Flight Safety Information - March 4, 2026 No. 045 In This Issue : Incident: GetJet A320 over Paris on Mar 3rd 2026, loss of cabin pressure : Boeing 737-860 (WL) - Birdstrike (Somalia) : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 22-23 September 2026 : Flight Attendants and Pilots Use These 4 Phrases on Board to Signal Emergencies—Here's What to Listen For : Pilot error behind midair collision of two S. Korean F-16s, Air Force says : Egypt, Libya sign aviation MoU to boost regional air safety : Singapore A350 Clips Wing on Spirit Aircraft : Qantas Releases New ‘Back to Basics’ Safety Video That Actually Focuses On Safety : United Airlines can now boot passengers who refuse to use headphones with their devices : Deucalion secures three A330s on lease to Wamos Air : Quantum navigation: the magnetic secret for precisely determining aircraft location : Calendar of Events Incident: GetJet A320 over Paris on Mar 3rd 2026, loss of cabin pressure A GetJet Airbus A320-200 on behalf of Air Senegal, registration LY-MAL performing flight HC-406 from Brussels (Belgium) to Dakar (Senegal), was enroute at FL350 over Paris (France) when the crew declared PAN PAN, initiated an emergency descent to FL100 and decided to return to Brussels. The aircraft landed safely on Brussels' runway 25L about one hour after departure and taxied to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Brussels about 11 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=535fc182&opt=0 Boeing 737-860 (WL) - Birdstrike (Somalia) Date: Tuesday 3 March 2026 Time: 13:08 UTC Type: Boeing 737-860 (WL) Owner/operator: Ethiopian Airlines Registration: ET-AQN MSN: 40967/4971 Year of manufacture: 2014 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-7B Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Mogadishu-Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ/HCMM) - Somalia Phase: Take off Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ/HCMM) Destination airport: Addis Ababa-Bole Airport (ADD/HAAB) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Ethiopian Airlines flight ET377 from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa, operated by a Boeing 737-800, ET-AQN, was on takeoff roll on runway 23 when the aircraft suffered a birdstrike into the number 1 engine. The takeoff was aborted. The engine cowling became damaged. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/567584 Flight Attendants and Pilots Use These 4 Phrases on Board to Signal Emergencies—Here's What to Listen For Experts explain the coded phrases flight crews may use to signal medical or in-flight emergencies. Different industries use various code words, shorthand, and lingo to communicate. The same can be said for aviation. Frequent flyers have likely heard crew say specific words to indicate a message, but certain phrases are considered more serious than others. According to the travel experts at Wander, hearing ‘Code 300’ or ‘Angel" means there is a deceased passenger on board. “Terms like ‘Code 300’ or ‘Angel’ are typically used by commercial airlines to discreetly signal a medical emergency onboard, often when a passenger is incapacitated, unresponsive, or in serious distress,” Jason Martinelli, the director of operations at Cirrus Aviation Services, told Travel + Leisure. However, he noted airlines “often have their own internal codes and operating procedure” for these types of scenarios. “While medical emergency protocols are universally taken seriously across global commercial aviation, the specific terminology, such as ‘Code 300’ or ‘Angel,’ is not fully standardized,” Martinelli added. Other code words could include "code yellow," which usually indicates a minor medical incident, "pan-pan," which indicates a serious, but non life-threatening emergency, and "mermaid," meant for passengers who purposely sprawl out across empty seats in order to get the row to themselves, according to luxury vacation rental company Wander. In general, flight crew use coded language to communicate to prevent "unnecessary panic and anxiety" among the passengers on board, said Martinelli, who has more than 30 years of experience in aviation as a pilot. “Announcing a medical emergency explicitly over the public address system could create fear, confusion, or crowding in the aisle,” he said. “Coded communication allows flight attendants and pilots to coordinate a response calmly and efficiently, while maintaining a composed cabin environment. The goal is to manage the situation discreetly while prioritizing safety and order.” But, as Martinelli said, using that coded language isn’t necessarily a rule of thumb for all pilots and other members of the flight crew. David Cox, the director of Acron Aviation Academy, told T+L he flew for airlines and corporate clients for more than 30 years and was not "familiar with codes being used by pilots to communicate with the flight crew over the PA system.” “Even after the September 11 attacks, we did not have standardized codes or phrases over the PA system," Cox added. However, Cox said there were other, subtle ways air crew used to communicate with one another during the flight. “Pilots would mostly use chimes to notify [crew] of situations. You hear these when aircraft pass 10,000 feet, when crew and passengers are notified to prepare for landing and remain seated, and we would use multiple to signify an emergency,” he said. “We also had a knock sequence that the cabin crew knew to enter the cockpit and communicate different situations.” https://www.travelandleisure.com/airline-emergency-code-words-decoded-11912478 Pilot error behind midair collision of two S. Korean F-16s, Air Force says Last month's crash of a fighter jet was the result of a rare midair collision caused by human error, the Air Force said Wednesday. The collision, involving two F-16C aircraft, occurred during a night training exercise on Feb. 25 caused by a pilot’s misjudgment while wearing night vision goggles, according to the Air Force. One of the aircraft later crashed in a mountainous area in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. According to the Air Force, the accident occurred when the external fuel tank mounted on the left side of the lead aircraft struck the right wing of the second jet during the training mission. The two pilots had taken off from Chungju Air Base in North Chungcheong Province at 6:58 p.m. that day to conduct a high-difficulty tactical exercise using night vision goggles. Shortly before the accident, the pilots were performing a battle damage check — the final step of the training in which pilots visually inspect another aircraft’s exterior for damage and fuel leaks, as well as the condition of external fuel tanks and weapons. As the aircraft approached the boundary of the designated training airspace during the inspection, the pilots turned to avoid leaving the mission area. In the process, the lead aircraft’s left external fuel tank collided with the right wing of the second jet. The impact caused the second aircraft’s head-up display to shut down and disrupted its flight control systems, making it difficult for the pilot to maintain control as the jet continued to lose altitude. Because the mission area was mountainous and the risk of ground collision was high, the pilot ejected after confirming there were no residential areas near the expected crash site. No civilian damage was reported, though the crash sparked a small forest fire that was quickly extinguished. The pilot of the lead aircraft, meanwhile, determined that the jet remained controllable despite minor damage and reported the emergency and crash location to air traffic control before returning safely to Chungju Air Base. Investigators concluded the lead pilot, while wearing night vision goggles, misjudged the distance and closure rate to the other aircraft, leading to the midair contact. While night vision goggles are essential for nighttime operations, they narrow a pilot’s field of view and reduce depth perception, requiring greater caution in maintaining formation, the Air Force said. “The Air Force deeply regrets causing concern to the public due to this accident,” the service said. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10687081 Egypt, Libya sign aviation MoU to boost regional air safety The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance coordination in the management and operation of Egyptian and Libyan airspace, ensuring the highest levels of safety and operational efficiency according to international standards. Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh Hefni and Head of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority Mohamed Abdel Salam Shalibk, attended the signing ceremony. The step aligns with the political leadership’s directives to strengthen Arab ties and regional partnerships. Hefni reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing technical support and institutional coordination to Libya, with a focus on integrating aviation safety, security, and airspace management between the two countries. The MoU provides for sharing expertise to restructure and develop Libyan airspace and implement advanced navigation technologies. It also sets the stage for better coordination of air traffic flows, supporting safer, more efficient flights. Hefni described the MoU as a major step toward regional airspace integration and the adoption of global aviation safety standards. He added that it would help improve flight connections, reduce travel times, lower operational costs, generate economic benefits, and boost the competitiveness of both countries’ airspace. “Egypt remains committed to expanding strategic partnerships with neighbouring countries to advance the region’s civil aviation sector,” the minister said. https://egyptian-gazette.com/egypt/egypt-libya-sign-aviation-mou-to-boost-regional-air-safety/ Singapore A350 Clips Wing on Spirit Aircraft The incident happened Tuesday morning at Newark. A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 clipped its right wing on the tail of a Spirit aircraft at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday. The incident happened while the A350 was pushing back from its gate at Terminal B, according to WABC-TV. The Spirit airplane, an A321, was stationary and going through deicing ahead of service to Orlando, Florida. No injuries to passengers or crew on either aircraft were reported. Spirit took the A321 out of service pending an evaluation by its maintenance team. The carrier said it made alternate arrangements to get customers to their final destinations. The Singapore Airlines flight was about to take off for Changi Airport in Singapore. Service was delayed while another aircraft was brought in. The FAA is investigating the accident. https://airlinegeeks.com/2026/03/03/singapore-a350-clips-wing-on-spirit-aircraft/ Qantas Releases New ‘Back to Basics’ Safety Video That Actually Focuses On Safety Australian flag carrier Qantas has just launched its latest safety video for 2026, and it looks as if the airline has been listening to aviation safety experts who had slammed its last few attempts, which had been mocked as masquerading as tourism videos. Unveiled with no fanfare whatsoever (in contrast to the last few safety videos from the Sydney-based airlines), Qantas’ latest safety video takes a welcome back-to-basics approach, and, frequent flyers will no doubt be pleased to hear, clocks in at less than four minutes. Compare that to the airline’s last big-budget production in 2024, which ran to nearly 10 minutes long, taking viewers on a wanderlust-inducing whistle-stop world tour, with safety messages sprinkled in to comply with regulatory guidelines. Qantas has now addressed complaints that its pre-flight safety video was getting far too long, going from just four minutes in 2013 to just over six minutes in 2017, a seven-minute version in 2018, and by 2020, stretching on for more than eight minutes. Unlike the last few safety videos, Qantas appears to have listened carefully to the feedback and has addressed many of the concerns head-on: The safety video is now mercifully shorter, clocking in at 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Safety scenes are presented in real-world aircraft cabins and cabin mockups that closely resemble the environment that passengers actually find themselves in. Safety messages are presented by cabin crew wearing the airline’s current uniform. Passengers are seen evacuating their aircraft without any hand luggage. If I were to have one critique, it’s that Qantas has used cabin shots from various aircraft types, which might not exactly mimic the environment of the aircraft that passengers are actually in. Nonetheless, the 2026 Qantas safety video is a huge departure from the fun videos of the past five years, and it’s an indication that the airline industry is listening to a growing chorus of concerns about the quality and content of safety. There is, however, some debate about whether amusing and entertaining safety videos are better at holding a passenger’s attention, compared to drier versions like the latest Qantas briefing. Aviation regulators have long given airlines a lot of scope in how they present their safety videos, just so long as the key regulatory safety messages are presented in some way or form. It then seemed as if airlines were in competition with one another to see who could come up with the most inventive safety video. That trend is now, however, beginning to die out. In 2024, captured the zeitgeist with its ‘no-nonsense’ safety video, which called out airlines using “dancers breaking into song, characters from movies, or celebrities trying to be funny.” Emirates chose to make its serious safety a point of difference, and other airlines are now following the lead. The real trendsetter, however, was Japan Airlines, which released a hard-hitting animated safety video in 2019, which showed the devastating consequences of not following safety rules. In one scene, passengers are shown trapped behind someone stopping to get their hand luggage during an emergency evacuation, and in another, a passenger is shown being injured as they attempt to take their bag onto the evacuation slide. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/03/04/qantas-releases-new-back-to-basics-safety-video-that-actually-focuses-on-safety/ United Airlines can now boot passengers who refuse to use headphones with their devices United Airlines is taking steps to limit noise in its planes' cabins, while still allowing travelers to use their personal electronic devices. United amended its so-called contract of carriage, which outlines the carrier's rules and policies, to require that all passengers wear headphones when listening to a device. The airline also said it reserves the right to remove anyone who doesn't comply with the new rules and potentially ban them from flying on United in the future. Any passenger listening to music, watching a video or scrolling a social media feed that emits sound must wear headphones, states the revised contract of carriage, which United quietly updated on Friday. The carrier also may "refuse transport, on a permanent basis," to any passengers who "fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content," according to the airline's new rules. Travel expert Scott Keyes told CBS News he's unaware of any other major U.S. airline that has adopted such a rule. Carriers encourage passengers to wear headphones, but none explicitly states that failure to comply with that request could result in removal from an aircraft, he said. "This is in line with how the vast majority of travelers comport themselves and would like others to comport themselves," he said. "It's usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones, so this is a graceful way to handle those folks." United notes on its website that, in some instances, it will provide customers who forget theirs a free pair of earbuds. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard "Don't worry if you forget your headphones for your flight. If they're available, you can request free earbuds," the airline states. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-remove-passengers-who-dont-wear-headphones/ Deucalion secures three A330s on lease to Wamos Air Deucalion Aviation has confirmed the acquisition of three Airbus A330 aircraft currently on lease to Wamos Air. Deucalion acted as arranger and servicer for the transaction on behalf of institutional investors. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines, were sourced and executed through Deucalion’s global origination network and reflect the firm’s continued focus on mid- to end-of-life widebody aircraft with durable lease profiles and strong asset optionality. The transaction expands Deucalion’s managed A330 portfolio and highlights the platform’s capabilities in sourcing, underwriting and actively managing complex widebody assets across market cycles. Nate Riggs, Chief Commercial Officer of Deucalion Aviation, welcomed the transaction with Wamos Air, noting that it highlights Deucalion’s ability to originate and execute multi-aircraft acquisitions in the mid-life widebody market. “Our team focuses not only on identifying attractive relative value opportunities, but also on actively managing aircraft throughout their lifecycle — including lease transitions, extensions, and end-of-life strategies. The A330 remains a highly versatile variant, and this transaction reflects our continued conviction in this segment of the market.” “Mid- to end-of-life aircraft require hands-on operational oversight, deep technical capability and market knowledge to preserve and enhance value. Our platform is built around active servicing — from detailed technical management and lease compliance to transition planning and remarketing. This transaction demonstrates how Deucalion integrates sourcing discipline with operational execution to deliver consistent outcomes for our capital partners.” stated Karl Trowbridge, Chief Operating Officer of Deucalion Aviation. https://avitrader.com/2026/03/04/deucalion-secures-three-a330s-on-lease-to-wamos-airlines/ Quantum navigation: the magnetic secret for precisely determining aircraft location Quantum navigation can provide more resilient location readings for aircraft GPS is so ubiquitous – built into our phones, cameras, cars, watches and more – that it might seem unavoidable. But while it may underpin almost everything in modern society, a revolutionary technology that may be more accurate and reliable could one day force GPS to share the spotlight: quantum navigation. While GPS relies on satellites to determine a user's location, quantum navigation works differently. It’s based on quantum mechanics, which is the study of nature at the atomic and subatomic levels. Quantum navigation relies on quantum sensing, which uses the established principles of quantum mechanics to measure aspects of nature with incredible precision and sensitivity. When it comes to navigation, this means quantum sensors can use the Earth’s magnetic field to pinpoint location, which can then be used to reliably navigate. The Earth’s magnetic field is influenced by several variables, but quantum sensing is specifically searching for localised signatures coming from the unique distribution of magnetised minerals in the Earth’s crust. These variations can be thought of as permanent, immutable fingerprints, or signatures, that allow location to be determined with startling accuracy. This makes it especially useful for industries that operate in areas that do not have continuous satellite coverage – like shipping and aviation. It also makes it one of the most reliable ways to navigate. How quantum navigation works: an introduction to MagNav Using quantum sensing to navigate is called magnetic anomaly-based navigation, or MagNav. It requires massive computational effort, both to map and then identify location signatures, and they must filter out interfering variables like atmospheric noise and the aircraft’s own magnetic field to produce an accurate reading. The result is a pre-existing database of magnetic maps can be built, and then advanced algorithms can compare the sensor’s real-time reading with the existing map to provide location data. This can then be checked against maps, GPS and other navigational information to confirm location, providing critical redundancy for these systems. While it may sound complicated, MagNav is not just a theoretical dream for the future of aircraft navigation – it’s already in the works. Airbus is currently testing the robustness of the technology in order to mature quantum navigation technologies for future use in aerospace. A new layer of resilience: unjammable navigation for GPS denied environments For aerospace, the potential of quantum navigating is particularly exciting because the technology is not only highly accurate, but is impermeable to GPS jamming or spoofing. GPS jamming occurs when a bad actor emits a disruptive signal on the same frequency as the GPS satellite, blocking the signal from getting through. GPS spoofing, meanwhile, is when a counterfeit signal with incorrect location data is sent that is read by the GPS receiver as being real. Both types of subterfuge are complicated to execute, but they are becoming a growing threat due to geopolitical instability. Safety is always Airbus’ first priority, and in the case of GPS jamming or spoofing, Airbus aircraft have backup navigation solutions that pilots are fully trained to operate. But in the spirit of constantly expanding critical redundancy, quantum navigation could form an added layer of security. Since quantum sensors measure the Earth’s magnetic field – a physical force not reliant on or created by humans – there is nothing to jam. It could one day be the quickest way of telling if a GPS signal is accurate or not. Airbus and automotive giant BMW Group have launched the Quantum Mobility Quest Beyond navigation: Airbus' vision for quantum technology in aerospace Quantum navigation is just the tip of the iceberg for what changes quantum technologies could bring to the aerospace industry. While some aspects of quantum may seem like science fiction, Airbus is testing how it can be applied to aviation, for example in stress testing aircraft wings and designing hydrogen fuel cells. Virtual testing of these technologies takes place on special quantum computers operated by a limited number of labs. Once quantum computers become available at scale, quantum mechanics will play a key role in making Airbus products and systems safer, more efficient and less expensive to produce. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/stories/2026-03-quantum-navigation-the-magnetic-secret-for-precisely-determining-aircraft-location CALENDAR OF EVENTS . VERTICON 2026 - Atlanta March 9-12 . CANSO Global Safety Conference 2026 - 29 March – 1 April 2026 (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) . 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 . World Aviation Training Summit - 5-7 May 2026 - Orlando . 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