Flight Safety Information - January 13, 2026 No. 009 In This Issue : Incident: Republic E170 at Savannah on Jan 8th 2026, smoke on flight deck : Incident: Indigo A21N at Gorakhpur on Jan 11th 2026, bird strike : Incident: Delta B712 enroute on Jan 10th 2026, lightning strike : Incident: Austrian A320 near Vienna on Jan 11th 2026, engine problems : Incident: American B772 near Los Angeles on Jan 9th 2026, water leak : NTSB Board Meeting · January 27, 2026 - Midair Collision : Delta Air Lines to Introduce Up to 60 Boeing 787 Aircraft : Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025 : How alcohol testing rules for pilots keep the skies safe – and how they differ across countries : Boeing sells 50 737 MAX jets to leasing group ACG : Calendar of Events Incident: Republic E170 at Savannah on Jan 8th 2026, smoke on flight deck A Republic Airways Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of United, registration N647RW performing flight UA-3496 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Savannah,GA (USA) with 71 people on board, was on final approach to Savannah's runway 10 when the crew went around due to visibility below minima and entered a hold. While in the hold the crew declared Mayday Mayday reporting smoke on the flight deck, they needed to divert to Jacksonville,FL (USA). While setting course to Jacksonville the crew queried the conditions at Charleston,SC (USA) and decided to divert there. The aircraft landed safely on Charleston's runway 15 about 45 minutes after the go around. A replacement ERJ-170 registration N640RW positioned to Charleston, continued the flight and reached Savannah the following day with a delay of about 13 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Charleston for about 17 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=532d378c&opt=0 Incident: Indigo A21N at Gorakhpur on Jan 11th 2026, bird strike An Indigo Airbus A321-200N, registration VT-IMR performing flight 6E-437 from Gorakhpur to Bangalore (India) with 216 people on board, was climbing out of Gorakhpur's runway 11 when a bird impacted the aircraft's nose. The crew stopped the climb at FL160 and decided to divert to Varanasi (India) where the aircraft landed safely on runway 27 about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft received dents and cracks to its radome. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Gorakhpur about 30 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=532d3068&opt=0 Incident: Delta B712 enroute on Jan 10th 2026, lightning strike A Delta Airlines Boeing 717-200, registration N919AT performing flight DL-2216 from Wichita,KS to Atlanta,GA (USA), was enroute at FL290 when the aircraft was struck by lightning. The aircraft continued to Atlanta for a safe landing on runway 26R. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DAMAGING THE LEFT SIDE DOOR, ATLANTA, GA." and stated, the damage was minor. The aircraft returned to service about 13 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=532d2c80&opt=0 Incident: Austrian A320 near Vienna on Jan 11th 2026, engine problems An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LXD performing flight OS-527 from Vienna (Austria) to Milan Linate (Italy), was enroute at FL320 about 50nm south of Salzburg (Austria) when the crew decided to return to Vienna due to problems with one of the engines (CFM56). The aircraft landed safely back on Vienna's runway 34 about 70 minutes after departure. The airline confirmed an engine problem. The rotation was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=532d2321&opt=0 Incident: American B772 near Los Angeles on Jan 9th 2026, water leak An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N797AN performing flight AA-83 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Auckland (New Zealand), had just levelled off at initial cruise level 320 when the crew decided to return to Los Angeles due to a water leak rendering a number of lavatories unusable. The aircraft landed safely back on Los Angeles' runway 07L about 55 minutes after departure. A passenger reported a flooding toilet caused a stench on board. A replacement Boeing 777-200 registration N765AN reached Auckland with a delay of about 19 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=532d2056&opt=0 NTSB Board Meeting · January 27, 2026 Midair Collision PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 Airplane and Sikorsky UH-60 Military Helicopterr On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public board meeting to determine the probable cause of the January 29, 2025, midair collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 regional jetliner and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. During the meeting, NTSB board members will discuss safety issues related to this crash and vote on the probable cause and safety recommendations designed to prevent similar crashes in the future. For More Information: Visit the event web page for details. Additional factual information is included in the public docket for the investigation. The docket includes reports, interview transcripts and other investigative materials. Delta Air Lines to Introduce Up to 60 Boeing 787 Aircraft The airline will purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft and also holds options for up to 30 additional aircraft. It has selected GEnx engines manufactured by GE Aerospace. Delta notes that the aircraft are optimal for transatlantic and South American routes and will replace older-generation widebody aircraft. In addition to improving fuel efficiency by 25 percent, the airline will expand its premium seating and increase cargo capacity. Delta Air Lines currently operates more than 460 Boeing aircraft. Its order backlog has expanded to 130 aircraft, including 100 Boeing 737-10 aircraft. https://en.traicy.com/posts/2026011331761/ Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025 Last year, Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft to 91 customers globally and registered 1,000 new gross orders in the Commercial Aircraft business. The backlog at the end of December 2025 increased to a new year-end record of 8,754 aircraft, highlighting the strong market demand for Airbus’ product portfolio. In a continued complex and dynamic operating environment, deliveries in 2025 maintained an upward trajectory. The year witnessed several landmark deliveries and welcomed new operators of the A220, the A321XLR, the A330neo and the A350-1000 across all regions. Airbus also won repeat orders and key new customers in both single aisle and widebody campaigns. The widebody backlog reached a new year-end record of 1,124 aircraft. https://aeronewsglobal.com/airbus-delivered-793-commercial-aircraft-in-2025/ How alcohol testing rules for pilots keep the skies safe – and how they differ across countries The way alcohol testing is implemented varies between countries. Ensuring that flight and cabin crew are fit for duty is a central part of how regulators and the crew themselves maintain safety. Around the world, regulators impose strict alcohol-related rules on flight crew, backed by legislation and operational testing regimes designed to prevent impaired performance. While the objective is the same in each jurisdiction, the way alcohol testing is implemented does vary slightly between countries. UK aviation alcohol limits and ramp testing explained Under UK law, the permitted alcohol limits for aviation personnel are set well below those applied to motorists. The regulations specify a maximum alcohol concentration of 9 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath. Equivalent limits apply for other testing methods, with a threshold of 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood and 27 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine. Alcohol testing has become an established element of aviation oversight through the Civil Aviation Authority’s ramp inspection programme. Inspectors are empowered to test pilots and cabin crew during routine ramp checks, targeting individuals who are assigned to operational duties at the time of inspection. Testing may be conducted on a random basis or where there is reasonable suspicion that a crew member may be impaired. Breath alcohol tests are carried out using approved devices that meet recognised European standards. If a crew member registers a result above the permitted limit, a confirmatory test is conducted, typically after a short waiting period, to ensure accuracy. The maximum allowable level is significantly below the legal driving limit – 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (or 35 micrograms per 100ml breath). Any crew member exceeding this limit or refusing to submit to testing is immediately removed from duty and prevented from operating the flight. The matter may also be referred to licensing authorities or law enforcement, depending on the circumstances. The legal basis for these powers is embedded in UK aviation safety regulations, which were amended following Brexit to retain and adapt European Union operational safety requirements. Alcohol testing is now a formal and expected part of ramp inspections, applicable to UK-registered operators as well as foreign airlines operating flights to or from the UK. Alcohol testing rules for pilots in Europe Across Europe, alcohol testing requirements are broadly aligned through common aviation safety regulations, which mandate that national authorities include alcohol testing as part of aircraft ramp inspections. These rules apply to both domestic operators and aircraft from third countries operating within European airspace. However, European states retain discretion to impose stricter national standards, leading to variation in how alcohol rules are applied in practice. Italy provides one of the clearest examples of this divergence. There, aviation authorities enforce a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol among flight crew and cabin crew on duty. Under the Italian regime, any detectable level of alcohol constitutes a breach. Testing is carried out using evidential-grade breathalysers, and the results can be used in administrative or judicial proceedings. As in the UK, testing applies only to crew members performing operational roles, and safeguards are in place to protect personal data. The contrast between Italy’s zero-alcohol standard and the UK’s low-threshold approach highlights how countries can interpret shared safety objectives differently. FAA alcohol testing programmes for pilots In the United States, alcohol testing is governed by a different regulatory model. Rather than relying primarily on ramp inspections, the Federal Aviation Administration requires airlines to implement comprehensive alcohol and drug testing programmes covering all safety-sensitive personnel, including pilots. These programmes mandate testing in specific circumstances, including random selection, reasonable suspicion, post-accident situations, and return-to-duty cases following a violation. Airlines are responsible for administering the programmes under FAA oversight, with detailed rules governing how tests are conducted and recorded. Under US regulations, personnel are immediately prohibited from carrying out safety-sensitive duties if a mandated alcohol test records a breath alcohol level of 0.04% or greater. Crew members are also stood down on a temporary basis if testing shows a breath alcohol concentration in the range of 0.02 to 0.039, even where the higher threshold has not been exceeded. US regulations specify a higher threshold than those used in the UK or parts of Europe, but this is offset by strict behavioural rules. Pilots are prohibited from flying with any measurable impairment and are expected to observe a minimum eight-hour period between consuming alcohol and reporting for flight duty – a concept referred to as “bottle to throttle.” Violations can result in immediate removal from flight duties, mandatory evaluation, and potential loss of licence. Why pilots are subject to very strict alcohol limits Alcohol consumption affects reaction time, judgement, coordination and decision-making – all critical functions for pilots and cabin crew operating complex aircraft in dynamic environments. Even small amounts of alcohol can degrade performance, particularly when combined with fatigue, jet lag or high workload. Aviation regulators, therefore, apply limits that are far stricter than those used for road transport. There have been cases in the past of crews in breach of these regulations. A Delta Air Lines captain was sentenced to 10 months in prison in 2024, after reporting for duty at Edinburgh Airport while exceeding the permitted alcohol limit ahead of a transatlantic passenger flight. The incident occurred in June 2023, when the pilot was preparing to operate a scheduled service from Edinburgh to New York. During a routine security check, airport officers searched the individual’s hand luggage and discovered two bottles of the herbal liqueur Jägermeister, one of which had already been partially consumed. Subsequent breath testing confirmed that the pilot’s alcohol level was more than double the maximum allowed under UK aviation regulations. The case was heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where the offence was described as a serious breach of aviation safety rules designed to protect the travelling public. The court was told that the individual, a 63-year-old resident of the US state of Georgia, had previously received treatment for alcohol dependency. https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/alcohol-testing-rules-pilots-safety-faa-caa-easa/ Boeing sells 50 737 MAX jets to leasing group ACG The order comes as Boeing is working to restore confidence in its 737 MAX jet Boeing said Tuesday that it had secured a firm order from the leasing firm Aviation Capital Group for 50 of its 737 MAX jets, the company's workhorse jet for the commercial airline industry. The contract comes as Boeing is scrambling to restore client confidence in the 737 MAX after two fatal crashes involving the jets in 2018 and 2019. Financial terms of the sale to ACG, a major leasing company, were not disclosed in a joint statement. ACG, a subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corp. based in California, now has 121 737 MAXs on order. Its latest order is for 25 of the MAX 8 versions and 25 of the bigger MAX 10 -- a version that has not yet received full certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "ACG's expanded order for the 737-10 reflects strong confidence in the airplane and its appeal to the lessor's customers worldwide," Boeing's commercial chief Brad McMullen said in the statement. Boeing was plunged into crisis after a MAX operated by Lion Air vanished from radars shortly after takeoff in October 2018 from Jakarta and crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people onboard. Less than five months later, in March 2019, another MAX crashed into a field minutes after takeoff from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. All 157 passengers and crew were killed. The successive disasters forced the grounding of the worldwide MAX fleet for 20 months as investigators probed defects in its flight control software, the MCAS anti-stall system. Boeing is scheduled to announce its full-year deliveries for 2025 later Tuesday, a day after its main rival Airbus said that it delivered 793 commercial aircraft last year, a slight increase from the previous year. Both companies have struggled to return to pre-pandemic production levels as their entire network of suppliers was disrupted, even as airlines are eager to modernise fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft and expand to meet an expected increase in passenger numbers over the coming decades. https://www.themountaineer.com/news/national/boeing-sells-50-737-max-jets-to-leasing-group-acg/article_0567d937-ccba-52ed-b6c7-da0200a6f731.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . Singapore Airshow 2026 - FEBRUARY 3-6, 2026. . VERTICON 2026 - Atlanta March 9-12 . 60th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium - March 31 - April 1, 2026 (Irving, TX) . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain) . ISASI - 2026 (September/October 2026) - Dubai, UAE . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis