Flight Safety Information - June 9, 2026 No. 112 In This Issue : Incident: Aurigny AT72 near Southampton on Jun 7th 2026, cracked windshield : Incident: Georgian B739 at Tbilisi on Jun 4th 2026, cabin pressure problem : Incident: Canada B38M at Mexico City on Jun 4th 2026, runway incursion : Incident: Delta A339 near Edinburgh on Jun 7th 2026, floor heater problem : Incident: ANZ AT72 at Napier on Jun 6th 2026, GPWS alert landing gear not down : O.C. man downs 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's, shoots at sheriff's helicopter, gets 9-year sentence : Air Canada pilot arrested for flying without proper license : Air passengers ‘risking lives by grabbing bags and filming in emergencies’ : EU removes Kyrgyzstan from air safety blacklist after two decades : A Plane's Controls Jammed Mid-Air. Then the Flight Crew's Teamwork Training Kicked In : Embry Riddle Flight Teams Capture Top Finishes at Collegiate Aviation Championship : Global 8000 sets speed record as Bombardier showcases ultra long range jet : Graduate Research Request : Calendar of Events Incident: Aurigny AT72 near Southampton on Jun 7th 2026, cracked windshield An Aurigny Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration G-ORAI performing flight GR-678 from Guernsey,CI to Manchester,EN (UK), was enroute FL170 over Southampton,EN (UK) when the crew decided to divert to Southampton due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft descended to FL100 and landed safely on Southampton's runway 20 about 20 minutes later. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. The airline reported a precautionary diversion, the passengers were bussed to Manchester. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Southampton about 24 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=53a3e59c&opt=0 Incident: Georgian B739 at Tbilisi on Jun 4th 2026, cabin pressure problem A Georgian Airways Boeing 737-900, registration 4L-GTL performing flight A9-932 from Tbilisi (Georgia) to Moscow Vnukovo (Russia), was climbing out of Tbilisi's runway 31L when the crew stopped the climb at about 15000 feet and descended down to 7000 feet due to problems with the cabin pressure, the passeenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft landed safely back on Tbilisi's runway 13R about 17 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration 4L-GTD reached Moscow with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tbilisi on Jun 8th 2026. https://avherald.com/h?article=53a3e00c&opt=0 Incident: Canada B38M at Mexico City on Jun 4th 2026, runway incursion An Air Canada Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-GMEX performing flight AC-994 from Mexico City (Mexico) to Montreal,QC (Canada), was taxiing for departure when the aircraft - in contact with Ground frequency - received taxi clearance via B5, backtrack runway 05L and vacate via B2 due to taxiway B being blocked. The aircraft turned off taxiway B onto B5, entered runway 05L and backtracked the runway. Just before that an Aeromexico Boeing 737-800, registration XA-JOY performing flight AM-702 from Mexico City to Hermosillo (Mexico), had been cleared for takeoff from runway 05L, commenced takeoff and rejected takeoff at about 55 knots over ground on ATC instruction due to the runway incursion. The aircraft stopped on the runway just before the displaced runway threshold, just past B2 and about 640 meters/2100 feet short of B5. The aircraft subsequently turned right onto taxiway B3 and departed from runway 05R. AC-994 continued backtrack on runway 05, vacated the runway via B2 to the left (towards runway 05R), but vacated again via taxiway B3 and taxied to the apron. The flight was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=53a3ded9&opt=0 Incident: Delta A339 near Edinburgh on Jun 7th 2026, floor heater problem A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-900, registration N422DZ performing flight DL-21 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Seattle,WA (USA), was enroute at FL360 about 150nm northnorthwest of Edinburgh,SC (UK) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Edinburgh. The aircraft landed safely on Edinburgh's runway 24 about 40 minutes later. Passengers reported fumes on board. The airline reported a possible issue with a floor heater. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Edinburgh about 19 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=53a3d87f&opt=0 Incident: ANZ AT72 at Napier on Jun 6th 2026, GPWS alert landing gear not down An ANZ Air New Zealand Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration ZK-MVC performing flight NZ-5019 from Auckland to Napier (New Zealand), was on final approach to Napier's runway 16 when the crew initiated a go around after receiving a GPWS alarm that the landing gear was not down. The crew positioned for another approach and landed without further incident about 15 minutes after the go around. New Zealand's TAIC opened an investigation into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=53a3d6f1&opt=0 O.C. man downs 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's, shoots at sheriff's helicopter, gets 9-year sentence An Orange County man was sentenced to nine years in prison on Monday over an alcohol-fueled disturbance during which he fired an entire rifle magazine of bullets inside his home — causing his family to flee — and additional rounds at a Sheriff's Department helicopter from his second-story window. Justin Derek Jennings, 41, of Laguna Niguel was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison in connection to the incident on his birthday in 2024. He had pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to damage, destroy, disable or wreck an aircraft, the Justice Department said in a news release. Jennings was having a birthday party with family that day, according to court documents. He drank 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's at the party, according to the defendant's lawyer and reporting by City News Service. Jennings later removed a rifle from his gun safe and opened fire inside the home, prompting his family to flee and report the incident to law enforcement, court documents say. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb, attended by several of his family members, Jennings admitted that his struggles with alcoholism contributed to his actions that day. "I have a serious alcohol abuse problem,'' Jennings said, according to City News Service. "I let it completely upend my life." The Orange County Sheriff's Department responded to the shooting with several deputies and a helicopter that circled Jennings' home. He fired at the helicopter from the second-story window "only when the helicopter was visible to him," according to prosecutors. The shooting lasted intermittently for an additional 20 minutes after authorities arrived, the Justice Department said. "This is a serious offense involving violent and disturbing conduct that endangered many lives," prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. Jennings "repeatedly shot at an OCSD helicopter from a second-story window with the goal of shooting it down." In a search of Jennings' home after his arrest, authorities found multiple firearms, rifles and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Bullet casings and additional rounds of unspent ammunition were littered on the floor beneath the window and a couch near where Jennings had fired from, authorities said. The Orange County district attorney's office had originally charged Jennings in connection to the shooting but dismissed the case to allow for the federal case to proceed, according to the Justice Department. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/o-c-man-downs-2-022513582.html Air Canada pilot arrested for flying without proper license Air Canada said it takes "this matter with utmost seriousness." Air Canada pilot arrested for allegedly flying without proper licenseAn Air Canada pilot has been released after being arrested on fraud charges for allegedly flying thousands of passengers on hundreds of flights without the proper license, officials told ABC News. A senior Air Canada pilot has been released after being arrested on fraud charges for allegedly flying thousands of passengers on hundreds of flights without the proper license, officials told ABC News. Canada's Peel Regional Police will hold a news conference Tuesday to share more details of "Project Icarus," a fraud investigation that led investigators to the pilot. The probe started after a random certification check turned up inconsistencies, officials said. In a news release, Air Canada acknowledged what occurred and said it "takes this matter with utmost seriousness." "Safety was not compromised by this incident because all pilots at Air Canada undergo mandatory recurrent training every six months to validate their flying competency, including a flight check with a certified Transport Canada check-pilot every 12 months,” the airline’s statement said. “However, appropriate licensing is an essential layer of the airline industry’s multi-layered approach to safety, so Air Canada ... has undertaken an audit of its pilot group and found no other instances of non-compliance." The airline said the pilot, who was not named, has been fined and is no longer employed by Air Canada. The pilot is due back in court later this month. https://abcnews.com/Business/air-canada-pilot-arrested-flying-proper-license/story?id=133698866 Air passengers ‘risking lives by grabbing bags and filming in emergencies’ Fines may be needed to deter travellers from retrieving hand luggage, says official from airlines body Iata Air passengers are increasingly putting lives at risk by filming emergencies and retrieving bags instead of evacuating planes, industry experts have said, with some suggesting fines could be needed. Passenger aircraft are designed to be fully evacuated in 90 seconds in an emergency – but people reaching for hand luggage can significantly increase that time, blocking exits and aisles as well as damaging slides or causing injury. The global airlines body Iata has launched a safety campaign urging customers to “save a life, not a bag”after a number of evacuations filmed by passengers have appeared on social media, some showing people carrying luggage from burning planes. Nick Careen, the Iata senior vice-president for operations and security, said the first priority was to educate passengers that it was “most important to leave hand baggage behind. We need to drive the message home.” Research on travellers in the UK, US, Singapore and UAE found that only 61% were aware of the rules. “Four in 10 passengers don’t even realise it’s an expectation to leave their shit behind,” Careen said, speaking at the Iata annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Asked if he favoured fines, Careen said: “Yes, if we could implement them. It could progress because there are regulators who favour it.” He said airlines and manufacturers were not yet considering potential technical fixes such as automatically locking luggage bins. But Careen said: “Let’s start with education – then we’ll have to be a little bit more draconian, whether it be penalties or a lock on the overhead bin.” The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was seeing an increasing number of passengers not following flight crew instructions during emergencies. Bryan Bedford, an FAA administrator, said: “In those moments, compliance is critical. Passengers must act quickly, follow instructions without hesitation, and leave all belongings behind.” Ryanair passengers were evacuated from a plane at Palma airport in Mallorca View image in fullscreen Ryanair passengers were evacuated from a plane at Palma airport in Mallorca. Photograph: Twitter X Evacuations are rare in aviation, with only an estimated 30 annually. Last year at least two-UK bound flights were evacuated on the asphalt before departure after suspicions of fire, with 18 passengers sustaining minor injuries leaving a Ryanair plane at Palma airport last July. Passengers described the evacuation as “utter carnage”. Videos of similar events have provoked consternation, both at those stopping to film potentially disastrous events on smartphones and those seen carrying luggage off emergency slides. Some aviation safety experts, however, suggested the response was understandable. Brett Molesworth, a professor of human factors and aviation safety at the University of New South Wales, said unfamiliar emergencies led to a “fight or flight” stress response when only a minority of people acted rationally. For about 75% of people, he said, “their ability to process information is restricted. In those circumstances if they’ve got their bag in the overhead lockers they want to take it with them.” Dr Levi Breeding, a senior auditor at United Airlines, said that while there may be “some disbelief and disconnection from the situation” in an emergency, too many in the TikTok generation “had an instinct to pull the phone out”, some potentially looking to make money from footage of a newsworthy event. He said: “Every day is a struggle getting the message across … Our passengers don’t live in aviation safety every day like we do.” Rachel Loudermilk, the managing director of inflight safety at Southwest Airlines, said cabin crew were having to learn to make passengers comply. She said: “Getting that mindset shift to flip the switch and now yell at them very directly in their face is tough, but that’s what we’re working on.” She added: “There’s an inherent risk in aircraft – but nobody thinks that will happen to them. Or they think that they’ll be OK, even if they take a bag.” Molesworth said Iata’s campaign featuring cartoon animals might struggle to cut through, as research showed that only about half of passengers who watched safety videos took the information in. Loudermilk concurred but said: “We can’t lose customers, so we’ve got to figure out a way to show them reality without showing dead bodies.” Willie Walsh, the outgoing director general of Iata, said he did not favour fines. But he said he still vividly remembered the Manchester airport disaster in 1985, when 55 people died, mainly of toxic smoke inhalation, after a botched evacuation. He said: “We don’t take decisions to evacuate aircraft lightly – so if does happen, get off,” he said. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/09/air-passengers-bags-filming-emergencies-airlines-iata EU removes Kyrgyzstan from air safety blacklist after two decades Kyrgyzstan has been officially removed from the European Union’s air safety blacklist after 20 years of restrictions that barred its certified airlines from operating flights to EU member states, Qazinform News Agency reports. According to the presidential administration’s press service, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport informed the Kyrgyz side that all air carriers certified in Kyrgyzstan had been fully removed from the EU flight ban list. The decision follows a meeting of the EU Air Safety Committee (ASC) held May 19-21, 2026, and will be formalized through a corresponding European Commission regulation. Kyrgyzstan had remained on the EU air safety blacklist since 2006. “The country has carried out systematic work in recent years to reform civil aviation, strengthen government oversight of flight safety, and bring the national system into compliance with ICAO standards,” the statement notes. Earlier, it was reported that Kuwait had reopened its airspace on Saturday after a temporary closure imposed as a precautionary measure following Iran's ballistic missile attacks on the country, according to the Kuwait Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA). https://qazinform.com/news/eu-removes-kyrgyzstan-from-air-safety-blacklist-after-two-decades-442ef9 A Plane's Controls Jammed Mid-Air. Then the Flight Crew's Teamwork Training Kicked In A report from U.K. investigators said ice formed on the plane's aileron control system A cargo flight from Iceland to the U.K. experienced jammed controls mid-air, likely due to ice formation The crew used training and teamwork to free the controls and safely land the Boeing 767 in England Investigators praised the crew's calm response and preparation, which included prior simulator training for similar emergencies Investigators in the U.K. are praising a flight crew for their calm handling of an in-flight emergency. The cargo flight from Keflavik, Iceland, to East Midlands in the U.K. experienced jammed controls about an hour and a half into its journey. According to a June 4 report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), ice likely formed on the plane's aileron control system on the flight's wings, restricting movement, causing a "jam in roll control”. There were two crew members and one pilot on board as a passenger on the October flight, which landed at East Midlands Airport in Derby, England, without further incident. The Boeing 767-316F was transporting fresh goods on pallets. The AAIB report says the crew were able to free the controls by “jointly applying force in the same direction on the control wheel”. "The crew dealt with the incident calmly, descending first before applying force to the control wheels and releasing the jam," the report reads. At the time of the departure, the weather in Keflavik was largely wet, with rain and drizzle, and the maximum temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AAIB. “Previous simulator training had provided them with experience of a jammed control, which proved accurate and useful. The well-known possibility of ice also meant the crew had a good plan for how to tackle the jam," the report reads. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The report adds, "The crew handled the emergency well with good planning, briefing and co-ordinating throughout the event." https://people.com/flight-crew-praised-for-staying-calm-after-aircraft-s-controls-jam-mid-air-11993034 Embry Riddle Flight Teams Capture Top Finishes at Collegiate Aviation Championship Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s flight teams winged their way to top-10 finishes at the national collegiate aviation championship, a weeklong competition that tests aviation knowledge and precision flying skills. The Golden Eagles at the Prescott Campus placed third, while the Eagles Flight Team at the Daytona Beach Campus finished seventh at the competition, held May 18-23 at the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois. The Embry Riddle teams were among 32 squads that competed in the championship, which is known as SAFECON and hosted by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA). Events included a mix of flight and ground challenges designed to evaluate accuracy, safety and technical expertise. “This competition is an opportunity for our students to demonstrate the precision and professionalism they learn during their training,” said Jeannie Leavitt, dean of the College of Aviation at the Prescott Campus. “Experiences like SAFECON allow our students to showcase the skills that are essential throughout the aviation industry, and this year's results reflect their dedication and commitment.” Golden Eagles Finish in Top Three To capture third place, the Golden Eagles scored 385 points, with the team earning the overall Ground Events championship. Highlights included Ian Schiller earning first place in the Computer Accuracy event. His teammate Samuel Low placed second. “It was cool to see four years of hard work in the event pay off, even though the team didn’t quite get the result we wanted,” Schiller said. “I’m still very proud of my teammates and our work as a team this year.” Team members also earned strong finishes in the Aircraft Recognition challenge, with Myles Kopfle-Maurer placing third and Low placing fifth. In the Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation (SCAN) event, Ethan Michon placed second, while Lillian Vincent and Jonathan Chen finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Michon, a graduating senior and the team’s captain for the 2025-26 season, finished fifth nationally among top-scoring contestants and earned finishes in the top three in multiple events, including third in Aircraft Preflight Inspection. He was also named Prescott's Outstanding Team Member. “I'm very honored to have been voted by my team as outstanding team member this year,” Michon said. “Out of all the awards I've received over the years, this is the one that tells me I've done my job as captain because I know my team's got my back. The team has truly become a second family.” Eagles Flight Team Places in Top Ten The Eagles Flight Team scored 235 points to earn seventh place overall. The team placed fourth in the Ground Events championship, a result Head Coach James Hanover attributed to the team focusing on its performance in the ground events. “They have done the best this team has ever seen in ground events over the past decade,” Hanover said. Team members earned several notable individual finishes. Carson Ruhnke finished fourth in the Computer Accuracy event and Ethan Hill captured eighth place in the SCAN event. Hanover also highlighted the team's performance in the Traditional Navigation event, where team members finished second, seventh and 14th. “Our current competitors, graduating seniors and coaches are excited for the future of the team, as we all play a part in our team's mission,” Hanover said. Preparing to Soar Again The 2026 SAFECON also marked the first national competition in which Golden Eagles squad used CubCrafters NX Cub aircraft alongside the university’s Cessna 172 fleet. “The NXCub provides phenomenal tools for energy management and fantastic visibility within the cockpit,” said Jamison Wettergren, who competed in both Short Field Landing and Power-Off Landing events. “We’ve written chapter one in our journey with these new aircraft, and we’ll continue to learn and bring our best for next year’s competition.” The Golden Eagles Flight Team, founded in 1979, has earned 16 national championships and remains one of the most successful programs in the competition’s history. "I am extremely proud of this team and everything it accomplished this year. We put our best foot forward and put up some good points at the competition,” said Jonathan Lindgren, head coach of the Golden Eagles. “Going into the offseason, there’s a lot of work to be done.” Lance McCuison, interim chair of the Flight Department, credited the team’s students, coaches and instructors for their strong performance, character and professionalism. “We're very excited to build on this team's outstanding momentum as we prepare for next year's competition,” he said. https://erau.edu/about/news-and-stories/news/embry-riddle-flight-teams-capture-top-finishes-at-collegiate-aviation-championship Global 8000 sets speed record as Bombardier showcases ultra long range jet Bombardier has announced that the Global 8000 has achieved its first city pair speed record, flying from Montreal to Nice in just over six hours. Boasting a top speed of Mach 0.95 and a range of 8,000 nautical miles, the Global 8000 is the fastest and one of the most luxurious aircraft in the industry, transporting passengers quicker, farther and more efficiently than ever before. On this specific mission, the aircraft was taking passengers to the Monaco F1 Grand Prix. “Bombardier’s Global 8000 business jet is truly in a class by itself when it comes to speed, luxury and performance – setting the pace in the ultra-long-range class,” said Stephen McCullough, executive vice president, engineering, product development and Bombardier Defense. “With this latest accomplishment, the Global 8000 aircraft continues to illustrate its industry-leading attributes on all fronts, from its signature smooth ride to its outstanding performance and landing capabilities.” Bombardier says the Global 8000 has the lowest cabin altitude in business aviation production at 2,691ft, while cruising at 41,000ft. The Global 8000 minimises the physiological stress associated with high altitude travel, helping passengers arrive at their destinations feeling refreshed and ready to perform. In addition to its long-range capabilities, low cabin altitude and exceptionally smooth ride, the aircraft remains remarkably agile, with takeoff and landing performance comparable to that of a light jet. Its advanced wing design featuring leading-edge slats enables customers to master up to 30% more airports than its closest rival. The aircraft features four distinct, luxurious living spaces, including a full-size kitchen, providing the ultimate comfort and convenience. Its state-of-the-art connectivity options and ergonomic seating – including Bombardier’s signature Nuage seat – makes it an ideal environment for productivity and relaxation, ensuring that passengers arrive at their destination refreshed and ready to take on their business endeavours. https://www.aero-mag.com/global-8000-sets-speed-record-as-bombardier-showcases-ultralongrange-jet Graduate Research Request Dear Pilots, My name is Giada Palusci, and I am a Master’s student in Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy. As part of my thesis, I am conducting research on Fatigue Risk Management, with a particular focus on the relationship between sleep, jet lag, and work rosters among commercial pilots. Aviation safety depends heavily on the human element, and direct insights from flight crews are essential to better understand current operational challenges. If you are a commercial pilot, I would be extremely grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete this short, anonymous, and confidential survey. Survey Link: https://qualtricsxmbhmnrhr9l.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_esP9sU63Y7tM9LM Upon completion of the study, I will be happy to share the final results with Dr. Lewis and the broader aviation community. Thank you very much for your time and for your continued commitment to advancing aviation safety. Kind regards, Giada Palusci CALENDAR OF EVENTS .2026 FAA-EASA International Aviation Safety Conference — June 16-18, 2026, in Chantilly, Virginia, with the theme “Safety Together: Innovation, Integration and Trust.” https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/newsroom-and-events/events/2026-faa-easa-international-aviation-safety-conference . 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 . EAA AirVenture Oshkosh - July 20–26, 2026 . ICAO/EASA Third Global RSOO/RAIO Forum for Aviation Safety — September 29–30, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana., https://www.icao.int/events : 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 . Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt- 29-30SEP2026 - Frankfurt, Germany . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV . 2027 ACSF Safety Symposium - April 6-8, 2027 - ERAU Daytona Beach, FL Curt Lewis