Flight Safety Information - July 10, 2026 No. 135 In This Issue : Accident: Malta B738 at Thessaloniki on Jul 10th 2026, cabin window shattered, passenger partly sucked out : Accident: Cathay A333 at Hong Kong on Jul 3rd 2026, tail strike on go around : Apache helicopter pilots suspended after South Carolina July 4 flyover : Air Canada plane veers off runway at Montreal airport after landing, no injuries : Panic on Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki as debris shatters window, injures passenger : Cathay Pacific flight loses contact over Romania, triggering NATO alert : NetJets Pilots Report Near Miss At 15,800 Feet : Russian Airline’s Boeing 737 Overruns Runway : Philippine Airlines Wants Both: 787s and A350s : EAA AirVenture Oshkosh lineup includes B-52, F-35 jets on Boeing Plaza : Wally Funk, trailblazing pilot and astronaut, passes away at 87 : Calendar of Events Accident: Malta B738 at Thessaloniki on Jul 10th 2026, cabin window shattered, passenger partly sucked out A Malta Air Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Ryanair, registration 9H-QEU performing flight FR-1879 from Thessaloniki (Greece) to Memmingen (Germany), was climbing through FL150 out of Thessaloniki's runway 28 when a cabin window shattered, the passenger sitting adjacent to the window became stuck in the window opening with the head out of the window. The oxygen masks were released. The passenger was pulled inside, all passengers in the seat row were relocated. The aircraft descended to below FL100 and returned to Thessaloniki, burned off fuel and landed safely back on Thessaloniki's runway 10 about 75 minutes after departure. The most affected passenger was taken to a hospital. The aircraft is still on the ground in Thessaloniki about 3 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=53ba2a01&opt=0 Accident: Cathay A333 at Hong Kong on Jul 3rd 2026, tail strike on go around A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration B-HLQ performing flight CX-509 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Hong Kong (China), was on approach to runway 07R in poor weather at 13:08L (05:08Z) when the crew initiated a go around from very low height, the tail however contacted the runway surface. The aircraft climbed to 5000 feet, positioned for another approach and landed safely on runway 07L about 15 minutes after the go around. The airline confirmed the aircraft made contact with the runway surface while going around, the aircraft subsequently landed safely. The passengers disembarked normally. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong on Jul 10th 2026. https://avherald.com/h?article=53ba23c8&opt=0 Apache helicopter pilots suspended after South Carolina July 4 flyover (NewsNation) — The South Carolina National Guard has confirmed the suspension of eight Apache helicopter pilots while it investigates a July 4 flyover. Local outlet WPDE reported the pilots were operating four Apache helicopters during the July 4 “Salute from the Shore” event, which hadn’t previously included helicopters. The annual event features a military flyover “that stretches the entire length of South Carolina’s coast,” according to its website. Officials are “reviewing the flight profile of the Apache helicopters that participated in the event,” Maj. Lisa Allen confirmed in a statement. “As is routine, the pilots involved in the flight have been temporarily suspended from flight duties pending the outcome of this review.” The Federal Aviation Administration requires fixed-wing aircraft to fly at least 500 feet above open water, but those limits don’t apply to helicopters. An anonymous source close to one of the pilots told WPDE that the person who submitted the complaint didn’t provide a reason. Allen said she is unable to comment on “questions regarding flight altitude or Federal Aviation Administration regulations” but concluded that “the safety of our personnel and the communities we fly over remains our top priority, and we take all reports regarding flight safety seriously.” Republican South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry expressed outrage with the suspensions on social media Thursday, urging the South Carolina National Guard to drop the investigation “and restore these pilots immediately.” Machine used in Operation Epic Fury turns air into drinking water for troops “Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during Salute to the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them & appreciation for our country and military,” he wrote. “These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.” https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/apache-helicopter-pilots-suspension-july-4/ Air Canada plane veers off runway at Montreal airport after landing, no injuries Officials at Montreal's Trudeau airport warning of operational delays Air Canada says flight AC774 landed normally but then veered off the main runway and on to the grass. (Hugo Officials at Montreal's Trudeau airport are warning of operational delays Thursday evening after an incident involving an Air Canada aircraft resulted in a temporary runway closure. In an email statement to CBC, Air Canada officials said Flight AC774 arriving from Los Angeles around 4 p.m. exited the taxiway after landing. "No injuries are reported," the statement reads. The Boeing 737 Max aircraft, carrying 156 passengers and six crew members, landed normally but "sustained a runway excursion and travelled through the grass when exiting the main runway." By 7:45 p.m., Air Canada confirmed all passengers and crew had disembarked the plane and been transported to the terminal via buses. Edelston Peterson said it was pouring rain at the time, and she felt something was wrong the moment the plane hit the runway. "We were going very fast and suddenly there was a big smoke smell and the next thing I knew, we were tumbling on the grass," she said. "There was smoke, dirt and grass right at my window so I couldn't see outside." The moments that followed were terrifying, she said. "We didn't know if [it] was going to blow up." Edelston Peterson said she and the other passengers were stuck in the plane for about three hours before they were able to disembark. She described the crew as a "class act" for how they handled the aftermath. Air Canada said it would be towing the plane to a hangar for a "full inspection." The carrier said it is launching a detailed investigation into the incident and will work with relevant authorities to determine the cause. Montreal airport closes runway after plane veers off after landing, no injuries Montreal's Trudeau International Airport is warning of operational delays after an Air Canada flight from Los Angeles veered off the taxiway after landing. No one was injured. Check flight schedules A spokesperson for Montreal's Trudeau airport said the temporary closure of the runway — one of the airport's two — is causing delays of around 30 minutes for domestic and international flights. Flights to the United States are seeing longer delays of around 45 minutes to an hour, but there were no flight cancellations as a result of the incident. The runway reopened just before 10 p.m., but passengers should check their flight schedules before travelling to the airport. Nav Canada, the non-profit that runs the country's civil air navigation system, told CBC it implemented traffic management measures at the airport, including a temporary ground stop and subsequent flow restrictions. The measures were put in place "to safely manage arrivals and departures." Nav Canada said the weather in the region is "also contributing to operational complexity and delays." The Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed it has opened an investigation. "We are deploying investigators to the scene to gather information and assess the accident," a spokesperson said in an email to CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/air-canada-flight-from-los-angeles-exits-taxiway-9.7265017 Panic on Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki as debris shatters window, injures passenger The aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport. Meanwhile, the authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. A Ryanair flight bound for Munich returned safely to Thessaloniki on Friday after suffering a serious engine failure shortly after departure, Greek authorities said. During the incident, a fragment from the engine struck and shattered a passenger window, injuring the person seated nearby. Oxygen masks were deployed as a precaution, causing panic among passengers. Authorities said there was no crack or breach in the aircraft's fuselage, despite initial concerns about the damage. The crew detected the problem while the aircraft was flying over North Macedonia and decided to return to Thessaloniki, as the engine malfunction could not be resolved in flight. After the pilots declared an emergency, standard emergency procedures were activated at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport. Firefighters, ambulances, police and other emergency services were placed on standby. The aircraft landed safely and was later moved to a designated area of the airport. Four passengers were taken to hospital as a precaution for medical checks. Most were examined and discharged, while one remained under observation for further tests. Ryanair arranged a replacement aircraft to fly the majority of passengers to Munich and complete their journey. In a statement to Euronews, Ryainair said the following: "A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning (10 July) returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight. The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 local this morning." The relevant aviation authorities have now launched an investigation into the cause of the engine failure. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/07/10/panic-on-ryanair-flight-from-thessaloniki-as-debris-shatters-window-injures-passenger Cathay Pacific flight loses contact over Romania, triggering NATO alert The airline confirmed the intercept by the Hungarian fighter jets in a statement issued on Wednesday, emphasising that the response followed standard international aviation safety procedures. HONG KONG – A Cathay Pacific passenger jet en route from Hong Kong to London temporarily lost communication with local air traffic control over Romania on Saturday, prompting a NATO alert. The incident unfolded as Flight CX257, an Airbus A350, was crossing Romanian airspace, according to Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. In response, neighboring Hungary scrambled fighter jets under NATO air policing protocols to issue a visual warning. Cathay Pacific confirmed the intercept by the Hungarian fighter jets in a statement issued on Wednesday, emphasizing that the response followed standard international aviation safety procedures. Communication was restored shortly after the intercept, allowing the flight to proceed safely to London Heathrow Airport, and passengers were never in danger, the flag carrier added. Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department confirmed on Wednesday that Cathay Pacific had filed an initial incident report. Describing the event as a “temporary loss of communication”, the department said it is treating the matter with serious concern and has formally requested that Cathay Pacific submit an investigation report within one week, following standard procedures for such aviation safety occurrences. https://asianews.network/cathay-pacific-flight-loses-contact-over-romania-triggering-nato-alert/ NetJets Pilots Report Near Miss At 15,800 Feet Over the weekend, pilots flying a NetJets Bombardier Global 6500 from New York to Colombia reported to air traffic control staff that they had experienced a near miss while climbing out of the 'Big Apple.' The private jet is said to have had a close call with a "large silver object," as detailed in ATC transmissions that have been doing the rounds online. However, it managed to continue to its destination. The aircraft involved has also since completed another flight, suggesting that it did not actually hit the object in question and sustain any damage. While nothing came of this particular incident, it is indicative of a wider trend that, in recent weeks, has seen multiple airlines collide or come close to hitting objects inflight. Let's take a closer look at what happened and how it compares to other recent incidents. https://700wlw.iheart.com/featured/aviation-blog-jay-ratliff/content/2026-07-10-netjets-pilots-report-near-miss-at-15800-feet/ Russian Airline’s Boeing 737 Overruns Runway A Boeing 737-800 operated by Russia's S7 Airlines overran the runway after landing at Mirny Airport (MJZ) in Russia's Sakha (Yakutia) Republic on June 30. The aircraft, operating a scheduled domestic flight S7-5241 from Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport (OVB), came to rest beyond the end of the runway with 173 passengers and six crew members onboard. Nobody was injured, but Russian authorities immediately launched investigations into the serious incident. The runway excursion comes after reports emerged that S7 Airlines had temporarily prohibited most first officers from performing landings across much of its network following a rise in hard landings. While there is currently no evidence linking the two events, their close timing has drawn renewed attention to the operational challenges facing Russian airlines. https://700wlw.iheart.com/featured/aviation-blog-jay-ratliff/content/2026-07-10-russian-airlines-boeing-737-overruns-runway/ Philippine Airlines Wants Both: 787s and A350s When an airline picks a new long-haul jet, it usually picks a side. Boeing or Airbus. Dreamliner or A350. The engineering, the training, the spare parts, the pilot type-ratings — everything gets simpler when you commit to one family. Philippine Airlines has reportedly decided to do the opposite, and buy both. According to multiple industry reports, the Manila-based flag carrier is finalising an order for around 20 widebody jets split down the middle: roughly ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners and ten Airbus A350s. A formal announcement is expected at the Farnborough International Airshow on Jul. 20, 2026. If it lands as reported, it will be PAL's first Boeing order in nearly two decades. Quick Facts • Airline: Philippine Airlines (PAL) • Reported order: ~20 widebodies — about 10 Boeing 787s + 10 Airbus A350s • Expected announcement: Farnborough Airshow, 20 July 2026 • Significance: PAL's first Boeing order since around 2007 • Current widebodies: 10 Boeing 777-300ERs, 4 Airbus A350s, 11 A330-300s • Status: Reported and being finalised — final mix may still change Why buy both? Splitting a fleet order between Boeing and Airbus is the aviation equivalent of hedging your bets. It costs more to run two different types — two sets of manuals, two maintenance regimes, two pilot pools — but it buys leverage. An airline that can credibly walk to the other manufacturer gets better prices, better delivery slots, and insurance against one supplier's production stumbling. For Philippine Airlines the logic is sharpened by geography. It flies some of the longest thin routes in the network — Manila to North America and Europe — where the 787 and A350 both shine, and where being able to right-size an aircraft to a route matters. PAL already runs the A350 on marathon sectors; we looked at that when its first A350-1000 opened the punishing Manila–Toronto run. Boeing comes in from the cold The most eye-catching part of the story is the Boeing half. PAL hasn't placed a fresh Boeing order since roughly 2007; its current Boeing presence is limited to ten ageing 777-300ERs. Bringing the 787 into the plan would hand Boeing a returning marquee customer in Southeast Asia at exactly the moment the American manufacturer is fighting to rebuild its order book. The Airbus half, meanwhile, deepens a relationship PAL already leans on. With four A350s already flying — including the ultra-long-range A350-1000 delivered in late 2025 — and eleven A330-300s on shorter routes, the carrier knows the Airbus widebody world well. Ten more A350s would make it the backbone of the long-haul fleet. Watch Farnborough Nothing is signed until it's signed, and reports are careful to note the final split could still shift before the ink dries. But if PAL walks onto the Farnborough stage on Jul. 20 and confirms a 20-jet, two-manufacturer widebody order, it will be one of the more strategically interesting airline deals of the year — a mid-sized flag carrier using the Boeing-Airbus rivalry to its own advantage, and quietly reminding both giants that no customer is ever guaranteed. https://migflug.com/jetflights/philippine-airlines-787-a350-split-widebody-order-2026/ EAA AirVenture Oshkosh lineup includes B-52, F-35 jets on Boeing Plaza Aircraft expected at Boeing Plaza include a B-52, C-5, C-17, F-16, F-35, F-15 and commercial planes in special paint schemes. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will feature a rotating display of aircraft at Boeing Plaza from July 20-26. The lineup includes a mix of military, historic and commercial planes, with some appearing for only a short time. Featured aircraft are expected to include a B-52, C-5, F-16, and specially painted planes from Southwest and Delta. The event, now in its 73rd year, will host nine air shows over seven days. OSHKOSH – Boeing Plaza will again anchor EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with a rotating display of major aircraft from July 20-26, bringing military, historic and commercial planes to the event’s central ramp. The lineup will shift throughout the week, with some aircraft appearing briefly while others remain on display, according to a community announcement. The aircraft featured will include a mix of modern military planes, historic models and newly developed aircraft, along with special guest appearances tied to the convention. Boeing Plaza at EAA AirVenture 2026 will feature military jets, historic planes and special guests July 20-26 in Oshkosh. Lineup changes daily. Boeing Plaza, often described as the “Crossroads of Aviation,” serves as a focal point for visitors attending the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in gathering. Organizers said the varied aircraft displays are part of a broader experience that highlights aviation history, innovation and community involvement. “There is no place else in the world where one can see a combination of noteworthy aircraft and people as you can on Boeing Plaza during EAA AirVenture,” Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, said. “Nearly every notable type of airplane of the past 35 years has appeared in that area at some point,” Larsen continued. “What’s also noteworthy is that the coordination of those aircraft is completely organized by a group of AirVenture’s dedicated volunteers, who have probably pulled and tugged more aircraft types than any ramp crew in the world.” Military, commercial and historic aircraft to rotate through display Aircraft scheduled to appear include a U.S. Air Force B-52, C-5 and C-17, along with fighter jets such as the F-16, F-35 and F-15, according to the announcement. Commercial aircraft in special paint schemes from Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are also expected to join the display. Organizers noted the lineup could change without notice as aircraft schedules shift. Some planes may be present for only a single day, making repeated visits to the plaza a common strategy for attendees hoping to see a range of aircraft. Central display connects past, present and future aviation Many of the aircraft selections are intended to support AirVenture’s salute to America 250, tying aviation history to the broader milestone, according to the announcement. Crosswords Promo January 2025 Boeing Plaza itself evolved over time, beginning as a taxiway with four aircraft parking areas in the late 1980s before expanding into a larger display ramp in 1993. Today, all aircraft displayed on the plaza are included with regular AirVenture admission, offering visitors close-up access to a rotating lineup of planes spanning decades of aviation development. When is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 and how do you get tickets? Slated for July 20-26, the 73rd edition of the world’s biggest fly-in convention will feature nine air shows over seven days, including night shows on July 22 and 25 exhibiting aerobatic champions and longtime Oshkosh favorites. More details are available at https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-airventure-tickets or call 800-564-6322. https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2026/07/10/eaa-airventure-oshkosh-boeing-plaza-aircraft-lineup/90867568007/ Wally Funk, trailblazing pilot and astronaut, passes away at 87 "Her story will continue to inspire generations of future explorers. Fly Wally, Fly." Wally Funk, who flew to space at 82 after a lifetime of flying and fighting for women in aviation and aerospace, has passed away at age 87. Born in Texas in 1939, Funk was determined to take to the skies, flying as a teenager and becoming a professional aviator at the tender age of 20. Her dreams extended even beyond Earth, and in 1961 she joined the "Mercury 13" group of women who completed the testing given to NASA's male Apollo astronauts. But Funk was the only Mercury 13 alum to ever reach space. After a lifetime of flying, in July 2021, the then 82-year-old Funk launched to suborbital space aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard vehicle, a trip that she described as "incredible." "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Wally Funk," Blue Origin shared in a statement on X on Thursday (July 9). "Wally was a pioneer in every sense of the word … On NS-16, sixty years later, Wally made history as the oldest astronaut at the time and remains the oldest woman to ever fly to space. It was a moment six decades in the making. We were humbled to be part of her journey. Her story will continue to inspire generations of future explorers. Fly Wally, Fly." Funk's spaceflight was historic in every sense of the word. "I've been waiting a long time to finally get up there," she said during a livestreamed postflight briefing at the time. "I've done a lot of astronaut training through the world — Russia, America … I could always beat the guys on what they were doing, because I was always stronger. I've always done everything on my own." Wally Funk early in her aviation career. (Image credit: Blue Origin) At the time of her spaceflight, Funk was the oldest person to ever go to space. But she was also the only member of the Mercury 13 to ever make it there. Funk joined the group, officially called the "Women in Space" program, as its youngest member at only 21 years old. Led by physician William Lovelace, the program put a group of young women through the same rigorous physical and mental testing as NASA's male astronauts to see how they would fare. And, across the board, the group either kept pace with or even excelled by comparison. While the program didn't have official government sponsorship, there was hope that success could pave the way for women to be allowed into the human spaceflight program. (NASA astronauts were all male at the time; the agency didn't select a female astronaut candidate until 1978.) And in a way, it did, though it took far longer than the group likely expected. Despite the group not leading to spaceflight access for women at the time, the participants proved their capability beyond doubt. In one particular test, participants were submerged in a sensory deprivation tank, a test meant to measure a participant's mental fortitude. While famed NASA astronaut John Glenn — who became the first American to orbit Earth — lasted three hours in the tank, Funk stayed in for a whopping 10 hours and 35 minutes. 'Married to airplanes' Though Funk was quite young when she joined the Mercury 13, she'd already racked up years of aviation experience and an impressive array of accomplishments. In fact, Funk, who never married, famously said that she was "married to airplanes." From her teenage experience with the "Flying Susies," Funk found her way to the skies as early as possible. And following her participation in the Mercury 13 program, Funk became the first female civilian flight instructor at a U.S. military base. Her aviation career was storied; she served as the National Transportation Safety Board's first female Air Safety Investigator, competed in air races and was even chief pilot for multiple aviation schools across the country, sharing her knowledge and expertise with countless aviation hopefuls. But while she continued to make history and pursue her passions in aviation, her love for space never dwindled. When NASA finally began accepting women into the astronaut corps in the late 1970s, Funk was quick to apply. She applied three separate times but was denied on each occasion. Despite these setbacks, she remained close to the space world, even attending a launch with fellow former Mercury 13 members in 1995 to see NASA astronaut Eileen Collins lift off as the first woman to pilot a space shuttle. A dream, realized Mercury 13 aviation pioneer Wally Funk, 82, waves to a crowd after launching on Blue Origin's first crewed flight of the suborbital New Shepard rocket. With her spaceflight dream still aflame, Funk was once again quick to act when Blue Origin got New Shepard fully up on running. And on July 20, 2021, Funk finally realized this lifelong goal, on the first-ever crewed flight of the suborbital spacecraft. (Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos was on that flight as well, along with his brother Mark, Funk and Dutch student Oliver Daemen.) In thinking of her many aviation students, she said at the time, "I don't know if they're going to get to see this or not … but I felt so charged. I was just a normal person going up into space." Funk will be remembered for her passion, her dedication and her many accomplishments across aviation and aerospace, which will continue to inspire aviators for generations to come. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/wally-funk-trailblazing-pilot-and-astronaut-passes-away-at-87 CALENDAR OF EVENTS : APSCON/APSCON Unmanned 2026 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL - July 13-17, 2026 . EAA AirVenture Oshkosh - July 20–26, 2026 . July 20-24, 2026 | Farnborough, UK - Farnborough Airshow 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 . 79TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT MONTREAL | NOVEMBER 10-12, 2026. . 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