Flight Safety Information - October 31, 2025 No. 218 In This Issue : Airbus A320-251N - Engine Failure (New York) : Airbus A320-232 - Control Issues (Tampa, FL) : JetBlue flight makes emergency landing after plane loses altitude, passengers injured : Newark airport grounds planes as government shutdown staffing shortage leaves FAA struggling : Pilot Reported No Braking Action before CJ4 Overrun : FAA employees furloughed, working without pay during government shutdown : 737 aircraft close call while landing at San Antonio airport : Boeing pushes 777X jet deliveries to 2027 amid certification delays : Texas officials scramble after Trump administration halts U.S.-Mexico flights : Vietjet finalises order for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft : How Often Do Medical Emergencies Occur On Airplanes? What Passengers And Physicians Need To Know : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST : Calendar of Event Airbus A320-251N - Engine Failure (New York) Date: Thursday 30 October 2025 Time: c. 13:02 LT Type: Airbus A320-251N Owner/operator: Frontier Airlines Registration: N394FR MSN: 10981 Year of manufacture: 2022 Engine model: CFMI CFM LEAP-1A26 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK/KJFK), New York, NY - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU/TJSJ) Destination airport: New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Frontier flight 3546, an Airbus A320-251N, declared an emergency due to a reported engine failure while enroute to KJFK. A ground stop was ordered. The airplane landed uneventfully. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/560961 Airbus A320-232 - Control Issues (Tampa, FL) Date: Thursday 30 October 2025 Time: 17:48 UTC Type: Airbus A320-232 Owner/operator: JetBlue Airways Registration: N605JB MSN: 2368 Year of manufacture: 2005 Engine model: IAE V2527-A5 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: 300 km SW of Tampa, FL, USA - Atlantic Ocean Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Cancún Airport (CUN/MMUN) Destination airport: Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: JetBlue Flight B61230, an Airbus A320-232, was en route at FL350 when it experienced control issues that lead to a loss of altitude. The flight diverted to Tampa (TPA). Between 15 and 20 people were injured. ADS-B data indicate that the flight took off from Cancun (CUN) at 17:03 UTC, on a flight to Newark, NJ (EWR). A sudden loss of altitude (about 100 feet) was registered about 17:48 UTC. At 18:18 UTC the flight safely landed at TPA. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/560989 JetBlue flight makes emergency landing after plane loses altitude, passengers injured JetBlue flight makes emergency landing after plane loses altitude, passengers injured A JetBlue flight traveling from Mexico to New Jersey on Thursday made an emergency landing after experiencing a drop in altitude, leaving several passengers injured, according to the airline. The flight landed in Tampa, Florida, where some were transported to the hospital, JetBlue said in a statement. The flight was traveling from Cancun to Newark when the incident happened. Pilots told air traffic controllers that at least three passengers were injured with possible lacerations. The weather in the area was calm, and the pilots told air traffic control the injuries were due to a flight control issue. The Airbus A320 was headed to Newark Liberty International Airport and has now been grounded while the Federal Aviation Administration and JetBlue investigate. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jetblue-flight-makes-emergency-landing-220124506.html Newark airport grounds planes as government shutdown staffing shortage leaves FAA struggling Newark airport grounds planes as government shutdown staffing shortage leaves FAA struggling Newark Liberty International Airport has grounded planes as staffing shortages from the ongoing government shutdown leaves the Federal Aviation Administration struggling. The ground delay went into effect at 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday and is expected to last until 11 p.m. Passengers can expect their planes to be delayed by an average of 40 minutes. Air traffic controller shortages have become a major burden on American travelers during the government shutdown and it will only get worse with the busy Thanksgiving and winter holidays fast approaching. Over the weekend, there were more than 50 staffing shortages at airports across the country, CNN reported. There were more than 7,000 flight delays within, into or out of the U.S. on Monday, more than 4,000 Tuesday and nearly 3,000 by Wednesday afternoon, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Unpaid air traffic controllers have been increasingly calling out sick, making it more difficult to staff towers that are crucial to the safety of the millions of Americans who take to the skies every day. “My message has been to the controllers, ‘Show up, that’s your job. Eventually, you’re gonna be paid.’ But there’s real-life situations that they’re dealing with, with their families,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently told Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures. It is day 29 of the government shutdown and Democrats and Republicans remain in gridlock over a bill to fund federal agencies. Democrats are demanding a reversal in Medicaid cuts laid out in President Donald Trump’s massive spending bill, which he signed in July, and an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies for their support of a funding bill. Republicans have baselessly claimed Democrats want to give free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, despite the group not being eligible for federal healthcare programs. There are exceptions for emergency care. The last government shutdown — which lasted 35 days during Trump’s first term — also saw an influx of air traffic controllers calling out sick, causing sweeping flight delays that helped pressure politicians to open the government. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/newark-airport-grounds-planes-government-202643963.html Pilot Reported No Braking Action before CJ4 Overrun Preliminary report does not mention if parking brake was pulled A Citation overran a Kentucky runway and struck a house September 2025 The sole-occupant pilot of the Cessna Citation CJ4 that overran the runway and struck a house near Mayfield, Kentucky, on September 18 reported “no braking action” after landing, according to an NTSB preliminary report. He told investigators that the airplane, registered N577RT, had just completed maintenance at St. Louis Regional Airport (KALN) and was returning to its base at Mayfield Graves County Airport (M25). The flight was operated under Part 91. According to the report, the flight was uneventful until landing. The pilot said he performed a straight-in visual approach to Runway 19 and “configured the airplane for landing later than intended” but was stabilized for touchdown. He touched down on the runway centerline and “deployed the ground spoilers and pressed firmly on the brakes” but observed no braking action as the airplane continued to roll. “The pilot applied greater force to the brakes; however, the airplane began to veer to the right, and there was still no observed slowing of the airplane,” the report notes. Determining there was insufficient runway to go around, the pilot continued rolling with the engines at idle, maintaining directional control while “applying downward force to the yoke.” The airplane exited the runway end, went through the airport’s perimeter fence, crossed Kentucky Route 58, and hit a house. AIN previously reported that local responders found the aircraft had crossed the road and struck an occupied home; the resident was uninjured, and the pilot had no visible injuries. Substantial damage to the aircraft’s left wing and fuselage was sustained, but there was no post-impact fire. Weather was reported as clear with light winds and good visibility, and the aircraft was retained for further examination. The NTSB noted that the information is preliminary and subject to change. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-10-29/pilot-reported-zero-braking-action-cj4-overrun FAA employees furloughed, working without pay during government shutdown LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The ongoing government shutdown has left many Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees furloughed or working without pay, causing significant financial strain and raising concerns about the nation’s air safety infrastructure. For many, like Dylan Mulford, an FAA Environmental Tech and Professional Aviation Safety Specialist Union Representative, the impact hit home on Oct. 14. “Oct. 14 was our last paid check,” Mulford stated. “Tuesday, our pay stub came out and it said zero. Sixty percent were furloughed, which means they’re at home not working, obviously not paid and there’s the other 40% who would be us, who still make sure the airplanes land safely and take off safely.” Despite the lack of pay, both Mulford and William Cruise, an FAA Radar Tech and PASS Union Representative, emphasize their unwavering commitment to their mission, drawing on their military values. “We have a job to do, we raised our right hand, just like we did in the military. We took that oath to make sure our nation is safe, and we continue to do our work, because that is what we do,” Mulford said. However, the dedication comes with a personal cost. Mulford and Cruise, like many other families working in the government, face immense stress wondering when their next paycheck will arrive. They drive an hour to work four days a week, now without compensation. “I’m pretty stressed. I had to call today to get the loans put on forbearance for the house,” Cruise shared. “Then just trying to parcel out savings and other little bits of income we have come in to try to make it stretch and telling the kids no and we can’t do this, and we can do that. They are old enough to understand but it still hurts.” Beyond personal finances, the shutdown is creating operational challenges. Cruise and Mulford highlighted concerns about equipment maintenance. “We won’t be able to get parts for the radar that spins,” Cruise said. “Other equipment the air traffic controllers use to get the airplanes in, if it breaks and we don’t have a spare, we won’t be able to get another one.” The government shutdown also directly affects critical training programs. As of Oct. 3, some employees at FAA training academy in Oklahoma were sent home due to a lack of funding. This halt in training is particularly concerning for employees who are vital to modernizing the National Airspace System. “Controllers have been understaffed for years, along with us technicians for years,” Cruise explained. “For them it takes 2-3 years to qualify here in Lake Charles and for us it takes 2-3 years to go out on your own and get comfortable with the system alone.” Mulford and Cruise are urging the community to contact their congressmen and senators to advocate for an end to the government shutdown. https://www.kplctv.com/2025/10/31/faa-employees-furloughed-working-without-pay-during-government-shutdown/ 737 aircraft close call while landing at San Antonio airport UPDATE - San Antonio International Airport has released a statement on the incident involving a Southwest 737 arriving from Oklahoma City, conducting an emergency maneuver to avoid a collision. At approximately 3:00 pm today, Air Traffic Control (ATC) confirms that a Southwest Airlines (SWA) plane was still 4.1 miles from San Antonio International Airport when it was instructed by ATC to perform a standard procedure called a "go around maneuver" to maintain a safe distance between itself and another aircraft that was on the runway," said Tonya Hope with San Antonio International Airport. "The SWA aircraft landed safely on the second approach without incident. **** SAN ANTONIO - A 737 airplane had a close call while landing at San Antonio International Airport late Thursday afternoon. The plane appears to have come dangerously close to another plane that was on the runway they were about to land on. At about 3:30 p.m., the Southwest Airlines plane was about 150 feet off the ground, getting ready to land, when all of a sudden the pilot abruptly pulled the plane back up in the air. The plane then turned right, circling the area once before the pilot was able to safely land the aircraft. A witness on the plane tells us that the pilot later said there was a plane on the runway that they were about to land on. The Southwest Flight 576 departed from Oklahoma City earlier Thursday. At least 100 people were aboard the flight. They were able to safely get off the plane. "Pilots are trained to perform go-arounds anytime there is an issue with an approach to landing. It's a standard maneuver, to the point that a 'missed-approach' course is spelled out on the aeronautical charts for every airport. Since they happen rarely, passengers tend to notice them and ask questions. I verified with my dispatchers that the crew noted nothing usual about this flight beyond the mention that they went around and landed safely about 10 minutes later," said Southwest Airline spokesman Lynn Lunsford. We have reached out to the San Antonio Airport and have not yet heard back. We also reached out the FAA for more information, but because of the lapse in funding due to the federal government shutdown, the FAA is not responding to routine media inquiries. They did send us a statement, “As Secretary Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations. For real-time flight impacts at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit www.fly.faa.gov." https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/near-miss-at-san-antonio-airport-as-planes-nearly-collide-on-runway-southwest-airlines-landing-flight-aircraft-texas-oklahoma-city Boeing pushes 777X jet deliveries to 2027 amid certification delays Boeing reported mixed third-quarter results on Wednesday, as higher aircraft deliveries and a growing backlog of orders were offset by continued certification delays for its 777X jets. CEO Kelly Ortberg said the first delivery of Boeing's next generation of long-haul, wide-body jets is now expected in 2027 instead of 2026, resulting in a $4.9 billion charge in the quarter through September. But Ortberg emphasized in a call with analysts that the delays stemmed from the certification process, and not from any newly discovered technical issues. “While we are disappointed in the 777 delays, it shouldn't overshadow the progress we're making," he said. Ortberg said Boeing was making progress on stabilizing its production. The aerospace giant delivered 160 planes in the third quarter, the most quarterly deliveries since 2018. The same time last year, Boeing said it delivered 116 planes. Boeing also reported that its backlog of orders had grown to $636 billion in the third quarter. The growing backlog includes 5,900 commercial planes, with big 777X orders from Qatar Airways, which is waiting on 124 jets, and Dubai-based Emirates, which has ordered 205 of them. “There’s strong demand in our products,” Ortberg said in an interview Wednesday morning with CNBC. Boeing says the 777X “will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet,” with a larger cabin and better fuel efficiency. In September, the Federal Aviation Administration restored Boeing's ability to perform final safety checks and certify 737 Max jets for flight more than six years after two crashes of the then-new aircraft killed 346 people. That decision was followed by the FAA's move this month to raise Boeing's 737 Max production limit that it had set in January 2024, after a door plug flew off an Alaska Airlines jet. Boeing is now allowed to build 42 Max jets per month, up from 38, and Ortberg said Wednesday that the company expects to raise that cap further once it demonstrates to the FAA that it can do so safely. If the FAA approves future production boosts, Ortberg said, they'd come in increments of five jets and wouldn't happen more than once every six months. “We won’t move to higher rates until we reach stability and readiness,” he said. Boeing also reported $238 million in free cash flow, marking its first cash flow-positive quarter since 2023. But that figure was partly boosted by a delay in a potential $700 million payment to the Justice Department, part of a still-pending deal under consideration by a federal judge that could spare Boeing from criminal prosecution in the two deadly 737 Max crashes. The crashes off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia happened less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and were later blamed on a new software system that Boeing developed for the aircraft. Meanwhile, a strike was ongoing at three Midwest plants in the St. Louis area. About 3,200 machinists who build military jets and weapons systems walked off the job on Aug. 4 as negotiations stalled over key issues, including retirement benefits and wage increases. The workers rejected Boeing's latest contract offer over the weekend. It was the fourth time that the workers voted against a proposed deal. “If Boeing is serious about culture change and rebuilding its brand, it starts with respecting the people who make its success possible,” the union representing the workers said Wednesday in a statement after Boeing posted its quarterly results. The strike is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 workers who assemble commercial jetliners but still threatens to complicate the company’s progress in regaining its financial footing. Boeing said Wednesday it was still carrying out its “contingency plan” during the latest strike, which the company has said includes hiring replacement workers and leaning on its non-union workers during the work stoppage. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-pushes-777x-jet-deliveries-191822995.html Texas officials scramble after Trump administration halts U.S.-Mexico flights One day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy ordered the immediate cancellation of more than a dozen flight routes between the United States and Mexico, officials in McAllen - whose McAllen International Airport is one of four Texas airports affected by the route cancellations - issued a response condemning the order. "McAllen stands at the front line of regional connectivity, commerce and community. A ban on flights to Mexico strikes at the heart of our binational economy, our families, and our cultural ties," McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos stated in a news release on Thursday. Mexico's flagship air carrier, Aeromexico, began offering daily nonstop flights from McAllen to Felipe Angeles International Airport in Mexico City at the start of February 2024. At the time, the international route was much vaunted by McAllen city leaders, who said it would help propel regional economic development. The new route also came amidst years-long efforts by the city to expand business and diplomatic relationships in Mexico. Those efforts have included trade missions to the Mexican states of Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Querétaro, Tamaulipas, and others, as well as sister city or friendship city agreements with numerous Mexican cities. On Thursday, officials said the Aeromexico route to the Mexican capital is vital to those diplomatic and economic efforts. "This route has been a strong performer for McAllen and the entire Rio Grande Valley. It's more than a flight, it's a vital economic artery that supports commerce, tourism, and family connections across our binational region," McAllen City Manager Isaac "Ike" Tawil said in the release. "We recognize the importance of protecting the livelihoods of our constituents and the economic momentum we've built together." The city has also called on the Valley's federal lawmakers to intercede, including U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar - both Democrats - and Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, whose District 15 encompasses McAllen. Already, the Valley delegation is working to find solutions that support "national security goals." "McAllen encourages the U.S. Department of Transportation and its counterpart in Mexico to work quickly to fully restore full network connectivity," Tawil said. The Trump administration has unilaterally cancelled more than a dozen existing or planned flight routes between the United States and Mexico as part of a crackdown on what it calls Mexico's "continued abuse" of a decade-old aviation agreement. The cancellation halts Mexican carriers from flying so-called "combination service" routes that transport both passengers and cargo into the United States. The new order, handed down by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy this week, affects flights originating from Felipe Angeles International Airport - which is located about 24 miles north of the Mexican capital - to more than a dozen American airports, including four in Texas. "Mexico has illegally cancelled and frozen U.S. carrier flights for three years without consequences. All the while, Mexican carriers have been adding new routes and services between MEX and the United States," federal transportation officials stated in a news release on Tuesday, October 28. "MEX" refers to the largest airport in Mexico City, the Benito Juarez International Airport. What airports are affected by the route cancellations? Among the Texas routes now impacted are Aeromexico's flights from Felipe Angeles to the George Bush International Airport in Houston and McAllen International Airport (MFE), and Aerobus' proposed routes to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and Houston. The McAllen route had been a much-celebrated recent addition to the Rio Grande Valley's busiest airport. McAllen welcomed the Mexican flagship carrier with passenger flights that started just last February. The arrival of Aeromexico was part of a massive growth spurt for McAllen, which also welcomed Volaris and new Delta routes in 2024. Other impacts include Aeromexico and Volaris routes from Mexico City to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Newark, New Jersey, and Aerobus' proposed routes to New York City, Orlando, Florida, Denver, Colorado, Los Angeles, and Miami. Why is the United States canceling Mexican flight routes? U.S. officials allege that the Mexican federal government has interfered with the ability of American airlines to competitively operate in Mexico by deliberately gaming which carriers have access to the country's largest and busiest airport. Since 2023, the Mexican government has intentionally frozen American carriers out of operating at MEX, in part, to attempt to stimulate growth at nearby Felipe Angeles International Airport, transportation officials stated in Tuesday's order halting the routes. "(T)he Department found that the magnitude of these moves by the Mexican authorities calls into question the extent to which the (government of Mexico) may use… practices at MEX to skew competitive dynamics between air carriers or airports," the order reads, in part. In February 2023, Mexico's then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador issued a presidential order prohibiting airlines from conducting cargo-only flights out of the Mexico City airport. But combination service flights - those where airlines carry both passengers as well as cargo in a plane's belly - were still allowed. That decree put American air cargo carriers at a "competitive imbalance" as they were forced to take on higher costs to move operations to other Mexican airports, U.S. officials claim. At the same time, Mexican officials had also reduced overall flight capacity at MEX by declaring that the airport had become too "saturated." As a result, the Mexican airport revoked the takeoff and landing permits for three American carriers (American, Delta and United), and three Mexican carriers (Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris), which flew passenger routes. "It is notable that these sudden capacity reductions at MEX were implemented at a time when the (government of Mexico) was actively looking to increase traffic at NLU, which - despite efforts from the Lopez Obrador administration - was struggling to attract services," Tuesday's transportation order reads. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/continued-abuse-trump-administration-cancels-164219717.html Vietjet finalises order for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft Vietjet, Vietnam’s largest private airline, has successfully converted its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June, into a firm order for 100 A321neo aircraft. London, United Kingdom, 30 October 2025 - Vietjet, Vietnam’s largest private airline, has converted its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June, into a firm order for 100 A321neo aircraft. The finalisation of this contract underscores Vietjet’s commitment to its network expansion and fleet modernisation strategy, bringing its total orders for the A321neo to 280 aircraft. This landmark agreement follows closely on Vietjet’s earlier order of 20 A330neo widebody aircraft in May, further solidifying its long-term strategic partnership with Airbus. Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: “This is not merely a commercial contract, but a symbol of trust, aspiration, and a shared vision for sustainable development and global connectivity.” “The A321neo’s proven efficiency and flexibility make it the ideal platform to support Vietjet’s ambitious expansion,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “Combined with the A330neo, this fleet will deliver the best economics and seamless commonality across operations, hallmarks of the Airbus product family.” The A321neo, the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offers long range and exceptional performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo provides a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort. At the end of September 2025, more than 7,100 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by nearly 100 customers across the globe. The A321neo is able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target to increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030, directly supporting the aviation industry’s sustainability goals. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-10-vietjet-finalises-order-for-100-airbus-a321neo-aircraft How Often Do Medical Emergencies Occur On Airplanes? What Passengers And Physicians Need To Know A few years ago, I was half-asleep on a red-eye flight from Hawaii to San Francisco when I heard the dreaded words, “Is there a doctor on board? Please come to the front of the plane!” After taking a moment to compose myself, I got out of my seat and made my way to the front of the airplane. A heavy-set man in his mid-40s was having difficulty breathing. Besides myself (a radiologist), three other health professionals showed up: An ICU nurse, an obstetrics nurse, and a newly graduated doctor literally a week out of medical school about to start her internship. So how often does something like this happen? (We will return to the rest of my story later.) A recent paper by Dr. Paulo Alves and colleagues looked into this question. Based on their review of more than 77,000 medical events on commercial flights on 84 airlines between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, they found the following: * In-flight medical events occurred in 1 out of 212 flights. * Most of the time, the flight did not need to be diverted for an emergency landing. Only 1.7% of medical events required an unscheduled diversion to a closer airport. * Most of the diversions were for patients with suspected stroke or acute cardiac emergency (e.g., heart attack). * The overwhelming majority of patient did ok. Only 0.4% of patients required CPR (293 out of 77,790). Only 0.4% of patients died during the flight or shortly after landing (312 out of 77,790). * The most frequently administered treatment was oxygen. Other frequently used treatments from the medical kit included non-narcotic pain relievers and anti-nausea medications. * The captain has the final decision whether to divert a flight. He or she will definitely consider the recommendation on the on-board physician, but the captain must also consider issues such as weather, fuel status, and overall safety of the entire airplane. So, what lessons should patients and doctors take from this article on in-flight medical events? For patients: * You will probably be ok. * The flight crew can easily connect the volunteer medical helpers via radio with emergency physicians on the ground. If the in-flight doctor is, say, a radiologist or a dermatologist, they can get real-time assistance from a true ER physician. * If you have a health condition where your breathing status may become impaired, consider bringing your own oxygen on board. The cabin air pressure is typically kept at a level equivalent to 6,000-8,000 feet above sea level, so the amount of oxygen you inhale may be less than you normally experience at home. Think of flying on an airplane as comparable to suddenly travelling to Aspen, Colorado for a few hours, and prepare accordingly. If you are the physician responding to the call for help: * Feel free to ask for assistance/advice from the ground-based physicians. * If you are worried about legal liability, know that “Good Samaritan” laws should protect you as long as you do your conscientious best to deliver good care in a tricky situation. * Give oxygen if you suspect respiratory difficulties. Give food or drink with sugar if the patient might be suffering from low blood sugar. For fellow physicians, I also highly recommend this classic review article from the New England Journal Of Medicine, “In-Flight Medical Emergencies during Commercial Travel.” This article is aimed at physicians who don’t normally deal with emergencies, but might be asked to handle one mid-flight. (I keep a printed copy in my carry-on luggage whenever I fly.) In our case, the passenger was uncomfortable but still conscious and able to answer basic questions about his symptoms, his relevant health history, and current medications. We helped him lie as flat as possible in the cramped space of the airplane, then used the airline medical kit to check his pulse, breathing, oxygen level, and blood pressure. Those were all normal. The flight crew hooked him up with emergency oxygen, and he started to feel a little bit better. We also gave him some juice to drink and some light snacks to nibble on. Because we were flying over the Pacific Ocean, there was no place to divert the plane closer than our destination of San Francisco. We made him as comfortable as possible for the duration of the flight (approximately two hours), and he remained stable. Once we landed at SFO, paramedics took him immediately to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. I don’t know what happened to him after that, but the paramedics’ best guess was that he would be ok. In-flight medical emergencies are thankfully rare. But with billions of passengers travelling by air each year, the incidence will not be zero. Patients and physicians can take a few simple steps to optimize everyone’s chances of a good outcome. https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulhsieh/2025/10/30/how-often-do-medical-emergencies-occur-on-airplanes-what-passengers-and-physicians-need-to-know/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Dear Fellow Pilot, Researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are conducting a study to better understand the mental health of professional pilots and the barriers they may face in seeking support. If you are currently a professional pilot, working in any sector and region of the global aviation industry, you are invited to participate in this anonymous, voluntary survey. The survey includes questions on anxiety, depression, self-stigma, and attitudes toward disclosing mental health concerns to civil aviation regulatory bodies (e.g., FAA, EASA, CAA, ANAC, etc.). It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. No identifying information or IP addresses will be collected, and all responses will remain completely confidential. Your participation will help identify key challenges and support the development of resources and industry practices that prioritize pilot well-being and safety. Thank you for your time and contribution to this important research. Link to the Survey Questionnaire https://forms.gle/AnJuk3TZ2u96SpFq9 Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss this further. Best Regards, Bill Deng Pan Ph.D. in Aviation Student CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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