Flight Safety Information - June 15, 2026 No. 116 In This Issue : Incident: KLM B738 near Billund on Jun 12th 2026, engine shut down in flight : Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Jun 11th 2026, tyre damage on departure : Incident: Tiger Taiwan A20N at Sapporo on Jun 12th 2026, avionics smoke indication : Pacific Aerospace 750XL - Fatal Accident (Missouri) : Eleven skydivers and pilot killed in US plane crash : An Air Canada flight bound for Canada was forced to make an abrupt U-turn and declare a mid-air emergency shortly after taking off from Scotland this morning. : Pilot "Nearly Blinded" By Trump's White House UFC Lights On Reagan Approach : Why Manchester Airport Ryanair flight to Tenerife diverted : ISASI 2026 - TECHNICAL PROGRAM NOW LIVE! : Calendar of Events Incident: KLM B738 near Billund on Jun 12th 2026, engine shut down in flight A KLM Boeing 737-800, registration PH-BXY performing flight KL-1164 from Bergen (Norway) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was climbing through about FL380 out of Bergen when the right hand engine (CFM56) needed to be shut down due to a low oil pressure indication. The aircraft diverted to Billund (Denmark) for a safe landing on runway 09 about 35 minutes after stopping the climb. Passengers reported the departure had been delayed by about one hour, the captain announced a starter for one of the engines was not working. The problem was fixed and they departed. Two loud bangs occurred, smoke entered a the cabin and a burning smell developed. The captain announced, that they had received indication of low oil pressure on their right hand engine, they shut the engine down after the bangs. The airline reported the crew shut one of the engines down and diverted to Billund. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53a70d8f&opt=0 Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Jun 11th 2026, tyre damage on departure A KLM Boeing 787-9, registration PH-BHG performing flight KL-867 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Osaka (Japan), departed Amsterdam's runway 18L apparently without incident, however, the next departure reported lots of debris on the runway, possible tyre explosion. KL-867 climbed to FL310, then returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 27 about 100 minutes after departure. The aircraft vacated the runway and taxied to the apron. According to information The Aviation Herald received, the aircraft blew a tyre on departure. The rotation was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 29 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53a69605&opt=0 Incident: Tiger Taiwan A20N at Sapporo on Jun 12th 2026, avionics smoke indication A Tigerair Taiwan Airbus A320-200N, registration B-50026 performing flight IT-234 from Taipei (Taiwan) to Sapporo (Japan) with 179 people on board, was on approach to Sapporo about 10 minutes prior to landing when the crew received a smoke indication for the avionics bay. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 19L. The airline reported the crew received an indication of smoke in the avionics bay during landing. The passengers disembarked normally. The aircraft is still on the ground in Sapporo about 17 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53a690d2&opt=0 Pacific Aerospace 750XL - Fatal Accident (Missouri) Date: Sunday 14 June 2026 Time: c. 11:27 LT Type: Pacific Aerospace 750XL Owner/operator: Skyhi Aero LLC, opf Skydive Kansas City Registration: N221BN MSN: 165 Year of manufacture: 2010 Engine model: PWC PT6A-34 Fatalities: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Location: Butler Memorial Airport (BUM/KBUM), Butler, MO - United States of America Phase: Initial climb Nature: Parachuting Departure airport: Butler Airport, MO (BUM/KBUM) Destination airport: Butler Airport, MO (BUM/KBUM) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Pacific Aerospace 750XL, N221BN, crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport (BUM/KBUM), Butler, Missouri, and came down on airport property left of the runway and a fire erupted. The pilot and eleven skydivers perished and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. The airport manager stated: "it had just taken off and made a left turn [...] I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire." The aircraft had been operating for various skydiving centers in the U.S. It arrived at BUM on June 2. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/572392 Eleven skydivers and pilot killed in US plane crash Eleven skydivers and one pilot have been killed in a plane crash in the US state of Missouri, officials have said. The airplane, which was leased by a skydiving company, took off around 11:20 local time (16:20 GMT) on Sunday, according to a Bates County Emergency Management spokesperson. After failing to gain altitude, it made a sharp left turn and crashed about 200 yards away from Butler Memorial Airport, the spokesperson told the BBC. All 12 people on board died, he said. "We are treating that... as a mass casualty," Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said during an afternoon news conference. The sheriff said the plane had not been a commercial airliner, and rather "a local airplane that took off from our local airport". The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane was a Pacific Aerospace P750 and crashed while departing the airport. "Air traffic services were not being provided at the time," the FAA said. A spokesperson explained that the plane was not required to be in communication due to the type of air space it was flying in. Local media reported that first responders checked the area to see if any of the skydivers had jumped from the plane before the crash. Some family members of the deceased witnessed the incident, the sheriff said. Authorities have not shared information on the identities of the victims. The city of Butler is about 50 miles south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash, the FAA said. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74ym4j40gpo An Air Canada flight bound for Canada was forced to make an abrupt U-turn and declare a mid-air emergency shortly after taking off from Scotland this morning. EDINBURGH — Air Canada flight AC937, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration C-FRTU), departed Edinburgh Airport (EDI) at 09:40 BST on its scheduled trans-Atlantic service to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was nearing the final stages of its initial climb and reaching an altitude of approximately 38,000 feet when the crew suddenly halted the ascent. The pilots initiated a sharp turn back toward the east and immediately triggered a squawk code 7700, the international signal for a general airborne emergency. In tandem with the emergency declaration, the widebody jet executed a rapid descent, dropping to 10,000 feet. Aviation protocols dictate descending to 10,000 feet during a potential loss of cabin pressure, as the air at that altitude is dense enough for passengers and crew to breathe normally without supplementary oxygen. Air Canada officials confirmed they are actively monitoring the situation and expect to release an official update regarding the aircraft’s status and passenger accommodations within the next 30 minutes. Emergency response services at Edinburgh Airport are reportedly on standby to meet the aircraft upon its arrival as a standard precautionary measure. It is currently unclear how many passengers and crew members are on board, and no injuries have been reported at this stage. https://airlive.net/emergency/2026/06/14/pilots-of-air-canada-ac937-declared-an-emergency-after-turning-back-to-edinburgh/ Pilot "Nearly Blinded" By Trump's White House UFC Lights On Reagan Approach Luke has over a decade of experience as a travel writer and aviation analyst. As a passionate traveler based across the Middle East and Asia, Luke offers strong insights into the industry. Based in South East Asia. A commercial pilot has filed a safety report with the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) after claiming they were nearly blinded on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) due to powerful lights from a sporting event held at the White House. The pilot said the lights were "ten times worse" than any laser disruption event they had experienced in their career, and they struck during one of the most critical phases of flight. The lighting emanated from an arena constructed on the White House South Lawn ahead of UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event scheduled on Sunday, June 14, to mark President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of America's independence. Footage from a press conference hosted on Saturday evening shows the arena's lighting array was in full swing, beaming light into the sky above Washington, DC. Pilot Claims White House UFC Lights "Worse Than Any Laser" white house south lawn ufc octagon construction The pilot — operating a night flight for an unspecified commercial airline — says they encountered the intense light while on approach to Reagan National, which is located around 3 miles (5 km) from the White House. According to a MeidasTouch report, the pilot has filed safety reports with both the FAA and NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), claiming the incident was significantly more severe than a typical laser event. The lighting was part of a temporary arena featuring a large overhead structure nicknamed "The Claw," with the entire project reportedly costing around $60 million to install. Although there is a strict no-fly zone above the White House, the powerful and dynamic lighting show can still reach flight corridors in the surrounding area. According to the pilot, the cockpit was hit by bright lights during the final stages of landing, which require clear and unobstructed visuals to perform safely. The pilot said, "[It was] ten times worse than any laser illumination event." How Dangerous Are Light Hazards? Lasers and other light disruptions are among the most common and dangerous hazards a commercial pilot can face. Due to the way light refracts through a cockpit windshield, exposure to abnormal lighting from outside can have a major impact on pilot visibility. Most laser events also happen while a plane is at a lower altitude, meaning they typically occur during the two most critical phases of flight: takeoff and landing. Pilots collectively reported almost 11,000 laser strikes to the FAA in 2025, working out at an average of around 30 per day. Some laser strikes are so intense that pilots suffer temporary or even permanent eye injuries. Shining lasers at an aircraft is a federal crime and comes with severe punishments, including up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $11,000 per violation. The fact that this incident happened near Reagan National is an added concern, as the airspace around the airport is one of the most complex in the country. Commercial pilots flying into DCA are already required to make a complicated approach involving an unusual last-minute turn, so the presence of a visual hazard becomes an even greater safety threat. DCA's Runway 1-19 is also notable as the single-busiest runway in the United States, while the airport's surrounding airspace is shared with various military and civil aircraft. The tragic crash involving American Airlines Flight 5342 in January 2025 — when an American Eagle CRJ700 collided with a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while on final approach — demonstrated the dangers of operating in such congested airspace. FAA Reports Dangerous Laser Strikes On Planes Remain High California had the highest number of reported incidents in 2024. Lack Of Coordination Between Authorities This incident raises questions over whether pilots flying into DCA were sufficiently warned about the possibility of visual disturbances due to lighting hazards. The pilot claims that, after raising the issue with a local FAA office, they were told to take their concerns directly to the White House. The Trump-backed UFC event has also raised complaints after apparently skipping over a full environmental review. With the UFC Freedom 250 event all set to go ahead on Sunday evening, it is also unclear if pilots will be warned of possible light hazards while operating around DCA's airspace. https://simpleflying.com/pilot-trump-white-house-ufc-lights-reagan-approach/ Why Manchester Airport Ryanair flight to Tenerife diverted A Ryanair flight, from Manchester Airport, was forced to divert due to disruptive passengers on board. The Ryanair service, which departed from Manchester Airport and was bound for Tenerife South in the Canary Islands, was diverted to Faro in Portugal on June 10, after two passengers became unruly. Other passengers could be heard shouting at him to sit down. He then appeared to be tripped up by a fellow passenger, prompting laughter from other passengers. The man briefly sits down before jumping up again as the video ends. Swearing can be heard throughout. The video was captioned: "Great flight to Tenerife yesterday - had to redirect to Faro to drop off these two k***heads!" Another said: "Ban them for life, muppets" "Ban the lot of them," said another. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "This flight from Manchester to Tenerife South (10 June) diverted to Faro after two passengers became disruptive on board. "Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon arrival at Faro Airport, and removed these disruptive passengers before this flight continued to Tenerife. "Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption." https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/26194610.manchester-airport-ryanair-flight-tenerife-diverted/ 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