Flight Safety Information - January 29, 2026 No. 021 In This Issue : Crash: Satena B190 at Ocana on Jan 28th 2026, controlled flight into terrain : Incident: Envoy E175 near Lubbock on Jan 26th 2026, engine oil problem, engine failure : Runway excursions dominate Indonesia's air safety probes in 2025: KNKT : Qatari plane hits Milan airport lights during arrival of Winter Olympics staff : A review of aviation accidents in 2025: Causes and safety takeaways : Is American Airlines Preparing to Oust CEO Robert Isom Once The DCA Crash Anniversary Has Passed? : Airbus expects Indian airlines to triple fleets over next decade : Türkiye’s airline fleet expands to 800 aircraft in 2025 : Emirates airline to hire 20,000 staff including pilots and cabin crew by 2030 : Boeing expects India, South Asia to add 3,290 jets over next 20 years : Boeing looks to build on momentum at SC Dreamliner plant : Calendar of Events Crash: Satena B190 at Ocana on Jan 28th 2026, controlled flight into terrain A Satena Beech 1900D, registration HK-4709 performing flight 9R-8895 from Cucuta to Ocana (Colombia) with 13 passengers and 2 crew, was descending through about 8000 feet near position N8.20 W73.14, about 12nm east of Ocana when radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost at about 11:54L (16:54Z). A search operation in the mountaineous area found the aircraft crashed in the municipality of La Playa de Belen between the villages La Playa and Abrego on the top of a cloud covered mountain, there are no survivors. Colombia's Aerocivil reported contact with the aircraft was lost, the relevant protocols have been invoked. In a press conference authorities reported a severe impact in difficult to access areas between La Playa and Abrego in the municipality of La Playa de Belen in the Catatumba region. There were no survivors. The airline reported the aircraft operated by SEARCA carrying 13 passengers and 2 crew lost contact with Air Traffic Control at 11:54L. The ELT had not activated. The city of Ocana is surrounded by mountains rising up to 2600 meters MSL (8500 feet MSL). No METARs are available for Ocana (SKOC). The Ocana local weather station reported at 12:00L, the temperature was 26 degrees C, dew point 19 degrees C, easterly winds at 5 knots, 978hPa ambient pressure and patches of fog. https://avherald.com/h?article=533d4912&opt=0 Incident: Envoy E175 near Lubbock on Jan 26th 2026, engine oil problem, engine failure An Envoy Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N208AN performing flight AA-3573 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Midland,TX (USA) with 36 people on board, was enroute at FL280 about 110nm southeast of Lubbock,TX (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Lubbock due to issues with engine (CF34) oil and subsequent engine failure. The aircraft landed safely on Lubbock's runway 17R about 40 minutes after leaving FL280. A replacement ERJ-175 registration N281NN reached Midland with a delay of about 4:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Lubbock about 41 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=533d37a9&opt=0 Runway excursions dominate Indonesia's air safety probes in 2025: KNKT Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) recorded that runway excursions remained the most prevalent type of incident in aviation accidents and serious incidents investigated throughout 2025. Acting Head of the KNKT Aviation Accident Investigation Subcommittee Henry Poerborianto said the body conducted 19 investigations during the year, comprising nine accidents and 10 serious incidents. “Of the 19 investigations, runway excursions were the most frequent occurrence,” Henry said at a performance briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday. He said a runway excursion occurs when an aircraft is unable to stop safely on the runway or departs runway boundaries during takeoff or landing. Based on KNKT classifications, runway excursions accounted for seven cases, followed by system or engine component failures with three cases and abnormal runway contact with three cases. The committee also recorded two turbulence-related incidents, two controlled flight into terrain cases, and one incident each involving fuel issues and air navigation or traffic management services. Between 2021 and 2025, KNKT’s aviation subcommittee investigated 105 aviation occurrences, including accidents and serious incidents. In 2025, the number of aviation investigations declined from the previous year, with total fatalities recorded at 12 people. KNKT highlighted three major incidents in 2025, including an Airbus H145 helicopter crash in Central Kalimantan and an AS350B3 helicopter accident in Central Papua. The third notable case involved an engine failure on a GA 8 Airvan aircraft that made an emergency landing in Karawang, West Java. During 2025, the aviation subcommittee completed six final investigation reports and prepared three draft final reports undergoing consultation with relevant stakeholders. From the completed reports, KNKT identified safety issues including suboptimal use of flight data to monitor pilot and aircraft performance. The reports also cited weaknesses in operational procedures, such as inconsistent use of landing checklists and improper application of unstable approach criteria. “Some operators already have procedures, but implementation is not always consistent in the field,” Henry said. Crew fatigue management was also flagged as a safety concern requiring stronger technical guidance and closer oversight of implementation. Based on its 2025 findings, KNKT issued 16 safety recommendations, most of them directed at aircraft operators and relevant authorities. KNKT Chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said the recommendations aim to prevent similar accidents from recurring. “We urge operators and authorities to follow up on these recommendations so accident risks can continue to be reduced,” he said. https://en.antaranews.com/news/402029/runway-excursions-dominate-indonesias-air-safety-probes-in-2025-knkt Qatari plane hits Milan airport lights during arrival of Winter Olympics staff Aircraft carrying 104 personnel damaged lighting tower while making ‘wrong manoeuvre’ after landing A Qatari military cargo plane carrying security staff in Italy to assist with law enforcement for the Winter Olympics struck a lighting tower on Sunday as it manoeuvred upon landing at Milan’s Malpensa airport, it has emerged. The aircraft was carrying 104 personnel from the Gulf state’s elite security forces, plus huge jeeps and snowmobiles, as part of an agreement made with the Italian government, despite Qatar not competing in the games. The arrival of Qatar’s security force comes amid controversy over the involvement of a unit of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), one of the agencies embroiled in a brutal immigration crackdown in the US, in the security detail during the winter olympics, which begin on 6 February. A source at the Italian interior ministry said Qatar’s security force was involved “mainly in a training” capacity. “Qatar is a fundamental partner in the security plan and any negative interpretation of the agreement is unfounded,” the source added. The Italian government appears to be leaving no stone unturned when it comes to security during the Milano-Cortina Games, with the Qatari personnel and the agents from ICE joining a fleet of about 6,000 from various Italian police units. But although they made a prominent arrival in Milan, any controversy over the Qatari involvement has so far been mute, or perhaps overshadowed by ICE. The Qatari air force’s C-17 Globemaster II plane slightly hit the lighting tower after landing on Sunday while making “a wrong” manoeuvre during the “pushback” phase, Milano Today reported. A welcome ceremony involving Qatar’s ambassador in Italy and various Milan officials awaited the passengers as they disembarked. Escorted by Italian patrol vehicles, a convoy of SUVs and armoured vehicles bearing the inscription “State of Qatar – Lekhwiya” (Lekhwiya is the name of Qatar’s elite security force) then made its way through the centre of Milan, passing landmarks including the Duomo, and briefly stopping at San Siro, where the opening ceremony of the Games will be held. The group of Qatari security personnel is expected to be split between Milan and Cortina. Even though Qatar has no athletes competing at the event, the Qatari royal, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who was this week elected president of the Olympic Council of Asia, will be attending. Al Thani also leads the Qatar Olympic Committee. Qatar has steadily been building its influence in Olympic sports. The country is due to host the Asian Games in 2030 and hoping to win its bid for the 2036 summer Olympics. An anti-ICE protest, organised by various leftwing parties and unions, is planned in Milan on Saturday. Italy’s interior ministry has said the agency’s investigative unit will be involved in the security detail at the Games and not its immigration operation, whose crackdown in the US led to the fatal shootings this month of the US citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Italy’s far-right government is ideologically aligned with Donald Trump’s administration and the agents will reportedly act as “bodyguards” for the US vice-president, JD Vance, and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who are expected to attend the event. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, said ICE agents would not be welcome in the city “because they don’t guarantee they’re aligned with our democratic security management methods”. The city’s leftwing councillors held signs reading “No ICE” during a debate on Monday. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/28/qatari-plane-hits-milan-airport-lights-winter-olympics-staff A review of aviation accidents in 2025: Causes and safety takeaways This summary of significant aircraft accidents in 2025 examines causes, investigations, and aviation safety lessons. Last year was a sobering year for aviation, marked by several high-profile accidents that captured global attention. From the mid-air collision over Washington, D.C., to the tragic loss of Air India Flight 171, these events prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation safety and operational oversight. In an era of smartphones, CCTV, and real-time data, aviation accidents are now witnessed almost as they happen, shaping public perception long before investigations are complete. This article summarises the most significant aircraft crashes of 2025 and places them in the wider context of modern aviation safety. Air Busan Flight 391 Back on the 28th of January, an Air Busan A321 (registration HL7763) was operating a scheduled service from Gimhae, South Korea, to Hong Kong. The aircraft caught fire while preparing for taxi, resulting in 27 injuries. The fire, which was discovered to have been caused by a power bank stored in the overhead locker, led to an industry-wide change in how batteries are stowed within the cabin. Numerous airlines worldwide have now banned the use and charging of power banks in the cabin, including Emirates, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. The aftermath of the fire aboard Air Busan AirlineRating.com welcomes the changes in power bank usage currently sweeping the industry. A recent trip to IATA’s World Safety & Operations Conference (WSOC) highlighted the dangers batteries pose onboard. The average passenger carries four lithium battery items onboard, from phones, laptops, smart watches, and electronic cigarettes. Shockingly, on board an A380 with 520 passengers, that’s over 2000 lithium battery items. Potomac River mid-air collision We can all remember the shocking scene from Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. On the 29th of January, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 (registration N709PS) operating as Flight 5342, collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during final approach to Runway 33. The collision occurred over the Potomac River approximately 0.5 miles southeast of the airport, after the helicopter crew reported the CRJ in sight and requested visual separation, which was approved by air traffic control. Flight data and radar information indicate both aircraft were operating at similar altitudes in night visual meteorological conditions, with multiple air traffic control transmissions partially blocked or not received by the helicopter crew. Both aircraft were destroyed upon impact with the river, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board. The investigation remains ongoing, with particular focus on air traffic control communications, helicopter routing, altitude compliance, and human factors. Delta Connection Flight 4819 On the 17th of February, a Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 (registration N932XJ) experienced a hard landing and subsequent landing gear fracture, leading to its collapse and overturning on the runway at Toronto Airport. Luckily, thanks to the swift and professional action of the crew, all of the 80 occupants survived. The Delta CRJ900 overturned and passenger evacuating The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the aircraft was on an unstable approach, descending at approximately 1,100 feet per minute, significantly exceeding the recommended limit of 720 feet per minute. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were gusty, requiring the flight crew to maintain a higher than normal approach speed and make timely power and pitch adjustments to counter wind fluctuations. The investigation remains ongoing, and no conclusions have yet been issued. Air India 171 On the 12th of June, an Air India B787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB) flight bound for London Gatwick crashed after take-off in Ahmedabad, India. All but one of the 242 occupants died, as well as 19 on the ground. This accident marked the first hull loss of a Dreamliner aircraft. Salvage operations underway to retrieve the B787 Seconds after departure, both engine fuel control switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other, leading to a rapid loss of thrust on both engines during the initial climb. Flight recorder data shows the aircraft began losing altitude before clearing the airport perimeter, with the ram air turbine (RAT) deploying automatically as systems were lost. Although the fuel control switches were subsequently returned to RUN and both engines showed signs of relight, thrust recovery was insufficient. The aircraft impacted buildings approximately 0.9 nautical miles beyond the runway, resulting in catastrophic damage and loss of life. The investigation remains ongoing, and no final cause has yet been determined. Emirates SkyCargo 9788 On the 19th of October, a B747F (registration TC-ACF) operated by Air ACT on behalf of Emirates Sky Cargo crashed into the South China Sea while landing at Hong Kong Airport. All four crew members survived, while there were two ground fatalities in a vehicle that the aircraft struck. During the landing roll, an AUTOBRAKES alert appeared on the flight deck, after which the captain assumed control from the co-pilot. The aircraft subsequently veered to the left, exited the runway, and collided with a stationary airport security vehicle before breaching the perimeter fence and coming to rest in the sea. Flight data indicated abnormal thrust behaviour on the No.4 engine during deceleration, while weather conditions, runway conditions, and air traffic control services were normal at the time. The investigation remains ongoing, with no conclusions having been published yet. UPS Airlines Flight 2976 On the 4th November 2025, UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (registration N259UP), crashed shortly after take-off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while operating a cargo service to Honolulu. Moments before the UPS MD11F crashed into buildings Shortly after rotation, the aircraft’s left engine and pylon separated from the wing, resulting in an immediate loss of thrust and a post-separation fire. Flight data indicates the aircraft climbed to only around 30 feet above ground level before beginning to lose altitude, striking airport infrastructure and crashing into nearby buildings before being engulfed in flames. There were 14 fatalities, three flight crew, and 11 on the ground. Preliminary examination has identified fatigue cracking and overstress failure in the left engine pylon attachment structure, with further analysis ongoing Accident risk mitigation is key While the causes of accidents vary, each reinforces the multi-layered nature of aviation safety and the systems, processes, and training airlines implement to reduce risk. Modern investigations increasingly point to risk accumulation rather than a single point of failure, underscoring the importance of procedural discipline, robust oversight, and timely regulatory response. As global fleets expand and airspace becomes more complex, managing risk across aircraft systems, flight operations, air traffic control, and cabin safety remains critical. The events explored in this article serve as a reminder that aviation safety is not linear, but an ongoing process requiring continuous vigilance, adaptation, and learning. https://www.airlineratings.com/articles/a-review-of-aviation-accidents-in-2025-causes-and-safety-takeaways Is American Airlines Preparing to Oust CEO Robert Isom Once The DCA Crash Anniversary Has Passed? There are mounting calls for Robert Isom, the beleaguered chief executive of American Airlines, to be shown the door as the Fort Worth-based carrier continues to fall further behind Delta and United. Yesterday, American Airlines announced that its profits for 2025 had plummeted 87% on the year before, and the blame for the carrier’s poor financial returns and questionable strategy is, understandably, being directed at Isom. It feels like Isom facing the axe as American’s CEO is becoming more a question of when and not if… and there are rumors that a date has now been set. If those rumors are to be believed, the American Airlines board has been waiting for the anniversary of the fatal mid-air crash of American Eagle flight 5342 to be commemorated. Thursday marks the first anniversary of the Potomac River tragedy, which claimed the lives of all 64 passengers and crew on board the CRJ regional jet, along with three victims who were in the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the plane. In the immediate aftermath of the deadly crash, Isom was praised for his calm and authoritative demeanour, putting out a video statement that was a masterclass in crisis communications. In fact, the statement proved to be so successful that when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner was involved in a fatal crash on June 12, chief executive Campbell Wilson was accused of plagiarising Isom’s words for his own video address. As the chief executive of American Airlines at the time of the crash, Isom will play a key part in the anniversary commemorations, and turmoil at the top of the airline would be totally inappropriate at such a somber moment. That being said, there are rumors that the board will make moves to replace Isom by the end of February, as shared by aviation insider, JonNYC, on X. If this does happen, who they might bring in to reimagine AA’s strategy remains to be seen. In the last year, Isom and his leadership team have started work to make the airline more premium and, therefore, better placed to compete with Delta and United. Critics, however, say the airline’s strategy is still confused, and current efforts haven’t gone nearly far enough to differentiate AA from competitors. Under Isom’s watch, American Airlines embarked on a plan to make its domestic network and schedule the ‘product.’ This essentially was used as an excuse to make extensive cost cuts across the business that dented the airline’s premium image. The obvious issue with this strategy is that American Airlines was left competing with low-cost carriers, operating on razor-thin margins but with the large overheads of a legacy carrier. Unions representing various workgroups at American have been calling for change for some time, and after Wednesday’s poor financial results were released, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) wasted no time in calling for Isom to be sacked. “The employees at American Airlines, our passengers, and the investors can no longer wait for Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors to deliver on their empty promises,” the union slammed. “As the entire industry leaves American Airlines in the dust, it is time for new leadership and a new vision for American Airlines,” an internal memo continued. The issue that APFA has with Isom and his leadership team is clear: they don’t know what American Airlines is meant to be as an airline, and as a result, they feel disenfranchised. All while the airline continues to fall further behind its rivals. At this point, many workers feel that Isom’s time is up and only change at the very top will be enough to turn the tide. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/01/28/is-american-airlines-preparing-to-oust-ceo-robert-isom-once-the-dca-crash-anniversary-has-passed/ Airbus expects Indian airlines to triple fleets over next decade HYDERABAD, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab said on Thursday it expects Indian carriers to triple the size of their fleets to 2,250 jets over the next decade, riding resilient economic growth, an expanding middle class and a surge of first-time flyers. In a similar outlook on Wednesday for India and South Asia, Boeing projected that airlines in the region, a key battleground for planemakers now dominated by Airbus, would require nearly 3,300 new aircraft by 2044. Get the latest news from India and how it matters to the world with the Reuters India File newsletter. Sign up here. The aerospace industry watches the planemakers' regional forecasts closely, as India is the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market after the United States and China, led by the two biggest carriers, IndiGo (INGL.NS), opens new tab and Air India. But India’s aviation sector is still at an early stage, with trips per capita amounting to 0.13, or far below comparable regions, said Jürgen Westermeier, Airbus president and managing director for India and South Asia. This leaves substantial room for more Indians to adopt air travel, he added in a forecast issued on the second day of India’s biennial civil aviation air show. "Some services in aerospace will now benefit from the reduction in tariffs after the India-EU trade agreement," Westermeier said, referring to this week's landmark deal. The world’s fastest growing domestic aviation market, India has mirrored a global rush for large aircraft orders as carriers expand capacity, retire fuel hungry older jets and respond to booming travel demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian carriers have placed some of the biggest jet orders in recent years, ordering at a scale intended to drive fleet growth, in contrast to mature markets primarily looking to replace older planes. Airbus retained its title as the world’s largest planemaker last year despite headwinds brought by engine shortages, supply chain bottlenecks and tariff pressures. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/airbus-expects-india-have-2250-commercial-jets-service-over-next-10-years-2026-01-29/ Türkiye’s airline fleet expands to 800 aircraft in 2025 ISTANBUL - Türkiye’s aviation sector has seen remarkable expansion over the past five years, with the number of aircraft used for passenger and cargo services rising from 558 in 2021 to 800 by the end of 2025, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This 43 percent increase reflects the country’s broader growth in air travel, supported by new airport construction across multiple cities and major infrastructure projects, including the opening of Istanbul Airport — one of the largest in the world — and expansions at Antalya and Ankara Esenboğa airports. By the close of last year, Türkiye had established flight connections to 356 destinations across 133 countries, while passenger numbers soared past 247 million, setting a new record in the nation’s history. Alongside the fleet expansion, seating capacity grew from 104,464 to 157,785 over the same period. Passenger aircraft make up the vast majority of Türkiye’s fleet, with 760 planes dedicated to passenger transport and 40 serving cargo operations. Turkish Airlines dominates the market, accounting for 473 aircraft, followed by Pegasus Airlines with 128 and SunExpress with 81. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiyes-airline-fleet-expands-to-800-aircraft-in-2025-218370 Emirates airline to hire 20,000 staff including pilots and cabin crew by 2030 Carrier does not see any impact on travel demand so far as US-Iran tension simmers Emirates airline needs to hire 20,000 "operational staff", from pilots to engineers, over the next five years, coinciding with an aggressive jet delivery schedule and high travel demand across the network, its deputy president said. The roles will include cabin crew, pilots, engineers, technicians and airport staff, Adel Al Redha, who is also the chief operations officer of Emirates airline, told reporters on Wednesday. The recruitment drive is being fuelled by a brisk pace of Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft deliveries, the introduction of new destinations and the addition of flight frequencies on existing routes. "We continue to hire to our needs, we have a very aggressive plan of aircraft deliveries through this calendar year, we expect to receive 17 or 18 additional A350 aircraft. They will be deployed to new destinations or extra frequencies," he said. "With that our recruitment plan, especially for operational [roles] continues. We expect from now until the end of this decade ... we will need to recruit close to about 20,000 operational staff." Emirates has marked up its requirement in terms of opening new destinations, opening additional frequencies and receiving new aircraft and "what we need to recruit for the next five years", Mr Al Redha added. The Dubai-based airline is also returning more of its Airbus A380 double-deckers to service, after their grounding during the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the total fleet of 116 superjumbos, six remain grounded, Mr Al Redha said. Three of these six aircraft will return to the skies this year, while the remaining three require maintenance pending the availability of hangars, he added. Emirates airline has a total workforce of 54,619 employees in the UAE and global outstations, up from 49,997 in the prior year, according to its 2024-25 annual report, and is one of the biggest employers in Dubai. The global commercial aviation industry will require 660,000 new pilots, 710,000 new maintenance technicians, and 1,000,000 new cabin crew members to fly and maintain the commercial aircraft fleet over the next 20 years, according to Boeing's 2025-2044 outlook. Despite a global shortage of aviation workers, Mr Al Redha said Emirates is not facing difficulties in recruiting new employees as the UAE is a magnet for global talent. "I keep hearing this story but I don't experience it in Emirates," he said. "There are no difficulties in securing and recruiting for these jobs so far. We are lucky to be in the UAE and in Dubai. This city offers a lot for the candidates. It offers them security, confidence, a good lifestyle ... you don't see a big resistance from an expat applying for any of these roles to move to Dubai." US-Iran tension Travel demand to and from Dubai and across the airline's international network remains strong, according to the executive. So far, that appetite for flying has been unaffected by the simmering tension between Iran and the US that has caused some international airlines to re-route or cancel their flights to the Middle East. "It's very difficult for us to predict any income but so far we have seen the demand in our operations is as expected and as normal," Mr Al Redha said. "We haven't seen any changes to that," he said, adding that all Emirates flights are operating according to schedule. Demand for flights to and from Dubai is increasing for both leisure and business travel, prompting the airline to continue investing in its human capital and products ranging from onboard Wi-Fi to lounges, he said. Emirates has made progress with installation of SpaceX's Starlink that will equip its wide-body jets with superfast free Wi-Fi in all cabins. Since announcing the deal with Starlink in November, Emirates has completed the installation on 10 of its Boeing 777s so far and passenger feedback has been positive, Mr Al Redha said. By the end of this year, Emirates would have 150 of its 777s and A380s fitted with Starlink services, he added. Mr Al Redha declined to reveal the cost and said the fuel drag from the antennas is "negligible". The world's biggest international airline, which has a range of premium offerings, continues to invest heavily in its on-board products, adding to signature offerings like the A380 on-board lounge and first-class shower. 'Boeing are fully aware of the damage it has caused Emirates,’ says Tim Clark Boeing 777X engines issues Emirates, which is the biggest customer of the Boeing 777X, expects to take delivery of the long-delayed aircraft by June 2027, Mr Al Redha said. Boeing discovered a "potential durability issue" on the GE engines powering its new wide-body 777X, and is working with the engine maker to fix it, the US plane maker's chief executive Kelly Ortberg said during a conference call on Tuesday, adding that he does not expect it to delay deliveries in 2027, Reuters reported. Asked about the impact of the engine issue on Emirates, Mr Al Redha said the findings are "not going to impact" the announced delivery date. "We still need to see the GE, Boeing and the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] plan on how to address these findings. There will be further detailed discussions to better understand the scope of the work to be done because these kind of issues must be addressed before completing the certification and before taking delivery of the aircraft." Asked if Emirates is confident about the programme after the engine findings, Mr Al Redha said that flight tests are the right stage to detect such problems and fix them, but this depends on the scope and timeline of the fixes. "The whole objective of these flight tests is to identify this type of issue during the manufacturing phase, before the delivering the aircraft ... and that is the purpose of the certification programme," he said. "It depends on the extent and the nature of fixing the issues, whether its replacement of parts or redesign the systems, that will determine how the certification programme will be impacted." The airline's growth plans have been clipped by the seven-year delay in the 777X programme, leading it to invest $5 billion in a programme to retrofit its existing 777s and A380s to keep them flying for longer. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2026/01/29/emirates-airline-recruitment-for-pilots-cabin-crew-jobs/ Boeing expects India, South Asia to add 3,290 jets over next 20 years HYDERABAD, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Boeing on Wednesday said it expects airlines in India and South Asia to add 3,290 commercial jets to their fleets over the next 20 years, as resilient economic growth, a growing ‌middle class and a wave of first-time flyers drive demand for air travel. The company's previous rolling 20-year outlook ‌projected demand for 2,835 jets. India and South Asia have together become one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, with carriers racing to expand capacity and modernise fleets as airports are upgraded and low-cost and full-service airlines aggressively expand their networks. The region has also emerged as a ⁠key testing ground for planemakers, ‌as Airbus and Boeing compete for dominance while airlines step up purchases. Boeing expects the airlines to add 395 wide-body jets and 2,875 single-aisle ‍planes over the period. Boeing’s forecast for the region is closely watched in the global aerospace sector, with India being the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market after the U.S. and China. India is also the fastest-growing, led by IndiGo and Air India, the country’s two largest carriers. "There ‌are lots of other aviation markets in the world that are larger, but now they have reached a point where they are effectively replacing fleets more than growing fleets ... what India is doing is exactly the opposite," said Ashwin Naidu, Boeing's managing director of commercial marketing for India and South Asia. India must also scale up its aviation infrastructure to ⁠keep pace with growing travel demand, he said. "India's network still remains very heavily concentrated on Delhi and Mumbai, with over 30% of the network still reliant on these two markets," Naidu said. Boeing has been regaining momentum after a series of crises. ‍It delivered the ⁠most aircraft in 2025 since 2018 and surpassed Airbus in net orders for the first time in seven years. The industry, however, continues to grapple with slow deliveries ⁠as supply chain disruptions limit planemakers’ ability to capitalise on strong demand, forcing airlines to spend heavily ‌on maintaining older jets. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-expects-india-south-asia-081107873.html Boeing looks to build on momentum at SC Dreamliner plant NORTH CHARLESTON — Boeing Co. is stabilizing production at its 787 Dreamliner plant here, both in numbers and quality, even as it embarks on a $1 billion plan to expand the site’s manufacturing capacity. Kelly Ortberg, Boeing’s president and CEO, said Tuesday the aerospace giant is building eight 787 wide-body jets per month — up from five a year ago — and will increase production to 10 per month over the next year. Increases beyond that will take place at a second assembly building under construction at Boeing’s campus off International Boulevard. That project, which will add 1,000 jobs to the plant’s workforce of more than 8,200 people, broke ground in November and is scheduled for completion in 2027. “I’m pleased with the operational metrics we’re seeing in the (Dreamliner) factory,” Ortberg said during an earnings call with analysts. Boeing beat Wall Street’s financial expectations, prompting Ortberg to say the aerospace firm is making progress toward returning “to the iconic company we all know it can be” following years of production problems and the 737 Max scandal. In addition to making more 787s, the factory off International Boulevard is clamping down on mistakes. Ortberg said the plane-maker reduced the average number of rework hours – the time it takes to fix manufacturing errors once a jet has left final assembly — by nearly 30% in 2025. Rework issues have been a persistent problem for the Dreamliner program over the years, eating into profitability. “Going forward … we’ll use the same disciplined processes, including monitoring our KPIs (key performance indicators), to assess readiness for the next planned rate increase to 10 airplanes per month, which is also targeted for later this year.” Ortberg said. Boeing is coming off a year in which it delivered 88 Lowcountry-built Dreamliners to customers. Jay Malave, the company’s chief financial officer, said deliveries of the wide-body jet will total between 90 and 100 this year. “Overall, we expect (commercial airplane) deliveries to be up close to 10%” across all of Boeing’s single-aisle and wide-body programs, he said during the earnings call. Airlines worldwide will need more than 7,800 wide-body jets like the Dreamliner over the next two decades, both for fleet additions and to replace aging planes, according to Boeing’s latest commercial market outlook. Boeing gets largest ever order of SC-made planes during Trump’s Qatar visit That would be an 89.5% increase in the number of those big jets in global fleets. As AI wipes out desk jobs, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser says the company is training 175,000 employees to ‘reinvent themselves’ before their roles change forever “We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family and its market-leading efficiency and versatility,” Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a written statement during the plant expansion’s groundbreaking. The Dreamliner factory update came as Boeing reported earnings that far outpaced analysts’ expectations. Boeing said it had fourth-quarter revenues of $9.92 per share on sales totaling $23.9 billion – a 57% increase from the same period a year ago. Wall Street was expecting a 44 cents-per-share loss on sales of $22.6 billion. Net income totaled $8.22 billion in the fourth quarter, up from a nearly $4 billion loss a year ago. The fourth-quarter numbers were helped by Boeing’s sale of its Digital Aviation Solutions business. Not counting that sale, Boeing would have lost about $2 per share during the quarter. All told, Boeing delivered 600 airplanes to customers in 2025 — nearly twice the number from the previous year and the most since 2018. The company also notched 1,173 airplane orders last year, including 381 for the Dreamliner. France-based Airbus, Boeing’s biggest competitor, delivered 793 planes and took orders for 889 more, by comparison. Boeing now has a production backlog of 6,130 planes, including 1,026 Dreamliners. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-looks-build-momentum-sc-221515153.html 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