Flight Safety Information - September 18, 2025 No. 187 In This Issue : Incident: Corsica A20N at Ajaccio on Sep 15th 2025, Hello? Hello? Anybody there? : Incident: Swiss A333 at Boston on Sep 16th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine failure : Incident: Kuwait B773 over Central Europe on Sep 17th 2025, prolonged loss of communication : Boeing, Honeywell sued by Air India crash victim families : San Diego International Airport reopens after hours-long closure caused by small jet on runway : French jet circles for an hour as sole air traffic controller sleeps : Increase commercial pilots' retirement age to 67 years: IATA : In hot water, JAL requires pilots to sign pledge on no-alcohol rules : FAA Targets 777 Lightning Protection For Expanded Checks : DOT Requests Information for New Runway Status Lighting : NBAA welcomed Senate vote on Michael Graham’s nomination to second NTSB term : Trump's DEI crackdown further strains US supply of aircraft mechanics, industry officials say : Calendar of Event Incident: Corsica A20N at Ajaccio on Sep 15th 2025, Hello? Hello? Anybody there? An Air Corsica Airbus A320-200N, registration F-HXKJ performing flight XK-777 from Paris Orly to Ajaccio (France), had departed Paris with a delay of about 55 minutes and was descending towards Ajaccio when there was no response from Ajaccio's tower, the runway was not lit. The crew stopped the descent at FL150 and entered a hold considering to divert to Bastia (France). After holding for about 20 minutes the aircraft was able to continue the approach and landed on Ajaccio's runway 02 with a delay of about 75 minutes. According to local newspaper Corse Matin the controller had fallen asleep, the runway lights had been turned off. The captain contacted the airport's fire department directly, who in turn informed police. Subsequently tower responded again and the aircraft was able to land without further incident. France's DGAC confirmed the controller had fallen asleep and opened an investigation. Ultimately it had been the airport fire fighters who woke the controller. The airplane landed with sufficient fuel remaining, there had been no danger. The tower had been staffed according to regulations with two controllers, however, one of the controllers was just taking a rest. The sleeping controller was tested for alcohol, the test was negative. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d0d7e1&opt=0 Incident: Swiss A333 at Boston on Sep 16th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine failure A Swiss International Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration HB-JHM performing flight LX-55 from Boston,MA (USA) to Zurich (Switzerland) with 236 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Boston's runway 22R when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed due to the failure of the right hand engine (Trent 772). The aircraft slowed and stopped on the runway, the crew initially advised they didn't need assistance. Tower advised there was black smoke coming from their right hand engine, the crew requested emergency services to check the aircraft. The crew shut both engines down while emergency services responded. The aircraft returned to the apron about 15 minutes after the rejected takeoff. The airline reported a problem with the right hand engine that prompted the crew to reject takeoff. Passengers reported there was a loud bang, then the brakes came on and the aircraft stopped. The crew announced a problem with the right hand engine. The FAA reported: "The crew of SWISS Flight 55 stopped their takeoff at Boston Logan International Airport due to engine issues around 6:25 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The FAA briefly paused some arrivals to the airport before the plane taxied off the runway. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Airbus A330-300 registration HB-JHB is estimated to reach Zurich with a delay of about 5:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Boston about 11.5 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d0989e&opt=0 Incident: Kuwait B773 over Central Europe on Sep 17th 2025, prolonged loss of communication A Kuwait Airways Boeing 777-300, registration 9K-AOI performing flight KU-103 from Kuwait City (Kuwait) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL360 over Central Europe, when communication with ATC was lost. German Air Defense dispatched two fighter aircraft to intercept the aircraft causing supersonic booms on the ground near Mainz and Wiesbaden (Germany). Subsequently communication with ATC was re-established, and the flight continued to London for a landing without further incident. A listener on frequency reported the communication with ATC was lost for more than an hour, the crew assured the cockpit was safe and explained they had not turned up the cockpit speakers after communication had been re-established. Germany's DFS (ATC provider) confirmed the noises on the ground were supersonic booms by fighter aircraft. https://avherald.com/h?article=52d0d092&opt=0 Boeing, Honeywell sued by Air India crash victim families (Reuters) - The families of four passengers killed in the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787 said in a lawsuit that the accident resulted from allegedly faulty fuel switches, which the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has said do not appear to have caused the accident that killed 260 people. The lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court blames Boeing and Honeywell, which made the switches, for the crash seconds after Flight 171 took off for London from the Indian city of Ahmedabad. The plaintiffs point to a 2018 FAA advisory that recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, inspect the fuel cutoff switches' locking mechanism to ensure it could not be accidentally moved. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary investigation report into the crash stated that Air India had not conducted the suggested inspections, and that maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. The report noted "all applicable airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins were complied with on the aircraft as well as engines." Boeing declined to comment and Honeywell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A cockpit recording of dialogue between the jet's two pilots suggests that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, as Reuters previously reported. The lawsuit maintains that the switches are in a place in the cockpit where they were more likely to be inadvertently pushed, which "effectively guaranteed that normal cockpit activity could result in inadvertent fuel cutoff." However, aviation safety experts told Reuters that they could not be accidentally flipped based on their location and design. The lawsuit appears to be the first in the United States over the crash. It seeks unspecified damages for the deaths of Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal, Naavya Chirag Paghadal, Kuberbhai Patel and Babiben Patel, who were among the 229 passengers who died. Twelve crew members and 19 people on the ground were also killed. One passenger survived. The plaintiffs are citizens of and live in either India or Britain. Indian investigators' preliminary report appeared to exonerate Boeing and engine maker GE Aerospace, but some family groups have criticized investigators and the press as too focused on the pilots' actions. Although most accidents are caused by a combination of factors, legal experts say lawyers representing victims’ families tend to target manufacturers because they do not face the same limits on liability enjoyed by airlines. Such strategies can also increase the prospect of using U.S. courts, which are widely seen as more generous to plaintiffs than many foreign courts. The case is Paghadal et al v Boeing Co et al, Delaware Superior Court, No. N25C-09-145. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/boeing-honeywell-sued-air-india-190129625.html San Diego International Airport reopens after hours-long closure caused by small jet on runway No one was injured in the incident, which occurred on the runway around 6 p.m., but all inbound flights were diverted or delayed for nearly three and a half hours. Nearly three and a half hours after emergency vehicles were called out to the runway at San Diego International Airport on Wednesday when a small jet's front landing gear collapsed, SAN reopened to air traffic. No one was injured in the incident, which occurred at about 6 p.m. when the aircraft was taking off. Airport officials quickly declared a ground stop while crews worked to clear the private jet off the runway. "Was wondering what’s going on," one user posted to X shortly after the ground stop was declared. "Keep seeing big commercial jets flying over my house diverting, never see them flying directly over." Jonathan Heller with the San Diego International Airport said the jet was taking off when the nose gear collapsed. "The aircraft came to a stop without any injuries to those on board," Heller told NBC 7. "However, it became disabled on the runway, causing the runway’s temporary closure. All inbound flights are currently being diverted to other airports. We have no further details at this time." An airport official told NBC 7 around 7 p.m. that they were not sure how long it would take to clear the runway. The SAN arrival and departures flight-status page was down for the entirety of the incident, making tracking delays, diversions and cancellations difficult: "This feature is not currently available, please check back soon," the page states. More than 100 flights were affected by the ground stop. There was little visible movement on the runway for hours, with the plane still surrounded by emergency vehicles, their lights flashing. Initially, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's National Airspace System dashboard, the ground stop was scheduled through 8 p.m. That time came and went, however, with the Cessna 750 Citation still on the runway. At some point around then, the dashboard said the airport was closed through midnight, seemingly shutting it down for departures until at least the morning. However, at a little before 9 p.m., there was finally movement on the runway, and a vehicle was employed to remove the aircraft from the runway. It was not clear at that time whether the airport would be reopened, but within a half-hour, an official told NBC 7 it had. There have been numerous flight cancellations, however, so anyone planning on going to the airport should check their flight status with their airline before heading down to SAN. According to the FAA registry, the plane, which has tail number N769XJ, is registered out of Raleigh, North Carolina. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/small-lane-with-landing-gear-issues-prompts-ground-stop-at-san-diego-international-airport/3902598/ French jet circles for an hour as sole air traffic controller sleeps Firefighters and police at Ajaccio airport in Corsica tried to wake the official, who eventually switched on the runway lights so the plane could land The Air Corsica flight from Paris was an hour late, and then had to circle for another hour before landing A French airliner was forced to circle for an hour over Corsica while ground staff tried to wake up the sleeping air traffic controller. The Air Corsica Airbus A320 was descending shortly after midnight on Tuesday towards Napoléon Bonaparte airport in Ajaccio, capital of the French Mediterranean island, when the control tower failed to respond to radio calls. Only one controller was on duty waiting for the flight from Paris, which was an hour late, and the single 2,400-metre runway was dark, according to Corse Matin, the island newspaper. • I stopped two planes crashing. Then I stepped outside and vomited Talking to regional controllers, the pilots decided to circle over the Gulf of Ajaccio while the airport’s fire crew tried to reach the controller in the tower. “The fire personnel got no response from the tower and alerted the gendarmerie,” the plane’s captain, who was not named, said. Security locks on the tower doors apparently slowed access but staff eventually climbed its steps and found the controller asleep at his desk. They woke him up and he switched on the runway lights and cleared the jet to approach. It landed without incident. The captain said: “In a career of several decades I have never had to handle such a situation. We did a little tour. At no time was there any panic. Everyone stayed calm.” The passengers treated the incident with good humour, he said. The controller was tested for drugs and alcohol, but was clean. Ajaccio airport, which handles more than 50 commercial flights a day, declined comment on the incident, as did the French Civil Aviation Authority. The aircraft, which was in communication with the area’s approach controllers, was ready to divert to Bastia, a port city on the other side of the island. French air traffic controllers, who are civil servants, have staged repeated strikes to protest against what they say is understaffing and poor working conditions that cause fatigue and stress. They are among the highest paid in the world, and some earn up to €120,000 a year. They also have early retirement because of the stressful work, and leave on full pensions between the ages of 50 and 59. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control authority, has said that France has some of the most disruptive strikes on the continent. https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/plane-ajaccio-airport-traffic-controller-asleep-7czgzjtwj Increase commercial pilots' retirement age to 67 years: IATA As the growth of the aviation industry worldwide is causing the demand for pilots to outstrip supply, IATA has called for increasing the retirement age of pilots undertaking multi-pilot international commercial air transport operations by two years to 67. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has accepted the International Air Transport Association (IATA) working paper on increasing the retirement age of pilots for consideration by the 42nd Assembly of ICAO to be held in Montreal next week. According to reports, globally, the pilot shortage is likely to reach 6,00,000 by 2030. In 2006, ICAO implemented Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to raise the age limit from 60 to 65 for pilots undertaking multi-pilot international commercial air transport (CAT) operations. “Building on the work already done by ICAO through the Medical Provisions Study Group in the past 19 years in considering the extension of age limits, this paper proposes that ICAO now considers raising the age to 67 years,” said IATA. Raising the CAT pilot age limits to allow more pilots to continue to work ensures a sufficient supply, whether recruiting older candidates or retaining existing pilots, of qualified aviation professionals for the future, said the association that represents some 350 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic. “Raising the age limit from 65 years to 67 years is a cautious but reasonable step that States may consider that is consistent with maintaining safety while supporting the viability of CAT operations. This change should follow a similar approach to that which was successfully applied in 2006 and implemented within a framework of additional safety assurance measures,” it added. It explains that three States -- Canada, Australia, and New Zealand -- have no upper age limits for pilots, including pilots undertaking CAT operations for the past 20 to 30 years. This is primarily related to state legislation that prohibits discrimination based on age. These States have not recorded an increase in aviation safety events in pilots over the age of 65 years engaged in CAT operations. https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/increase-commercial-pilots-retirement-age-to-67-years-iata/ar-AA1MNKNQ?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds In hot water, JAL requires pilots to sign pledge on no-alcohol rules In response to a string of alcohol-related incidents, Japan Airlines Co. wants its pilots to guarantee in writing that they won’t drink before flights. The airline is demanding all pilots submit a written pledge to comply with its internal rules on drinking as part of efforts to prevent a recurrence. According to sources, the company has distributed an electronic version of the vow to pilots. The document asks pilots to abide by the internal rules on alcohol consumption and requires them to check a box next to the statement: “I will not cause any incidents related to alcohol.” The only option available is “Yes.” The pledge does not specify any consequences for violations. The airline will also hold an “emergency discussion” among all pilots by the end of September to confirm their awareness of safety issues, the sources said. Pilots are expected to discuss what can be done to restore public trust. Additionally, the company will introduce additional alcohol testing for pilots at airport layovers starting Sept. 30, the sources said. Currently, pilots undergo two preliminary checks on the day they report for duty and are cleared to fly if they pass a final formal screening before boarding. However, some within JAL have urged pilots to hold off on signing the pledge until the company clarifies its position, arguing that the scope of its enforceability is unclear. JAL has faced repeated incidents related to pilots’ drinking, prompting the transport ministry to issue an advisory to improve business operations in December. As part of emergency measures, the airline prohibited drinking at layovers and also produced a “watchlist” of individuals deemed at risk based on their drinking habits, subjecting them to stricter oversight. Despite these precautions, a captain consumed alcohol at a hotel in Hawaii during a layover on Aug. 27, a day before his scheduled flight, in violation of internal rules. He subsequently complained of feeling unwell, causing delays of up to 18.5 hours for three flights. Although the captain was on the company’s watchlist, he was classified in the lowest of three risk categories. He was dismissed on disciplinary grounds as of Sept. 11. Taking the matter seriously, the transport ministry issued a stern warning, a form of administrative guidance, to the airline on Sept. 10. At a news conference on Sept. 12, transport minister Hiromasa Nakano called for more stringent measures and initiatives than previously instituted. JAL announced on Sept. 17 that it will impose disciplinary pay cuts on 37 senior company officials over the latest incident. President Mitsuko Tottori will receive a 30 percent salary reduction for two months, while Yukio Nakagawa, director and chief safety officer, and Masaki Minami, head of flight operations, will each have their salaries reduced by 20 percent for one month. All other directors and executive officers will be subject to a 10 percent pay cut for one month. The company plans to compile a new set of preventive measures by the end of September in response to the transport ministry’s stern warning. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16035654 FAA Targets 777 Lightning Protection For Expanded Checks The FAA plans to expand inspections of Boeing 777 fuel feed tubes for latent lightning protection failures to a larger portion of the fleet after concluding an existing mandate does not cover all aircraft that could be at risk. A Sept. 15 notice of proposed rulemaking proposes repetitive inspections of fuel feed tube bonding jumpers on most 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER, and 777F aircraft. The order would replace an October 2024 airworthiness directive (AD) that targets GE Aerospace-powered 777s. Bonding jumpers form part of a system that prevents ignition sources from developing within fuel tanks when lightning strikes nacelles. Boeing has discovered “poor electrical bonding of the spar bulkhead fitting and bonding jumpers” on some 747s and 777s. The 747 issue was addressed in a November 2023 directive, while the October 2024 mandate targeted the 777s Boeing identified as being most at risk are GE-powered aircraft that have a single bonding jumper per engine. But while Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce-powered variants have a second bonding jumper that provides additional protection, the designs are the same, meaning they all share the unsafe condition, the agency said. Boeing in mid-August issued a new requirements bulletin covering the issue and recommending the expanded inspection regimen. Boeing recommends initial inspections within 90 days. Depending on the variant and specific findings, repetitive checks are recommended every year or, in some cases, 39 months. The FAA directive would use Boeing’s recommended intervals. The new inspections cover both the tube and “encapsulation seal” on the tube’s bulkhead fitting. Boeing has received reports of encapsulation failures on 747s, it told the FAA. “Analysis has shown that at least a subset of the encapsulation failures seen on Model 747 airplanes is expected on Model 777 airplanes,” the FAA said. In reviewing the issue, Boeing discovered that 777 fuel system maintenance instructions do not adequately describe reapplication of encapsulation sealant after fittings are removed and replaced. “The observed encapsulation failures are frequently associated with inadequate application of the encapsulation sealant. While failures are partly attributable to the design of the fitting and its associated coupler, sealant is frequently applied too thinly, does not cover the entire fitting and coupler, does not extend sufficiently onto the fuel feed tube, or the relevant surfaces are inadequately cleaned prior to application, preventing proper sealant adhesion,” the FAA explained. Improper sealant can create the same unsafe condition the inspections target. The proposed directive calls for updating the affected maintenance instructions, or Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations, within 60 days. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/faa-targets-777-lightning-protection-expanded-checks DOT Requests Information for New Runway Status Lighting The FAA is seeking input and options from industry partners runway status lights In an effort to improve aviation safety on the ground, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a Request for Information (RFI) for a new “cost-effective runway safety lighting system” to deploy at selected airports. The deadline for submissions is September 25. “We want to make sure pilots and air traffic controllers across the country have the tools they need to keep planes moving safely and efficiently,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “A new runway safety lighting system will reduce the number of close calls and hazards on runways at numerous airports. The existing Runway Status Lights (RWLS) system is embedded in the pavement of runways and taxiways at 20 airports. It signals pilots and vehicle operators when it is safe or unsafe to enter, cross, or take off from a runway. According to the Administration, current RWSL systems are expensive to install and require closing runways during construction. “That is why we are seeking information on new and commercially available runway safety lighting system options that can be deployed and operational within the next two to three years.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-09-15/dot-requests-information-new-runway-status-lighting NBAA welcomed Senate vote on Michael Graham’s nomination to second NTSB term For a period of five years; he was designated by Trump earlier this year The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) applauded yesterday’s vote by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to advance Michael Graham’s nomination for a second, five-year term on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to an upcoming vote by the full chamber. Graham, who was nominated by President Trump to serve a second term on the board earlier this year, is a staunch aviation safety advocate who frequently engages with NBAA and the business aviation community on industry safety matters. Prior to taking the oath of office as the 45th member of the NTSB in January 2020, he worked for more than 20 years at Textron Aviation, ultimately serving as director of flight operations safety, security and standardization. He also launched the company’s Aviation Safety Action Program, which has served as a model for Part 91 operators. He participates regularly in NBAA’s annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and other association events, and he previously served as chair of the NBAA Safety Committee’s Single Pilot Safety Working Group. He also served as chair of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and Board of Governors and was a member of the General Aviation Information Analysis Team. He also received Flight Safety Foundation’s 2019 Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. Graham began his aviation career in the US Navy, flying A-7s and F/A-18s. He also developed an occupational safety and health program, for which he received a Navy Achievement Medal, and he twice received the Top Eleven Award for best landing grades aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. He is a 10,000-hour pilot, holds airline transport pilot certification and is type rated in six different Citation models. Graham earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico. https://www.avionews.it/en/item/1265658-nbaa-welcomed-senate-vote-on-michael-graham-s-nomination-to-second-ntsb-term.html Trump's DEI crackdown further strains US supply of aircraft mechanics, industry officials say FAA workforce grants to train aircraft mechanics not awarded Applicants told to reapply once paperwork aligning with Trump administration's DEI stance is issues Industry group expects 10% shortfall in certified mechanics required to meet U.S. commercial aviation needs Sept 17 (Reuters) - Plans to combat a U.S. shortage of aircraft mechanics are in limbo after funds aimed at training a mostly male workforce are being held up by government efforts to remove mention of diversity, equity and inclusion from its own notices of available grants, industry officials told Reuters. Lawmakers last year pledged tens of millions of dollars to train workers to repair and build planes to meet surging demand for maintenance and higher production from jetmakers Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab and Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab, but the grants have not been issued, they said. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/trumps-dei-crackdown-further-strains-us-supply-aircraft-mechanics-industry-2025-09-17/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 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 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis