Flight Safety Information - January 06, 2026 No. 004 In This Issue : Incident: Delta A321 near Kansas City on Jan 3rd 2026, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Qatar A35K at London on Jan 4th 2026, nose gear steering problem : Incident: Jetblue A320 near Daytona Beach on Jan 4th 2026, engine oil leak : Incident: Qantas A388 at Sydney on Jan 4th 2026, rejected takeoff : Incident: Caraibes A333 at Fort de France on Jan 4th 2026, engine shut down in flight : Pilot files lawsuit against Boeing after door plug blowout during 2024 flight : Report: 737 Fuselage Deliveries Slow in December : Federal aviation notice warned of slackline before deadly helicopter crash in Arizona : No injuries after small aircraft with six onboard veers off runway in Rutland, Vermont : India Prohibits In-Flight Use of Power Banks Under Updated Aviation Safety Advisory: : Calendar of Events Incident: Delta A321 near Kansas City on Jan 3rd 2026, engine shut down in flight A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N349DX performing flight DL-2883 from Denver,CO to Detroit,MI (USA) with 169 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL350 about 40nm west of Kansas City,MO (USA) when the right hand engine (CFM56) failed prompting the crew to shut the engine down and divert to Kansas City, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 01L about 30 minutes later. A replacement A321-200 registration N313DN continued the flight and reached Detroit with a delay of about 9:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Kansas City about 48 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53254db5&opt=0 Incident: Qatar A35K at London on Jan 4th 2026, nose gear steering problem A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000, registration A7-ANE performing flight QR-109 from Doha (Qatar) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was on approach to London's runway 27R when the crew initiated a go around at about 1500 feet MSL due to a problem with the nose gear steering. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 27L and landed safely about 15 minutes later. The aircraft stopped on the runway for about 30 minutes and was towed off the runway. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4 hours, then departed for the return flight and reached Doha with a delay of about 2.5 hours. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53253ee8&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A320 near Daytona Beach on Jan 4th 2026, engine oil leak A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N570JB performing flight B6-668 from West Palm Beach,FL to Westchester County,NY (USA), was enroute at FL350 about 150nm eastnortheast of Daytona Beach,FL (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Daytona Beach reporting the right hand engine (V2527) was leaking oil. The aircraft landed safely on Daytona Beach's runway 25R about 30 minutes later. A replacement A320-200 registration N594JB reached Westchester County with a delay of about 6.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Daytona Beach about 14 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=5325326c&opt=0 Incident: Qantas A388 at Sydney on Jan 4th 2026, rejected takeoff A Qantas Airbus A380-800, registration VH-OQB performing flight QF-1 from Sydney,NS (Australia) to Singapore (Singapore), was accelerating for takeoff from Sydney's runway 16R when the crew rejected takeoff at about 80 knots over ground. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. Passengers reported the passengers disembarked after the return to the gate and were told, it was a technical problem, an instrumentation problem. The aircraft was able to depart about 5 hours later and reached Singapore with a delay of about 5:20 hours. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=53252d56&opt=0 Incident: Caraibes A333 at Fort de France on Jan 4th 2026, engine shut down in flight An Air Caraibes Airbus A330-300, registration F-ORLY performing flight TX-517 from Fort de France (Martinique) to Paris Orly (France) with 351 people on board, was climbing out of Fort de France's runway 10 when the right hand engine (PW4168) failed emitting a bang and streaks of flames. The crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet, shut the engine down and returned to Fort de France for a safe landing on runway 10 about 25 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Fort de France about 14 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=5324f642&opt=0 Pilot files lawsuit against Boeing after door plug blowout during 2024 flight The pilot of a passenger jet that made an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug blew out mid-flight is suing Boeing for $10 million. PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - The pilot of a passenger jet that made an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug blew out mid-flight is suing Boeing for $10 million. The complaint was filed in Multnomah County by Brandon Fisher, who was flying the 737 Max that experienced explosive decompression shortly after takeoff from PDX on Jan. 5, 2024. According to the lawsuit, Fisher and his co-pilot successfully returned to PDX and everyone on the flight survived despite all the chaos. But instead of praise, the lawsuit says Boeing attempted to shift blame, claiming that Fisher and the first officer made mistakes that contributed to the incident. The NTSB says Boeing was at fault after it failed to make sure the door plug was properly installed. Fisher, who lives in Vancouver, says the incident caused emotional distress and affected his quality of life. Boeing has not commented on the lawsuit. https://www.kptv.com/2026/01/06/pilot-files-lawsuit-against-boeing-after-door-plug-blowout-during-2024-flight/ Report: 737 Fuselage Deliveries Slow in December The delivery of 737 Max fuselages to Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington, slowed in December, meaning the aerospace manufacturer is likely behind its production target for the type. According to a report from BNP Paribas Equity Research, the number of 737 fuselages transported by rail from Spirit AeroSystems' facility in Wichita, Kansas, to Washington fell to the low 30s last month. That would put the manufacturer behind its monthly goal of 42 Max jets. The slowdown could be linked to holiday seasonality, analysts said, since a corresponding drop in deliveries was observed in January 2025. Fuselages transported to Boeing in December will likely be delivered as aircraft early this year. BNP Paribas Equity Research also estimated the number of 787 Dreamliners being produced monthly based on flights of Boeing's Dreamlifters, widebody cargo aircraft that transport components for the 787. There were around 70 Dreamlifter flights in December, analysts said, which implies production of six Dreamliners per month, close to the company's target of seven per month. Boeing in October won approval from the FAA to increase 737 production from 38 to 42 per month. The cap was put in place after a door plug on a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines blew out during flight, causing an uncontrolled decompression. The FAA has said it will continue to monitor production at Boeing. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/report-737-fuselage-deliveries-slow-205428556.html Federal aviation notice warned of slackline before deadly helicopter crash in Arizona Federal aviation records show a notice was issued to pilots that a tightrope would be stretched across a mountainous area of Arizona, providing a warning to watch out for the temporary obstacle Federal aviation records show that a week before a fatal helicopter crash, a notice was issued that a tightrope would be stretched across a mountainous area of Arizona, providing a warning for pilots to watch out for the temporary obstacle as they charted flights through the region. The helicopter pilot and three family members were killed after colliding with that slackline near Telegraph Canyon. Authorities say a witness reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board will be combing through the wreckage over the coming weeks as they try to determine what led up to the Jan. 2 crash. The case is making ripples through the aviation world, with safety experts unaware of any other helicopter crashes that have involved a slackline. Power lines and unmarked cables are a perpetual concern for helicopter pilots because they are inherently difficult to see without markers, lighting or other infrastructure like power poles, said Tom Anthony, director of the Aviation Safety and Security Program at the University of Southern California. He said it's important for pilots to review Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, while planning their flights. Under FAA regulations, that means checking for any notices that might be issued along an entire flight path, not just where a flight departs or lands. The Federal Aviation Administration says pilots also should review notices within 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) of their flight path to be safe. Such notices can warn pilots about anything from slacklines to work along certain runways and what airspace might be restricted. Anthony acknowledges there can be many notices to review. “It can be a drudge, a chore, but you've got to do it,” he said. It will be up to federal investigators to determine if there were any mechanical issues or other problems leading up to the crash. It could be months before a final report is issued. Authorities on Monday confirmed the identities of those who were killed. They were David McCarty, the 59-year-old pilot, and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn Heideman. McCarty started Columbia Basin Helicopters in the 1990s, building the company into one that was awarded millions of dollars in federal contracts for firefighting support, agricultural spraying, seeding and other projects across nine western states. The company has offices in Oregon and Arizona. Philip Hofbauer of Ukiah, Oregon, has been friends with the McCarty family since grade school. Later in high school, he worked at their farm near the town of Echo, in eastern Oregon. “They’re all just amazing people. They’ve all been a huge inspiration in my life," he said of David McCarty, his siblings and their parents. Hofbauer told The Associated Press he would see McCarty when he would contract out his heavy equipment to help officials fight forest fires, and McCarty did the same with his helicopters. Hofbauer said losing four family members is just overwhelming, “a very tragic situation.” The crash happened about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Phoenix, after the helicopter had taken off from an airport in Queen Creek. It took crews hours to travel by foot to the remote area where the helicopter crashed. Authorities said the slackline was more than half a mile (more than a kilometer) long. The notice warning of the line was issued Dec. 26, noting that it would be up for several days and would be flagged and lit. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute, on average a few helicopter crashes each year can be attributed to striking wires or towers. However, the institute said FAA charts and apps that help pilots with flight planning, navigation, checklists and real-time data like weather can highlight obstacles. Hassan Shahidi has been flying for many years. As president and chief executive of the Flight Safety Foundation in Virginia, he said safety revolves around situational awareness and an understanding of the airspace. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing too many of these incidents where, you know, it’s really preventable," he said. "It should not happen.” https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-aviation-notice-warned-slackline-deadly-helicopter-crash-128930849 No injuries after small aircraft with six onboard veers off runway in Rutland, Vermont A small aircraft veered off the runway after landing at Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport on Sunday, with no injuries reported. Members from the Agency of Transportation confirmed that the incident took place on Sunday night, around 7:00 p.m. The aircraft, a P2012 Traveler made by Construzioni Aeronautiche Tecna, had two crew members and four passengers onboard when it landed at the airport and veered off the runway. "The aircraft veered to the right at a relatively slow rate of speed and had a runway excursion, which means, the aircraft left the runway surface," said Evan Robinson, aviation program manager with the Agency of Transportation. The plane came to a full stop in the grass 40 feet away from the runway edge. According to Robinson, no one was hurt and the airport infrastructure was unaffected. There was also no visible damage to the plane. The aircraft was operated by Cape Air. Cape Air runs flights from Rutland to Boston three times a day. Robinson says that while this type of incident is very rare, airports do have safety protocols in place to be prepared. "There are safeguards in place, such as designated object free areas and safety areas that surround the runway," he said. Passengers were able to exit the plane normally, then they were brought back to the terminal area in a shuttle. The airport stopped all air traffic for the next couple of hours while crews removed the plane and inspected the runway to make sure the area was safe. Robinson said safety is the number one priority. "Once that was complete and the maintenance personnel were able to make an inspection to ensure that there was no damage done or any further hazards to aircraft, pilots at that time, they reopened the airport." Robinson said. Robinson said Cape Air will conduct an investigation into why the plane veered off the runway unexpectedly and to further evaluate the condition of the plane. https://www.mynbc5.com/article/rutland-small-plane-incident-airport/69917227 India Prohibits In-Flight Use of Power Banks Under Updated Aviation Safety Advisory: India’s aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has issued an updated safety advisory affecting passengers traveling on domestic and international flights within the country. Under the revised guidelines, the use of power banks to charge personal electronic devices during flights has been prohibited. The restriction applies throughout the duration of the flight and includes the use of aircraft seat power outlets in combination with power banks. While passengers may still carry portable chargers onboard, their in-flight use is no longer allowed. The advisory forms part of broader aviation safety measures aimed at reducing potential risks associated with lithium-ion batteries during air travel. What the Updated Advisory Means for Air Travelers According to the updated directive, power banks and spare lithium batteries are permitted only in hand baggage. These items must not be placed in overhead compartments. Instead, passengers are required to keep them within easy reach during the flight. Airlines operating in India have been instructed to reinforce the restriction through revised pre-flight safety announcements and ongoing cabin crew monitoring. Travelers are expected to comply with the advisory by ensuring that power banks are neither used nor connected to charging outlets while airborne. The guidance applies uniformly, regardless of device type, and includes phones, tablets, and other portable electronics commonly carried by tourists. Changing Onboard Habits for Today’s Travelers In many cases, small adjustments in inflight routines often follow broader safety updates. Travelers may sometimes find that everyday conveniences require a bit more planning before departure. Such changes can gradually shape expectations around preparedness, encouraging passengers to think ahead about device usage, comfort, and self-sufficiency during the journey. How Safety Rules Shape the Travel Experience For travelers, aviation safety rules often influence how journeys are planned and experienced. Portable electronic devices have become an integral part of modern travel, particularly for long-haul or multi-segment trips. As safety advisories evolve, passengers are generally required to adapt their onboard habits accordingly. These changes tend to emphasize preparedness before boarding, encouraging travelers to manage device usage, battery levels, and entertainment needs in advance. Such adjustments are often seen as part of the broader responsibility shared between airlines and passengers to maintain a secure travel environment. Travel Awareness and Passenger Readiness in Modern Aviation Travelers are increasingly accustomed to safety-driven adjustments in air travel procedures. From cabin baggage rules to device usage guidelines, these measures are typically communicated to ensure clarity and compliance. Awareness of onboard restrictions is often viewed as an essential aspect of smooth travel, particularly for frequent flyers and tourists navigating multiple flights. By understanding and following updated advisories, passengers can reduce disruptions during the journey and contribute to a more orderly inflight experience without altering their overall travel plans. Airline Responsibilities and Cabin Procedures Airlines have been directed to update their safety briefings to reflect the new restriction on power bank usage. Cabin crew are required to monitor compliance throughout the flight and advise passengers on correct storage practices. Power banks must remain accessible so that any irregularity, such as overheating, can be detected promptly. These procedural updates are intended to ensure that crew members can respond quickly to potential safety concerns. For travelers, this means clearer communication before takeoff and consistent reminders during the flight regarding acceptable device handling. Why Lithium Battery Handling Matters During Flights The emphasis on hand baggage storage and restricted usage is linked to the known risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. When damaged, overcharged, or exposed to certain conditions, these batteries can generate excessive heat. In confined aircraft cabins, such incidents can escalate rapidly if not identified early. By keeping power banks within reach and prohibiting their active use during flight, the advisory aims to improve visibility and response capability for cabin crew. This approach aligns with established aviation safety practices focused on minimizing onboard hazards. What Travelers Should Keep in Mind Before Boarding Passengers planning air travel within India are encouraged to review airline safety announcements carefully and adjust their packing habits accordingly. Portable chargers should be carried in hand baggage and kept accessible throughout the journey. Devices should be sufficiently charged before boarding, as inflight charging via power banks will not be permitted. Compliance with these measures is expected to reduce interruptions during flights and support a safer environment for all travelers onboard. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/india-prohibits-in-flight-use-of-power-banks-under-updated-aviation-safety-advisory-what-you-need-to-know/ 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 Curt Lewis