JPATS News

A Tway Air Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration HL8579 performing flight TW-634 from Sanya (China) to Cheongju (South Korea) with 32 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute when a passenger's power bank began to emit smoke. Three cabin crew submerged the power bank in water and secured it into a container, however, those three cabin crew as well as 5 passengers inhaled smoke. The aircraft continued to destination for a landing without further incident. The three affected cabin crew were taken to a hospital, the affected passengers returned home.

The airline reported a passenger's power bank emitted smoke, cabin crew placed the battery into water, however, three cabin crew and five passengers inhaled smoke. The cabin crew was taken to a hospital.

South Korea's Ministry of Transport is investigating the occurrence and checks also whether the power bank's capacity and power bank complied with regulations.

https://www.avherald.com/h?article=532acaf9&opt=0

Incident: Blue Islands AT72 at Guernsey on Jan 10th 2025, loss of most electrical circuits

A Blue Islands Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration G-ISLM performing flight SI-208 from Guernsey,CI to Jersey,CI (UK), was accelerating for takeoff through about 90 knots over ground when the transponder ceased transmitting. The aircraft continued takeoff and returned to Guernsey for a safe landing.

The aircraft is still on the ground 7 days later.

The British AAIB reported the aircraft lost most of the electrical circuits and all major instruments after takeoff. Using the standby instruments the aircraft returned to Guernsey. The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated.

In a brief interim report on Jan 9th 2026 the AAIB reported: "Examination of the electrical system components has identified the Starter/Generator fitted to the right engine as the source of the overvoltage which affected the aircraft, but the reason this overvoltage was not isolated by the safety systems fitted to the aircraft remains unclear."

https://www.avherald.com/h?article=522f0e85&opt=0

Incident: Canada B788 near London on Jan 1st 2026, cracked windshield

An Air Canada Boeing 787-8, registration C-GHQY performing flight AC-888 (dep Dec 31st 2025) from Ottawa,ON (Canada) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute nearing London when the crew declared PAN PAN reporting the outer pane of the first officer's windshield had shattered. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Heathrow's runway 27R.

The return flight was cancelled, the aircraft remained on the ground in Heathrow until Jan 3rd 2026 then returned to service.

The Canadian TSB reported: "During cruise, the crew declared a PAN PAN with EGLL ATC, due to a First Officer's shattered windscreen outer pane and due to possible icing conditions below FL100. No cabin pressure issues reported, and the aircraft landed safely in EGLL without further incident."

https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53295efe&opt=0

Accident: Asiana A333 enroute on Jan 8th 2026, power bank thermal runaway causes injury

An Asiana Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration HL7754 performing flight OZ-745 from Seoul (South Korea) to Hong Kong (China) with 284 people on board, was enroute about 2 hours into the flight when the power bank of a passenger suffered a thermal runaway and caught fire. Cabin crew extinguished the fire and contained the power bank. The passenger owning the device received burns to their hands. The aircraft continued to Hong Kong for a safe landing.

The airline reported the fire was extinguished in 1-2 minutes and the flight continued to Hong Kong for a normal landing.

The occurrence aircraft performed the return flight on schedule.

https://www.avherald.com/h?article=532947ca&opt=0

Pilots in Jeju plane crash had been trying to avoid flock of 50,000 birds while landing (S. Korea)

179 people were killed when a South Korean flight crashed in December 2024.

Jeju Air Flight 2216 was coming in to land at Muan International Airport when it struck a flock of birds.

Newly released info estimated the number of birds at around 50,000.

The pilot had asked to go around since he deemed it unsafe.

However, Korean media reports that six seconds after the decision to go around, the plane collided with the birds.

This led to the plane being forced to make a belly landing.

In newly released info, Reuters reported that the pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after the collision.

The pilots were able to bring the plane down, but it collided with a concrete barrier at the end of the runway.

The report said that the crash might not have been deadly if there had not been a concrete mound at the end of the runway.

A full investigative report is still pending public disclosure. The Muan airport is due to reopen in April.

https://mothership.sg/2026/01/jeju-plane-crash-birds/

British Airways 777 Pilots Took off from London Heathrow Despite Curfew

A closer look at Heathrow’s night flight rules, noise limits, and the rare exceptions that allow late departures.

LONDON- Heathrow Airport (LHR), serving London, approved a rare post-midnight departure of British Airways (BA) at 1:11 am, highlighting how tightly controlled night operations remain at Europe’s busiest hub.

The decision allowed hundreds of passengers to travel with a short delay instead of facing a cancellation, while reopening debate around noise limits, community impact, and regulatory flexibility.

British Airways Flight Took Off During Night Curfew

A British Airways (BA) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) took off at 1:11 am during a strict night curfew. A Reddit post went viral about this, and people are discussing

Heathrow operates under one of the strictest night flight regimes in the world. While there is no absolute ban on night flying, government controls have shaped operations since the early 1960s to limit disturbance to nearby communities.

Night operations are regulated across two defined windows: 23:00 to 07:00 and the more restrictive Night Quota Period from 23:30 to 06:00. During these hours, only a limited number of flights are permitted, and only aircraft meeting strict noise criteria can operate.

Heathrow does not schedule departures between 23:00 and 06:00, nor arrivals between 22:55 and 04:50. Any movement outside these limits requires special approval and is treated as an exception rather than routine practice.

British Airways 777 Pilots Took off from London Heathrow Despite Curfew

Government Limits on Night Flights

The UK Government caps Heathrow at 5,800 night-time take-offs and landings per year. This total is split seasonally, with 3,250 movements allowed in summer and 2,550 in winter.

A limited carry-over mechanism allows up to 10 percent of unused summer slots to roll into winter, but unused capacity cannot be carried into the next year. These restrictions are enforced under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and reviewed regularly.

Around 80 percent of permitted night flights occur between 04:30 and 06:00, primarily early morning arrivals designed to support long-haul connectivity.

Why Night Flights Still Matter

Night flights play a strategic role in global aviation networks. Time zone differences make it difficult to operate international schedules without early morning arrivals or late-night departures.

Early arrivals allow passengers to complete a full business day or connect onward through Heathrow’s extensive route network. Transfer traffic, in particular, supports the frequency and breadth of destinations served from the airport.

Independent studies have consistently found that night operations contribute materially to the UK economy, despite their limited scale.

The Night Quota and Noise Control System

Heathrow uses a quota count system alongside movement limits to control noise. Each aircraft type is assigned a score based on its certified noise level. Quieter, newer aircraft receive lower scores, while older, louder models receive higher ones.

Flights operating during the Night Quota Period consume quota points. Aircraft with the highest noise ratings are prohibited entirely from night operations. This system discourages the use of older aircraft and accelerates fleet modernization.

Movement limits cap the total number of flights, while quota limits control how noisy those flights can be. Together, they restrict volume and reduce overall noise impact.

Unscheduled Night Flights and Exceptions

Unscheduled night flights occur when delays, technical faults, or operational disruptions prevent a flight from departing as planned. In such cases, airlines must formally request permission and justify the delay.

Exceptional circumstances, such as severe weather or widespread network disruption, may prompt temporary government dispensation. These approvals are rare and granted only to prevent serious congestion or passenger hardship.

Heathrow reports compliance data regularly to the government and the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport.

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/01/12/british-airways-777-took-off-from-heathrow-despite-curfew/

Ontario woman facing charges following assault on airplane

SIOUX LOOKOUT - A woman has been charged after police say an assault occurred on an airplane in northwest Ontario.

Ontario woman facing charges following assault on airplane

An Ontario Provincial Police patch.

SIOUX LOOKOUT - A woman has been charged after police say an assault occurred on an airplane in northwest Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were called Friday evening about the assault on an airborne plane that forced the pilot of the aircraft to return to the Sioux Lookout Municipal Airport.

Police say the plane had earlier taken off from the airport and was bound for Kasabonika Lake, a remote community some 440 kilometres to the northeast.

The 44-year-old accused faces one charge of assault, another of assault in an aircraft in flight, as well as one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Investigators say she has been released ahead of an appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice in Wunnumin Lake on Jan. 19.

Anyone with information or video footage of the matter is asked to contact Ontario Provincial Police or Crime Stoppers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2026.

https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/ontario-woman-facing-charges-following-assault-on-airplane/article_9a68a203-0d99-55a4-ba08-fbd3832878d9.html

Ethiopia begins $12.5 billion construction of 'Africa's biggest airport'

BISHOFTU, Ethiopia, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday officially started a $12.5 billion construction project for what officials say will be Africa's biggest airport when completed in 2030 in the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu.

The state-owned airline got the contract to design the four-runway airport in the town located around 45 km (28 miles) southeast of Addis Ababa.

"Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history," Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said on X. The airport will have space to park 270 planes and capacity for 110 million passengers a year.

That is more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia's current main airport, which will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two-to-three years, Abiy said.

The airline's Infrastructure Development & Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye told reporters it would fund 30% and lenders would finance the rest.

It has already allocated $610 million for earthworks, which are due to be completed in one year, he said at the site, with the main contractors scheduled to start work in August 2026.

The project was initially billed at $10 billion.

Other creditors include the African Development Bank, which last August said it would lend $500 million and lead efforts to raise $8.7 billion.

"Lenders from Middle East, Europe, China and USA have shown strong interest to finance the project," Abraham said.

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's biggest carrier. It added six extra routes in 2024/25, while revenues are also expanding.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-begins-125-billion-construction-africas-biggest-airport-2026-01-10/

Airbus Delivered 10 A321neo Aircraft in a Single Day in December 2025

France – Airbus marked a major year-end milestone on December 19, 2025, by delivering 10 A321neo aircraft in a single day across three production sites, as it pushed to meet its revised annual delivery target of 790 aircraft.

The 10 A321neos were dispatched from Airbus facilities in Toulouse (1 aircraft), Hamburg-Finkenwerder (5 aircraft), and Tianjin, China (4 aircraft).

The deliveries were made to six global airlines:

Air China – 3 aircraft (B-32PJ, B-32PL, B-32PK)

Wizz Air – 3 aircraft (HA-LDK, 9H-WMQ, HA-LDH)

IndiGo – 1 aircraft (VT-NHJ)

Scoot – 1 aircraft (9V-NCM)

AirAsia – 1 aircraft (9M-CAB)

China Airlines – 1 aircraft (B-18123)

The push comes amid Airbus’s attempt to close a high-pressure delivery cycle, having achieved 657 deliveries by end of November 2025, with 133 aircraft remaining to hit the revised goal.

Originally targeting 820 deliveries in 2025, Airbus revised this to 790 due to supply chain and ramp-up constraints, with the A321neo program playing a central role in meeting the target.

https://afm.aero/airbus-delivered-10-a321neo-aircraft-in-a-single-day-in-december-2025/

FAA formally warns operators of safety risks associated with faulty space launches

Air safety reporting by The Air Current is accessible without a subscription as a public service. Please subscribe to gain full access to all our scoops, in-depth reporting and analyses.

The Federal Aviation Administration today formally warned aircraft operators and owners of the risks of falling space debris that result from “catastrophic failures” of space launches.

In its first official warning on the topic, the agency issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) recommending that operators train flight crews “on the impact of space launch and reentry operations” which it said “could significantly reduce safety.” The SAFO said “pilots should exercise extreme caution” around debris response areas (DRAs) designated in the aftermath of a space launch incident.

The SAFO reminded operators to take several “precautionary” measures, including ensuring that proper fuel reserves are carried in the event of incident-related holding as well as reviewing plans for diversions, cancellations or rerouting. It added that crews should recognize falling debris could “extend beyond” the DRA, something which would require “additional situational awareness.” DRAs are not currently issued for oceanic or non-radar airspace, despite those areas potentially being affected by falling debris.

The SAFO comes amid a rise in rocket launches that have increased scrutiny on the FAA for its oversight of commercial space operators. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that a 2025 explosion of a SpaceX Starship test flight over the Caribbean created what internal FAA documents called a “potential extreme safety risk” to aircraft passing underneath the launch trajectory, concerns which were echoed by a ProPublica investigation published this week.

The Air Current has reached out to the FAA and SpaceX for comment.

https://theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatches/faa-warns-operators-safety-risks-space-launch-debris/

U.S. issues most serious ‘Do Not Travel’ warning to this nation in northern Asia

If you’re thinking about traveling to Russia anytime soon, take note that the country is one place you should avoid traveling.

The U.S. State Department issued its highest travel advisory for Russia, warning Americans not to travel there “for any reason.”

Here is what you need to know about the travel advisory and why the U.S. government is saying you shouldn’t travel there.

What does the latest travel advisory for Russia mean for you?

Item

Detail

Start Date

Dec. 29, 2025

What’s changing

Updated travel advisory urging travelers not to travel to Russia “for any reason” due to drone attacks, the war between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism, unrest and wrongful detention.

What will happen?

Travelers should “not travel” to Russia and U.S. citizens already there are urged to leave immediately because the U.S. government can provide little support to Americans wrongly detained for any reason.

Who will it affect?

Travelers to Russia.

The agency gave a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory to Russia due to drone attacks, the war between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism, unrest and wrongful detention.

What is the highest travel advisory?

There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4. When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination.

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions – This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution – There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel – There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.

Level 4: Do Not Travel – This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.

What should travelers to Russia do in light of this travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department warns travelers who decide not to heed the travel warning to do the following:

Be ready for the possibility of detention for an unknown amount of time, possibly without a clear reason, and without the ability to contact your embassy or anyone else for help.

Consider the risks of having dual U.S.-Russian nationality as Russian citizens who have dual citizenship with the U.S. will not have their U.S. citizenship recognized.

Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries or power of attorney.

Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Review this list of documents to prepare for your trip.

Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care and custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.

Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.

Develop a communication plan with family, your employer or host organization. List how and when you’ll confirm you’re safe (text or call). Specify how often you will do this.

Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.

Don’t bring U.S. debit and credit cards or any electronic devices.

Log out of all social media accounts and do not access your social media accounts while in Russia.

Keep travel documents up-to-date and easily accessible.

Travel Advisories & News

U.S. warns travelers to ‘exercise increased caution’ while visiting this popular Caribbean island

REAL ID won’t replace your passport. Here’s why

U.S. citizens face visa bans in four West African nations

TSA warns travelers not to wear this days before Christmas

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/u-issues-most-serious-not-220041973.html

Study Finds Most 'On-Time' Airline in the United States

There are a lot of things to consider when booking a flight such as comfort, cost, and the number of layovers. However, the most important thing might just be the simplest: reliability. The fact is, when you book a flight, you simply want to make sure that everything goes according to plan and you make it to your destination on time.

Unfortunately, reliability isn't always easy to find. However, a recent survey has found the airline that is the most "on-time," and it's actually the fifth time in a row that this airline has taken that honor.

Delta Named Most 'On-Time' Airline

For the fifth year in a row, Delta Air Lines has been named the most "on-time" airline in North America and the United States, according to a survey conducted by Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

According to Cirium analytics, 80.9% of all Delta flights had on-time arrivals during 2025, which topped second-place Alaska Airlines to take the top spot on the list for a fifth year in a row. This came while Delta also had 1.8 million flights, which is the second-most for a carrier in North America, behind American Airlines that ran 2.25 million flights in 2025.

"Every day, Delta people keep safety at the forefront while remaining steadfastly focused on on-time performance," John Laughter, E.V.P and chief of operations for Delta said in a statement. "Earning top marks for North American operators for five years running is a testament to the industry-leading teamwork of Delta people and a direct result of their dedication to our customers and each other."

This number is particularly impressive when you consider the inclement weather and the government shutdown that Delta was forced to contend with throughout 2025.

Full Results

Delta Air Lines — 80.9% across 1.8 million flights

Alaska Airlines — 79.2% across 453,000 flights

Spirit Airlines — 78.83% across 218,000 flights

United Airlines — 78.77% across 1.7 million flights

Southwest Airlines — 77.04% across 1.4 million flights

American Airlines — 76.43% across 2.2 million flights

JetBlue — 74.66% across 313,000 flights

WestJet — 73.58% across 205,000 flights

Air Canada — 73.26% across 383,000 flights

Frontier Airlines — 72.14% across 208,000 flights

World Rankings

While Delta topped the list in North America and the United States, it was nowhere near the top when it comes to the world rankings. However, Delta was the only U.S.-based carrier to make the global top 10 list.

Aeromexico

Saudia

SAS

Azul

Qatar Airways

Iberia

LATAM Airlines

Avianca

Turkish Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Clearly, Delta continued to offer reliability to its customers in 2025. We'll have to see if this continues next year.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/study-finds-most-time-airline-221859645.html

Allegiant to buy rival budget airline Sun Country in $1.5 billion cash and stock deal

Allegiant Travel said Sunday it is acquiring fellow leisure carrier Sun Country

in a $1.5 billion cash and stock deal, including debt, a plan that comes as budget airlines in the U.S. have faced a surge in costs following the pandemic and an increase in domestic capacity.

“Our two complementary airlines will create the leading, more competitive, leisure-focused airline in the U.S.,” Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson said in an interview.

Allegiant Travel Co, Sun Country Airlines and the NYSE Arca Airline index

Both Las Vegas-based Allegiant and Minneapolis-based Sun Country focus on cost-conscious budget travelers, while Sun Country also flies charters, as well as packages for Amazon

, a business Anderson said was crucial to the deal. The airlines’ CEOs discussed their proposed combination with Amazon beforehand, he said.

The deal has an implied value of $18.89 for each Sun Country share, a premium of almost 20% over Sun Country’s closing stock price of $15.77 on Friday, Allegiant said.

Allegiant shareholders would own about 67% of the combined company and Sun Country’s shareholders would own around 33%, the airlines said. The deal includes $400 million of Sun Country’s net debt.

Sun Country and Allegiant each focus on vacationers, particularly to sun-and-beach and other leisure destinations.

The deal will test the Trump administration’s appetite for an airline merger.

Allegiant’s Anderson expressed confidence that the agreement would be approved, noting that the two carriers have little network overlap. The airlines expect the deal to close in the second half of this year.

Allegiant approached Sun Country in late fall, Anderson said. If the deal is approved by regulators, Anderson would become CEO of the combined airline. Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker, Allegiant’s former chief operating officer, would join Allegiant’s board.

Spirit and Frontier leaders have engaged in repeated discussions over the following years, and airline analysts still point to their combination as a possibility.

Allegiant and Sun Country executives will hold a special conference call on Monday at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss their deal.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/11/allegiant-sun-country-deal.html

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

. Singapore Airshow 2026 - FEBRUARY 3-6, 2026.

. VERTICON 2026 - Atlanta March 9-12

. 60th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium - March 31 - April 1, 2026 (Irving, TX)

. 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL

. 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA

. BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah

. The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa

. Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026

. IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain)

. ISASI - 2026 (September/October 2026) - Dubai, UAE

. 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE)

Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV

TODAY'S PHOTO

Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-1.

Public Domain