Flight Safety Information - April 21, 2026 No. 078 In This Issue : Incident: Southwest B38M and B738 at Nashville on Apr 18th 2026, TCAS saves the day : Accident: Southwest B737 at Las Vegas on Apr 8th 2026, HUD takes captain down : Incident: Qantaslink DH8D near Townsville on Apr 20th 2026, rudder problems : Incident: Qantas B738 near Rockhampton on Apr 18th 2026, cargo smoke indication : Incident: TAP A21N near Paris on Apr 19th 2026, smoke on board : FAA investigation underway after planes nearly collide over Nashville : Man Allegedly Grabbed TSA Officer by the Hair in Fight Over Lost Passport, Then Learned Where He Actually Left It : Delta flight diverted to SEA Airport due to report of suspicious package : Ethiopian Airlines Converts Options of Six Boeing 787 Dreamliner Airplanes into Firm Orders : Foreign airlines to gradually resume flight operations at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport : National Airlines’ 1st 777 cargo jet to make debut in May : 'Mermaid' Is an Unofficial Code Word Flight Attendants Use—Here's What It Means : Spirit Airlines admits it could shut down within days : Calendar of Events Incident: Southwest B38M and B738 at Nashville on Apr 18th 2026, TCAS saves the day A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration N8904L performing flight WN-507 from Myrtle Beach,SC to Nashville,TN (USA), was cleared to land on Nashville's runway 02L. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N441WN performing flight WN-1152 from Nashville,TN to Knoxville,TN (USA), was cleared for takeoff from Nashville's runway 02R and was in the initial climb out, when the crew of WN-507 decided to go around. Tower instructed WN-507 to climb to 2000 feet and subsequently to turn right onto a heading of 110, then instructed the aircraft to climb to 3000 feet, querying WN-1152 to stop climb at 2000 feet, the crew reported they were already above 2000 feet, hence tower instructed WN-507 to maintain 2000 feet. WN-507 descended to about 1500 feet MSL, the crew reported they reacted to a TCAS resolution advisory. Following the ATC instruction to maintain 2000 feet WN-1152 began to level off at about 2200 feet but then climbed again. WN-507 positioned for another approach to runway 02L and landed safely about 12 minutes later. WN-1152 continued to destination and landed without further incident. According to ADS-B data transmitted by both aircraft the separation between the aircraft reduced to about 400 feet vertical and less than 0.08nm horizontal at 22:37:31Z. https://avherald.com/h?article=53821e0c&opt=0 Accident: Southwest B737 at Las Vegas on Apr 8th 2026, HUD takes captain down A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N200WN performing flight WN-568 from Las Vegas,NV to Reno,NV (USA), was climbing out of Las Vegas' runway 26R when the first officer reported they had a little bit of captain incapacitation subsequently explaining, the HUD had come down during the takeoff roll and hit the captain on his head, they needed a wheelchair on arrival. They were declaring emergency and returning to Las Vegas. The aircraft landed safely on runway 26L about 17 minutes after departure. The first officer advised after landing the captain had started throwing up. The aircraft was able to depart again after about 90 minutes on the ground and reached Reno with a delay of about 2 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=53814f9d&opt=0 Incident: Qantaslink DH8D near Townsville on Apr 20th 2026, rudder problems A Qantaslink de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Qantas, registration VH-QOW performing flight QF-2472 from Townsville,QL to Mount Isa,QL (Australia), was enroute at FL240 about 170nm west of Townsville when the crew decided to return to Townsville. The aircraft entered a hold at FL240 for about 30 minutes, then continued to Townsville and landed safely on Townsville's runway 19 about 2 hours after departure. Passengers reported the crew initially told them about a few technical issues, but then explained the gravity of the situation, the passengers needed to brace for landing. Qantas reported the aircraft suffered a problem with the rudder but landed safely. The aircraft is still on the ground in Townsville about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=53814d33&opt=0 Incident: Qantas B738 near Rockhampton on Apr 18th 2026, cargo smoke indication A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VXT performing flight QF-705 from Cairns,QL to Melbourne,VI (Australia), was enroute at FL370 about 240nm west of Rockhampton,QL (Australia) when the crew received a cargo smoke indication and decided to divert to Rockhampton, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 33 about 35 minutes later. Attending emergency services found no trace of fire, heat or smoke. The airline reported the crew received a faulty indication. Another aircraft was dispatched to Rockhampton to take the passengers to Brisbane, the passengers were subsequently taken to Melbourne the following day. The aircraft returned to service about 16 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=53814a7c&opt=0 Incident: TAP A21N near Paris on Apr 19th 2026, smoke on board A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321-200N, registration CS-TJJ performing flight TP-574 from Lisbon (Portugal) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was enroute at FL340 about 10nm south of Paris Orly (France) when the crew decided to divert to Orly reporting smoke on board. The aircraft landed safely on Orly's runway 06 about 25 minutes later. The airline reported an odour issue on board and stated there were no health issues. The aircraft remained on the ground in Paris for about 16.5 hours, then continued to Frankfurt. https://avherald.com/h?article=53814571&opt=0 FAA investigation underway after planes nearly collide over Nashville Two Southwest Airlines pilots took action to avoid an in-air collision over Nashville on Saturday, April 18, according to reports from Nashville's air traffic control tower. The incident occurred just 49 hours after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the agency responsible for commercial aviation oversight, enforced a ground delay because of an air traffic controller shortage. The FAA is actively investigating the situation. "The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 507 initiated a go-around at Nashville International Airport and then received instructions from air traffic control that put the flight in the path of another airplane that was departing from a parallel runway," an FAA spokesperson said in a preliminary statement. As storms and rain showers continued to roll across Middle Tennessee April 18, two flights were cancelled and 133 were delayed. Still, over 860 planes safely took off and arrived from BNA, including the two involved in the near miss. "We are engaged with the FAA as part of the investigation," Southwest said in a statement. "Southwest appreciates the professionalism of its pilots and flight crews in responding to the event. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees." What exactly happened during the near miss at BNA? Just after 5 p.m. April 18, Southwest flight 507 sped into Nashville International Airport from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Nashville air traffic control tower cleared Flight 507 to initiate landing, but once the pilot noticed gusty wind conditions, he decided to initiate a go-around. This is a maneuver that either pilots or air traffic controllers can call for in which the plane aborts landing and returns to a higher altitude before reattempting to land. As an air traffic controller at BNA directed flight 507 on a path to ascend, another controller cleared Southwest flight 1152 bound for Knoxville for takeoff into that same path, accounts from Southwest and the FAA report. The traffic collision avoidance systems on both Southwest planes began to sound with resolution advisories or RAs, instructing them on how to avoid a collision. Air traffic controllers and both pilots maintained steady voices as they talked through the situation for less than one minute, according to air traffic control tower audio files obtained by The Tennessean. Within a span of a few critical seconds, the problem was resolved. "We're already past it," the Myrtle Beach pilot said. "Southwest 1152, out of the RA," the Knoxville pilot responded. Flight 507 landed safely at BNA around 6 p.m. A little more than an hour later, Flight 1152 landed safely at Tyson-McGee Situations like what happened on April 18 are classified as "near miss" incidents. In 2025, FAA data shows that Nashville airspace ranks among the nation's top 100 for the most frequent runway incursions, defined as "the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a runway." On average, Nashville experiences 33.1 runway incursions per 1 million flights. "Runway incursions remain a relatively rare but persistent challenge for the FAA," Texas-based travel guide Upgraded Points said in a report on the data. "The FAA’s safety initiatives appear to be having an effect, but continued monitoring is necessary." Beyond the pilots, the other party responsible for avoiding collisions is air traffic control, but there is a nationwide shortage of trained controllers. At BNA, there are 11 fewer controllers stationed than there should be and two fewer controllers than there were in 2015, according to FAA data. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/faa-investigation-underway-planes-nearly-210125212.html Man Allegedly Grabbed TSA Officer by the Hair in Fight Over Lost Passport, Then Learned Where He Actually Left It Thomas Jesse Bingham, 35, is currently facing one charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting or interfering with federal officers performing official duties Thomas Jesse Bingham allegedly assaulted a TSA officer at LAX in March after claiming his passport was missing, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE The passport was later found at a restaurant Bingham had visited in Terminal 7 of the airport Bingham pleaded not guilty to the federal charge and is scheduled for a jury trial on May 12 An Australian man flying out of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) last month has been charged with assaulting a TSA officer during an alleged dispute over a missing passport. On April 15, 35-year-old Melbourne resident Thomas Jesse Bingham was federally indicted on one charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, intimidatingor interfering with federal officers performing official duties, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. The accusations stem from an incident that occurred on March 15. Around 9:25 a.m. local time that morning, LAX's Coordination Center alerted the TSA that an on-duty TSA security officer “had been assaulted" in a secured area of the facility, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Central California and obtained by PEOPLE. Upon arrival, TSA special agent Alejandro Arrillaga reportedly learned that the victim, identified only as M.R., was in the restroom between Terminals 6 and 7 in a TSA uniform when the incident occurred. The agent reports that a man wearing a black shirt, black Nike pants and a black Nike cap approached M.R. and asked about his passport. The suspect was later identified as Bingham. “M.R. told Bingham he could not help him and walked out of the restroom,” the complaint says. “Bingham then followed M.R. out of the restroom, yelled at him, grabbed M.R. by the arm and pushed M.R. against a parked United Airlines gold cart.” Bingham then grabbed M.R.'s identification lanyard from his neck and “threw a punch” towards him, per the complaint. “M.R. held onto Bingham in an attempt to stop Bingham from further assaulting him.” However, Bingham allegedly proceeded to grab M.R. by the head and hair and forcibly pushed him against a nearby glass wall, as depicted by a photo submitted in the complaint. Eventually, M.R. was reportedly able to grab Bingham and pull him to the floor. The complaint says, “M.R. held Bingham to the ground, Bingham kicked at M.R.,” but the officer “held Bingham to the ground until assistance arrived.” The TSA agent reported experiencing pain in his hand and back and sought medical attention, the complaint says. The agent investigating the case reportedly reviewed Bingham's travel documents and confirmed he was an Australian national who was flying to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. During the investigation, Bingham's carry-on bag and passport were reportedly discovered at a restaurant in Terminal 7, which the suspect had previously visited while at LAX. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE'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. During an arraignment held on April 16, Bingham pleaded not guilty and a jury trial was set for May 12. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/man-allegedly-grabbed-tsa-officer-205157861.html Delta flight diverted to SEA Airport due to report of suspicious package An Airbus A350 was diverted out of an abundance of caution, according to Delta Air and the Port of Seattle. SEATAC, Wash. — A flight between Seoul's Incheon International Airport and Atlanta was diverted to SEA Airport on Monday due to a report of a suspicious package on board. The Airbus A350 was diverted out of an abundance of caution, according to Delta Air and the Port of Seattle. There were 278 passengers on board, along with four pilots and 12 flight attendants. Passengers were deplaned to buses as police investigated and swept the aircraft. No credible threat was discovered and no arrests were made, according to the Port of Seattle. The aircraft returned to a gate and passengers were asked to go through Customs before the plane resumed its flight. "Safety and security come before all else at Delta," the airline said in a statement. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels and Delta teams are working to get them to their final destinations today." https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/delta-flight-diverted-seattle-suspicious-package/281-5fd69a51-c3bf-493e-83dc-5f27128c7528 Ethiopian Airlines Converts Options of Six Boeing 787 Dreamliner Airplanes into Firm Orders Africa's largest 787 operator to grow widebody fleet for international expansion WASHINGTON, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire(opens in a new tab)/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Ethiopian Airlines announced today the purchase of six 787 Dreamliner jets as the airline fully exercises commitments from its 2023 landmark order(opens in a new tab). Ethiopian Airlines will use the 787-9 jets to expand its intercontinental network from Addis Ababa and increase cargo capacity as demand for long-haul travel continues to rise. "Converting the options of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner airplanes into a firm order is truly a proud moment for us," said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew. "The order shows Ethiopian Airlines' sustainable growth and preparation for further achievements. By growing our fleet size with ultra-modern airplanes such as the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, we are further maintaining operational excellence and passengers' comfort." Pictured from left to right at a signing ceremony at Boeing's office in Arlington, Va.: Anbessie Yitbarek, Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa, Boeing; Ato Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines; Mr. Hiro Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Advocacy Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Ms. Sarah Whitten, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Origination at the U.S. Export-Import Bank; Ms. Sarah Troutman, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; H.E. Binalf Andualem, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the U.S.; Teklewold Atnafu, Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Mr. Temesgen Getaye, Treasurer of Ethiopian Airlines; Mr. Abraham Tesfaye, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Development, Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines operates Africa's largest 787 Dreamliner fleet, flying its 787-8 and 787-9 jets on intercontinental routes from Addis Ababa to high-demand destinations across Europe, Asia and North America as well as key intra-African routes spanning the world's second-largest continent. "We're proud that Ethiopian Airlines continues to look to the 787 Dreamliner to serve as the backbone of their fleet as they grow and modernize their operations, open new routes and comfortably serve more passengers," said Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa. The 787 Dreamliner's versatility and reduced fuel use enable Ethiopian Airlines to efficiently transport passengers point-to-point across Africa while accommodating cargo in the belly of the airplane for high-demand trade lanes. About Ethiopian Ethiopian Airlines Group (ET) is one of the fastest-growing airline brands globally and the leading Aviation Group in Africa. Ethiopian took the lead in introducing cutting-edge aviation technology and systems in the continent. Currently, Ethiopian reaches over 145 global destinations and owns more than 170 ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft with an average fleet age of seven years. Ethiopian is a Star Alliance member and winner of SKYTRAX 'Best Airlines in Africa' for eight consecutive years. As a Pan-African airline, Ethiopian established the much-needed intra-Africa and transcontinental air connectivity network, linking Africa to the rest of the world. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2026-04-20-Ethiopian-Airlines-Converts-Options-of-Six-Boeing-787-Dreamliner-Airplanes-into-Firm-Orders Foreign airlines to gradually resume flight operations at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport Foreign airlines are preparing to return to Qatar’s airspace after a temporary shutdown triggered by regional tensions, with international carrier operations set to resume in phases. In a statement issued on Monday, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) confirmed that foreign carriers will gradually restart services to and from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA), marking the first step in reconnecting the country with global air networks. “This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of the situation, conducted in coordination with all relevant national entities, to ensure the highest levels of readiness and operational efficiency,” QCAA said. It affirmed that “all flights and related operations will be carried out in accordance with the highest internationally recognised safety and security standards, with all necessary measures and precautions in place to safeguard passengers and aviation personnel”. In early March, the QCAA previously announced a “partial resumption of air navigation” with limited operational capacity, primarily to support passenger evacuation and repatriation flights, as well as facilitate cargo flight operations. During this period, Qatar Airways operated "limited relief corridor" flights, with the initial service departing from HIA on 7 March to key European capitals including London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, as well as to Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt. Operations in and out of the Qatari capital were limited to the national carrier, with each flight requiring a pre-allocation for passengers impacted by the disruptions. More routes on the horizon for Qatar Airways The news from QCAA comes days after Qatar Airways revealed it will be expanding its international networks and offering flights to more than 150 destinations, starting from 16 June. Valid until 15 September, the Qatari flag carrier is introducing new routes and increased frequencies to and from Doha, to "connect more passengers to more of the world this summer". Qatar Airways' updated network includes 44 destinations across Europe, including Baku, Copenhagen, Milan, Tbilisi, Vienna and Warsaw. In Africa, there will be 25 destinations, from Abuja and Algiers in the west and north, to Cape Town and Dar es Salam in the south and east. The summer schedule also includes flights to 24 destinations in the Middle East, 46 in Asia, 14 in the Americas, and six in Oceania. https://www.yahoo.com/travel/flights/articles/foreign-airlines-gradually-resume-flight-144806244.html National Airlines’ 1st 777 cargo jet to make debut in May Boeing recently completed test flights of a 777-200 freighter it delivered to National Airlines last week. National Airlines is set to put its first Boeing 777-200 freighter into service in early May, with a second delivery expected by the end of May. All-cargo charter operator National Airlines will place its first Boeing 777-200 freighter aircraft into service in early May, said Alan White, chief growth officer for parent company National Air Cargo said in an email exchange. The company anticipates Boeing to deliver its second 777-200 in the final week of May, added Caterina Alf, global director of business development. National Airlines executives were in Everett, Washington, last week to participate in an official handover ceremony for the company’s first 777 freighter. The carrier ordered four 777-200s in July 2024. The remaining units are scheduled for delivery later this year. The new aircraft is currently undergoing final check flights at the company’s home base at Orlando International Airport to familiarize crews with the plane’s features, White said. National Airlines has onboarded about 20 certified pilots to fly the 777s. National currently operates 12 aircraft, including nine Boeing 747-400 freighters. Three of them are passenger-to-freighter conversions. The planes operate throughout Asia, Europe and Latin America. The airline also flies three Airbus passenger aircraft. One of its largest customers is the Pentagon. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/sectors/technology/articles/national-airlines-1st-777-cargo-124813707.html 'Mermaid' Is an Unofficial Code Word Flight Attendants Use—Here's What It Means A new report reveals unofficial airline slang, from seat-sharing passengers to onboard medical alerts. There’s an entirely different language in the skies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a robust list of acronyms and abbreviations that those in the field should be familiar with, and pilots communicate with each other and with Air Traffic Control using the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Phonetic Alphabet. For example, a pilot will say something like “Delta Alpha November 2-3-4-5 Tango at Gate Bravo 12” instead of “D A N 2345 T.” This helps ensure clear communication and eliminates any misunderstandings over the radio. But according to a report Wander, a luxury vacation rental company, shared with Travel +Leisure via email, there are also several unofficial phrases and code words that may be used in the air. The next time you’re on a plane and hear a member of the air crew say “mermaid,” it’s probably not a reference to the folklore creature with the body of a human and the tail of a fish. “From my understanding, this is a slang term among the flight crew or flight attendants to describe passengers who take up more space during the flight in their seat or are ‘manspreading,’” says Kolin Jones, a pilot and the founder and CEO of Amalfi Jets, a private aviation company. He also confirms it’s not an official FAA term. Forbes describes “mermaid” as a “passive-aggressive nickname for a passenger who spreads themself out over several seats to stop other passengers from sitting in their row,” adding that it’s “particularly common on emptier flights where there are more spare seats to be claimed." No, it’s not an emergency, but you also don’t want to be the “mermaid” yourself. “If heard, it is not something to worry about … but maybe check how much space you're taking up and if you're encroaching in someone else's seat space,” Jones adds. T+L recently reported on a few other code words and slang terms pilots and flight crew may employ while on the job. “Angel” and “Code 300” are used by some airlines and aviation companies to communicate that there’s a medical emergency onboard. As Jason Martinelli, the director of operations at Cirrus Aviation Services, previously told T+L, these words can signal to the crew that a passenger is “incapacitated, unresponsive, or in serious distress.” https://www.yahoo.com/travel/flights/articles/mermaid-unofficial-code-word-flight-121101999.html Spirit Airlines admits it could shut down within days Surging fuel costs and looming debt payments leave the carrier facing potential liquidation Rising fuel costs and debt obligations strain Spirit Airlines’ operations | ©Image Credit: Spirit Spirit Airlines has reportedly reached out to the Trump administration seeking emergency financial assistance, as surging operating costs and looming debt obligations push the discount carrier toward a potential shutdown or liquidation. Fuel prices spiked sharply after the war with Iran began in late February. The added strain left the already fragile Spirit in a situation where an upcoming creditor payment may simply be out of reach. Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt was not particularly optimistic. He told CBS News that ‘Spirit is flying on financial fumes’ and recommended that anyone with upcoming bookings on the carrier start identifying backup options sooner rather than later. Creditors’ decision to stop supporting the airline, he noted, could ground the fleet with almost no notice. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who regularly engages with the budget-carrier segment, has scheduled a meeting next week with executives from Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Avelo. Neither the Department of Transportation nor Spirit has commented publicly on the situation. This summer was supposed to mark Spirit’s recovery after the airline navigated its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in August 2025 and secured a creditor agreement in late February 2026 on a restructuring deal that would have cleared billions in obligations and reduced its fleet. The events of February changed the calculus before the plan could close. Essentially, the carrier’s vulnerability runs deeper than a single bad quarter in fuel. Budget travel built around stripped-down service and low base fares has lost its grip on a meaningful share of customers following the pandemic. To add to it all, regulators rejected an attempt to combine with JetBlue that might have repositioned Spirit entirely. The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the merger on antitrust grounds, and a federal judge rejected the deal in January 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/economy/policy/articles/spirit-airlines-admits-could-shut-140009127.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . ESASI 2026, 20-21 May, Dubrovnik . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation Course 7 to 9 July 2026; Woburn MA 01801 USA : APSCON/APSCON Unmanned 2026 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL - July 13-17, 2026 : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 22-23 September 2026 . IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain) . ISASI - BOSTON 2026 - September 28, 2026 – October 2, 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis