Free Republic

An aviation expert said that a bird strike alone would not sufficiently explain why a South Korean airline jet skidded off a runway and crashed, killing nearly every passenger on board. On Sunday, Jeju Air Flight 2216 was landing at Muan International Airport about 180 miles south of Seoul when the incident occurred, according to the Wall Street Journal. The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew members onboard. WARNING: The following post contains video of the crash, which may be disturbing for some readers. VIDEO AT LINK................. “There are a million backups on this airplane. It’s extremely...

Azerbaijan wants Moscow to admit to an "attack" on a national airliner on Christmas day that left 38 dead after it crashed in Kazakhstan. "The Azerbaijani government demands official recognition, a formal apology, and accountability for those responsible for the attack," according to an Azeri Times report translated by Visegrád 24.There were 17 survivors, including 14 passengers and three crewmembers. Video taken of the crash indicates that the pilots were relying entirely on the engines to maneuver the aircraft. Various reports indicate that Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 lost hydraulic controls following an explosion near the rear of the aircraft, indicative...

A "technical issue" disrupted American Airlines flights nationwide early on Tuesday, the airline said, at the start of a busy Christmas Eve for travelers around the country. The Federal Aviation Administration said American requested a ground stop for all its flights. "We're currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights," the airline wrote in a post to X. The post added, "Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we'll have you safely on your way to your destination." Replying to questions from other social media users, the airline said it was not able to estimate...

A Delta jet clipped a smaller plane on a taxiway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Tuesday morning, knocking the smaller aircraft’s tail off, officials said. Delta Air Lines Flight 295 was taxiing for takeoff to Tokyo just after 10 a.m. when its wingtip hit the tail of Endeavor Air Flight 5526, which was on an adjacent taxiway before it was set to take off for Louisiana, Delta Air Lines said in a statement. The Endeavor plane’s tail was damaged upon impact, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta. Video taken after the incident by Storm Chaser Aaron Rigsby shows...

The Justice Department has presented Boeing with a plea deal after it accused the airplane manufacturer of violating the terms of a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement that was put in place following two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. The Justice Department told Boeing it could plead guilty or go to trial, people familiar with the talks confirmed to CBS News. The agreement, which was presented to Boeing on Sunday, would have the company plead guilty to the conspiracy charge it originally faced in 2021. In exchange, Boeing would pay a fine and enter a three-year probationary period, the...

Here's why you're better off with canned and bottled drinks.Regardless of where you’re traveling from or where you’re flying to, the best part of being on a plane is when the flight attendants start handing out snacks and drinks. Would I like a bag of pretzels? Yes, I would. Do I want a second package of cookies? Of course, I do. As enjoyable as it is to crack into a tiny bottle of in-flight bourbon — or even a can of Sprite Zero — one former flight attendant is warning passengers off ordering two common beverages. TikTok influencer Kat Kamalani,...

Seattle-bound United Airlines flight taking off from Chicago O'Hare aborted takeoff after engine caught fire.. ... The FAA said it has halted arrivals into the airport. ... the plane was towed to the gate, passengers deplaned normally and no injuries were reported. "We are working to make alternative travel arrangements for customers, ... The ordeal came as the John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York issued a ground stop by Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

A golden retriever boarding a BARK Air flight Traveling with a dog can be challenging, and one dog brand is helping to change that. BARK, known for their subscription BarkBoxes and dog products, announced on Thursday, April 11 that they’re launching a new travel service, BARK Air. In partnership with a charter jet company, BARK Air is designed to prioritize four-legged travelers, followed by their humans, so they can travel together comfortably and conveniently. At launch, routes will serve the New York City metro area via Westchester County Airport (HPN) with flights to the Los Angeles area via Van...

…. “ A passenger, @DonnieDoesWorld, posted a picture saying a man tried to aggressively open the airplane door so he and five other people wrestled him down in the aisle until they landed back in Albuquerque safely. Another picture shows the man being led off the jet bridge.” … “ The FBI issued the following statement, but did not provide any additional information: “The Albuquerque Division of the FBI is aware of the incident and we are currently investigating.”

Finland’s flagship airline has announced that it will be weighing passengers as well as their luggage. Finnair said the move, which will be done on a voluntary basis through May, is designed to improve balance calculations that will enhance flight safety. “Finnair will collect data by weighing volunteering customers and their carry-on baggage at the departure gate,” according to a statement from the company. “The weighing is voluntary and anonymous, and the data will only be used to optimize Finnair’s current aircraft balance calculations.” Finnair said that weighing passengers will help ensure that the airline doesn’t exceed the set maximum...

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby allegedly has a penchant for dressing in drag as famous female singers, resurfaced pictures have revealed. On Monday, the conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted pictures of Kirby appearing to don a long purple and blonde wig, black eye makeup, a stuffed bra, chaps, and a lot of leather, as well as a blonde wig, white dress, and purple feather boa. The resurfaced pictures of Kirby in drag appear to be from his time as president of American Airlines. A 2019 report from the Dallas Morning News details how Kirby dressed in drag as...

United Airlines is the “Bud Light” of the airline world. They’ve shifted gears, moving away from their core customer base, which prioritizes safety and security. Now, it’s all about drag queens and flamboyant celebrations. But is this the direction most air travelers want? Hardly. Flyers don’t want in-flight gay entertainment featuring CEOs in ladies’ pantyhose or a strong push on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). When passengers board a plane, their primary concern is a competent, professional pilot, not one who’s more interested in theatrics and show tunes. This trend in air travel is starting to mirror our “woke” military,...

Doesn’t it feel like United Airlines is becoming the ‘Bud Light’ of air travel? Their recent drive towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) seems heavily focused on transvestites, cross-dressers, and other assorted freaks. But unlike Bud Light, which was “merely” cynically trying to sell beer, United Airlines is potentially putting people’s lives in danger with their Drag Queen Flying Hour. You may have heard by now, but the CEO of United Airlines enjoys cross-dressing as a woman. Revolver covered this disturbing story. ... Have you noticed? The US aviation industry is crashing, both literally and figuratively. It’s like we’re watching...

After an emergency exit-sized hole opened in the side of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 at 16,000 feet, a separate chaotic episode erupted when the cockpit door mysteriously flew open. That meant the pilots were subjected to the deafening wind and noise from the back of the plane—and also made the cockpit accessible to anyone inclined to try to force their way in. What the flight crew didn’t know at the time, federal investigators said Monday, was that it was supposed to happen that way. What the flight crew didn’t know at the time, federal investigators said Monday, was that it...

An airline passenger has been accused of swiping $23,000 in cash from carry-on luggage belonging to his fellow travelers during a short flight from Vietnam to Singapore. Zhang Xiuqiang, a 52-year-old Chinese national, was arrested at Changi Airport Saturday and slapped with three theft counts on suspicion of ransacking the bags of three passengers. The suspect and victims were traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore aboard a flight operated by Scoot Airline, the low-budget subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. During the two-hour flight, Zhang pilfered about $123 from one passenger’s backpack and helped himself to nearly $21,000 that he...

SNIP A flight attendant has revealed the stomach-churning reasons that travelers should never drink airplane coffee. Reacting to a question on Reddit asking about the “dirty little secrets” of cabin crew, the TikToker, who goes by Kevin online, dished that he thinks aircraft coffee is “disgusting.” “The fact that the tanks rarely get cleaned that the water is in should be the least of your concern,” he said in a video with more than 164,000 views. “For me, it’s always been the way that flight attendants have to clean out coffee pots.” Spoiler: they dump out the java into the...

Alaska Airlines has entered an agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion, including $900 million of the carrier's net debt. According to Sunday's announcement, Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share in cash. The airlines say the deal will unlock more destinations throughout the Pacific region, continental United States and globally. The deal is expected to generate high single-digit earnings accretion for Alaska Airlines within the first two years with no anticipated material impact on long-term balance sheet metrics. 'This combination is an exciting next step in our collective journey to provide a better travel experience...

CAPTAIN Shane Murdock says the air industry is ‘poised on the precipice of disaster’. A pilot for more than 40 years and a qualified air accident investigator, he has found official data that back up his claim of impending global catastrophe. He adds: ‘When correlated, the data indicate there is an enormous problem that is having, and will have, a significant impact on aviation safety worldwide. There is enough evidence to be sending out red flags.’ There have been many tragedies this year. Phil Thomas, a young graduate of the Cadiz, Spain, flight training academy, fell ill and died suddenly...

ALL 224 passengers on a plane that was due to take off from Zaragoza Airport on Saturday, September 30, had to be evacuated following an incident. As reported in a statement released by the Guardia Civil this Sunday, October 1, the Wizz Air flight was scheduled to fly to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. The incident occurred at around 9:15 am, while the plane was sitting on the runway in the Aragonese capital. It involved one of the passengers, a Romanian national who is believed to be resident in Zaragoza. While waiting for the flight to depart, the allegedly intoxicated...

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday warned of airline disruptions if Congress is unable to pass funding bills or come to a short-term resolution before Friday, which would trigger a government shutdown. “A shutdown would include, just in the transportation side alone, shutting down air traffic control training at the exact moment when the country recognizes the need for more, not less air traffic control staffing and when we have finally got cancellations back at or below normal rates,” Buttigieg said on CNN’s “State of The Union.”