JPATS News

A United Airbus A321-200N, registration N34547 performing flight UA-347 from Denver,CO to Washington Dulles,DC (USA), departed Denver's runway 08, maintained FL310, FL350 and FL270 enroute and landed on Washington's runway 01R about 3 hours after departure.

The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT RECEIVED A POTENTIAL BLOWN TIRE INDICATION UPON DEPARTURE FROM DEN AND LANDED AT IAD. POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A DENT IN THE LEFT FLAP, CHANTILLY, VA."

https://avherald.com/h?article=538c157e&opt=0

Incident: Lufthansa A320 near Munich on Apr 27th 2026, engine indication

A Lufthansa Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIUK performing flight LH-2424 from Munich (Germany) to Oslo (Norway), was enroute at FL350 about 140nm north of Munich when the crew decided to return to Munich. The aircraft landed safely on Munich's runway 08L about 35 minutes later.

A passenger reported the crew announcement was: "some engine (CFM56) indication in the cockpit, possibly false indication but we decided together with engineering to return to home base" and added, after landing the captain informed via PA that it had been a false indication.

According to information The Aviation Herald received, there had been a high pressure fuel valve as well as a reverser fault indication. The Engine Interface Unit was replaced.

https://avherald.com/h?article=538c1129&opt=0

Incident: Ryanair B738 at Palma Mallorca on May 2nd 2026, smoke indication

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DYA performing flight FR-2051 from Madrid,SP to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain), was descending towards Palma Mallorca when the crew reported a possible fire on board. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 06L about 12 minutes later, vacated the runway and stopped for an inspection by emergency services. No trace of fire, heat or smoke was found. The aircraft continued taxi to the apron.

The aircraft returned to service about 21 hours after landing.

https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/campaigns/email/edit/activity/b428ce42-2239-4ea2-af9d-cbac37d290b7

NTSB Investigators to Interview Pilots of United Airlines Boeing 767 That Struck a Delivery Truck While Landing at Newark

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived at Newark International Airport, where they will begin their probe into serious occurrence involving a United Airlines Boeing 767, which clipped a delivery truck and a light pole as it came into land on Sunday afternoon.

Even before NTSB investigators arrived at the airport on Monday morning, it had already ordered United Airlines to obtain and preserve the ‘Black Box’ cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which could provide priceless insight into what caused the incident.

United Airlines flight UA-169, which had 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board, was in the final moments of an eight-and-a-half-hour flight from Venice, Italy, on May 3, and had been instructed to land on Runway 29, which runs almost perpendicular to the Route 95 New Jersey Turnpike.

Just before the plane crossed the threshold of the airfield, a tire on the extended landing gear appears to have struck a delivery truck that was driving along the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as a light pole running along the road.

Horrifying footage from a dashcam inside the delivery truck was released within a couple of hours of the incident, showing the vehicle being sent into a spin after it was struck.

The driver had to be rushed to the hospital, but thankfully was not seriously injured.

On Monday, an additional image of the incident appears to have been obtained from surveillance camera footage, which clearly shows the landing gear coming into contact with the truck as it passed over the highway at a very low altitude.

The NTSB has officially declared the incident as an ‘accident’, which is an important distinction as it signifies that the aircraft has sustained “substantial damage which adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component.”

As well as retrieving the Black Box recorders, NTSB investigators plan to conduct interviews with the flight crew of the aircraft on Monday.

In a statement, the NTSB said its investigation “will examine multiple factors, including flight operations, meteorological conditions, human performance, crew resource management, aircraft performance and air traffic control.”

The aircraft involved in the accident, a 23-year-old Boeing 767 (registration: N77066), remains grounded at Newark. None of the passengers or crew on board flight UA-169 were injured.

There has already been a healthy amount of speculation as to the cause of the accident, including the potential for strong gusts of wind that could have affected the aircraft’s altitude, the instrumentation in use on Runway 29, and the fact that Runway 29 is rarely used for landings.

It should be noted, however, that all of these theories are just speculation, and it will take the NTSB some time to complete its investigation into this incident.

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/05/04/ntsb-investigators-to-interview-pilots-of-united-airlines-boeing-767-that-struck-a-delivery-truck-while-landing-at-newark/

Virgin Atlantic 787 Pilots Warned by New York JFK ATC

Tower controller issued a stern warning after the flight crew left the assigned frequency without clearance while approaching an active runway.

NEW YORK- A Virgin Atlantic (VS) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating flight VS25 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) received a sharp reprimand from the JFK tower controller. The crew switched to the ground frequency without authorization while taxiing near an active runway after landing.

The aircraft, registered G-VNEW, had landed on runway 22L at JFK and received taxi instructions via taxiways Juliet, Zulu, and Golf with a clear instruction to hold short of runway 22R. As the Boeing 787-9 approached runway 22R, the flight crew contacted ground control on their own, prompting an immediate intervention from the tower controller, who called the action “very dangerous.”

Virgin Atlantic 787 Pilots Reprimanded

The incident unfolded during a routine post-landing taxi sequence at JFK. After touching down on runway 22L, the tower controller directed Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight VS25 to taxi via taxiways J, Z, and G and hold short of runway 22R. The crew correctly read back the instruction and began taxiing as directed.

However, as the aircraft neared runway 22R, the flight crew contacted ground control and reported entering via taxiway A10.

The ground controller immediately recognized the error and instructed the crew to hold position and return to the tower frequency at 119.1 MHz. The crew complied and switched back to the tower frequency.

Upon re-establishing contact with the tower, the controller delivered a firm warning. The controller told the crew that leaving the tower frequency without a clearance is very dangerous and asked the crew to confirm they understood the severity of the situation.

The pilot acknowledged the mistake and stated that it resulted from an error, offering an apology. The tower controller then reissued the hold-short instruction for runway 22R and directed the crew to remain on the tower frequency.

Virgin Atlantic 787 Pilots Warned by New York JFK ATC

Why Unauthorized Frequency Changes Pose Serious Risks

Switching away from an assigned ATC frequency without authorization creates a critical gap in communication between the flight crew and the controlling authority. In this case, the tower controller was responsible for all traffic movements near runway 22R.

When the Virgin Atlantic crew left the tower frequency, the controller temporarily lost the ability to issue time-sensitive instructions, such as a hold command or a runway crossing clearance.

At a busy airport like New York JFK, runway 22L and 22R operate in close proximity. Aircraft taxiing near an active runway must remain on the tower frequency until the controller explicitly hands them off to ground control. This protocol ensures the tower can manage crossing traffic, departing aircraft, and arriving flights without communication gaps.

ATC Communication Transcript Breakdown

The tower initially issued the taxi instruction at the 14-second mark, directing VS25 to taxi via Juliet, Zulu, and Golf and hold short of runway 22R. The crew provided a correct readback.

At the 31-second mark, the crew contacted ground control and reported entering via A10, a clear indication that the crew had switched frequencies on their own.

The ground controller responded within five seconds, instructing the crew to hold position and return to tower on 119.1. After the crew switched back, the tower controller addressed the situation directly, calling the unauthorized frequency change very dangerous and asking the crew to confirm understanding.

The pilot took responsibility, citing a mistake, and the controller resumed normal operations by reissuing the hold-short instruction.

Crew Response and Resolution

The Virgin Atlantic (VS) pilot handled the situation professionally after the error. Rather than offering excuses, the pilot acknowledged the mistake and apologized.

The tower controller accepted the explanation and continued with standard taxi instructions, directing the crew to hold short of runway 22R and remain on the tower frequency.

The incident did not result in any further safety events, and the aircraft continued to the gate without additional issues.

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/05/05/virgin-atlantic-787-pilots-warned-by-new-york-jfk-atc/

Air France extends Iran war flight ban while security concerns remain

Air France is extending the suspension of flights to the Middle East regions while security concerns remain about the safety of operating to the area.

On May 4, 2026, Air France said it had been “forced” to prolong a flight ban “due to the security context at the destination and the closure of certain airspaces”.

Specifically, Air France flights to and from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will be suspended up until May 12, 2026, and to and from Dubai, UAE, until May 20, 2026.

Additionally, flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Beirut, Lebanon, will now not restart until May 20, 2026.

Since March 1, 2026, Air France has routinely extended flight bans triggered by the war in Iran to the four cities, unconvinced that it was safe to operate while the situation in the Middle East remains volatile.

Emirates

In an update on its website, Air France said that it is “monitoring the evolving situation in the region in real-time”.

The resumption of our operations will remain subject to an assessment of the local situation, which is highly evolutive. This page will be regularly updated,” said Air France.

“The airline added: “We regret this situation and the inconvenience it causes our customers. Customers affected by these flight cancellations are notified individually.”

In response to strong demand from Asia following massive flight cancellations by Middle Eastern airlines, Air France has been deploying larger capacity aircraft on its flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka and Phuket since March 4, 2026.

The airline is also adding additional flights from Bangkok, Singapore, and Delhi. These measures will continue in the next weeks, and Air France teams are working to extend them to other destinations.

Air France-KLM cut its 2026 capacity outlook on April 30, 2026, and warned that the Middle East conflict would inflict a €940 million ($1.1 billion) fuel shock on the group in the second quarter alone, even as the Franco-Dutch carrier reported a near-breakeven Q1 operating result that improved by €301 million ($352 million) year-on-year.

The group posted an operating result of -€27 million (-$32 million) on revenues of €7.5 billion ($8.8 billion), up 4.4% on the same period of 2025.

UAE lifts all flight restrictions

On May 2, 2026, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed that all flight restrictions imposed during the recent regional conflict have been lifted, marking a full return to normal air navigation operations across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Emirates also announced that it has restored 96% of its global network following weeks of disruption caused by regional conflict.

The Dubai-based carrier announced on May 4, 2026, that it now operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with more than 1,300 weekly flights, representing 75% of the airline’s pre-disruption capacity.

Additionally, Dubai Airports said it was “scaling up operations” in line with “available regional rerouting capability”.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: “The extraordinary events of the past few weeks are unprecedented for any major airport hub such as DXB. Maintaining the smooth operation of DXB is therefore critical to keep global journeys moving. Our focus has been on keeping operations safe and consistent for our customers through close coordination and rapid decision-making across the entire airport community and beyond.”

However, on May 4, 2026, there were fresh concerns of further instability in the region after Iran reportedly launched missiles and drones at the UAE.

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/air-france-extends-iran-war-flight-ban

NTSB Enhances Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard With Findings Data

WASHINGTON (May 4, 2026) — The National Transportation Safety Board has enhanced its U.S. Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard to include findings data, expanding public access to key safety information derived from NTSB investigations.

The addition of findings allows users to explore the causal and contributing factors identified in aviation accidents, providing deeper insight into safety trends.

The Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard now serves as a comprehensive, interactive tool for examining accident data, including event details, phases of flight and associated findings, within a single platform.

“The integration of findings into the Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard gives users a more complete understanding of why accidents occur,” said Akbar Sultan, director of the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering. “This enhancement supports our mission to improve transportation safety by making critical investigative data more accessible and easier to analyze.”

As a result of this update, the General Aviation Accident Dashboard, introduced in 2023, has been retired. Its functionality has been incorporated into the Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard, streamlining access to aviation safety data.

The Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard covers U.S. civil aviation accidents and allows users to filter and visualize data by year, aircraft category, phase of flight, defining event and findings.

The dashboard is available on the Statistical Reviews section of the NTSB website.

To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).

https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260504.aspx

Deadly 2022 China plane crash caused by intentional fuel switch cut-off, report indicates

Fuel switches of a China Eastern flight that crashed into a hillside in 2022 were likely deliberately cut off, according to a report by a US government federal agency charged with investigating civil aviation accidents.

All 132 people on board died after the Boeing 737 aircraft crashed into a mountain in the remote Guangxi region on 21 March 2022. The China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 was en route from the southwestern city of Kunming to Guangzhou.

While the Chinese government is yet to release a final report on the incident, the findings released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) support the speculation that the pilots had intentionally caused China's deadliest air disaster in decades.

The NTSB revealed that the switches controlling the flow of fuel to both engines were moved to the "cut-off" position while it was at a cruising at an altitude of 8,839m.

“The fuel switches on both engines moved from the run position to the cut-off position," the aviation body said. It added: "Engine speeds decreased after the fuel switch movement."

There was no sign that the fuel switches were ever flipped back on to attempt to bring the engine back to life.

The US aviation body is supporting the Chinese authorities because Boeing is an American plane manufacturer. The report was released earlier this month under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rescue workers comb through the site of where China Eastern flight MU5375 crashed on March 21 (AFP/Getty)

The impact was so severe that the aircraft broke apart into around 40,000 pieces, according to reports. The damaged cockpit voice and flight data recorders survived the crash and were recovered for investigation.

The aviation safety office director at the Chinese aviation authority said they did not have a clear assessment of the cause for the crash. He claimed that air controllers had repeatedly called the aircraft during its descent but had received no response.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China had argued that the crew held valid licences, were adequately rested, and passed health checks.

Neil Campbell, a former air safety investigator at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said it was routine for jet fuel switches to be turned off after the plane has landed, but almost never in flight. He told Bloomberg News that the actions looked like a “deliberate event".

“There’s no reason for switching the engines off, so that’s the bit that’s highly unusual,” Mr Campbell said.

Tony Stanton, an aviation expert at Strategic Air, told CNN that the new data “does not by itself prove motive, intent or who moved the switches”.

What the data show is “very difficult to reconcile with a conventional dual-engine mechanical failure and is much more consistent with [human] commanded fuel shutoff”, Mr Stanton said.

The fuel switch movement has also been at the centre of the ongoing investigation into 2025 Air India flight crash that killed all but one person on board.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed moments after taking off on 12 June, erupting in a fireball after hitting a medical college hostel.Another 19 people were killed on the ground when the plane crashed onto a medical college hostel during lunch hour.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/deadly-2022-china-plane-crash-080705808.html

UAE to get 10 C-390 aircraft, up to 10 more in the future

"This also marks the aircraft's first entry into the Middle East, reflecting global confidence in the efficiency of our defense system, while supporting the localization of military industries and strengthening the state's industrial integration," Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed AlNahyan said today in a translated X post.

Embraer's KC-390 Millennium aircraft can quickly switch between multiple roles to offer flexibility depending on the mission requirements. (Photo courtesy of Embraer)

ISTANBUL — The United Arab Emirates’ contracting authority, known as the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, has inked a deal with Brazilian firm Embraer to procure 10 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft with an option to procure 10 more in the future, the company announced today.

With this deal, the UAE is the first country in the Middle East to be on contract with the C-390 aircraft. The C-390 Millennium aircraft can perform a number of missions including military transport, humanitarian and airdrop operations and medical evacuation.

“We have witnessed the signing of the largest international contract for C-390 Millennium aircraft, involving the purchase of 10 aircraft with additional options, in a step that enhances the readiness of our air forces with advanced, multi-mission operational capabilities,” UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed AlNahyan said today in a translated X post. “This also marks the aircraft’s first entry into the Middle East, reflecting global confidence in the efficiency of our defense system, while supporting the localization of military industries and strengthening the state’s industrial integration.”

President and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security Bosco da Costa Junior said that the C-390 Millennium will provide the Emirati Air Force and Air Defense with “the versatility and performance needed to carry out a wide range of missions anytime, anywhere, for decades to come.” He further added, “Embraer is fully committed to delivering the C-390 capability and providing world-class support to UAE, with the objective of building a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.”

The contract — signed at the “Make It In The Emirates” exposition in Abu Dhabi — notes that the aircraft’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, “along with after-sales support services for the C-390 Millennium aircraft, will be developed in collaboration with” an Emirati firm, per the statement.

A separate announcement from Embraer stated the company has signed “an exclusive strategic partnership agreement” with Emirati defense and technology firm Generation 5 Holding “to cover a comprehensive scope of the C‑390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft in the UAE.”

“Under this agreement, the two companies aim to develop comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities and after-sales support for the aircraft in the UAE and the Middle East, focused on ensuring mission readiness, rapid response, and long-term fleet sustainability for regional operators,” the statement reads.

As Breaking Defense previously reported, Costa said in a November press conference that Embraer was in talks to expand into the UAE with a C-390 “completion center,” that would serve the country and greater region, dropping earlier plans to open such a center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/uae-to-get-10-c-390-aircraft-up-to-10-more-in-the-future/

Air Force approves production of T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer

The Air Force said Monday it has given the green light to start production of the new T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer. Boeing will be paid $219 million for the first 14 two-seat trainers that will be used to teach new Air Force pilots how to handle jet aircraft. The contract also includes training, support equipment and spare parts. The Air Force plans to eventually buy 351 T-7A aircraft and 46 ground-based training simulators. “The T-7A is a pivotal program for the future of our combat air forces,” said William Bailey, who is performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. The Red Hawk will replace the Air Force Air Education and Training Command’s T-38 Talon aircraft in 2027.

The Talon, which first flew in 1959, is widely recognized as the world’s first supersonic jet trainer. The Red Hawk was designed using all-digital methods, which the Air Force said streamlined the development process and will help accelerate production. “It signifies our confidence in the aircraft’s design and our readiness to begin producing this game-changing capability,” said Rodney Stevens, program executive officer for Training and Director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Training Directorate. “While there is still work to do, we have a strong partnership and a clear path forward to deliver the world’s most advanced pilot training system.” The Red Hawk is just under 50 feet long, with a wingspan of just more than 32 feet.

It has a top speed of Mach 1.3 when using the afterburner and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. The trainer’s tail is painted a distinctive red color — a salute to the Tuskegee Airmen, the military’s first Black pilots, who served during World War II. American bomber crews nicknamed the planes of the Tuskegee Airmen the “Red Tails” because they had vertical stabilizers on their planes painted red. After initial test flying at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the first aircraft was sent Dec. 8, 2025 to the Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. “Our mission is to train the next generation of combat aviators, and the T-7A Red Hawk is the tool we need to do it,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements, and International Affairs for the Air Education and Training Command.

Source - Stars and Stripes

https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2026-05-04/air-force-approves-production-t-7a-red-hawk-21575548.html