures in the region, Nok Air maintains a sufficient and qualified workforce, providing training to meet CAAT and ICAO standards for all personnel, including flight inspectors, pilots, crew members, and ground staff. “Nok Air remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards and improving service quality across all operations. The airline thanked passengers for their continued trust and assured them that domestic services are operating as scheduled, fully compliant with CAAT regulations and international safety standards,” he concluded. About Nok Air Based at Bangkok’s Don Muang International Airport (DMK) in the country’s capital Nok Air first began scheduled passenger operations in 2004. Named after the ‘Nok bird.’ (or the Nok hualon, also known as the Bare-faced Bulbul) and known for its unique featherless pink face, the carrier currently operates a fleet of 14 Boeing 737-800s, with two of these listed as ‘in storage.’ The average fleet age is 11.3 years. Up until June 2025, the airline operated 21 routes to 21 destinations across three countries. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/nok-air-route-ban-safety-violations Embry Riddle, Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority of the Bahamas Formalize Training Partnership to Enhance Aviation Safety Kendall Dorsett Jr., chief investigator of Air Accidents at the AAIA of the Bahamas, and Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, sign a memorandum of understanding to make Embry-Riddle the official training partner of the AAIA. As part of its commitment to provide world-class aviation safety training globally, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety has partnered with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of the Bahamas to serve as its official training partner. The agreement leverages the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety’s expertise, as well as the university’s Professional Education Programs courses, to support the AAIA of the Bahamas in its critical mission of investigating aircraft accidents and developing safety recommendations. The partnership includes Embry Riddle collaborating with the agency on its efforts to further strengthen its compliance with the standards and recommended practices prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the aviation arm of the United Nations. “Having a training plan is a critical ICAO requirement,” said Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. “And we are pleased to partner with the outstanding team at the AAIA of the Bahamas to further enhance their professional development in implementing the highest safety protocols and practices.” An independent federal agency, the AAIA of the Bahamas is responsible for investigating all aircraft accidents and serious incidents within the island nation’s airspace, as well as publishing reports and making safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. The AAIA of the Bahamas team presents a map to Sumwalt and Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler. The team includes (from left) Aviation Safety Analyst Symonne Cargil; Kendall Dorsett Jr., chief investigator of Air Accidents; and Captain Patrick Rolle, chairman of the AAIA of the Bahamas. As part of the agreement, Embry Riddle faculty will deliver professional education courses to the safety professionals at the AAIA of the Bahamas, as well as customize courses to fit the agency’s training needs. Additionally, the agency may have access to the state-of-the-art aviation safety equipment and labs at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. “Since the establishment of the AAIA of the Bahamas on October 3rd, 2016, Embry Riddle has met the organization’s dynamic training through its professional education programs,” said Kendall Dorsett Jr., chief investigator of Air Accidents at the AAIA of the Bahamas. “The execution of this memorandum of understanding was seen as a natural evolution to this existing relationship, where now the AAIA formally recognizes Embry Riddle as its preferred training partner of choice to ensure that it continuously meets its training obligations in accordance with the standards and recommended practices of Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which addresses aircraft accident and incident investigations.” The partnership also provides Bahamian students enrolled at Embry Riddle access to the university's extensive professional internship network. At the same time, Embry Riddle students can gain valuable experience through internships with the safety professionals at the AAIA of the Bahamas. “Aviation safety requires constant learning and improvement to address the latest challenges,” Sumwalt said. “The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry Riddle aims to help our global partners advance aviation safety, and we look forward to our future collaborations with the team at the AAIA to fulfill that mission.” https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-aircraft-accident-investigation-authority-bahamas-formalize-partnership-enhance-safety ISASI 2025 September 29 – October 2, 2025 Denver Hotel and Conference Center 3801 Quebec St Denver, Colorado ISASI 2025 will be here soon, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Denver. Tutorials will be presented on Monday September 29, followed by plenary sessions from September 30 – October 2. To register, please go to ISASI’s online and click on the seminar icon at the top right of the home page. Or go directly to the seminar page by clicking here. Once on the seminar page you will find a link to the hotel reservation site as well as the most up to date information on the Tutorials and the technical program. To see the technical program and other details at the top of the page, beside the “register now” button are tabs with further details. PLEASE NOTE: the seminar rate at the hotel will close on September 5; after that there is no guarantee the special rate will be available. Thanks from the ISASI 2025 Committee https://web.cvent.com/event/a6ec0291-9280-4529-b72f-fb38e0cabc17/summary 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