Flight Safety Information - May 6, 2026 No. 088 In This Issue : Incident: United B763 near London on May 5th 2026, PED caught fire : Cessna 421C Golden Eagle - Windscreen Blew Out (Missouri) : Close call as 2 planes come within 500 feet of each other near JFK Airport : Ground stop issued for flights to Denver International Airport due to weather : B-52J Engine Replacement Program Completes Design Review : Spirit Moves To Reject Remaining Leases, Sell Or Abandon Owned Assets : Retired fighter pilot taught Chinese airmen secret US tactics, feds say : AirAsia, Airbus set to announce 150-jet order for A220 on Wednesday, sources sa : Advanced Air Selects JDA Aviation to Support FAA Part 121 Certification : Calendar of Events Incident: United B763 near London on May 5th 2026, PED caught fire A United Boeing 767-300, registration N675UA performing flight UA-135 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Newark,NJ (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 110nm southeast of London Heathrow,EN (UK) when the crew decided to divert to Heathrow. The aircraft landed safely on runway 09L about 35 minutes later. Emergency services escorted the aircraft to the apron. Passengers reported a passenger's portable charger (power bank) had started a small fire in premium economy class cabin. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=538cd57a&opt=0 Cessna 421C Golden Eagle - Windscreen Blew Out (Missouri) Date: Monday 4 May 2026 Time: c. 18:25 LT Type: Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Owner/operator: Golden Eagle Aircraft LLC Registration: N6161X MSN: 421C0895 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Category: Incident Location: near Kirksville, MO - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Quincy Municipal Airport, IL (UIN/KUIN) Destination airport: Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities Narrative: A Cessna 421C Golden Eagle, N6161X, was cruising at 20,000 ft when the right-side windscreen blew out. The airplane diverted to KIRK. The pilot was not injured. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/570024 Close call as 2 planes come within 500 feet of each other near JFK Airport 2 planes come within 500 feet of each other near JFK NEW YORK -- A pilot on a regional Delta Air Lines flight reported a small plane getting too close as the passenger jet approached John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday. According to air traffic control audio recordings, an air traffic controller warned the pilot of the Delta plane, operated by Endeavor Air, of a personal aircraft, noting that they were not in contact with the small plane, made by Cirrus, and that the plane was about 500 feet above them. It happened one day after a traumatic landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, the second near miss of the week. The Endeavor pilot initially told the controller they got a traffic advisory, which alerts pilots of any traffic nearby. Later, the Endeavor pilot told the controller they got a resolution advisory, which is a warning from the collision avoidance system which provides pilots with specific instructions to avoid a collision. However, the RA did not instruct them to maneuver, and to just maintain their position. "Endeavor 5289 yeah I'm not talking to him. He's 500 feet above you now left to right half a mile in front of you," an air traffic controller said. "And tower Endeavor 5289 he just flew about 500 feet right over so looks like he's taking a left turn now," the pilot said. Both planes were trying to land at JFK Airport and passed dangerously close to each other on Monday around 5 p.m. Preliminary data from Flightradar24, shows there was about 475 feet of vertical separation between the two aircraft as their paths crossed. The Endeavor plane was at 2,100 feet while the Cirrus plane was at 2,575 feet. Thankfully, the Delta pilot and air traffic control had the small plane in sight and a tragedy was averted. ABC News has reached out to the FAA for more information and whether the agency is investigating. The close call happened just a day after a United Airlines jet when it hit a semitrailer truck and light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike as it came in to land at Newark Liberty International Airport. https://abc7ny.com/post/close-call-2-planes-come-500-feet-each-other-john-kennedy-airport/19045841/ Ground stop issued for flights to Denver International Airport due to weather On Tuesday afternoon, a ground stop was declared for departures to the Denver International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the stop just after 4 p.m. due to low ceilings. The "ceiling" is the height of the cloud base above the ground, and low ceilings can make it too dangerous to fly. Officials say the ground stop applies to departures from ZLA, ZLC, ZDV, ZKC, ZAB, and ZMP. The ground stop is scheduled to last until 5:15 p.m. Authorities say the probability that the stop will be extended is less than 30%. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/ground-stop-denver-international-airport-weather/ B-52J Engine Replacement Program Completes Design Review First two test aircraft are scheduled to begin modification later this year. Key Takeaways: The Air Force’s B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program has completed its critical design review, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center said on Monday. This step enables the first two B-52H aircraft to move forward to be modified with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines. The first aircraft is expected to arrive later this year at Boeing’s facility in San Antonio, where the initial modifications will be performed. The program will replace the bomber’s Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines, which date to the 1960s, and is part of a larger modernization effort intended to keep the B-52 in service into the 2050s. “This CERP critical design review is the culmination of an enormous amount of engineering and integration work from Boeing, Rolls Royce, and the Air Force that will enable the B-52J to remain in the fight for future generations,” Lt. Col. Tim Cleaver, Bombers Directorate CERP program manager, said. The service said the review included technical assessment from the Air Force, Boeing and Rolls-Royce before moving into aircraft modification. In addition to the F130 engines, the upgrade will include new engine-related subsystems, including generators intended to increase the aircraft’s available electrical power. The Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test and Evaluation noted in a 2023 report that the engine replacement program is part of the final phase of work leading to the B-52J configuration and is expected to increase reliability, improve fuel efficiency, reduce sustainment costs and provide digital engine controls and displays. The report also said integrating new engines on the legacy airframe will require extensive ground and flight testing in areas including structures, wing flutter, propulsion compatibility, aerodynamic performance and flying qualities. After modification, the two test aircraft are expected to go through testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, before the program moves toward updating the rest of the B-52H fleet. https://avweb.com/aviation-news/military-aviation/b-52j-engine-replacement-design-review/ Spirit Moves To Reject Remaining Leases, Sell Or Abandon Owned Assets Spirit Airlines has filed several motions with a bankruptcy court, outlining plans to quickly divest its remaining fleet assets. The South Florida-based ULCC ceased operations at 3:00 a.m. ET on May 2, following a significant and sustained increase in fuel prices, which spiked after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes in Iran in late February. Additional costs from the geopolitical headwind “proved to be too much” for Spirit’s available liquidity, the restructuring carrier told a bankruptcy court, stating that incremental fuel costs reached nearly $100 million between March 1 and April 30. Now it is working to liquidate owned assets and reject leases, to minimize final costs and maximize proceeds. Accordingly, it has asked the court to approve a plan rejecting its remaining leases by May 8. For owned aircraft and engines, Spirit hopes to encourage bidding but also seeks permission to abandon property to lenders and mortgage holders if sales can’t be made. It intends to honor and close the previously announced sale of 20 aircraft to CSDS Asset Management, new filings state. Spirit will present its wind-down motions to the bankruptcy court at a May 5 hearing. “The Debtors must begin returning aircraft that have significant carrying costs, informing critical vendors of payment, rejecting burdensome contracts that are no longer necessary,” the carrier said in its May 4 filings. “Any delay will cause chaos, confusion and cost the estate significant time and money, all at a time when the debtors are not generating any revenue.” Throughout its repeat restructuring, Spirit had worked to cull its network and fleet. Today 114 Airbus A320 family aircraft remain—including 66 leased. The leased airframes consist of 33 Airbus A320ceos, 17 A321neos, 11 A320neos, and five A321ceos and are parked at 15 different airports, filings state. They list the lessors as AerCap (10), ALC (7), Carlyle (5), DAE (4), ELFC (4), Fuyo (3), ICBC Leasing (3), JSAI (1), Merx (3), ORIX (4), Sirius (1), Sky Leasing (10), SMBC Aviation Capital (8), ST Engineering Aerospace (2) and Stratos (1). Spirit’s motion places storage and insurance costs on asset owners, after the rejection date. “Spirit’s fleet is large and complex and therefore requires special procedures to implement the Wind Down in an orderly and cost-effective manner in order to maximize the remaining value,” it told the court. “The requested authorizations and procedures will also ensure a safe and efficient conclusion of Spirit’s business.” Spirit’s shutdown follows several years of struggling to turn a profit, post-pandemic, burdened by debt, evolved consumer preference for premium and escalating costs. It filed for bankruptcy in late 2024 after a proposed merger with JetBlue Airways was blocked on antitrust grounds, only to emerge in March 2025 and re-file five months later. The airline reached an agreement with bondholders on a restructuring plan in spring 2026 and was aiming for an early summer exit from Chapter 11, just as fuel prices spiked. Though resulting discussions with the U.S. government on a potential bailout reached an advanced stage, a deal ultimately could not be reached. A final proposal was offered on May 1 but failed to gain necessary support from key bondholders. President Donald Trump told reporters the government was “driving a tough deal.” Aviation Week understands that creditors counter-proposed, though no agreement resulted. “The Trump administration made an extraordinary effort to try and save Spirit, but you can’t breathe life into a corpse,” one creditor who asked to remain unnamed said. Spirit thanked labor union partners, aircraft lessors, and financial stakeholders including Citadel, Cyrus Capital and Ares Management Corp, for working with the company on solutions during its restructuring. But sustaining its business through the steep and added cost pressures would have required hundreds of millions in additional liquidity, the company said. “It became clear on Thursday [April 30] that sufficient incremental liquidity would not be found, and that there were no longer any viable paths to a restructuring or continued operations,” filings state. “Having fought valiantly for months to reorganize and having all but succeeded with the previously filed plan of reorganization, the Debtors regrettably determined, after consultations with their advisors, the committee, and certain secured lenders, that the only alternative is to pursue an orderly wind-down of operations.” https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/spirit-moves-reject-remaining-leases-sell-or-abandon-owned-assets Retired fighter pilot taught Chinese airmen secret US tactics, feds say After two years in China, authorities allege the retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot appeared to return home to sell a condo. FBI agents said they found fake currency and a fake passport in his home office. A retired Air Force fighter pilot and F-35 simulator instructor took a $250,000 per year job in China to teach military pilots there U.S. tactics. Air Force phot by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson. A retired Air Force fighter pilot accused of teaching American tactics to Chinese airmen allegedly drove erratically to avoid an FBI tail, kept a fake passport, and deleted messages from foreign pilots to cover his tracks, according to recent filings in federal court. The new documents shed light on Justice Department allegations that Gerald E. Brown, 65, sold state secrets to China between late 2023 and his arrest on Feb. 25. Messages included in the filings indicate he planned to retire in Asia after several years on a $250,000 annual salary teaching Chinese military pilots, which he also hoped would give him a chance of “going fast again and pulling g’s.” The retired pilot, who worked on an F-35 simulator program in the U.S. before moving to China, is accused of betraying secrets that included U.S dogfighting techniques and tactics to suppress air defenses. From a People’s Liberation Army Air Force base in northern China, Brown taught local pilots, held briefings on U.S. capabilities, and eventually helped spy on American airmen in South Korea, according to prosecutors. Brown was recently released from a U.S. jail on a $200,000 bond and placed under house arrest, including GPS and video surveillance, at his sister’s home in Minnesota, according to April 23 filings in federal court in Washington, D.C. His federal public defender, Courtney Millian, did not return a request for comment. Contact with Chinese agents Brown, whose pilot callsign was “Runner,” left the Air Force in 2007 after a 24-year career. He eventually sought work in China after being fired from two post-retirement jobs in U.S. aviation, according to court records. He was first terminated from a flying job with UPS, prosecutors said, “due to a complaint that he caused a physical altercation in 2016 while in the cockpit” mid-flight. He later worked as an F-35 simulator instructor for a defense contractor, but was fired in 2023 after a commander’s inquiry found he had sexually harassed female airmen. In late 2023, eager to fund his dream of retiring overseas, Brown allegedly turned to Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese businessman whom Brown characterized as a “master spy,” according to prosecutors’ filings opposing his release on bail. Brown was allegedly paid more than $18,000 per month — plus benefits, including a Thailand vacation — after going to work for the Chinese company Stratos Aviation. U.S. intelligence has accused the business of hiring Western and NATO pilots to exploit their tactical knowledge. Brown was motivated in part by a desire to get behind the controls of a fighter jet one last time, court filings show. In encrypted messages obtained by the FBI, Brown initially offered to serve as a simulated adversary, known as “Red Air,” for Chinese pilots, a role that would put him back in a cockpit. “I have been researching the jets, J-11 is awesome!! Watched a J-10 interception on a Canadian airplane,” Brown wrote to one of Su Bin’s other pilots, according to an FBI affidavit. “I cannot stop thinking about flying.” Brown was arrested in late February, weeks after returning to the United States in an apparent bid to sell a condo he owned in Indiana. He allegedly lied to U.S. customs that he had been working overseas as a commercial airline consultant. Though Brown never flew an F-35 during his Air Force career, his role running the simulator would have made him privy to the same closely guarded secrets as the pilots of those 5th-generation stealth fighters. “This guy held the ‘keys to the jet,’” said John “Rain” Waters, a retired F-16 pilot who hosts the Afterburn podcast. A former fighter pilot and simulator instructor could demystify Western behavior in ways surveillance alone cannot, he added. “Everyone’s always observing everyone else, but sometimes you don’t get the full picture or you misinterpret,” Waters said. “So him being in there and actually being able to teach and talk through their tactics and give them feedback, I think is pretty significant.” ‘Brother. Don’t reply.’ In China, Brown worked at a major PLAAF training base in Shijiazhuang, southwest of Beijing, and taught courses on electronic warfare and how to suppress enemy air defenses. However, his alleged activities on China’s behalf weren’t limited to teaching. In May 2024, Brown traveled to South Korea, where he had previously worked as an A-10 simulator instructor, to meet with U.S. Air Force personnel and furtively collect documents that Chinese military intelligence wanted to read, according to prosecutors. When he returned to China, Brown was debriefed by Chinese officials and turned over his electronic devices for them to exploit, prosecutors said. Brown was also allegedly aware that Stratos was being watched by U.S. authorities. One of his colleagues in China was a former Ecuadorian Air Force pilot who, after being contacted by the FBI, urged Brown to delete texts between the two of them on the messaging app Threema. “Brother. Don’t reply. I will contact you soon. Delete me here and WeChat also. We’ll talk later,” the unnamed Ecuadorian pilot allegedly told Brown in January 2024. In arguing against his release on bail, prosecutors said FBI agents who surveilled Brown before his Feb. 25 arrest suspected he intended to return to China after tying up loose ends in the States, including renovating his condo to prepare it to go on the market. The FBI agents monitoring Brown said he drove in erratic patterns when he appeared to suspect he was being tailed. And after his arrest, agents executed a search warrant on Brown’s home and said they found fake currency and a fake passport in his office. Prosecutors argued that Brown might try to flee house arrest, citing the tradecraft he appeared to have picked up and his past comments about returning to China to work for several more years. “I hope the program continues for at least 5 years and then I will retire in China or Thailand or Vietnam,” Brown allegedly wrote in one encrypted message between him and another Stratos pilot. “All I care about now is going fast again and pulling g’s.” Brown was charged with violating the Arms Export Control Act and “faces a substantial prison sentence of at least 6-8 years,” prosecutors said in court filings. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/fighter-pilot-sold-secrets-china/ AirAsia, Airbus set to announce 150-jet order for A220 on Wednesday, sources say A logo of Airbus is displayed at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Order boosts A220 after recent losses to Embraer's E2, sources say Airbus aims to ramp up A220 output to break even on the program AirAsia expands fleet amid regional low-cost carrier growth and high fuel price challenges MONTREAL, May 5 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab plans to announce an order on Wednesday for about 150 A220 jets ‌from AirAsia (AIRX.KL), opens new tab, in a boost for the planemaker's smallest jetliner that has recently lost orders to Brazil's Embraer (EMBJ3.SA), opens new tab, two sources told Reuters. The province of Quebec has a minority stake in the A220 program, which is produced at a site in Mirabel, north of Montreal, and at a separate assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. A220 planes for non-U.S. customers are produced in Mirabel. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to attend ⁠the announcement in the Montreal area, the sources said on condition of anonymity as the matter is private. Airbus' Canadian division and a spokesperson for Carney declined to comment on the order and the event, which could change or be delayed. Malaysia-based AirAsia could not be immediately reached outside normal business hours. News of a major A220 order from AirAsia was reported earlier on Tuesday by French-language publication La Presse and on Monday by Bloomberg. Reuters reported in February that a significant AirAsia order for the 110-to-130-seat A220 was expected, citing sources who said a deal could include 150 firm plane orders. AIRBUS AIMS TO BREAK EVEN ON A220 The deal is good news for the A220, whose ‌rival, ⁠Embraer's E2, won a campaign with Finnair in March, and outsold the Airbus A220 three-to-one last year. Airbus is trying to ramp up A220 production so it can break even on the money-losing program it essentially took for free from Canadian planemaker Bombardier (BBDb.TO), opens new tab in 2018. The world's largest planemaker has said it aims to assemble 12 A220 jets a month in 2026, down from a previous target ⁠of 14, blaming supply concerns and airlines waiting for upgraded engines. Canada's aerospace industry has been less damaged than other sectors, such as autos, by a trade war with the country's largest partner, the United States. Washington exempts aerospace imports from tariffs. AirAsia has ⁠led a boom in low-cost carriers in the region in the past two decades as incomes have risen. The carrier is one of the European planemaker's biggest customers with more than 350 larger A320-family jets already on ⁠order. AirAsia Co-founder Tony Fernandes had previously told Reuters the airline was ready to broaden its fleet by picking smaller planes to support new destinations. It comes as turbulence from high jet fuel prices due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has led airlines to cut flights. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airasia-airbus-set-announce-150-jet-order-a220-wednesday-sources-say-2026-05-05/ Aviation Technology Solutions Advanced Air Selects JDA Aviation to Support FAA Part 121 Certification Hawthorne, Calif. — Advanced Air, LLC, a Hawthorne, California–based U.S. Part 135 air carrier operating under Commuter and 10 or More Operations Specifications and holding U.S. DOT Part 380 public charter authority, announced today that it has contracted JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) to assist with obtaining an FAA Part 119 Air Operator Certificate with Part 121 Domestic and Supplemental Operations Specifications. The engagement supports Advanced Air’s strategic expansion plans as the carrier prepares to add Part 121 operations, enabling scheduled domestic service under the FAA’s airline regulatory framework. JDA will provide comprehensive certification support, including regulatory strategy, technical documentation development, operational program alignment, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration throughout the certification process. “Moving toward Part 121 operations is a significant milestone for Advanced Air and reflects our long-term commitment to scalable growth, operational discipline, and regulatory excellence,” said Levi Stockton, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Air. “JDA brings deep experience navigating complex FAA certification pathways, and their practical, operator-focused approach makes them an ideal partner as we take this next step.” As part of the engagement, JDA will support Advanced Air across each phase of the FAA Part 119 certification process, including pre-application planning, formal application, document compliance, demonstration and inspection, and final certification. The scope of work also includes aligning existing Part 135 programs with Part 121 requirements to ensure continuity, safety, and operational readiness as Advanced Air scales its operations. “Advanced Air has built a strong operational foundation under Part 135, and they are approaching the Part 121 transition with the right level of rigor and preparation,” said Mike Rioux, President of JDA Aviation Technology Solutions. “Our role is to help translate that operational maturity into a compliant, efficient Part 121 framework while maintaining the carrier’s culture, standards, and operational flexibility.” Advanced Air currently operates a fleet serving short-haul and regional markets and has established itself as an operator with a strong emphasis on reliability, safety, and customer experience. Achieving Part 121 certification would position the carrier to expand its route network and service offerings under scheduled airline operations. About Advanced Air, LLC Advanced Air is a U.S.-based air carrier headquartered in Hawthorne, California, operating under FAA Part 135 with Commuter and 10 or More Operations Specifications and holding U.S. Department of Transportation Part 380 public charter authority. The company provides scheduled and charter air service with a focus on reliability, safety, and underserved regional markets. About JDA Aviation Technology Solutions JDA is an aviation consulting firm specializing in FAA certification, operational readiness, safety management systems, and regulatory compliance for air carriers and aviation organizations. JDA supports operators across Parts 91, 135, and 121, providing practical, data-driven solutions throughout the aircraft and operator lifecycle. Media Contact Advanced Air: Barbara Hunt Vice President, Business Operations behunt@flyadvancedair.com (800) 393-7035 Media Contact JDA: Mike Rioux President mrioux@jdasolutions.aero (301) -941-1460 ext. 140 CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . ESASI 2026, 20-21 May, Dubrovnik . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation Course 7 to 9 July 2026; Woburn MA 01801 USA : 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