Flight Safety Information - October 30, 2025 No. 217 In This Issue : Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - Ground Damage (Bangladesh) : Mil Mi-171C - Fatal Accident (Peru) : ACSF - Industry Audit Standard Lite : Investigation into crash of small jet owned by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil prompts urgent NTSB recommendation : United Airlines Plane Delayed 4 Hours After Fight Between Flight Attendants : 2 Teen Passengers Stabbed with Metal Fork on Flight to Chicago in Alleged Attack on Multiple People After Meal Service : Plane inspectors have been recalled from furlough by the FAA : Boeing hit with $5bn in penalties as new jet delayed : Discover How ADS-B In is Revolutionizing Aviation Safety and Efficiency : Airbus delivers 507 aircraft in 9 months of 2025, on track for full-year targets : Calendar of Event Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - Ground Damage (Bangladesh) Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025 Time: c. 10:30 LT Type: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Owner/operator: Biman Bangladesh Airlines Registration: S2-AJT MSN: 40127/781 Year of manufacture: 2018 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 262 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Osmani International Airport (ZYL/VGSY), Sylhet - Bangladesh Phase: Standing Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Sylhet-Osmani International Airport (ZYL/VGSY) Destination airport: London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight BBC201, was hit by a boarding bridge at Osmani International Airport (ZYL/VGSY), Sylhet. There were no personal injuries and the aircraft was taken out of service The flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC/VGHS), Dakha, to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) via Osmani International Airport (ZYL/VGSY), Sylhet, was resumed after a delay of six hours by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner S2-AJU. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/560695 Mil Mi-171C - Fatal Accident (Peru) Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025 Time: 14:30 Type: Mil Mi-171C Owner/operator: Helisur Registration: OB-2019-P MSN: 171C00643116102U Year of manufacture: 2012 Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Malvinas natural gas plant, district of Megantoni (Cusco) - Peru Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: External load operation Departure airport: Destination airport: Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Mil Mi-171C helicopter crashed while performing external cargo loading maneuvers. There were three crew members on board—a pilot, a co-pilot, and a mechanic—all employees of Helisur, who perished. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/560800 Investigation into crash of small jet owned by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil prompts urgent NTSB recommendation The investigation into the crash of a Learjet, owned by Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil, has prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to issue an urgent recommendation to make sure similar planes’ landing gear are “securely attached.” On February 10, Neil’s Learjet 35A was landing at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona when the left main landing gear separated and the jet veered across a gravel safety area, slamming into a parked Gulfstream G200 jet. The captain of the Neil’s plane was killed, and the first officer was injured. The rockstar was not on the jet, but his girlfriend and her friend were onboard and were injured, along with someone inside the parked plane. In a preliminary report, the board found a pin in the landing gear support was not correctly inserted far enough when it was installed months before. Wednesday, the NTSB issued an urgent recommendation asking the FAA to require certain Learjet operators to check that all landing gear are attached properly. Bombardier, the company that makes the planes, had called for inspections of more than 1,800 Learjets, but only 12% were checked, prompting the NTSB recommendation. The board investigates crashes and can make recommendations, but only the Federal Aviation Administration has the authority to mandate inspections. The FAA decided in July not to issue an airworthiness directive requiring the pins be checked. “We believe the FAA’s decision not to issue an AD is incommensurate with the longstanding aviation safety risk associated with misassembly of Learjet main landing gear,” the NTSB said in a report, calling the decision “particularly difficult to justify in view of the imminent risk of loss of life from a similar accident.” The NTSB noted three prior incidents, dating to 1995, where the landing gear of similar aircraft collapsed or separated because pins were not fully inserted properly. The FAA has not yet responded to the recommendation. The February crash came after two weeks of deadly aircraft accidents, including a fatal midair collision near Washington, DC that killed 67 people;, the crash of a medevac jet in Philadelphia, which killed seven; and a crash near Nome, Alaska, that claimed the lives of all 10 people on board a commuter flight. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/investigation-crash-small-jet-owned-220448168.html United Airlines Plane Delayed 4 Hours After Fight Between Flight Attendants Passengers on what should have been a routine United Airlines flight from Des Moines, Iowa to Chicago got a lot more than they bargained for Monday, according to reports. The plane was delayed four hours after two flight attendants got into an altercation before takeoff, Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported. Details on what led to the fight have not been reported yet, but Paddle Your Own Kanoo and One Mile At A Time confirmed that United's internal messaging acknowledged an incident had taken place. “Disagreement on 2 of the FAs [Flight Attendants]. IFDM [Inflight Duty Manager] pulling all crew and will need to recrew flight," the system message said. Because of the fact the entire aircraft had to be deplaned and a new crew formed, the flight, which was scheduled to depart at 11:26 a.m. local time, had to be pushed back. The flight finally departed at 3:24 p.m. and landed at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago at 5:09 p.m. ET, an arrival delay of four hours and 12 minutes. Flight crew conflicts are rare, but they do happen Thankfully, we don't often see flights delayed because of confrontations between crew members. That would certainly be a disaster for the air travel industry. However, the incident that happened on Monday's United Airlines flight has precedent. In July 2022, a beef between Alaska Airlines pilots led to a delay, and in 2023, two SkyWest flight attendants got into it, with both refusing to work together and leaving the plane in an ordeal that was chronicled on TikTok by ESPN anchor Ashley Brewer. Of course, there have also been numerous instances of altercations between passengers and flight attendants, such as this one on an international flight in August. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/united-airlines-plane-delayed-4-171338692.html 2 Teen Passengers Stabbed with Metal Fork on Flight to Chicago in Alleged Attack on Multiple People After Meal Service A 28-year-old man has been charged following the alleged incident, which occurred on a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany on Saturday, Oct. 25 Two teenagers were allegedly stabbed during Lufthansa flight 431 from Chicago to Germany on Saturday, Oct. 25 Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli was arrested in connection with the incidents after the flight diverted to Boston Logan International Airport Usiripalli, 28, allegedly also slapped a female passenger and attempted to slap a flight crew member during the disturbance Two teenagers were allegedly attacked with a metal fork by a fellow passenger on their flight from Chicago to Germany. On Saturday, Oct. 25, a 17-year-old boy on Lufthansa flight 431 allegedly awoke to see 28-year-old Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli standing over him, according to a press release from the U S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts. The boy had been “sleeping lightly” in the middle seat when he was struck with a fork in the left clavicle. Another 17-year-old boy, who was sitting towards the right of the injured teen in the center row of the aircraft, suffered a laceration to the back of his head after Usiripalli, 28, allegedly lunged at him with the same fork. The attacks occurred following a meal service on the flight, per the attorney's office. 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. Usiripalli allegedly formed a gun with his fingers when approached by flight crew members, according to prosecutors. He then put it in his mouth and pulled an imaginary trigger. The 28-year-old allegedly went on to slap a female passenger to his left and attempted to slap a crew member. Due to the disturbance, the flight diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where Usiripalli was arrested and taken into custody. He was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. The charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. According to the attorney's office, the Indian national entered the U.S. on a student visa while enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies. However, Usiripalli does not currently have lawful status in the country. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/2-teen-passengers-stabbed-metal-143526941.html Plane inspectors have been recalled from furlough by the FAA Some employees involved in aircraft inspection are being recalled, and then furloughed again, sources told Fast Company. In order to keep U.S. aviation operational through the government shutdown, air traffic controllers have been working without pay. But for the people involved in inspecting our planes to ensure they follow Federal Aviation Administration safety standards, the situation is more complicated. While principal aviation inspectors were told to keep working, assistant-level inspectors and other support staff were sent home and then had to be recalled, several sources told Fast Company. In some cases, the government is still cycling them in and out of service, adding to the overall disruption. The approach puts even more pressure on the airline industry, which is already struggling to maintain flight schedules amid what’s likely to be the longest-ever government closure. Sources told Fast Company that the public should not feel the impact of the disruptions, and that the workers will continue to fulfill their responsibilities. Still, the situation highlights another group of people crucial to a functional commercial-aviation system working without pay under somewhat chaotic circumstances. The approach to inspector staffing also comes amid growing concerns about the shutdown’s impact on air travel. Dave Spero, president of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, an AFL-CIO-linked union that represents these workers, confirmed that aircraft inspectors have now been recalled by the FAA. The union doesn’t have solid data yet, but says that some offices seem to be operating “business as usual,” while others are using their discretionary authority “to furlough and recall employees on a day-to-day basis,” Spero said. The situation is impacting about 1,200 workers who focus on flight standards and another 60 who work on aircraft certifications, according to the union. Because training isn’t considered essential during a government shutdown, newer aircraft safety inspectors are still furloughed. An official with the Department of Transportation also said that some aircraft inspectors were not automatically exempted during the shutdown and that some were being recalled to inspect planes before again being furloughed. Shutdown strains Last month, a bevy of groups in the aviation space warned leaders in Congress that amid a shutdown FAA workers “cannot perform their duties that support aviation safety, aircraft certification, and the integration of new entrants.” It also serves as a reminder that the shutdown isn’t just straining the professionals who monitor the skys—and save us from collisions at airports—but the people who inspect aircraft, too. More than an award: What our top ranking means for your health The CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health shares four key lessons learned on the journey to being ranked in the top 20 medical centers in the U.S. An FAA document describes these workers, who carry the title “aviation safety inspectors,” as the people who “administer, investigate, and enforce safety regulations and standards for the production, operation, maintenance, and modification of all aircraft flying today.” These workers can have a wide range of responsibilities involved in ensuring that aircraft are safe, Spero emphasized. For instance, aircraft inspectors help ensure cabin and crew safety, and conduct oversight of Boeing vehicles. They are assigned to offices that work with the commercial airlines, as well as delivery fleets operated by FedEx and UPS. Another aviation-safety professional familiar with the matter confirmed that Transportation Department officials had resorted to cycling some inspectors on and off duty. During the earlier parts of the shutdown, senior leadership, field office managers, and principal aviation safety inspectors were told to work without pay during the shutdown, the source said, adding, “Aviation safety is considered a critical mission, so maintaining oversight in those areas was essential.” After a few weeks, senior leadership at the FAA then expanded the number of employees “recalled” to work, including field office supervisors and the inspectors who provide direct assistance to the principal aviation-safety inspectors. “In simpler terms, those assisting inspectors are like ‘associate’ or ‘support’ safety inspectors who help carry out inspections, certifications, and oversight tasks under the guidance of the senior inspector responsible for a particular group of operators or maintenance facilities,” the aviation-safety professional said. Supervisors have the authority to recall administrative professionals “as needed” in order to continue work on inspection and compliance, the source said, adding that it can be a complex process: “We must formally recall administrative employees to work, track their time, and then officially furlough them again once they’ve completed their assigned days, which can range from one to seven days per week depending on operational needs.” Additional details about the situation weren’t immediately available, including how many workers are cycling between recall and furlough status or which aviation offices require more of these inspectors to return to work. Leaders at the FAA’s Aviation Safety office did not respond to Fast Company’s questions. The FAA media office sent an automated response: “As Secretary [Sean] Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.” Of course, even before the shutdown, there were growing concerns about the safety of aircraft, particularly those made by Boeing, following a string of serious accidents. https://www.fastcompany.com/91431515/faa-furlough-shutdown-trump-duffy-boeing Boeing hit with $5bn in penalties as new jet delayed Aircraft giant Boeing has suffered another setback as it announced production of its much anticipated 777X planes would now be pushed to 2027, costing it $5bn (£3.7bn) in late delivery penalties. The US firm said its 777X had been delayed due to mounting regulatory hurdles which it needs to pass. It comes during a surge in demand for international travel, when Boeing wants to push its latest model as an upgrade to its iconic 747 and 777 models, a favourite of commercial airlines. Boeing, beleaguered by trust issues after a series of disasters including a plane door blowing out mid-flight, said revenue in the three months to September rose by 30% to $23.27bn against the same period last year. Its chief executive Kelly Ortberg said the firm was working to "restore trust with all of our stakeholders" and that he was disappointed with the 777X schedule delay, though he added the plane performed "well in flight testing". He said Boeing was working to "stabilise our operations to fully recover our company's performance". As well as complaints over the safety of some of its aircraft in recent years, the firm has suffered staff strikes over pay and conditions. More than 3,000 workers in two of its US defence units walked out in August, while last year, a walkout by around 30,000 passenger plane workers ended after seven weeks. Mr Ortberg has previously pledged to "restore trust" in the business, overhaul its corporate culture and prioritise the safety of passengers. In its latest results, Boeing said it had delivered 55 planes in September, a jump from the previous year when the strikes reduced deliveries and cost the firm billions. It anticipated the 777X planes would begin delivery from 2027, which would improve the company's cash flow as so far, the jet's delays have accrued almost $15bn (£11.3bn) in charges. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-hit-5bn-penalties-jet-152049578.html Discover How ADS-B In is Revolutionizing Aviation Safety and Efficiency As air traffic grows and airspace congestion intensifies, the aviation industry is turning to advanced technologies for solutions. ADS-B In (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In) represents a shift from traditional radar-based systems to GPS-precision technology that gives pilots real-time situational awareness. Aviation Week Network spoke with Robin Glover-Faure of Acron Aviation to explore how this technology can reduce critical safety concerns while delivering operational benefits to airlines. Aviation Week: With more than 1,400 runway incursions last year, how does ADS-B In technology address this persistent safety challenge? Robin Glover-Faure: The growing number of aircraft certainly compounds the problem, but this isn’t new. Back in 2010, the NTSB recommended equipping all aircraft with ADS-B-based taxi management solutions. Even 15 years ago, they recognized we needed ADS-B protection on runways. Currently, we rely entirely on air traffic control to manage separation near airports. With ADS-B In, pilots would see all traffic around the runway on a map display. Recently, a commercial air transport flight had to execute a touch-and-go when a business jet crossed its runway. Those go-arounds are expensive, burn extra fuel, add time, and introduce unnecessary risk. ADS-B In would have flagged the conflict well in advance. AW: You’ve been working with the U.S. Senate on the ROTOR Act to mandate ADS-B In. What’s the biggest obstacle to getting it passed, and how do you see it being overcome? RGF: Aerospace mandates face two major hurdles: industry buy-in and cost. What’s remarkable this time is we have unanimous industry support, which is rare. At a Washington summit in July, every stakeholder—pilots, GAMA, airlines, and the FAA—agreed we need this mandate. The cost challenge involves updating ATC systems, training controllers, and upgrading aircraft. We’ve already developed a certified retrofit solution from our American Airlines work—existing ACSS, a joint venture between Acron Aviation and Thales, surveillance system users need just a software load and the addition of a 3 ATI display. But airlines want operational benefits beyond safety to justify the investment. AW: The DFW trials showed zero separation incidents and up to five extra landings per hour. Why isn’t every airline adopting ADS-B In? RGF: When we say zero separation incidents, we’re not reducing spacing; if you’re assigned five-minute separation, you maintain five minutes. The difference is precision. Today’s five-minute spacing has slack—you might drift plus or minus 30 seconds. With these applications, you receive specific speed commands that maintain exactly five minutes at waypoints. This precision saves 10 to 20 seconds per flight through reduced fuel burn—millions in annual savings, depending on the size of the fleet. The real business case for American Airlines was blockplanning. In bad weather, instead of scheduling two-and-a-half hours, they could plan two hours and 15 minutes because these applications maintain separation even in poor conditions. Stack those efficiencies and an airline could gain an extra daily flight for that aircraft. The catch is that this requires widespread adoption. Airlines are watching closely, but they need confirmation that the FAA will provide infrastructure and training support. AW: How is ADS-B In changing the traditional relationship between pilots and air traffic controllers? RGF: It’s transforming a one-way directive system into a collaborative partnership. Controllers can now issue a single command knowing pilots have the tools to execute it precisely—no constant check-ins, no repeated corrections. The communication becomes cleaner and more efficient. From the pilot’s perspective, they’re no longer dependent solely on ATC instructions. They can see what controllers see—tag an aircraft ahead, set exact spacing parameters, and receive active guidance to maintain it. The system becomes a shared workspace rather than a hierarchy. The underlying technology represents an equally dramatic shift. We’re moving from TCAS—essentially RF replies giving rough bearings—to GPS-precision data showing exact positions, altitudes, speeds, and flight IDs. Pilots know not just where traffic is, but where it’s going and why. They become informed partners in separation management rather than passive recipients of instructions. AW: Beyond safety, what’s the strongest case for airlines to invest in SafeRoute+ now, and how does ADS-B In fit into the future of airspace management? RGF: Fuel savings lead the business case—those 10 to 20 seconds per flight multiply across thousands of operations. Add reduced delays and fewer go-arounds, and you’re suddenly more competitive with better on-time performance and marketing advantages. With ADS-B In supporting instrument approaches, airlines can optimize block times even in bad weather. Airlines view this as a competitive edge—beyond fuel savings, they’re positioning themselves to fly more daily flights while marketing superior on-time performance. The cascading benefits, such as “more on time” and “more flights offered”, can reshape an airline's market position, turning operational excellence into a marketable advantage. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/discover-how-ads-b-revolutionizing-aviation-safety-efficiency Airbus delivers 507 aircraft in 9 months of 2025, on track for full-year targets Airbus has delivered 507 commercial aircraft in the first nine months of 2025, keeping the company on track to meet its full-year goal of around 820 deliveries, even in what it described as a “complex and dynamic” operating environment. According to Airbus consolidated financial results for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, the European manufacturer reported revenues of €47.4 billion for the first nine months of 2025, with an adjusted EBIT of €4.1 billion and a reported EBIT of €3.4 billion. Earnings per share were €3.34, while free cash flow before customer financing was negative at €0.9 billion. Solid financial performance across all divisions “Our nine-month results reflect the level of commercial aircraft deliveries and a solid performance in the Defense and Space and Helicopters businesses,” said Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus. “Deliveries remain backloaded amid a complex and dynamic operating environment.” Revenues from Airbus’ commercial aircraft operations grew by 3% to €33.9 billion, primarily due to a higher number of deliveries and an increase in services. Airbus Helicopters saw a revenue increase of 16% to €5.7 billion, with helicopter deliveries totaling 218 units, up from 190 in the same period of 2024. Revenues for Airbus Defense and Space rose 17% year-on-year to €8.9 billion. Lower orders Both gross orders for commercial aircraft and net orders after cancellations decreased compared to the same time in 2024, totaling 610 and 514 aircraft respectively, down from 667 and 648 aircraft in the first nine months of 2024. The backlog for commercial aircraft stood at 8,665 units at the end of September 2025. Airbus Helicopters division had 306 net orders, a slight drop from 308 in the same period of 2024, with orders well spread across the product range. The order intake value for Airbus Defense and Space division reached €6.8 billion, compared to €11 billion in the first nine months of 2024. Growth plans for Airbus commercial programs The A320 family program is increasing production, with Airbus aiming for 75 aircraft per month by 2027. In the A220 program, the balance between supply and demand has caused a change in the ramp-up trajectory, with the company now aiming to reach a rate of 12 aircraft per month in 2026. Airbus pushes back A220 monthly output target to December 2026: Reuters Airbus said that the A330 program is currently stabilizing at a production rate of four aircraft per month, with a target of five by 2029 to “meet customer demand”. The company also aims for a production rate of 12 for the A350 by 2028. “We continue to expand our industrial capacity to support the commercial aircraft ramp-up,” Faury added. Full-year outlook and targets For its 2025 guidance, the company is assuming that there will be no further disruptions to global trade, the world economy, air traffic, the supply chain, or its internal operations. With this in mind, Airbus aims for around 820 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025 and to achieve an adjusted EBIT of about €7 billion and free cash flow before customer financing of about €4.5 billion. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-delivers-507-aircraft-9-months-stays-on-track CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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