Flight Safety Information - October 13, 2026 No. 201 In This Issue : Incident: Republic E175 at Columbus on Oct 12th 2026, gear problem : Incident: United B763 over Atlantic on Oct 12th 2026, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Indigo A21N near Hyderabad on Oct 11th 2026, powerbank in overhead locker caught fire : Terrifying moment massive Boeing 747 bounces off runway at LAX as tail scrapes ground : Plane Carrying 180 Passengers Makes Emergency Landing After Power Bank Catches Fire Mid-Flight : Ethiopian Airlines flight turned away from Israel after pilot revealed to be Indonesian - report : Israel bans pilots and crew from Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and 26 other countries from operating flights into its airspace : Bedbug infestation forces Qantas to ground plane in Rome : Ben-Gurion Airport resumes normal operations following anonymous bomb threat on Delta flight : FAA Orders Airbus A380 Engine Replacements After Uncontained Failure Forces Aborted Takeoff : Calendar of Events Incident: Republic E175 at Columbus on Oct 12th 2026, gear problem A Republic Airways Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N223JQ performing flight DL-5656 from Columbus,OH to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing out of Columbus' runway 28R when the crew stopped the climb at 13,000 feet reporting an minor issue needing troubleshooting. The crew subseequently reported they were talking to dispatch about whether to return or continue and ultimately decided to return to Columbus due to the landing gear not retracting. The aircraft landed safely on Columbus' runway 28L about 30 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the crew announced the landing gear did not retract, they were returning to Columbus. https://avherald.com/h?article=5438070e&opt=0 Incident: United B763 over Atlantic on Oct 12th 2026, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 767-300, registration N644UA performing flight UA-946 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was enroute at FL370 about 370nm east of St. John's,NL (Canada) when the crew drifted the aircraft down to FL260 due to an engine (PW4060) problem and decided to turn around and divert to St. John's. The crew subsequently declared emergency and continued for a safe landing on St. John's runway 28 about 90 minutes later. The Aviation Herald received information the aircraft arrived with one engine shut down. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to St. John's over an engine issue. The passengers were taken to hotels, another aircraft was dispatched to take the passengers to Amsterdam. https://avherald.com/h?article=5437e8a6&opt=0 Incident: Indigo A21N near Hyderabad on Oct 11th 2026, powerbank in overhead locker caught fire An Indigo Airbus A321-200N, registration VT-NOE performing flight 6E-6115 from Delhi to Chennai (India), was enroute at FL350 about 80nm north of Hyderabad (India) when the crew decided to divert to Hyderabad after a passenger's powerbank stored in the overhead locker had caught fire. Cabin crew used portable fire extinguishers to control the fire and secure the device. The aircraft landed on Hyderabad's runway 09R without further incident about 19 minutes later and taxied to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hyderabad about 26 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5437ccb0&opt=0 Terrifying moment massive Boeing 747 bounces off runway at LAX as tail scrapes ground A massive Lufthansa Boeing 747 came perilously close to disaster during a dramatic landing attempt at LAX when the jumbo jet pitched sharply upward and its tail appeared to narrowly miss the runway. The frightening moment unfolded Saturday afternoon as the four-engine aircraft, arriving from Frankfurt, Germany, attempted to land. Footage captured by aviation enthusiasts at Airline Videos Live shows the enormous jet descending toward the runway with its landing gear extended before appearing to touch down farther along the tarmac than expected. But the landing did not go as planned. Rather than continue the approach, the pilots aborted the landing and powered the aircraft back into the air in a maneuver known as a go-around. As the jet climbed, its nose swung sharply upward, sending the rear of the fuselage dipping toward the ground in a heart-stopping moment that appeared to leave just inches between the tail and the runway. The aircraft's landing gear remained extended as it gained altitude over the airport. Despite the alarming angle, the footage showed no obvious tail strike, and the massive plane successfully climbed away to prepare for another approach. The frightening moment unfolded Saturday afternoon as the four-engine aircraft arriving from Frankfurt attempted to land. The incident involved Lufthansa Flight LH 456, which had traveled from Frankfurt to Southern California. The dramatic sequence was captured by Airline Videos Live, whose cameras were trained on the busy airport as the aircraft approached Runway 24R in real time. The Boeing 747-8 is among the largest passenger aircraft ever built, measuring roughly 250 feet long and more than 60 feet tall. Its enormous size makes managing its pitch during landing and takeoff particularly important. If the nose rises too sharply, the rear of the aircraft can strike the runway — a potentially damaging incident known as a tail strike. The decision to abandon the landing allowed the crew to climb away rather than continue an approach that appeared to be running out of runway. Go-arounds are a standard safety procedure in aviation, allowing pilots to discontinue an unstable or otherwise unsuitable landing attempt and circle back for another try. The maneuver can look dramatic to onlookers, particularly when performed by a jet as large as the 747. The incident also highlights the dwindling number of passenger jumbo jets still flying worldwide. Only around 50 Boeing 747s remain in airline fleets, with Lufthansa operating more than half of them. Airlines have increasingly shifted toward smaller, more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, leaving the four-engine 747 an increasingly rare sight in commercial passenger service. There was no immediate indication in the report that the aircraft sustained damage during the aborted landing. https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/terrifying-moment-massive-boeing-747-163715198.html Plane Carrying 180 Passengers Makes Emergency Landing After Power Bank Catches Fire Mid-Flight The incident occurred on a plane traveling from Delhi to Chennai, India, on Sunday, Oct. 11 An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai, India, was diverted to Hyderabad after a fire broke out on the aircraft A passenger's power bank reportedly exploded inside an overhead bin on the plane Footage posted on social media shows panicked passengers aboard the aircraft after the fire broke out A plane carrying more than 180 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing after a power bank caught fire mid-flight. IndiGo flight 6E 6115, traveling from Delhi to Chennai, India, diverted to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad on Sunday, Oct. 11, after a passenger's electronic device caught fire in an overhead bin, The Indian Express, India Today and U.K. newspaper Metro reported. No injuries were reported following the incident, U.K. outlet The Independent. The incident occurred approximately two and a half hours into the flight. The plane eventually landed safely at RGIA at around 3:59 p.m. local time, according to flight-tracking platform FlightAware, per The Independent. An IndiGo spokesperson told The Times of India, "6E 6115 was diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a passenger's PED. The cabin crew responded promptly and the situation was brought under control. In line with established protocols, the pilots diverted the flight and landed safely at Hyderabad." Footage posted on X of the incident showed panicked passengers standing up from their seats as they attempted to put out flames coming from the overhead compartment. One passenger is seen looking ahead to the cabin crew while alerting them, "Fire!" At around 2:50 p.m., the plane descended from 35,000 ft to 3,700 ft before turning 90 degrees heading to RGIA at 3:30 p.m., Metro reported. After landing at the airport, passengers were flown to Chennai on another aircraft, per The Independent. "We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers due to this unforeseen situation and are making all efforts to minimize it, including offering refreshments and sharing timely updates," an IndiGo spokesperson told Metro. "At IndiGo, the safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority." https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/plane-carrying-180-passengers-makes-154529624.html Ethiopian Airlines flight turned away from Israel after pilot revealed to be Indonesian - report The Islamic country of Indonesia currently has no diplomatic ties with Israel, making its nationals ineligible for flying to Israel due to the security risk. An Ethiopian Airlines flight to Israel was forced to turn around overnight between Sunday and Monday after one of its pilots was revealed to be Indonesian, N12 News reported on Monday. The Islamic country of Indonesia currently has no diplomatic ties with Israel, making its nationals ineligible for flying to Israel due to the security risk. N12 reported that the identity of the pilot had been made known to security forces, as well as airport personnel, who had ordered the plane to turn around while it was still in Ethiopia's airspace. The pilot was then swapped with a different one, after which the plane took off again and successfully landed in Israel. According to N12, the airline claimed not to have known that the pilot was not allowed to fly to Israel. Hundreds of crew members from barred countries may have entered Israel This occurrence came several weeks after a commercial flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv saw an attempted hijacking by an Omani pilot. Last week, N12 reported that over 1,200 aviation crew members from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, including Iran, might have entered the country, citing the Knesset's Intelligence Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. N12 cited sources present at the committee meeting on the subject, who said that the revelation came as a surprise to the Transportation Ministry representative. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-911485 Israel bans pilots and crew from Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and 26 other countries from operating flights into its airspace Israel has introduced new aviation restrictions affecting pilots and cabin crew from 10 African countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Niger, as authorities tighten security requirements for international airlines operating flights to the country. Israel has introduced new aviation restrictions on pilots and cabin crew from 10 African countries and over 20 others, tightening security for flights entering Israeli airspace. The restrictions target airline crew assignments, not passenger travel, and prevent affected personnel from operating flights to Israel even if they hold dual nationality. The restrictions cover nationalities from countries such as Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and several others in Africa and Asia. Airlines must now review crew assignments before flights to Israel, impacting staffing for carriers with employees from the affected countries. The measures form part of broader restrictions reportedly covering 31 nationalities, including citizens of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Oman. According to French investigative publication Mediapart and Israeli media reports, the restrictions prevent affected airline personnel from operating flights into Israeli airspace, even if they hold dual nationality. The decision follows a security incident aboard a Flydubai aircraft in September 2026 that prompted Israeli authorities to review screening procedures for foreign aviation personnel. However, the measures target airline crew assignments rather than imposing a general travel ban on passengers from the affected countries. DON'T MISS: UK universities withdraw admission offers to Nigerian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi students over fears of losing sponsorship licences African countries affected by Israel's aviation restrictions The reported restrictions cover airline crew members from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Comoros. Outside Africa, the affected nationalities reportedly include Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Indonesia, Malaysia and Yemen. The measures attracted international attention on October 10, 2026, after Mediapart reported on an internal Air France communication outlining Israel's new requirements for flight crews. Under the reported directive, airline employees holding citizenship of affected countries cannot be assigned to flights covered by the restrictions, even if they possess another passport. This means a French-Algerian flight attendant, for example, could be prevented from working on an Israel-bound flight despite holding French citizenship. However, aviation reports have cited different totals of 27, 29 and 31 affected nationalities, indicating differences between the lists communicated to airlines. Why Israel introduced the new aviation restrictions The new security measures followed an incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the aircraft's captain and attempted to seize control of the plane, which was carrying more than 170 passengers. Other crew members and passengers intervened, and the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security procedures involving foreign airlines operating flights to Israel. Israeli media subsequently reported that authorities had tightened nationality checks and screening requirements for international flight crews. The changes require airlines to review crew assignments before departure, potentially affecting staffing arrangements for carriers employing personnel from the listed countries. https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/israel-bans-pilots-and-cabin-from-algeria-mauritania-mali-saudi-arabia-malaysia-and/2yj6yqr Bedbug infestation forces Qantas to ground plane in Rome Aircraft taken out of operation after flight from Perth after the discovery of parasitic insects on board Qantas has been forced to ground a plane in Rome after bedbugs were discovered on the aircraft on its way from Perth. The parasitic insects were found in the front of the economy section of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as it made its way from Perth to Rome for the QF5 flight on 9 October, a source with knowledge of the incident confirmed on Tuesday. Bedbugs are small, difficult-to-eradicate insects that feed on the blood of some mammals, including humans. As first reported by the SMH, the aircraft had to be taken out of service for cleaning after its arrival in the Italian capital, resulting in the cancellation of the Qantas Rome to Perth service on 10 October. A Qantas spokesperson said the flight was cancelled to allow its engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean of the aircraft after “an issue identified on a small number of economy seats”. They said the airline wanted to “sincerely apologise” to customers for the disruption. The bedbugs were most likely brought on to the plane in someone’s luggage or on a passenger’s clothes. Affected passengers were given accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours of their original departure, Qantas said. The airline said its aircraft cabins were cleaned regularly and to an extremely high standard and treated with disinfectant every 50 days as a standard precautionary cleaning measure. Prof Michelle Power, a parasitologist at Macquarie University, said the bedbugs had “more than likely” been brought on to the plane in someone’s luggage or on a passenger’s clothes and then escaped into the cabin. “They’re associated with travel. People may go to a hotel that’s infested and because they like dark spaces and are attracted to the smell of human clothes, they make their way into someone’s luggage.” “They’re a flightless insect, without planes,” she said. Power said bedbugs were not dangerous, even though their bites could be itchy and irritating, but they were very difficult to get rid of and could hide in bedsheets and crevices for a long time without needing to feed. She said there were “two sides to bedbugs”: on the one hand, wealthier people who travelled a lot got them and subsequently moved them around, whereas people already experiencing health inequities may not be able to afford pesticides or potentially heat water to the 55C required to kill them. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/13/bedbug-infestation-forces-qantas-to-ground-plane-in-rome Ben-Gurion Airport resumes normal operations following anonymous bomb threat on Delta flight Passengers were quickly evacuated from the aircraft after an anonymous report was received claiming that a bomb was located in the plane's cargo hold. The Israel Airports Authority announced that the suspected bomb incident involving a Delta Air Lines flight that landed at Ben-Gurion Airport from New York had ended following security sweeps on Tuesday morning. Passengers were quickly evacuated from the aircraft after an anonymous report was received claiming that a bomb was located in the plane's cargo hold. The aircraft was moved away from the terminal to minimize any potential danger. Ben-Gurion Airport subsequently announced a full return to normal operations. Last week, a decision was made to introduce a "significant change" to Israel's civil aviation procedures and security oversight following the flydubai incident. Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation comprising representatives from the Transportation Ministry and security agencies is expected to travel to Dubai to work toward establishing a permanent, secure aviation arrangement for Israeli airlines. Israel remains on high alert after flydubai attempted hijacking The incident occured days after a flydubai commercial passenger aircraft flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv was hijacked by the pilot, with only the quick thinking of several passengers preventing a crash. The pilot-hijacker, who was the deputy pilot for the flight, stabbed the lead pilot and tried to crash the aircraft before as many as four passengers wounded him and tied him up. An additional flight crew on board were then able to handle landing the plane in Saudi Arabia, though the original pilot, a native of India, was in critical condition, having been stabbed repeatedly by the Omani pilot. Some of the passengers who managed to restore control of the plane credited the Indian pilot for opening the cockpit for them even after he had been stabbed, so that they could provide assistance. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-911507 FAA Orders Airbus A380 Engine Replacements After Uncontained Failure Forces Aborted Takeoff The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered that turbine components on certain Airbus A380 engines be replaced after an uncontained failure resulted in the superjumbo aborting a takeoff. This directive was issued on October 8 and targets the 15 high-pressure turbine interstage seals that are on the Engine Alliance GP7200-series engines. The airworthiness directive is in effect from October 23, with the highest urgency replacements required within 50 flight cycles or 30 days. It is estimated that the cost to replace is $528,150 per affected engine, as reported by AeroTime. Airbus' $30 Billion Failure Is Now The Most Beloved Aircraft In The Sky In 2026 In a report by the FAA, a recent A380 that was equipped with GP7270 engines encountered an uncontained failure of the interstage seal, forcing the double-decker to shut down its engines and abort takeoff. The directive currently does not outline which airline was involved, nor has the aircraft registration or date of the incident been published. The uncontained failure can occur when debris escapes from the engine's containment structure and has the potential to damage other parts of the aircraft. Under the airworthiness directive, the interstage seals on the Engine Alliance GP7200 series engines will require urgent replacement. A manufacturer's investigation into the incident identifies that cracking could have occurred at the locating features between the interstage seal and shaft, from the first-stage turbine disk. Investigators identified that the relative rotation of the seal, which is known as 'clocking', was found to be a contributing factor. Which aircraft is affected by the FAA directive concerning certain Engine Alliance engines? While the root cause remains under investigation, the manufacturer has found that movement in seals has been possible in engines that have been reassembled during overhaul. Overhaul is when airline aircraft engines are scheduled for maintenance, with the engine being uninstalled, disassembled, then cleaned, inspected, and repaired. It is then reassembled and tested to strict manufacturer and airworthiness standards. The FAA has mandated the removal of 15 seals that have had the highest number of total flight cycles, with a stern warning that another failure could result in an engine fire on the Airbus A380 and lead to damage to the aircraft. As detailed in the directive, it applies to seals in the engine types below, as detailed by Aviation International News. All three of these have key technical similarities and belong to the GP7000 turbofan family, which is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney. They share the same architecture, with GE90-derived core and PW4000 low-pressure models, with a 116-inch (294.6 cm) swept titanium fan and electronic engine control. GE Aerospace Just Solved Its Biggest Boeing 777X Engine Problem With 1 Redesign A newly reworked turbine seal triggers shop inspections and supplier ramp ups as GE lines up revised GE9X deliveries. Operators must now replace the affected seals with eligible parts under the Engine Alliance service bulletin, and the FAA has adopted the rule without public consultation. This is due to the imminent safety risk and short compliance deadline. The directive is an interim measure and has stated that further rulemaking could follow once the root cause is identified. The cost to replace these parts is estimated at up to $528,150 per affected engine, or $527,300 including parts. No engines are installed on US-registered aircraft (as no airline in the US operates the A380). The FAA has not specified the total number of aircraft that are affected by this directive. Airbus produced the A380 until 2021, and it is the largest passenger aircraft and the only full-length double-deck jet aircraft in the world. The aircraft's launch operator was Singapore Airlines, which debuted the aircraft between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) on October 25, 2007. https://simpleflying.com/faa-order-airbus-a380-engine-replacements-uncontained-failure-forces-aborted-takeoff/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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) . CHC Safety & Quality Summit - 11th – 13th November 2025 - Vancouver, BC Canada . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation17 to 19 November 2026, Woburn MA : Save The Date - February 11-12, 2027 - ProDIGIQ User Conference . 2027 ACSF Safety Symposium - April 6-8, 2027 - ERAU Daytona Beach, FL Curt Lewis