Flight Safety Information - November 21, 2025 No. 233 In This Issue : Incident: Alaska B738 at Juneau on Nov 19th 2025, bird strike : Learjet 45 - Diversion , Autopilot/Smoke (Tenn.)- : Boeing 737-8LJ (WL) - Autopilot Fail (Russia) : United planes collide on Houston tarmac, delaying travelers : Evidence of fatigue cracks a 'major clue' in fatal UPS cargo jet crash, experts say : Air Astana signs MoU for up to 50 A320neo family aircraft : How Thermal Runaway Incident Reporting Is Making Air Travel Safer : New technology prevents sand damage to jet engines : US Navy trying to pull crashed aircraft from bottom of South China Sea : TSA could charge you $18 if you show up without a REAL ID : PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST : Calendar of Event Incident: Alaska B738 at Juneau on Nov 19th 2025, bird strike An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N559AS performing flight AS-73 from Juneau,AK to Anchorage,AK (USA), departed Juneau's runway 08 when on departure a bird impacted the aircraft. The crew continued the flight and climbed to FL340, but about 20 minutes into the flight the crew decided to return to Juneau due to the bird strike. The aircraft landed safely on runway 26 about 50 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "ALASKA 73, B738, JNU - ANC, RETURNED TO JNU AND LANDED RUNWAY 26 WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AFTER REPORTING A BIRD STRIKE ON DEPARTURE. DAMAGE: LEADING EDGE SLAT, EXTENT UNKN." The aircraft is still on the ground in Juneau about 25 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=52ff453d&opt=0 Learjet 45 - Diversion , Autopilot/Smoke (Tenn.)- Date: Thursday 20 November 2025 Time: c. 09:26 LT Type:Learjet 45 Owner/operator: GTG LLC Registration: N214TG MSN: 45-328 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Serious incident Location: near Hohenwald, TN - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Executive Departure airport: Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA/KBNA) Destination airport: Dallas-Addison Airport, TX (ADS/KADS Investigating agency: NTSB Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Learjet 45, N214TG, experienced engine, flight control and autopilot issues en route to Addison Airport (ADS/KADS), Addison, Texas. The aircraft diverted to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL/KMSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and landed safely at runway 29. Smoke was detected and fire was reported but not confirmed. The two pilots and two passengers were not injured and the aircraft was not damaged. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/562092 Boeing 737-8LJ (WL) - Autopilot Fail (Russia) Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025 Time: 13:12 Type: Boeing 737-8LJ (WL) Owner/operator: Pobeda Airlines Registration: RA-73248 MSN: 41238/6502 Year of manufacture: 2017 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-7B Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: 25 km east of Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast - Russia Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE) Destination airport: Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV/URMM) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: While the aircraft was en route, 25 km east of Ryazan, at flight level FL350, the crew reported loss of the RVSM status and two autopilots failed. The crew requested contact with the airline for a decision. Return to Sheremetyevo Airport, landing safely. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/562097 United planes collide on Houston tarmac, delaying travelers Two United Airlines planes taxing for takeoff "made contact" with each other on the tarmac at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Nov. 18, according to the carrier. The collision caused a delay for both flights as passengers were forced to deplane and board new aircraft. "United flight 544 was preparing to taxi when it made contact with the wing of United flight 2451, which had stopped after just pushing back from the gate," United Airlines told USA TODAY in an email statement. There were no injuries reported. United flight 544 was scheduled to depart for Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport at 6:21 p.m., with United flight 2451 to head toward Orlando International Airport at 6:21 p.m., according to FlightAware. United Airlines planes taxi at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Nov. 7, 2025 in San Francisco. United Airlines planes taxi at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Nov. 7, 2025 in San Francisco. Will this resolve bad behavior? Why the Transportation Department wants you to dress 'with respect' at the airport Both aircraft returned to their respective gates, where all passengers deplaned, according to United. New aircraft were arranged to resume the flights, and both flights landed at their final destination following a delay of over two hours. In September, two other United planes at San Francisco International Airport had a brief encounter when one was pushing back from the gate and "made contact with the tail of a parked United aircraft," the airline previously told USA TODAY. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/united-planes-collide-houston-tarmac-204430660.html Evidence of fatigue cracks a 'major clue' in fatal UPS cargo jet crash, experts say Nov 20 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday it has found evidence of fatigue cracks in a key part of a UPS (UPS.N), opens new tab MD-11 cargo jet that crashed this month in Kentucky, an important clue into the cause of the incident that killed 14. Air safety experts said the discovery of fatigue cracks in a support structure on the left pylon, which connects to the wing and the plane's engine, is a significant finding in the investigation into the November 4 crash in Louisville. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here. Besides evidence of fatigue cracks, which preceded the accident in the left pylon aft mount lug, the NTSB also said in its preliminary report that it found areas of overstress failure. As a result, one side of the pylon's supports failed due to fatigue, and when it broke, the other side could not handle the extra load. “That’s a major clue,” said U.S. air safety expert Anthony Brickhouse of the cracks, which he added developed over multiple flights. CRACKS WEAKEN SUPPORT STRUCTURE: EXPERT U.S. safety expert John Cox said such fatigue cracks weaken the support structure. "It finally gets to a point where the force overcomes what the structure can withstand and that’s a point of failure,” Cox said. “There is a significant likelihood that that’s what occurred here.” Brickhouse said investigators need to figure out why the crack was not discovered as part of the plane's maintenance, a search that could go back for years. U.S. safety investigators have already said they are probing the maintenance history of the 34-year-old UPS cargo plane that was in Texas for repairs weeks before crashing in flames after takeoff. That maintenance was done at a site belonging to Singapore's ST Engineering. According to the report, the plane had not flown enough cycles to warrant special detailed inspections of the part. The preliminary report referenced the crash of an American Airlines DC-10 jet in May 1979, which it listed under “similar events.” During the takeoff rotation of Flight 191 from Chicago O’Hare Airport, the left engine and pylon assembly, and about three feet of the leading edge of the left wing, separated from the airplane and fell to the runway. The NTSB found evidence of fatigue cracking in that incident. UPS and FedEx (FDX.N), opens new tab grounded their MD-11 fleets this month as a precaution and at the recommendation of U.S. planemaker Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab. The Federal Aviation Administration also issued directives that temporarily grounded the MD-11 and the DC-10 due to their similar design. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told Reuters this week that Boeing is doing some additional modeling and testing as part of the investigation. Boeing has owned the broader MD-11 program since its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. Preliminary reports are normally published around 30 days after an incident, with a more comprehensive final report unveiled about a year after the crash. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-ntsb-finds-evidence-fatigue-cracks-fatal-ups-cargo-jet-crash-2025-11-20/ Air Astana signs MoU for up to 50 A320neo family aircraft Kazakhstan operator Air Astana Group has become the latest carrier to place an order with Airbus for aircraft from its narrowbody A320neo family. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for up to 50 aircraft, the largest ever order placed by the airline, comprising 25 firm aircraft and 25 purchase options. The agreement covers a combination of Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with initial deliveries planned for 2031. Most are designated as the Airbus A321LR. Air Astana was among the first airlines to adopt a deluxe configuration for this particular aircraft version, using it for its long-haul routes connecting to both Asia and Europe. “Air Astana’s large order for a new fleet of Airbus A320neo family aircraft reflects a commitment to maintaining its reputation for operational efficiency and service excellence in the long term,” said CEO Peter Foster. “The Airbus A320neo family has proven to be an outstanding success in service with Air Astana over many years and I’m confident that the new fleet will continue to boost sustainable growth and profitability in the long term.” https://www.laranews.net/air-astana-signs-mou-for-up-to-50-a320neo-family-aircraft/ How Thermal Runaway Incident Reporting Is Making Air Travel Safer ULSE's Thermal Runaway Incident Program collects critical data on lithium-ion battery incidents in aviation, helping airlines develop safety protocols for passengers carrying multiple devices. David Wroth, Senior Director/Technology and Operations, UL Standards & Engagement, Underwriters Laboratories ICAO used TRIP data to mandate 30% state-of-charge requirements for batteries shipped with equipment by 2026. In the early 1920s, insurance companies needed a way to assess the safety of air travel. They found their answer in Underwriters Laboratories (UL)—a relatively new organization that had made a name for itself following a safety investigation of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Having begun authoring safety standards at the turn of the century, UL set out to support the certification of pilots and airplanes even before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) existed, kicking off a decades-long effort to enhance aviation safety across the globe. Nearly 100 years later, after the 2013 Boeing 787 battery fires, UL worked with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate and conduct a root-cause analysis. At the time, UL already had 15 years’ involvement in safety science in batteries and battery technology to bolster its aviation history and experience. This incident, coupled with growing requests from dangerous goods managers at airlines, prompted UL to think differently about battery fires in aviation. Enter UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), a non-profit safety advocacy organization within the UL enterprise. In 2019, ULSE launched the Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP), a voluntary program where aviation and cargo organizations could submit information about thermal runaway incidents experienced in their operations. Incidents rising, factors changing Today, the average passenger on a US airline is carrying four devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, with many carrying eight to ten; a single pair of wireless earphones accounts for three separate batteries. While efficient and long-lasting, when these lithium-ion (or rechargeable) batteries are improperly handled, damaged, or substandard, they are at risk of overheating and can spark difficult-to-extinguish combustion fires that are especially dangerous at 30,000 feet. Last year, ULSE reported that from 2019 to 2023, there was a 28% rise in thermal runaway incidents aboard passenger flights, with an average of two cases reported each week. Cargo shipments of lithium-ion batteries also pose thermal runaway risks. Industry growth in battery applications, as well as growing global supply chains, mean more batteries are entering parcel networks en route to destinations around the world via varying means of transportation—including aviation. A program to track incidents At the onset, four airlines contributed information to ULSE's Thermal Runaway Incident Program. Five years later, 39 commercial and cargo airlines now actively participate in TRIP. Every year, ULSE compiles its shared data into a comprehensive database of aviation thermal runaway incidents, with insights dating all the way back to 2006. At the onset, four airlines contributed information to ULSE's Thermal Runaway Incident Program. Five years later, 39 commercial and cargo airlines now actively participate in TRIP. After aggregating, analyzing, and de-identifying reporting results, ULSE returns the data to airline safety managers who use it to inform and refine passenger and cargo safety protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and awareness initiatives, like increased warnings on check-in screens, for example. ULSE also works with relevant industry organizations and regulators that rely on the data to understand incident trends across the industry. I am often asked how we’ve managed to grow this program without resistance from the commercial aviation industry. My answer tracks back to our mission: advancing safety. We don’t publicize incidents, and we don’t hand down penalties. Staying true to this mission has allowed us to foster the kind of trusted relationships that support open yet confidential data sharing and allow us to turn information into meaningful change. Success stories TRIP data has already proven impactful for global organizations. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with ensuring the global aviation network operates well together, leverages TRIP data to support recommendations and actions related to lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. Part of ICAO’s mission is to establish regulations for transporting dangerous goods, including lithium-ion batteries. In 2010, when thermal runaway incidents first emerged as a trend rather than a rarity, ICAO moved to ban bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries on passenger flights. ICAO also imposed state-of-charge (SOC) requirements of 30% or less for bulk battery shipments, meaning spare lithium-ion batteries can only be 30% charged when transported because they are less likely to enter thermal runaway at that level. Notably, ICAO continued to allow the transportation of batteries at 100% SOC when packed with or contained inside equipment on passenger or cargo aircraft. Following these changes, TRIP data showed that while the number of incidents occurring with batteries packed with or contained inside equipment continued to increase, the number of incidents involving batteries shipped separately decreased. It can be inferred that the SOC requirement for shipping bulk batteries had its desired effect. What followed was a significant debate among ICAO’s dangerous goods board. They ultimately decided that as of 2026, batteries packed with equipment must be shipped at 30% SOC or less, and that batteries contained in equipment should be shipped at 30% SOC or less. ULSE’s TRIP data was critical to establishing this industry mandate. Last year, the TRIP report showed a marked increase in incident frequency—but it also helped inform a critical step in identifying ways to mitigate this risk. Passenger awareness is essential in decreasing thermal runaway incidents. Because of this, ULSE launched a new campaign focused on passenger education to help ensure safer skies for all. https://www.batterytechonline.com/testing-safety/how-thermal-runaway-incident-reporting-is-making-air-travel-safer New technology prevents sand damage to jet engines BBC Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB-97 engine that the company wants to be more durable in desert conditions Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB-97 powers the Airbus A350 on long haul flights Rolls-Royce is testing new technology in Derby in a bid to prevent sand and dust damaging its jet engines. The issue has affected airlines operating across the Middle East, which is one of the company's most important markets. Sand and fine dust which are ingested during take-off can enter the hottest parts of an engine, causing it to corrode, and can make the engine even hotter when coolant holes become blocked. The issue does not affect flight safety, but it reduces efficiency and increases the frequency of maintenance, as the coating around the engine parts can wear out quicker. Head of test facilities Pat Hilton at Testbed 80 in Derby stood in a large testing warehouse. Rolls Royce's head of test facilities Pat Hilton said the Middle East market was "crucial" to its future Pat Hilton, Rolls-Royce's head of test facilities, said: "The dust can penetrate the hottest parts of the engine and wear that part out at a quicker rate than it would if it wasn't flying through sand." Under the testing programme, the firm has changed the metals the parts are made of to make them more resistant to heat and the corrosive effects of dust. In addition, it has changed the location of some of the coolant holes so they are less likely to become blocked. The work is part of a wider £1bn durability programme which covers several engines, including the Trent XWB-97, the company's most powerful engine and one that runs hotter than its other models. When dust gets into the turbine part of the Trent XWB-97 engine it causes damage to the parts The testing is taking place in three phases at Rolls-Royce's Testbed 80 facility in Sinfin. Engines tested in the first two phases are back in service and able to fly 60% longer between overhauls, according to the company. As part of the work, the University of Manchester produced a synthetic dust which matched the fine, talcum powder-like particles found in the Middle East. Mr Hilton added: "What we're looking to do by enhancing the fleet is to fly [the engines] for double the length of time. "It is fantastic being part of that journey knowing that something we have been doing today will run for many years to come." The Trent XWB-97 that is regularly used in the Middle East Changes have been made to the Trent XWB-97 after testing in Sinfin in Derby A Trent engine is currently able to fly the equivalent of 500 times around the world before key parts need to be replaced. This is expected to double when final testing is completed in 2028. Last year, Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark questioned the durability of the Trent XWB-97, which powers the Airbus A350. The Airbus is used long haul by the likes of Emirates and Etihad. Rolls-Royce said its ongoing programme was addressing the issue across the fleet. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0e3npg7e4o US Navy trying to pull crashed aircraft from bottom of South China Sea The US Navy is trying to recover two aircraft from the bottom of the South China Sea that US experts say could yield sensitive information to China if Beijing were to get to them first. The aircraft – an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60 helicopter – crashed within 30 minutes of each other while operating off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during routine operations in late October. No official cause has been given for the crashes, but US President Donald Trump suggested to reporters shortly after the incidents that contaminated fuel may be to blame. All crew members were rescued. The Navy confirmed to CNN on Friday that a salvage ship was operating in the South China Sea, while not revealing the specific location where the aircraft crashed or where the salvage ship is now. “USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52), a Safeguard-class salvage ship operated by Military Sealift Command, is on-scene conducting operations in support of the recovery efforts,” said Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the Navy’s 7th Fleet in Japan. The Salvor is capable of lifting objects weighing up to 300 tons off the seafloor, according to Navy documents. The maximum takeoff weight of the newest F/A-18 models on the Nimitz is about 33 tons while the MH-60 weighs around 11 tons. While neither the F/A-18 nor the MH-60 are the most modern of the Navy’s aircraft, experts say the wrecks could yield useful intelligence if they fall into the hands of an adversary. “Acquiring an air frame and surviving systems will … provide valuable insights into its technological strengths and how to defeat it tactically,” said Carl Schuster, the former head of the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center. He noted that an F/A-18 has never fallen into Chinese hands, but if one did, Beijing could gather information that could help it improve People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carrier-based J-15T jets, which are not considered as advanced as the F/A-18. Meanwhile, the MH-60 carries anti-submarine warfare systems that are likely more advanced than China’s, Schuster said. “China is now prioritizing the upgrading of its anti-submarine warfare systems. So, recovering that helicopter should enjoy a high priority,” he said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-navy-trying-pull-crashed-033138973.html TSA could charge you $18 if you show up without a REAL ID What is the purpose of the TSA's $18 fee? How did the REAL ID implementation affect airport security? Which US airport is most costly for travelers? Travelers who arrive at a U.S. airport security checkpoint without a REAL ID or a valid passport could be required to pay an $18 fee to make their flight, according to a proposed rule by the Transportation Security Administration. The non-refundable fee would go toward covering the costs of a "modernized alternative identity verification program" that will use a biometric kiosk, according to a notice published on Nov. 20. There is no set date for when the new program would start. "This notice serves as a next step in the process in REAL ID compliance, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago and finally implemented by Secretary Noem as of May 2025," the TSA told USA TODAY in an email statement. "TSA is working with stakeholders and partners to ensure both security and efficiency at our checkpoints. Additional guidance will be announced in the coming days." REAL ID took 20 years to become reality. What took so long? The new system is set to replace and streamline the current option, which the agency said is "time and resource intensive" in the notice. Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more! Nearly two decades in the making, the REAL ID requirement officially went into effect May 7, mandating that travelers in the United States have a compliant driver's license or other approved identification document, like a valid passport, in order to pass through airport security checkpoints. At first, the requirement caused a scramble as people hurried to the DMV to update their IDs before the deadline. The transition went smoothly overall without significant delays, as previously reported by USA TODAY. Here's what travelers should know. What does the new fee mean for travelers? Air passengers in the U.S. over the age of 18 who do not have an acceptable form of identification will need to pay the $18 fee to participate in the alternative verification process and make their flight. Biometric technology and biographic information will be used to verify their identity and grant them access to airports' secure areas for 10 days. However, entry is not guaranteed and they may face "additional screening or experience delays," stated the notice. Get the Travel newsletter in your inbox. Travel industry news and expert reviews on air travel, hotels, cruises, and more. What types of ID are accepted by TSA? Here are the acceptable forms of ID, according to TSA: REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles State-issued Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced ID U.S. passport or passport card Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards, like Global Entry U.S. Department of Defense ID Permanent resident card Border crossing card Photo ID by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe Foreign government-issued passport card https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/11/20/tsa-new-fee-no-real-id-travelers/87375360007/ PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST My name is Nathan Schultz, and I am a doctoral candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the Ph.D. in Aviation program. I am conducting my dissertation research under the guidance of Dr. Scott Winter. We are interested in understanding pilot perspectives on operating at airports under various weather conditions. I am seeking participants to complete a brief online survey (5-7 minutes). Eligibility Requirements: -Must be 18 years of age or older -Must hold an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certification -Must be a current or former pilot of crewed aircraft (UAS-only pilots are not eligible) Additional Information: -Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous -There will be no compensation for participation -The study has been approved by the Embry-Riddle Institutional Review Board (IRB) Please use the following electronic questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/x6rbqNRGiRYm96ADA Best regards, Nathan Schultz PhD in Aviation, Candidate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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