Flight Safety Information - January 21, 2026 No. 015 In This Issue : Incident: LATAM A320 at Florianapolis on Jan 18th 2026, rejected takeoff due to engine fire : Incident: Easyjet A320 at Ljubljana on Jan 20th 2026, door open indication : Air India crash plane had record of safety defects, campaigners claim : A former flight attendant posed as a pilot and received hundreds of free flights, US authorities say : Delta Flight Returns to Gate After Deicing Fluids Leak Inside Aircraft and 'Soak' a Passenger : San Francisco Airport Worker, 28, Dies in 'Tragic' Cargo Towing Accident : Paramedic took control of helicopter during pilot's medical emergency : 1,800 aircraft deliveries expected in 2026, says IBA : Calendar of Events Incident: LATAM A320 at Florianapolis on Jan 18th 2026, rejected takeoff due to engine fire A LATAM Brasil Airbus A320-200, registration PR-MAK performing flight LA-3819 from Florianapolis,SC to Brasilia,DF (Brazil), was accelerating the engines (V2527) for takeoff from Florianapolis' runway 14 when persistent flames became visible from the exhaust of the left hand engine. The crew rejected takeoff, taxied to the first turn off and vacated the runway, flames were still visible from the engine. There were no injuries. A passenger reported the engines were spooling up when the left engine emitted continuous flames. A ground observer reported emergency services responded and put the fire out. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Florianapolis about 43 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=53357ce2&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet A320 at Ljubljana on Jan 20th 2026, door open indication An Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration G-EZWC performing flight U2-2174 from Ljubljana (Slovenia) to Manchester,EN (UK), was climbing out of Ljubljana's runway 30 when the crew indicated they were unable to climb to their cleared flightlevel, they needed to level off below FL100 due to an open door indication. The aircraft was cleared to stop climb at 6000 feet and positioned for a return to Ljubljana's runway 30 for a safe landing about 20 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about one hour, then departed again and reached Manchester with a delay of about 75 minutes. https://avherald.com/h?article=53356f55&opt=0 Air India crash plane had record of safety defects, campaigners claim Aviation safety campaigners in the United States say they have evidence a plane that crashed in India last year had previously suffered a series of technical failures, including an in-flight fire. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed on 12 June, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London, killing 260 people. The Foundation for Aviation Safety, a US campaign group, has sent a presentation to the US Senate outlining its findings, which it says are based on documents that have come into its possession. The official investigation into the accident is ongoing. However, an interim report published in July sparked widespread speculation and controversy. Boeing declined to comment. The aircraft involved in the accident, registered as VT-ANB, was one of the earliest 787s to be built. It first flew in late 2013, and entered service with Air India in early 2014. The Foundation for Aviation Safety says documents show that the plane experienced system failures from its very first day in service for Air India. It alleges these were caused by "a wide and confusing variety of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance problems". The failures included electronics and software faults, circuit breakers tripping repeatedly, damage to wiring, short circuits, loss of electrical current, and overheating of power system components. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner was deemed the 'safest' of planes. The whistleblowers were always less sure In January 2022, it says, there was a fire in the P100 power distribution panel. This is one of five such panels that take high-voltage power generated by the engines and distribute it around the aircraft. The pilots started receiving fault messages during a descent into Frankfurt Airport - and the damage was discovered afterwards. It was so severe, the FAS says, that the entire panel had to be replaced. The 787 relies more heavily on electrical systems than previous generations of passenger aircraft. In an attempt to improve efficiency, its designers got rid of numerous mechanical and pneumatic components, and replaced them with electrical ones, which were lighter. However, this led to problems early in the aircraft's existence, including a major battery fire on a plane owned by Japan Airlines in 2013, which led to a temporary grounding of the 787 fleet. The P100 panel itself was redesigned in 2010 following a fire on board a test aircraft. The Foundation's report has been sent to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which last year held hearings into "Boeing's broken safety culture". The official investigation into the Ahmedabad crash is being carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). American officials have also been taking part, as the aircraft and its engines were designed and built in the US. A month after the accident, the AAIB published a preliminary report. This is standard practice in accident investigations, and is meant to provide a summary of the known facts at the time of publication. It will not usually draw firm conclusions. However, a short section of this 15-page report generated significant controversy. It states that moments after take-off, the plane's fuel control switches, which are normally used when starting the engines before a flight and shutting them down afterwards, had been moved from the "run" to the "cut-off" position. This would have deprived the engines of fuel, causing them to lose thrust rapidly. The switches were moved back to restart the engines, but too late to prevent the disaster. The report then says: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so." The actual transcript is not provided. That indirectly reported conversation prompted a number of commentators in the US and India to suggest that the accident had been caused by one of the pilots, either deliberately or inadvertently. But there has since been a backlash from lawyers for the accident victims, safety campaigners, a pilots' association and some technical experts in India and the US. They believe the focus on the pilots is misleading, and has diverted attention away from the possibility of a technical problem with the aircraft. Since the report was issued, the BBC has spoken to a range of people within the industry, including pilots, accident investigators and engineers. While theories about what actually happened vary widely, there is a broad acknowledgement that important information is missing. The Foundation for Aviation Safety is an organisation led by Ed Pierson, a former senior manager at Boeing's Renton factory in Seattle, who has been an outspoken critic of the aerospace giant's safety and quality control standards for years. He has previously described the preliminary report into the Air India crash as "woefully inadequate… embarrassingly inadequate". The Foundation says its concerns about the 787 go beyond the aircraft involved in that accident. It says it has also examined some 2,000 reports of failures on hundreds of other aircraft in the US, Canada and Australia. They include water leaks into wiring bays, which have previously been noted by US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration. Concerns about the aircraft have also been voiced in some other quarters. Boeing has always maintained that the 787 is a safe aircraft with a strong record. Prior to the Ahmedabad crash, it had operated for nearly a decade and a half without a single fatality. The BBC has not seen the documents referred to in the Foundation's report. Boeing declined to comment, as the investigation into the Air India crash is still ongoing. It referred queries about the crash to the AAIB. Air India and the AAIB have been approached for comment. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/air-india-crash-plane-had-000041184.html A former flight attendant posed as a pilot and received hundreds of free flights, US authorities say HONOLULU (AP) — A former flight attendant for a Canadian airline posed as a commercial pilot and as a current flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines, authorities said. Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was arrested in Panama after being indicted on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday following his extradition. According to court documents, Pokornik was a flight attendant for a Toronto-based airline from 2017 to 2019, then used fake employee identification from that carrier to obtain tickets reserved for pilots and flight attendants on three other airlines. U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday that Pokornik even requested to sit in an extra seat in the cockpit — the “jump seat” — typically reserved for off-duty pilots. It was not clear from court documents whether he ever actually rode in a plane’s cockpit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to say. The indictment did not identify the airlines except to say they are based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas. Representatives for Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines — which are respectively based in those cities — didn’t immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. Air Canada, which is based in Toronto, also did not respond to an email seeking comment. The scheme lasted four years, the U.S. prosecutors in Hawaii said. A U.S. magistrate judge on Tuesday ordered Pokornik to remain in custody. His federal defender declined to comment. In 2023, an off-duty airline pilot riding in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight said “I’m not OK” just before trying to cut the engines midflight. That pilot, Joseph Emerson, later told police he had been struggling with depression. A federal judge sentenced him to time served last November. The allegations against Pokornik are reminiscent of “Catch Me If You Can,” the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that tells the story of Frank Abagnale posing as a pilot to defraud an airline and obtain free flights. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-flight-attendant-posed-pilot-050105625.html Delta Flight Returns to Gate After Deicing Fluids Leak Inside Aircraft and 'Soak' a Passenger A Delta spokesperson tells PEOPLE the chemicals are "non-hazardous" to passengers A Delta Air Lines plane requested to return to the gate after deicing fluid leaked inside the aircraft The incident occurred on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the LaGuardia Airport in New York One passenger seated inside the aircraft next the wings was impacted by the leak A Delta Air Lines plane had to return to the gate on Sunday after deicing fluids leaked through the exterior of the aircraft and "soaked" a passenger. The incident occurred on Delta flight 1307 which was preparing to depart LaGuardia Airport in New York on Sunday, Jan. 18. According to FlightAware, the Airbus A220-100 was scheduled to take off for Jacksonville, Fla., around 2:20 p.m. local time. However, flight data indicates the aircraft did not depart for another three hours. In an air traffic control (ATC) recording obtained by LiveATC.net, the Delta pilot requests a return to the gate after visiting the facility’s deicing pad. Joe Raedle/Getty  Snow falls on a passenger plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Joe Raedle/Getty Snow falls on a passenger plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport “Still coordinating for a gate at this time, uh, but we need to go back to a gate,” the pilot tells ATC. “What was the reason,” the controller asks. “We had a bunch of deicing fluid leak inside the aircraft and soak a passenger,” the pilot explains. According to Delta’s website, deicing plays an important role in aviation during the winter months. As aircraft’s wings are carefully designed to provide lift, snow and ice can alter the shape, and air might not flow over them properly. To combat this, facilities will work to remove snow and ice from the aircraft by spraying a combination of warm water and propylene glycol. However, on Sunday, the liquid made its way through to the cabin. “Do you need any medical services or anything, or do they just need to get dried off,” the controller asks. “Yeah, I think maybe a new pair of pants,” the pilot says. “We’re not used to that coming into the fuselage like that so we want to have maintenance take a look at it, make sure that we don’t have a leak.” Frequent and repeated exposure to propylene glycol can sometimes irritate the skin, per the Center for Disease Control. A Delta spokesperson tells PEOPLE the passenger was seated near the wings of the aircraft and only a small amount of fluid landed on his clothes. They added that deicing fluid leaks are “very rare” and the chemicals are “non-hazardous” to passengers. The spokesperson confirmed the customer continued traveling with the airline and maintenance swapped the aircraft out of an abundance of caution. 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. According to FlightAware, the plane later departed LaGuardia at 5:22 p.m. local time and landed in Florida at 7:45 p.m. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/delta-flight-returns-gate-deicing-234830218.html San Francisco Airport Worker, 28, Dies in 'Tragic' Cargo Towing Accident John Brandon Lacayanga was found dead underneath a cargo pallet on a San Francisco International Airport vehicle service road John Brandon Lacayanga, an employee for Dubai National Air Travel Agency, was killed while working at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 18 The 28-year-old was found deceased underneath the cargo pallet around 7 p.m. It is believed that he was towing a cargo pallet at the time of his death A man working at San Francisco International Airport was killed on the job on Sunday, Jan. 18, after an accident with a cargo pallet. John Brandon Lacayanga, 28, was working on a vehicle service road between Terminal 3 and the International Terminal Boarding Area G, SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. He was believed to be towing a cargo pallet, Yakel said. Around 7 p.m., San Francisco Firefighters responded to an accident report and found Lacayanga deceased underneath the cargo pallet. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) arrived at the scene that same night to interview his employer, Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA), SFO said, according to CBS San Francisco. OSHA is investigating the incident, and "no additional details are available," the agency told PEOPLE. DNATA is an airport services provider from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that offers aircraft ground handling and cargo, as well as travel and flight catering services around the world, per the company’s website. The company issued a statement: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to their family, friends and colleagues," DNATA said in a statement obtained by CBS San Francisco, adding that they are "providing all possible support" to Lacayanga's family and are "working closely" with authorities. The San Francisco International airport. A GoFundMe page was created to help Lacayanga’s parents, Hospicio and Jane Lacayanga, with the unexpected funeral costs. “This tragic loss was unexpected, and we hope to ease the financial burden on his parents during this incredibly difficult time,” the description read. “Any contribution, no matter the amount, will be deeply appreciated and will help us honor Brandon’s life and legacy.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/san-francisco-airport-worker-28-010150072.html Paramedic took control of helicopter during pilot's medical emergency A flight paramedic with no pilot training was forced to take control of a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter when the pilot became unresponsive during a medical emergency, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — A flight paramedic with no pilot training was forced to take control of a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter when the pilot became unresponsive during a medical emergency, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. The November 8 crash killed 55-year-old Vanderbilt flight nurse Allan Williams and seriously injured the pilot and flight paramedic Andrew Sikes after the pilot suffered a medical emergency mid-flight. The crew was initially headed to Rutherford County, but the request was canceled barely 10 minutes into the flight. The pilot turned the aircraft around to return to base, but that's when Sikes told investigators he noticed the pilot stopped acknowledging him. Sikes said he tried to get the pilot's attention several times but was met with a "complete blank stare." Despite never touching flight controls before, Sikes worked to slow the helicopter by recalling what he had seen pilots do in the past. The only reaction he got from the pilot was pointing out an open field to land in. Sikes grabbed the control stick and tried to land in the open field, but the helicopter hit several treetops before crashing near Lebanon. Williams died at the scene. The NTSB said so far, investigators have found no evidence of mechanical issues with the aircraft. The preliminary report shows Sikes' quick thinking probably prevented an even worse outcome. The full NTSB investigation is still ongoing. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/state/tennessee/wilson-county/paramedic-took-control-of-helicopter-during-pilots-medical-emergency 1,800 aircraft deliveries expected in 2026, says IBA IBA's production forecast for 2026 is 1,800 aircraft across Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, ATR and COMAC The economic outlook for 2026 looks broadly similar to that of 2025, with plenty of disruption, rapid market reactions and, hopefully, a gradual descent towards calmer conditions. Inflation is easing, interest rates are drifting lower, and oil prices are expected to remain subdued, reflecting weaker demand from China and steady supply from the US and OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). Trade continues to perform despite policy friction and high consumer costs. Demand remains the key driver. While luxury goods and housing remain weak, travel and general consumer spending continue to show resilience. In currency markets, both the US and China are pursuing weaker exchange rates to support exports and manage deficits. For aviation, the environment is broadly supportive. Fuel prices remain low, profits are up, and airlines are in no hurry to add capacity beyond taking new aircraft deliveries. That discipline, however, tends to erode as route competition intensifies, often with painful consequences. Aircraft Production and Delivery Forecasts Aircraft supply is the main potential swing factor. 2025 marked a turning point, with meaningful production progress across OEMs. Airbus increased final assembly activity in preparation for higher rates, while Boeing’s return to a more stable production flow, although still behind Airbus, provided an important signal of confidence. IBA‘s production forecast for 2026 is 1,800 aircraft across Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, ATR and COMAC. This represents a significant increase over 2025, but no greater than the rise seen last year over 2024. For Airbus, this equates to just over 900 aircraft: 700 A320-family jets, just over 100 A220s, 42 A330s and 65 A350s. For Boeing, I expect a total of around 670 aircraft, comprising roughly 510 737s, more than 100 787s, and 25–30 each of the 767 and 777F, alongside continued progress towards certification milestones. Deliveries from Embraer, ATR and COMAC are broadly in line with the growth expectations set two years ago, albeit delayed. Embraer is expected to lead with 85–90 E-Jets, ATR to return to more than 40 aircraft, and COMAC to deliver more than 55 units across the C909 and C919 programmes. This, of course, remains dependent on the ability to source US components. Secondary Market, Transactions and Retirements The key question is the impact on the secondary market. Lease rates for older aircraft have softened but remain well above historical norms, reflecting balance rather than weakness. There is no oversupply of flyable aircraft, and airlines are focused on maximising the use of existing assets rather than pursuing aggressive growth. Lease commencements and expiries are at historic lows, with shorter tenors now the norm. As new deliveries ramp up, will utilisation of older aircraft ease back towards historical levels? High utilisation cannot be sustained indefinitely, particularly as maintenance and reliability pressures build, but unit costs and profitability have moved in the right direction, and it can become difficult to step back. Wide-bodies remain a different story, with little sign of softening and continued upward momentum. Transaction activity is expected to increase, driven in part by deliveries and sale-and-leaseback transactions, but growth in sales with leases attached is likely to dominate. Expect increased ABS issuance—potentially exceeding US$10 billion—alongside further significant M&A activity and short-term lease extensions. The outlook for retirements remains uncertain. While engine demand should continue to support part-out activity, retirement volumes may remain below long-term historical norms if operators retain aircraft, particularly against the backdrop of elevated storage levels of GTF-powered A320s. Month-on-month improvements since the October 2025 peak are encouraging, although they may be seasonal. Even so, elevated engine values and lease rates are likely to drive further opportunistic part-outs. https://avitrader.com/2026/01/21/1800-aircraft-deliveries-expected-in-2026-says-iba/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . Singapore Airshow 2026 - FEBRUARY 3-6, 2026. . VERTICON 2026 - Atlanta March 9-12 . 60th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium - March 31 - April 1, 2026 (Irving, TX) . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . World Aviation Training Summit - 5-7 May 2026 - Orlando . 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 . IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain) . ISASI - 2026 (September/October 2026) - Dubai, UAE . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis