Flight Safety Information - September 24, 2026 No. 188 In This Issue : Accident: Sita D228 at Jufal on Sep 24th 2026, main gear collap : Accident: ANA B738 at Okinawa on Sep 23rd 2026, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Vueling A320 at Stuttgart on Sep 22nd 2026, oil leak : Plane landed with 'minutes of fuel' left : Another airline gets license revoked, all flights off : FAA Proposes Relaxed Pilot Oxygen Mask Rules : Thai AirAsia X Attains IATA’s IOSA Registration, Reinforcing Global Operational Excellence and Safety Standards : Boeing Unlikely To Land New China Mega-Order – Even Its 200-Jet Deal Hangs In The Balance : How the Crew of a DHL Flight Miraculously Landed a Jet After It Was Hit by a Surface-to-Air Missile in 2003 :Boeing Lands 100 737 MAX Order From Airline At World’s Top Hub : Rolls-Royce signs 'multi-million' engine deal : FAA Seeks Input on Carrying Firefighters Aboard Restricted Category Aircraft : Man died of cardiac arrest on flight, inquest told : Calendar of Events Accident: Sita D228 at Jufal on Sep 24th 2026, main gear collapse A Sita Air Dornier Do-228, registration 9N-AJH performing a flight from Neepalgunj to Jufal (Nepal) with 13 people on board, landed on Jufal's runway 16 when the right main wheel separated. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway. There were no injuries. https://avherald.com/h?article=5419d0cb&opt=0 Accident: ANA B738 at Okinawa on Sep 23rd 2026, engine shut down in flight An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-800, registration JA86AN performing flight NH-1502 from Okinawa to Saga (Japan) with 158 people on board, was climbing out of Okinawa when the crew stopped the climb at FL220 due to right hand engine (CFM56) vibrations followed by high engine oil temperatures. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Okinawa for a safe landing on runway 36R about one hour after departure and was evacuated via slides. Three passengers received minor injuries (scrapes) as result of the evacuation. The aircraft is still on the ground in Okinawa about 8 hours after landing. The JTSB rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. https://avherald.com/h?article=54190ab1&opt=0 Incident: Vueling A320 at Stuttgart on Sep 22nd 2026, oil leak A Vueling Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration EC-LUN performing flight VY-1866 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Stuttgart (Germany), landed on Stuttgart's runway 07 with emergency services on standby. The aircraft vacated the runway and stopped clear of the runway. About 70 minutes later the aircraft was towed to the apron. A listener on frequency reported ATC told other pilots that the crew reported some technical issue related to the loss of oil. The return flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Stuttgart about 24 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5418d177&opt=0 Plane landed with 'minutes of fuel' left A passenger jet carrying 171 people landed with about one per cent of its fuel remaining after severe weather and a series of diversions left it with only minutes to spare, an air safety report said. The Boeing 737 had been due to fly from Pisa, Italy, to Prestwick, near Glasgow, on 3 October last year, before being diverted via Edinburgh and eventually landing in Manchester. During Storm Amy, the aircraft encountered three separate wind shear events, a change in wind speed and direction at different heights, and a request to divert to Manchester was initially refused. Manchester Airport said its policy was to accept diversion requests if the airport had the capacity to receive the aircraft. Mayday call A report by the UK Airprox Board found the flight, which was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, encountered deteriorating weather conditions on its approach to Prestwick. The crew abandoned two landing attempts after receiving wind shear warnings and sought to divert to Manchester. However, the request was turned down and the aircraft instead headed to Edinburgh. A third wind shear event occurred during the approach to Edinburgh, prompting the pilots to declare a fuel emergency before diverting to Manchester. The crew transmitted a mayday fuel call as the situation became increasingly urgent. The report said: "It is unlikely that there would have been sufficient fuel available for another go-around." The aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport at 19:13 GMT with 363kg (800 Ibs) of fuel remaining, well below its final reserve fuel of 1,100kg (2425 Ibs). Investigators found the initial refusal of the diversion request appeared to stem from a breakdown in communication within Manchester Airport. Following the incident, Manchester Airport said it reviewed the circumstances and reinforced its procedures for handling diversion requests. https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/plane-landed-minutes-fuel-left-123502944.html Another airline gets license revoked, all flights off Several private jet operators, including Limitless Aviation and Luxaviation, have faced setbacks due to losing their air operator's certificates, which are necessary for running flights. With most charter airlines and private jet brokers operating as private businesses and lacking the financial resources of publicly-traded commercial airlines, bankruptcies in a space as expensive as aviation are not uncommon. This week, San Marino-based private jet operator Limitless Aviation was reported to no longer have a valid air operator's certificate (AOC). Without this critical authorization, an airline is unable to run or sell flights to passengers. Air Mountain, a small charter airline that flew into ski resorts in The Alps from cities like Geneva and London, also filed for bankruptcy protection in June 2026. Another airline is facing a serious setback: Luxaviation. Luxaviation no longer has active AOC or running flights: Report The latest name to join that list is, as first reported by Swiss aviation publication ch-aviation, the Portuguese branch of private aircraft operator Luxaviation. Launched out of the European country of Luxembourg in 2008 with a single Cessna Citation XLS, Luxaviation offered clients a network of on-demand flights from its bases in Luxembourg, Paris, and London to various destinations across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. In 2015, Luxaviation expanded beyond Luxembourg and into the Portuguese market by acquiring local private jet operator Masterjet and building out an arm serving wealthy travelers flying into and out of Portugal. Current reporting by ch-aviation states that Luxaviation has had its Portuguese AOC license permanently revoked as the rest of the aviation group continues operations. Without it, any flights that Luxaviation Portugal may have had scheduled for the future weeks or months are canceled by default since it cannot legally run them. What is the current status of European private jet operator Luxaviation? Luxaviation could not be immediately reached for clarification on its current state. Common reasons for a lost AOC usually involve either financial insolvency or inactivity. At its peak, Luxaviation had a fleet of dozens of aircraft ranging from helicopters and short-field planes to several ultra-long-range jets for transatlantic flights. More Travel News: "Masterjet holds a Portuguese AOC, is headquartered in Lisbon and operates business jets from Paris/Le Bourget," the company wrote of itself on its website. "With its 44 employees in Paris and 13 aviation experts based in Lisbon, Masterjet operates a fleet of eight business jets ranging from Falcon- to Learjet- type aircrafts as well as a wide body Airbus 320, mainly targeting 'head of state' clients." These airlines also lost their licenses in recent months: Izhavia: Russian regional airline Izhavia had its AOC revoked by the country's aviation regulatory agency in July 2026 as Western sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine left the country's aviation industry crippled by lack of Western parts and lowered ability to ensure maintenance standards. Bestfly Aircraft Management Aruba: The Caribbean branch of the African charter airline Bestfly Aircraft Management Aruba lost its AOC in May 2026. The Aruban branch was established in 2017 to run flights between the Caribbean countries of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Starflite Aviation: Houston-based Starflite Aviation had its AOC license revoked in March 2026, amid FAA claims that owners falsified pilot training records to bypass safety audits. AlpAvia: Slovenian charter airline AlpAvia also shut down in March 2026 over a long string of financial problems and a revoked AOC. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/small-business/articles/another-airline-gets-license-revoked-125414793.html FAA Proposes Relaxed Pilot Oxygen Mask Rules Part 91 pilots with quick-donning masks could operate at any certificated altitude without continuously wearing one. The FAA is proposing changes to oxygen-mask requirements for pilots operating pressurized aircraft under Parts 91 and 135. The proposed rule, published Thursday, would allow pilots to fly at higher altitudes without requiring one pilot at the controls to continuously wear an oxygen mask. Part 91 Changes Under current Part 91 regulations, one pilot must generally wear and use an oxygen mask above FL350, although two-pilot crews equipped with quick-donning masks are exempt through FL410. Under the proposal, pressurized aircraft equipped with quick-donning masks could operate at any altitude for which the airplane is certificated without requiring a pilot to continuously wear a mask. “The proposed amendments would allow the operation of airplanes at higher altitudes without requiring at least one pilot at the controls to wear and use an oxygen mask,” the FAA said in its notice. “If adopted, these proposed changes would reduce regulatory and economic burdens on operators by changing certain requirements pertaining to pilots’ use of oxygen masks.” Part 135 Thresholds Rise For Part 135 operations using more than one pilot, the new proposal language would raise the altitude at which at least one pilot must wear an oxygen mask from FL350 to FL410. The single-pilot operation threashold would also increase, from FL250 up to FL350. These new updates come in response to a requirement in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The FAA estimates oxygen servicing costs between $100 and $400 per fill. Based on roughly 4.7 million annual Part 91 and 135 turbojet and multiengine turboprop operations, the agency estimates operators could save between $4.7 million and $18.6 million annually for every 1% of those operations that avoid an oxygen servicing event under the revised rules. Comments on the proposal are due Nov. 23. https://avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-poses-relaxed-pilot-oxygen-mask-rules/ Thai AirAsia X Attains IATA’s IOSA Registration, Reinforcing Global Operational Excellence and Safety Standards BANGKOK, 24 September 2026 – Thai AirAsia X (flight code: XJ) has successfully passed the auditing process and officially received the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Registration from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This globally recognized safety Registration is effective from 11 August 2026 to 10 August 2028, cementing the airline's operational efficiency and steadfast commitment to upholding world-class safety standards. Ms. Pattra Boosarawongse, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia X, stated that the airline has continuously undergone rigorous safety standard assessments, with a particular focus on IOSA—a highly prestigious and internationally recognized benchmark. The comprehensive evaluation process is uncompromisingly strict, covering all dimensions related to operational safety. “Thai AirAsia X is fully committed to maintaining the absolute highest level of safety standards to ensure that our guests and all our team members can fly and operate with complete peace of mind. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our staff across every department for their relentless hard work and dedication. Their collaborative spirit has deeply ingrained safety as our core corporate culture, integrating it into our daily lives and the service of every single flight,” Ms. Pattra noted. The IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) is a globally recognized operational safety audit programme for airlines, developed and managed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The audit assesses an airline’s operational management and control systems across eight disciplines. These include Organization and Management Systems (ORG), Flight Operations (FLT), Operational Control and Flight Dispatch (DSP), Aircraft Engineering and Maintenance (MNT), Cabin Operations (CAB), Ground Handling Operations (GRH), Cargo Operations (CGO), and Security Management (SEC). Guests and partners can verify Thai AirAsia X’s official registration status directly via the IATA IOSA registry at ic.iata.org/registry/iosa, or find more details at www.iata.org. About IOSA The IOSA Registration is widely recognized as the ultimate global benchmark for Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, designed to assess the operational management and safety control systems of an airline. Established by IATA in 2003, it has stood as the definitive global standard for over two decades. The strict criteria used in these audits are not solely determined by IATA; they are collaboratively developed with the world's leading aviation regulatory bodies, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This ensures that the audit guidelines perfectly align with the international best practices used to regulate airlines in regions with the most stringent safety requirements in the world. https://newsroom.airasia.com/news/thai-airasia-x-attains-iatas-iosa-registration-reinforcing-global-operational-excellence-and-safety-standards#gsc.tab=0 Boeing Unlikely To Land New China Mega-Order – Even Its 200-Jet Deal Hangs In The Balance Boeing's hopes of landing a new mega-order from China during this week's summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are fading, according to sources close to the matter. With its ambitions for an order for up to 500 jets now highly unlikely, Boeing is reportedly focusing on finalizing a 200-aircraft deal announced in May, which has yet to be formally converted to firm orders. As Simple Flying reported earlier this summer, this 200-jet commitment has been at risk of falling apart due to a dispute over engines, spare parts and maintenance. Analysts now say it would represent a significant victory for the planemaker if it can save this deal, which may involve reducing the order from 200 to 150 planes or fewer. Boeing Is Not Hopeful Of New Orders From China As reported by Reuters, people familiar with the negotiations said that the prospect of securing new Chinese aircraft orders was fading ahead of the summit. Following a previous summit in May, China committed to an "initial tranche" of 200 aircraft, with Boeing expecting to secure a mega-order for up to 500 jets. In fact, President Trump cited an even larger figure of up to 750 aircraft, which would have represented a triumphant resurgence in the Chinese market for the US planemaker. However, indicators in the lead-up to this week's summit have been far less optimistic, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg downplaying the prospect of a larger order at a Morgan Stanley conference last week. Government Orders Chinese Airlines To Stop Boeing Deliveries Amid Trump Trade War The company has struggled in the Chinese market for the better part of a decade, while European rival Airbus has significantly increased its market share and influence. Other matters are expected to take center stage at the summit, with new aircraft orders unlikely to be on the agenda. Scott Kennedy from the Center for Strategic & International Studies told Reuters that: "A lot of trade relationships are hostage to these meetings. New aircraft orders would be a benefit, but I don’t think that’s a necessity for this summit." 200-Jet Order Could Drop To 150 Planes China's May commitment for up to 200 Boeing aircraft also hangs in the balance, with sources suggesting the order could be scaled down to around 150 aircraft or fewer. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said earlier this week that around 140 aircraft orders "are in a good state," with a further ten orders in the process of being finalized. The deal has stalled due to a dispute over access to engines, spares and maintenance support, with Beijing reportedly seeking guaranteed access to US parts and support. Richard Aboulafia from aerospace consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory told Reuters that it would prove "a victory" for Boeing if this 200-airplane order can be saved. If there are any formal announcements on aircraft orders this week, they will almost certainly pertain to the existing 200-jet commitment, rather than any new orders. When announced in May, the specific aircraft models involved in the deal were not disclosed, although the Boeing 737 MAX is expected to make up the bulk of units. "More To Come": Boeing CEO Says 200-Jet China Order Could Rise To 700 Aircraft Based on some forecasts, a further 300 to 500 jets could be ordered by China, potentially bringing the total to 700 jets. Boeing's difficulties in China stretch back almost a decade and have been exacerbated by political tensions between Washington and Beijing, something that rival Airbus has not had to contend with. Boeing's last major deal came in 2017, when China agreed to buy 300 aircraft worth more than $37 billion at list prices. A strong presence in China in the coming decades will be of huge importance to Boeing's long-term commercial ambitions. According to both Airbus and Boeing market forecasts, China is expected to order around 9,000 new jets by 2045, more than any other global region. The country also remains committed to developing its homegrown aircraft range through state-owned COMAC, although progress and production have been slow. https://simpleflying.com/boeing-unlikely-new-china-mega-order-200-jet-deal/ How the Crew of a DHL Flight Miraculously Landed a Jet After It Was Hit by a Surface-to-Air Missile in 2003 The missile struck the cargo plane’s left wing after takeoff near Baghdad, causing it to catch fire and leak fuel A DHL cargo jet was struck by a missile near Baghdad in 2003, losing key controls and leaking fuel mid-air The crew worked together to manually control the aircraft, landing safely despite severe damage and extreme conditions The incident influenced aviation safety, inspiring spiral landing approaches to avoid missile threats in conflict zones in the years following Two pilots and a flight engineer operating a DHL cargo jet in Baghdad, Iraq, miraculously executed a successful emergency landing after they were targeted by a surface-to-air missile in 2003. On Nov. 22, eight months into the Iraq War, a 24-year-old DHL Airbus A300 was set to make a mail run to Bahrain International Airport from Baghdad. The crew operating the cargo jet included captain Eric Gennotte, first officer Steve Michielsen and flight engineer Mario Rofail, according to a 2004 report from Flight Safety Australia, the official aviation safety magazine of the country's Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Per the outlet, the aircraft took off from Baghdad International Airport and had ascended to 8,000 feet when its left wing was suddenly struck by a missile. The crew immediately heard an explosion from the cockpit, followed by a "cacophony of aural warnings and visual displays showing a master warning on all flight controls," per the outlet. The strike led to the loss of three hydraulic circuits, making it extremely difficult for the pilots to control the aircraft. At the same time, the plane's left fuel tank began leaking after the left wing caught fire. Their only choice was to attempt an emergency landing back in Baghdad. According to aviation outlet Simple Flying, the pilots had nothing but engine power to control the aircraft, and they spent about 10 minutes trying to make the aircraft move in their favor. They also manually deployed the landing gear to help reduce the speed of the plane. After managing to obtain some control, they were able to descend in the direction of the airport and line the aircraft up with its runways. While they initially attempted to land at a longer runway, the plane veered off course during its descent and they had to go for a shorter one instead. The stakes were extremely high as the pilots attempted to land using only thrust — the force from an airplane's engine that moves it through the air — especially with its left wing leaking fuel as it descended. Per Flight Safety Australia, the plane successfully landed with a "controlled touchdown" 25 minutes after the missile had hit. Miraculously, no crew members were injured. A major reason the landing was a success was because each crew member worked together to navigate separate emergencies, according to the outlet. As captain, Gennotte focused on controlling the aircraft and keeping it as steady as possible, while Michielsen monitored distance and altitude as they descended. At the same time, Rofail kept track of the fuel that was left in the damaged left wing and took over radio communication. The landing was viewed as a remarkable feat in the aviation industry, as well as a great demonstration of crew collaboration. According to a 2006 report from Smithsonian Magazine, the incident also encouraged many pilots flying into Baghdad to adopt the corkscrew, or spiral, landing approach in the years after. The maneuver sees planes "banking sharply" once they reach 18,000 feet and are still at a safe distance from potential weapons, followed by the aircraft descending in a circle around the same spot. This allows the plane to quickly drop in altitude, while the crew can also keep an eye on any potential threats, before straightening out its path ahead of landing. https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/crew-dhl-flight-miraculously-landed-205555791.html Boeing Lands 100 737 MAX Order From Airline At World’s Top Hub Boeing-and-Turkish-Airlines-Finalize-Order-for-up-to-150-737-MAX-Jets Turkish Airlines confirms order for up to 150 737 MAX jets to expand its fleet, as its Istanbul hub tops the list of most connected airports in the world. Boeing Turkish Airlines has finalized its biggest-ever Boeing single-aisle order, confirming 100 737 MAX jets with options for another 50 as it aims to build one of the world's largest airline fleets. Boeing announced the deal on September 23. The airline placed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and secured options for another 50 737 MAX jets. The agreement also gives Turkish Airlines substitution rights for the larger 737-10 variant. "This agreement marks another significant step in the continued expansion of our fleet," Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Prof. Murat Şeker said in Boeing's announcement. "The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will bring greater efficiency and flexibility to our operations, supporting the extensive network we serve from our hub in Istanbul." Turkish Airlines Is Building An 800-Aircraft Fleet Turkish Airlines has set a target of operating more than 800 aircraft by 2033, its centenary year. It also wants new-generation aircraft to account for 90% of its fleet by then and 100% by 2035. Turkish Airlines said in 2025 that its strategy was designed to support average annual growth of about 6%. The airline now flies to 358 destinations in 133 countries. Turkish Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary AJet operate more than 200 Boeing aircraft, including 737 MAX and earlier-generation 737s, 787 Dreamliners, 777 passenger aircraft and 777 Freighters. Boeing-and-Turkish-Airlines Turkish Airlines pens firm deal for 100 737 MAX 8 aircraft, along with options for 50 more jets and rights to convert some to 737 MAX 10 variants. The new MAX order follows an equally significant Boeing widebody purchase. In September 2025, Turkish Airlines ordered up to 75 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including 35 787-9s and 15 787-10s, with options for another 25 aircraft. At the time, the airline also announced its intention to buy as many as 150 737 MAX aircraft. The latest agreement converts that plan into a firm order for the first 100 jets. Boeing's Biggest 737 MAX Still Awaits FAA Certification Turkish Airlines' substitution of some aircraft for the larger 737-10 could support its expanding network. The 737-10 is designed to carry 185 to 210 passengers in a typical two-class configuration, compared with 160 to 180 for the 737-8. Boeing lists a range of up to 3,100 nautical miles for the MAX 10. However, the biggest member of the MAX family has yet to enter commercial service. The program has now reached the final stages of a lengthy certification process. Boeing completed the MAX 10's planned certification flight testing in July. Surging yields and 7% mortgages: Investors and consumers are getting jittery as interest rates spike The remaining work shifted from flight testing to securing final FAA approval. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on September 16 at the Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference that the company was working through the final documentation with the FAA. "We're in close coordination with them, and I think you're going to see that certification very soon," Ortberg said. "We've completed all the flight testing. Now we're just in the documentation phase." The MAX 10 has faced repeated delays as Boeing worked through tougher certification requirements and technical issues affecting the MAX family. The smaller 737-7 finally received its FAA-amended type certificate in August 2026 after an extended certification campaign that included changes to its engine anti-ice system. Ortberg said Boeing had three deliverables remaining and noted that the FAA had considerably more documentation to review for the MAX 10 than it did for the MAX 7. He also said EASA had flown the MAX 10 the previous week. Boeing expects the MAX 10 to be certified in 2026, with first delivery planned for 2027. Until the FAA grants that approval, however, the largest aircraft covered by Turkish Airlines' substitution rights cannot enter passenger service. Turkish Airlines' Growth Has Helped Turn Istanbul Into A Global Hub The airline's fleet expansion has transformed its home airport. Istanbul Airport recently overtook London Heathrow as the world's most connected international airport in OAG's 2026 Megahubs index. It rose from second place in 2025 to first this year, with potential connections to 337 destinations. Turkish Airlines accounts for around 80% of the airport's capacity. 3 independent runways at Istanbul airport OAG said Turkish Airlines has continued expanding both the number of destinations it serves from Istanbul and the frequency of those services. The new 737 MAX narrowbody order can support the short- and medium-haul routes that feed passengers into Istanbul, where they can connect onto Turkish Airlines' extensive long-haul network. The strategy exploits Istanbul's geographic position between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East while giving Turkish Airlines a large pool of connecting traffic to support routes that might be harder to sustain on local demand alone. A Major MAX Customer As Boeing Recovers The 737 MAX program has spent years under intense regulatory scrutiny following the two fatal MAX 8 crashes and the January 2024 Alaska Airlines 737-9 mid-wing door-plug blowout. The FAA subsequently increased direct oversight of Boeing's production system. The regulator began returning limited authority to Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates in September 2025. In July 2026, after eight months of reviewing production quality data, the FAA allowed Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for all new 737 MAX and 787 aircraft under continued FAA oversight. Boeing's production problems became a wider airline-industry issue as delivery delays constrained carriers that had built their growth plans around new aircraft. Boeing's 737 MAX faced a crisis of trust following the Alaska Airlines incident and the company's agreement to plead guilty to a federal fraud charge connected with the original MAX certification. That proposed plea agreement was later rejected by a federal judge and ultimately superseded by a different agreement between Boeing and the Justice Department. Turkish Airlines' order proves the MAX's continuing commercial value despite its troubled history. "This order reflects the trust and shared vision that have defined our long-standing partnership with Turkish Airlines," Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope said. The more fuel-efficient aircraft will support airline sustainability targets and help offset rising fuel costs. Boeing says the 737 MAX uses 20% less fuel and produces 20% fewer emissions than the aircraft it replaces. For Turkish Airlines, those economics allow it to operate a much larger fleet without letting operating costs grow at the same pace. Boeing has gained another 100 firm aircraft added to the MAX order book, with the possibility of 50 more. Turkish Airlines will get up to 150 new jets to support its expansion strategy, which has already made Istanbul the world's most connected international aviation hub. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/markets/stocks/articles/boeing-lands-100-737-max-101820126.html Rolls-Royce signs 'multi-million' engine deal The order includes both the engines and a maintenance package [BBC] Rolls-Royce has moved forward with a deal to power a new fleet of Airbus long-haul jets for Philippine Airlines. The FTSE-100 firm will provide 18 engines for nine new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in a deal worth "hundreds of millions of pounds". The agreement, once finalised, also includes a maintenance package, meaning Rolls-Royce will continue servicing and monitoring the engines throughout their operational life, officials said. The government welcomed the deal, saying it would bring "good quality jobs" to the company's Derby base. The order was first announced as a memorandum of understanding at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. At the time, Rob Watson, president of civil airspace at Rolls-Royce, said the company was "proud to continue strengthening our long-standing relationship with Philippine Airlines". While the deal is described as being worth "hundreds of millions", the precise value has not been confirmed. Airbus designs and manufactures wings for all its commercial aircraft at its Broughton site in North Wales. Minister for trade Anas Sarwar said: "This news shows British engineering is flying high with world-class innovation that puts our companies at the front of the pack. "Building these engines and wings brings good quality jobs to Derby and Broughton, and means UK expertise is at the heart of thousands of flights by one of the fastest-growing airlines around the world." The engine involved, the Trent XWB-97, can operate using a 50% sustainable aviation fuel blend, with plans for it to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel in the future. This order follows Philippine Airlines's previous order for nine Trent XWB-97-powered Airbus A350-1000 in 2023. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/technology/articles/rolls-royce-signs-multi-million-101451335.html FAA Seeks Input on Carrying Firefighters Aboard Restricted Category Aircraft The Federal Aviation Administration is considering regulatory changes that would allow certain restricted category aircraft to transport firefighters to and from wildfires for ground suppression work. Published September 14, the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking responds to a requirement in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The agency is considering amendments to Parts 91 and 119 that would classify transported firefighters as essential crewmembers during qualifying wildfire missions. Current regulations generally prohibit restricted category civil aircraft from carrying people unless they are flight crewmembers or directly involved in the special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated. Firefighters being transported to work on the ground do not meet that standard, even when the aircraft is also used for aerial firefighting. The proposed regulatory pathway could expand the number of aircraft available to move firefighters into remote areas while reducing dependence on standard category transport aircraft. However, the change would not apply to former military aircraft converted for wildfire suppression. The FAA is requesting information from operators and government agencies about aircraft availability, missions that have been canceled because suitable aircraft were unavailable, operating costs and potential improvements in wildfire response times. The agency is also considering whether Part 135 maintenance, inspection and pilot training standards should apply to these operations. The FAA has not yet proposed specific regulatory language. The current action is an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking intended to collect operational and economic data before a formal proposal is developed. Comments are due November 13, 2026, under docket FAA-2026-10991. For aerial firefighting operators, the proceeding creates an important opportunity to document how existing restrictions affect crew transportation, contracting and initial attack capability. Any final rule could also introduce additional maintenance, training and operational requirements that influence whether restricted category aircraft are practical for firefighter transport. Read the FAA notice and access the docket. (US Department of Transportation) https://aerialfiremag.com/2026/09/24/faa-seeks-input-on-carrying-firefighters-aboard-restricted-category-aircraft/ Man died of cardiac arrest on flight, inquest told Linda and Geoff Kitchen were beginning a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia when their flight experienced severe turbulence A British man who died on board a Singapore Airlines flight suffered a cardiac arrest after the plane was hit by severe turbulence, an inquest has been told. Geoff Kitchen, from Thornbury in South Gloucestershire, died on 21 May 2024 after the Boeing 777 plane travelling from London Heathrow to Singapore encountered a sudden drop in altitude near the south western region of Myanmar. The plane was later diverted to Bangkok, Thailand, where the 73-year-old was pronounced dead. Dr Peter Harrowing, assistant coroner for Avon, said: "I am satisfied that it was the physiological effect of the aircraft turbulence which precipitated the cardiac arrest and ultimately Geoff's demise." Harrowing reached the narrative conclusion into Kitchen's death at a hearing at Avon Coroners' Court earlier. He told the inquest Kitchen, who had a history of coronary artery disease, had also been "thrown from his seat and landed on an adjacent passenger" during the incident. In a statement read to the inquest, Linda said her husband had been listening to a podcast before the plane experienced a "huge drop or lunge". She said she had started screaming and felt "incredible pain" as Kitchen had pressed her to the side, which caused injury to her back. She also suffered a head wound, which was "bleeding profusely". Kitchen was later moved to the front of the plane to be given CPR, but Linda, who sustained spinal fractures, said nobody told her he had died until two days later. Linda spent 10 days in hospital before she was airlifted back to Bristol, where she spent another week in hospital. Reuters Oxygen masks hang from the ceiling inside an aircraft cabin. Rows of seats sit empty beneath them.Reuters Oxygen masks were deployed in the cabin during the incident An initial post-mortem examination held in Thailand found Kitchen had died from congestive heart failure. The inquest earlier was told he had undergone an operation to fit stents to his right coronary artery in April 2019. However, a review in October that year found he had returned to "normal exercise capacity", a statement from his GP said. Dr Edward Sheffield, who performed an additional post-mortem examination on Kitchen's body in Bristol, said his cause of death had been cardiac failure due to coronary artery atheroma and the physiological effects of turbulence. A report into the incident, which Harrowing partially read to the inquest, said 56 people had been seriously injured, 23 suffered minor injuries and one man - Kitchen - had died. "The aircraft was cruising at 37,000ft (11277.6m) when it was approaching the west coast of south-western Myanmar. "At 07:49 GMT, the aircraft flew past a waypoint when the aircraft experienced severe turbulence. "By 07:53, the aircraft had stabilised," the report said. The crew reported the severe turbulence and made a Mayday call at 08:01 with a request to divert to Bangkok. The plane landed there at 08:45 and was met by medical personnel. PA Media Linda and Geoff Kitchen. They are pictured in a selfie outside, in front of a cliff edge. They are both wearing glasses, hats and red waterproof coats and are looking at the camera and smiling.PA Media Linda was not told about her husband's death until two days later Linda launched legal action at the High Court against Singapore Airlines last month, seeking damages to help her access specialist support for her back. A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said they were "unable to comment on matters before the court". The head of the airline, Goh Choon Phong, previously apologised for the "traumatic experience" for those onboard flight SQ321. He had also expressed his condolences to Kitchen's family. In a statement via her lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, Linda said her husband's death has been "absolutely devastating" for herself, the couple's two children and four grandchildren. "Losing Geoff was a crushing blow to the whole family as we all thought he would be around to see his grandchildren grow up," she said. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm6241yg2804o CALENDAR OF EVENTS . ICAO/EASA Third Global RSOO/RAIO Forum for Aviation Safety — September 29–30, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana., https://www.icao.int/events . ISASI - BOSTON 2026 - September 28, 2026 – October 2, 2026 . Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt- 29-30SEP2026 - Frankfurt, Germany . Defence Aviation Safety Conference 2026 — October 5–6, 2026, United Kingdom. . European Aviation Training Summit 3 – 5 November 2026 • Estoril Congress Centre, Cascais, Portugal . 79TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT MONTREAL | NOVEMBER 10-12, 2026. . Airlines 2026 conference - November 11, 2026 (London) . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV . Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA)conference Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 28th and 29th of October 2026 . Bombardier Safety Standdown (November 10–12, 2026 in Wichita, KS) . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation17 to 19 November 2026, Woburn MA . 2027 ACSF Safety Symposium - April 6-8, 2027 - ERAU Daytona Beach, FL Curt Lewis