Flight Safety Information - April 3, 2026 No. 067 In This Issue : Bombardier CRJ-900 - Cracked Windshield (South Africa) : Boeing 737-8MC (WL) - Bird Strike/Smoke in the Cabin (Russia) : Blue Angels Grounded, May Cancel More Appearances : Officials Reportedly Investigate Whether LaGuardia Air Traffic Controller Stepped Away Before Fatal Crash : US aviation safety under scrutiny – what the data really shows : ZeroAvia’s Electric Aircraft Engine Advances Toward FAA Certification : Embraer delivers 44 aircraft in Q1 2026, up 47% year on year : Calendar of Events Bombardier CRJ-900 - Cracked Windshield (South Africa) Date: Thursday 2 April 2026 Time: Type: Bombardier CRJ-900 Owner/operator: Uganda Airlines Registration: 5X-EQU MSN: 15461 Engine model: GE CF34-8C5 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Category: Incident Location: Near Johannesburg - South Africa Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR) Destination airport: Entebbe Airport (EBB/HUEN) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Uganda Airlines Flight UR713, a CRJ-900, suffered a cracked cockpit windshield layer after departure from Johannesburg (JNB). The flight returned to JNB. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/568735 Boeing 737-8MC (WL) - Bird Strike/Smoke in the Cabin (Russia) Date: Wednesday 1 April 2026 Time: c. 09:00 Type: Boeing 737-8MC (WL) Owner/operator: Aeroflot Registration: RA-73100 MSN: 44440/6632 Year of manufacture: 2017 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-7B Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 100 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: near Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE) - Russia Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE) Destination airport: Novokuznetsk Airport (NOZ/UNWW) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Aeroflot flight SU1540, a Boeing 737-800 (RA-73100), was departing from Moscow (SVO) when a strong burning smell emerged in the cockpit. The engine and all aircraft systems were operating normally, so the captain decided to continue takeoff. As the aircraft climbed, passengers also noticed the smell—first in the area of rows 12–13, and then in the aft cabin, where grayish-blue smoke appeared. After a few minutes, the smoke cleared and disappeared. However, 4–5 minutes later, the smoke returned, and only disappeared again 3–4 minutes later. 21 kilometers northeast of Moscow, at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, the captain declared a mayday. The landing proceeded normally, 25 minutes after takeoff. Engineering personnel found traces of a bird strike on the left and right wing leading edge slats, as well as on the right winglet. No damage was recorded to the aircraft, but the Boeing 737-800 has been grounded for a full technical assessment. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/568702 Blue Angels Grounded, May Cancel More Appearances The need for increased security at American military installations tied to the war in Iran is putting a damper on the airshow season, specifically performances by the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy demonstration team. The Blue Angels' airshows are often at military bases. The increased security measures in place combined with what was described as "increased security measures and evolving force protection requirements" prompted the cancellation of at least two of their events this season. The first show for the Naval aviator team was scheduled for March 14 in El Centro, California. But on March 4 a Facebook post from the Naval Air Facility (NAS) El Centro Festival of Flight announced the event was being canceled. Organizers of the show at NAS Lemoore, which was scheduled for March 21-22, followed suit. The Blue Angels' 2026 airshow schedule remains posted on their webpage, but the dates are subject to change, as the Navy reallocates resources. As of Thursday afternoon, there were shows scheduled for April 11-12 at Cocoa Beach, Florida, April 18-19 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, and April 25-26 at Vidalia, Georgia. Multiple events are scheduled for the rest of the show year, which usually ends in November. No ‘Fat Albert' There is one notable absence from the Blue Angels' demonstrations this year. "Fat Albert," the Blue Angels' C-130J Super Hercules, will not be performing as the aircraft is undergoing extended maintenance in the United Kingdom. A Lockheed Martin C-130 has been part of the Blue Angels' airshows since 1970. In November the C-130J aircraft went into maintenance to have its integral center wing box replaced, which should add decades to the aircraft's lifespan. The C-130J was acquired from the Royal Air Force in 2019 and designated as C5 ZH885. The aircraft was refurbished and repainted at Marshall Aerospace before being sent stateside where it joined the Blue Angels for performances starting in 2020. Fat Albert is often the opening act. The behemoth aircraft warms up the crowd by performing a 15-minute demonstration of high-speed low passes, steep climbs, and turns, finishing off with a combat landing. The aircraft is a fan favorite, and there are many who attend specifically to watch it perform. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the precision Navy flying team. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/blue-angels-grounded-may-cancel-190000731.html Officials Reportedly Investigate Whether LaGuardia Air Traffic Controller Stepped Away Before Fatal Crash An air traffic controller at LaGuardia airport is being investigated for potentially stepping away from their post before the deadly collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a fire truck on the runway. An air traffic controller at LaGuardia airport may not have been at their post right before the deadly collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a fire truck on the runway on Sunday, March 22. In a New York Times article published on Thursday, April 2, two sources revealed that officials are investigating whether the staffer stepped away to use an emergency telephone. The fire truck was on the runway because a United Airlines plane radioed the control tower for an “emergency” situation less than six minutes before the crash after they initially reported a strange odor aboard the aircraft, per the outlet. A government official told the publication that a landline phone may have been used to contact the emergency vehicles. The outlet reported that “if a controller had to step away from his console — even for less than a minute — it could have complicated an already chaotic evening,” as the rain had delayed flights from the evening shift to the midnight shift, where fewer controllers were available. Jennifer Homendy, the N.T.S.B. chairwoman, had confirmed that at the time of the accident there were two controllers in the tower control room, which is standard for a midnight shift. The controller was allegedly giving instructions to about six other planes just one minute before the fire truck asked whether they could cross the runway, according to The New York Times. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/officials-reportedly-investigate-whether-laguardia-212724224.html US aviation safety under scrutiny – what the data really shows The reoccurrence of similar incidents and fatal accidents suggests procedures to mitigate such events are not working With a recent spike in accidents and the loss of life, the American civil aviation sector is unsurprisingly coming under increased scrutiny. Processes and procedures that should prevent avoidable accidents are not proving effective. While each event has its own cause, the frequency of these accidents and the headlines they have caused has raised an important question: is aviation safety in the United States declining, or are incidents just more visible than ever? A busy aviation system under pressure, not failure The US’ airspace is the busiest in the world, with 45,000 daily flights across more than 5,000 airports. The world’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, handled over 108 million passengers in 2024, with other high-capacity hubs such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, and Denver all handling over 80 million passengers. With demand clearly bouncing back post-COVID-19, the industry in the US has struggled to keep up with the desire to travel. In 2023, the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General issued a warning that 77% of major air traffic control facilities fall short of the Federal Aviation Authority’s (FAA) 85% staffing target. How air traffic control shortages impact safety Increased controller fatigue is common as staff regularly work 10-hour shifts and six-day workweeks, drastically putting the public at risk. American-based airlines have reported that on clear weather days, most delays are caused by air traffic control staffing issues rather than mechanical or weather-related issues. Staffing shortages do not simply inconvenience travellers; they raise serious safety concerns as fatigued controllers are more likely to make critical errors. Clear evidence of this can be attributed to American Eagle Flight 5342, which crashed after colliding with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in January 2025. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that one of the contributing factors to the fatal crash was that controller performance was degraded due to high workload conditions. The DCA crash marks one of the most severe US aviation incidents in years, but highlights just how rare high-fatality accidents have become in the post-9/11 era. Read our full coverage of the NTSB’s findings here. What the FAA is doing to improve air traffic control safety America’s air traffic control staffing crisis will require prolonged effort and investment to restore a level of basic resilience. By 2028, the FAA expects 7,000 controllers to retire, reinforcing the need for new controllers with an aptitude for flight operations, aviation systems, and safety protocols. To combat this, the FAA plans to hire 9,000 new air traffic controllers by 2028, using intense training models, coupled with classroom-based theory and advanced simulation. To reduce training bottlenecks, the FAA is deploying regional training centres and virtual learning platforms, which speed up certification. Ageing infrastructure impedes safety The air traffic control staffing issue is also affecting the development and value of aircraft. Modern and invaluable air traffic control systems such as Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), and Performance Based Navigation (PBN) rely on air traffic infrastructure to be modern and complemented with engaged staff to communicate with flight deck crew. Staffing issues slow certification and implementation, aircraft firms delay upgrades, and airlines postpone aircraft retrofits to include new navigational technology. This then impacts fuel savings through route flexibility, reduces aircraft values, and leasing rates. Leasing firms factor in these uncertainties into contracts, applying discounts for carriers unable to access upgraded airspace, thus lowering the value of aircraft. To combat this, the FAA is investing heavily in upgrading radar, communications, and controller surfaces by 2028. A $10 billion contract has been signed with Peraton, an American national security and technology company, to modernise the country’s air traffic control systems. The USA launched its NextGen air traffic control systems in the mid-2000’s, with delays pushing completion into the 2030’s. Image: Wikimedia Commons | Moto “Club4AG” Miwa Recent accidents in the United States Statistically, commercial aviation within the United States remains safe, but a series of recent high-profile accidents, near misses, and operational incidents has underlined the need for industry-wide change by the FAA. Fatal accidents As noted above, the most notable fatal accident in recent years occurred in January 2025, when American Eagle Flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac River while on approach to Washington Ronald Reagan Airport. More recently, in March 2026, an Air Canada Express CRJ900 collided with an airport fire truck while landing at New York LaGuardia Airport, leading to the deaths of both pilots. While the investigation is just underway, early indications are leading to a breakdown in communication. Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 is under investigation, with the caused yet to be determined. Image: NBC News Read our coverage on the possible causes of the Air Canada Express crash here. Near misses and runway incursions Since 2023, there has been several notable serious runway incursions and near-miss events. One of the most critical occurred in February 2023 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where a FedEx Boeing 767 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 came within 110 feet of colliding after both aircraft were cleared to use the same active runway. Other incidents include: At San Diego Airport in August 2023, a business jet overflew a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at around 100 feet while on final approach. A Delta Air Lines aircraft had to abort its takeoff at New York JFK in January 2023 when an American Airlines flight crossed the active runway. In February 2023, a private business aircraft crossed the active runway at Bostan Logan Airport forcing a JetBlue aircraft to take evasive action. At Washington Reagan Airport in May 2024, an American Airlines Airbus A319 aborted its takeoff due to a smaller aircraft landing on an intersecting runway. An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aborted its takeoff, and blew its tyres, in September 2024 when a Southwest Airlines aircraft was cleared to cross the same runway. These are just a handful of runway events in recent years, with the FAA identifying 19 serious runway incursions since 2023. Many of these incidents share common characteristics of conflicting clearances, high workload environments, and breakdowns in communication, particularly during runway crossings and departure sequencing. UPS Flight 2976’s crash was not attributed to air traffic failures, but aircraft mechanics. Image: NTSB While US aviation retains a strong overall safety record, several fatal accidents and the recurrence of similar incident types suggest that known risks are not being fully mitigated. Repeated runway incursions, near misses, and ground conflicts highlight ongoing vulnerabilities around communication, air traffic control staffing levels, and operational complexity. With the FAA’s improvement plans stretching two years to 2028, the pace of change will be crucial. Without swift and effective intervention, there is a high risk that these patterns will continue, increasing the likelihood of more serious outcomes. https://www.airlineratings.com/articles/us-aviation-safety-under-scrutiny--what-the-data-really-shows ZeroAvia’s Electric Aircraft Engine Advances Toward FAA Certification Engine system is part of the hydrogen-electric powertrain the company is selling to airlines and manufacturers. ZeroAvia 600-kilowatt electric aircraft engine The FAA issued special conditions for ZeroAvia’s 600-kilowatt electric engine system, a core piece of its planned hydrogen-electric powertrain for 10-20 seat aircraft. ZeroAvia, the developer of hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains with operations in the U.S. and U.K., sees a clearer path to certification after hitting a key milestone with the FAA. The regulator on Thursday published special conditions for the company’s 600-kilowatt electric engine, half of its planned propulsion system that also includes its ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain. It seeks to certify the system—designed to reduce emissions by 90 percent and operating costs by about 40 percent—by the end of 2026. The special conditions describe extra safety standards that ZeroAvia’s system will need to meet. Due to the novelty of electric propulsion, the FAA levied the additional requirements to achieve what it considers a level of safety equivalent to existing airworthiness standards. The two sides came to a consensus on proposed special conditions in August. “Having special conditions for our electric propulsion system published by the FAA is an enormous achievement that underscores the aerospace maturity of our organization and illuminates our path forwards towards type certification,” Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, said in a statement. Though the 600-kilowatt engine system will be installed in the company’s ZA600 powertrain, ZeroAvia also plans to sell it as a standalone product for uncrewed drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, and general aviation platforms. In addition to special conditions, ZeroAvia in 2025 received an FAA G-1 issue paper laying out applicable airworthiness regulations for the electric engine system, which helped it finalize the design. The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in October awarded the manufacturer design organization approval (DOA), certifying that it is qualified to design and hold a type certificate for propulsion systems developed under U.K. commercial aviation regulations. Any Aircraft Can Be an Electric Aircraft ZeroAvia will offer retrofits of existing aircraft, turning them into sustainable, hydrogen-electric models. Airline customers include United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Scotland’s LoganAir. It is also working with airframe OEMs such as Textron and de Havilland Canada, both for engine line-fits and the development of future, clean-sheet designs. The company is further developing in-house solutions for hydrogen production, mobile storage, and dispensing, working with airports to prepare them for novel propulsion. ZeroAvia’s electric propulsion system (EPS)—one half of its powertrain solution—uses the 600-kilowatt engine and a proprietary inverter to power a direct drive motor. It is intended for 10-20 seat, fixed-wing commercial aircraft with range up to 300 nm. The engine system uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, powering electric motors that turn propulsors. ZeroAvia claims it is twice as efficient as a turbine engine—allowing operators to fly the same trip with half the energy—while producing only water as a byproduct. The ZA600 powertrain will comprise four 200-kilowatt fuel cells fed by gaseous hydrogen tanks. To generate the same power as a jet engine, the fuel cells would need to be larger and heavier. But they are well suited to small aircraft up to the size of a regional turboprop, due to their lower power density by comparison. ZeroAvia has already supplied the technology to the defense sector, partnering with the U.S. Air Force to install its systems on an autonomous Cessna 208B Caravan—its targeted launch airframe. On Thursday, it said it is in “active discussions” with civil aviation manufacturers. The firm has tested its systems on a modified, 19-seat Dornier 228, which in 2023 became the largest aircraft to take off under hydrogen-electric power. It will seek supplemental type certifications (STC) for the DHC-6 Twin Otter and other airframes. The powertrains could even power a few larger models. The U.K.’s Hybrid Air Vehicles will explore the installation of four ZA600s on a future, hydrogen-electric variant of its Airlander 10—a hybrid between a fixed-wing and lighter-than-air aircraft, named for its projected 10-ton payload. ZeroAvia is also developing the ZA2000 powertrain, designed for 40-80 seat aircraft such as de Havilland’s Dash-8 and the ATR family of turboprop twins. FlightSafety International has partnered with the company to build flight simulators, “digital learning platforms,” and other training materials geared toward the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell electric aircraft. The partners plan to provide pilot and maintenance training. https://www.flyingmag.com/zeroavia-electric-engine-faa-certification/ Embraer delivers 44 aircraft in Q1 2026, up 47% year on year Embraer delivered 44 aircraft during the first quarter of 2026, a 47% increase over the 30 units handed over in the same period a year earlier. The Brazilian manufacturer disclosed these figures in a securities filing on April 2, 2026, with growth recorded across all three business segments. Growth across all segments Commercial aviation accounted for 10 deliveries, up 43% from seven in Q1 2025. This comprised six E175s, one E190-E2 and three E195-E2s. Executive aviation contributed 29 jets, a 26% increase from 23 a year earlier, with the breakdown including 15 Phenom 300s, one Phenom 100, nine Praetor 500s and four Praetor 600s. The defense and security division delivered five aircraft, one KC-390 Millennium and four A-29 Super Tucanos, after recording zero deliveries in Q1 2025. Embraer attributed the quarter’s performance to production leveling initiatives designed to smooth output across the year, a recurring challenge for the company. Historically, first quarters have been its weakest delivery period, with volumes concentrated in the final months of each fiscal year. In Q4 2025, by comparison, Embraer delivered 91 aircraft. Full-year 2025 deliveries totaled 244 units across all segments, up from 206 in 2024. Guidance and outlook The Q1 figures place the company on a trajectory broadly consistent with its 2026 guidance, which calls for 80 to 85 commercial aircraft and 160 to 170 executive jets. Embraer’s full-year financial outlook, disclosed in its Q4 2025 earnings release on March 6, 2026, also targets consolidated revenues of $8.2 billion to $8.5 billion, an adjusted EBIT margin of 8.7% to 9.3% and free cash flow of $200 million or more, excluding subsidiary Eve Air Mobility. At midpoint, the delivery guidance implies roughly 6% year-on-year growth in both the commercial and executive segments, a measured pace relative to the 47% Q1 headline figure. The outsized year-on-year comparison partly reflects a weak Q1 2025 baseline, particularly in defense, where no aircraft were delivered in the prior-year quarter. Embraer entered 2026 with a record order backlog of $31.6 billion, underpinned by a wave of commercial wins for the E195-E2 and continued demand for the KC-390 Millennium among European NATO members. Financial results for Q1 2026 are expected later this Spring. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/embraer-delivers-44-aircraft-q1-2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 : APSCON/APSCON Unmanned 2026 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL - July 13-17, 2026 : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 22-23 September 2026 . IATA World Maintenance & Engineering Symposium (23-25 June, Madrid, Spain) . ISASI - BOSTON 2026 - September 28, 2026 – October 2, 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis