Flight Safety Information - May 14, 2026 No. 094 In This Issue : Incident: USY A346 at Amsterdam on May 8th 2026, could not retract gear : Incident: Max B733 at Abuja on May 11th 2026, engine problem : FAA adding transponders to all its airport vehicles after Air Canada plane's deadly LaGuardia runway crash : FAA clears grounded MD-11s for return to service : NTSB urges airlines to train their pilots to deal with smoke in the cockpit : Fastjet Zimbabwe Renews IOSA Certification Reaffirming Commitment to Air Safety : Boeing Plans New Single-Aisle Jet Larger Than 737 MAX 10 : Air India Temporarily Suspends Three U.S. Routes : Allegiant Air and Sun Country complete merger, creating larger budget airline for travelers : Repo Man Had 'Six Hours To Find 20 Pilots' While Seizing Jet Aircraft From Bankrupt Spirit Airlines : Graduate Research Request : Calendar of Events Incident: USY A346 at Amsterdam on May 8th 2026, could not retract gear An USY Universal Sky Carrier on behalf of Surinam Airways, registration D-AUSZ performing flight PY-993 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Paramaribo (Suriname), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 36C when the crew stopped the climb at FL060 and entered a hold advising ATC they would not "upload" the landing gear, the gear was still down and locked. The aircraft returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 06 about 30 minutes after departure. A replacement Air Europa Boeing 787-8, registration EC-NXA, reached Paramaribo with a delay of about 31 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=53928c31&opt=0 Incident: Max B733 at Abuja on May 11th 2026, engine problem A Max Air Boeing 737-300, registration 5N-DAB performing flight VM-1620 from Abuja to Katsina (Nigeria), was climbing out of Abuja's runway 22 when the crew stopped the climb at about 8000 feet and returned to Abuja for a safe landing on runway 22 about 12 minutes after departure. The airline reported an indication of an engine (CFM56) anomaly as reason for the return. The aircraft is still on the ground in Abuja about 47 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=53928a0e&opt=0 FAA adding transponders to all its airport vehicles after Air Canada plane's deadly LaGuardia runway crash Federal Aviation Administration said March collision 'accelerated' plan to install tech The agency in charge of aviation safety in the United States said Wednesday all of its airport vehicles will be equipped with technology to help air-traffic controllers track their movements, a move expedited by the deadly crash in March involving an Air Canada jet at New York's LaGuardia Airport. A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the agency will spend $16.5 million US ($22.6 million) to add transponders, called Vehicle Movement Area Transmitters (VMATs), to its vehicles at airports nationwide. "VMATs help prevent dangerous runway incidents and by accelerating the deployment of this technology, we’re closing critical visibility gaps on our nation’s runways and taxiways," wrote FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. U.S. investigators say the fire truck driver in last month's deadly collision with an Air Canada plane at LaGuardia airport didn't realize the 'stop, stop, stop' radio message was for them, and that a lack of transponders in the truck also played a role. The statement said the FAA had been planning the change for months, but sped up the initiative after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck upon landing at LaGuardia Airport on March 22. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the crash, which killed both pilots, noted the truck had not been outfitted with a transponder. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees LaGuardia and other area airports, said last month it would add transponders to its vehicles that operate around runways. The airport's surface surveillance system, known as ASDE-X, tracks every plane and vehicle in real time on a display for air traffic controllers to help prevent runway collisions. Transponders the NTSB says might have helped in Air Canada crash to be installed at New York area airports Firefighters heard 'stop, stop, stop' before deadly LaGuardia crash but didn't know warning was for them: NTSB The system provides a visual and audible alert when it detects a potential collision, giving controllers the time to intervene, but neither alarm went off at LaGuardia the night of the crash. The FAA's move to install transponders at airports nationwide comes one year and one day after the agency recommended airports with ASDE-X systems voluntarily outfit their emergency vehicles with transponders to improve airfield safety. The statement said transponders will be installed on roughly 1,900 vehicles at 44 airports with ASDE-X and Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) systems in place. The same will be done at another 220 airports that "have or will be getting" Surface Awareness Initiative surveillance systems, which is another program to improve visibility and awareness for air traffic controllers. The statement Wednesday recommended airports and airlines do the same for their vehicles. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/transponders-airport-vehicles-air-canada-laguardia-crash-9.7198540 FAA clears grounded MD-11s for return to service FedEx has 29 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft in its fleet. FedEx on Sunday operated an MD-11 freighter aircraft in commercial service for the first time since early November after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted a flight ban that was implemented following the fiery crash of a UPS cargo jet. “After extensive review, the FAA approved Boeing’s protocol for safely returning MD-11 airplanes to service,” the agency said in a statement provided to FreightWaves. Airlines must replace a structural component before they can fly the aircraft. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) conducted a short test flight in and out of Memphis International Airport on Saturday evening. FreightWaves previously reported that FedEx was on the cusp of resurrecting its fleet of 29 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft after jointly developing with Boeing a new part aimed at correcting a flaw that led to fatigue cracks in the airframe. FedEx told employees during a town hall last week that it would gradually phase in the remaining planes after they go through maintenance facilities to replace the component and pilots complete a refresher training course. FedEx on Sunday operated one MD-11 from its super hub in Memphis to Los Angeles International Airport, according to data on aircraft tracking site Flightradar24. A second plane flew from Memphis to Miami. UPS Flight 2976 crashed during takeoff from Louisville airport in Kentucky when the left engine detached from the wing.. A preliminary finding by the National Transportation Safety Board last year found fatigue cracks in the pylon holding the engine to the wing. The problem was traced to a bearing in one of the lug nuts that holds the pylon together. FedEx last week said it will remove the pylons from planes where they are parked around the world and ship them to its maintenance hubs in Memphis and Indianapolis for the bearing replacement. FedEx says it will keep operating the aging MD-11 aircraft until 2032 because it needs them to meet rising demand for cargo. UPS opted to retire its fleet of MD-11s. Western Global Airlines is the only remaining airline with an MD-11 fleet. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/faa-clears-grounded-md-11s-163342014.html NTSB urges airlines to train their pilots to deal with smoke in the cockpit Safety experts recommended Wednesday that airlines develop realistic training to prepare their pilots to deal with smoke filling the cockpit like what happened on a Southwest Airlines plane after a bird strike in 2023 Safety experts recommended Wednesday that airlines develop realistic training to prepare their pilots to deal with smoke filling the cockpit like what happened on a Southwest Airlines plane after a bird strike. The National Transportation Safety Board said the pilots who safely landed that plane back in New Orleans told investigators that the situation they encountered was far more challenging than anything they had ever experienced in training. “If such an event occurred at night or in instrument meteorological conditions, the consequences could be catastrophic,” the NTSB determined. The Federal Aviation Administration receives reports of smoke in the cockpit almost daily, but the NTSB said the agency still doesn't require airlines to conduct realistic smoke-in-cockpit simulations. Instead the training usually just consists of a discussion of what to do in that situation. The FAA didn't immediately respond Wednesday to the new recommendation. The Southwest pilots at the controls during this incident in December 2023 said they had trouble seeing their instruments and checklists. They quickly donned oxygen masks and followed emergency procedures to land. None of the 139 people aboard were hurt. Southwest and the Airlines for America trade group didn't immediately respond to the new report. Last year, the NTSB urged Boeing and engine maker CFM to quickly develop a software fix for the engines on the 737 Max to help prevent smoke from filling the cockpit or cabin after a safety feature is activated following a bird strike. The plane and engine makers didn't immediately provide an update Wednesday on the fix. https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/ntsb-urges-airlines-train-pilots-deal-smoke-cockpit-132935404 Fastjet Zimbabwe Renews IOSA Certification Reaffirming Commitment to Air Safety Fastjet Zimbabwe ,the award-winning airline, has renewed its IOSA certification (IATA Operational Safety Audit) valid until April 2028. The renewal, achieved under the new IOSA Risk-Based Audit (RBI) methodology, acknowledges fastjet’s conformance and adherence to the highest operational and safety standards in the aviation industry. The IOSA certification renewal represents fastjet Zimbabwe’s first registration under the IATA’S enhanced Risk-Based IOSA approach, further reinforcing the airline’s commitment to safety. The Risk-Based Approach audit scoping is based on a combination of industry standards and operator-specific elements such as operational profile, safety events, and the operator’s IOSA audit history. Fastjet Zimbabwe first achieved IOSA in October 2024. Nunurai Ndawana, spokesperson of fastjet Zimbabwe, said, “Renewing our IOSA certification is a landmark achievement for fastjet Zimbabwe. This milestone reflects our airline’s safety-first culture and our continuous drive to strengthen operational excellence. We are proud of our teams, whose discipline, professionalism, and safety mindset have resulted in this renewal”. “Safety remains our utmost priority”, said Captain Joe Mparuri, Accountable Manager of fastjet Zimbabwe. “The renewal of our IOSA registration under the rigorous Risk-Based Audit (RBA) methodology demonstrates our safety-first culture and firmly positions fastjet Zimbabwe as a trusted airline that prioritises safety in all aspects of its operations. Fastjet offers flexible booking change options and generous free baggage allowances across its network of flights. Fastjet Zimbabwe is a multi-award-winning African airline that began flight operations in 2015. Today, fastjet Zimbabwe connects three major cities in Zimbabwe by flying between Harare & Victoria Falls, as well as between Harare & Bulawayo. In addition, the airline offers international flights from Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa, from Victoria Falls to Mbombela (Kruger) and Nelspruit, Kruger Mpumalanga in South Africa. Its awards include World Travel Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2017 and 2019, and the top ten finalists for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Since commencing operations, fastjet has flown over 4 million passengers and has established itself as a reliable African airline brand, with a range of value-added products and services. In 2024, fastjet Zimbabwe successfully achieved the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration. The registration acknowledges fastjet’s conformance and adherence to the aviation industry’s highest operational and safety standards. As part of the airline’s commitment to offering choice, flexibility and value, customers benefit from generous free baggage allowances, flexible change options, multiple payment channels, airport lounge access on select routes, free in-flight services and ancillary services such as car hire. https://panafricanvisions.com/2026/05/fastjet-zimbabwe-renews-iosa-certification-reaffirming-commitment-to-air-safety/ Boeing Plans New Single-Aisle Jet Larger Than 737 MAX 10 The American planemaker is targeting a 2030 launch for its next narrowbody while pursuing a major China order that could reshape its recovery. N ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA- American aircraft manufacturer Boeing is preparing for one of the most consequential strategic decisions in its 110-year history. The US planemaker is laying the groundwork for a new single-aisle jet larger than the current 737 family, while Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg navigates a parallel push for a major aircraft order from China, Bloomberg exclusively reported. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) could unlock a deal for around 500 Boeing 737 MAX jets, a windfall for both the American manufacturer and Chinese carriers like Air China (CA). The order would mark Boeing’s first major sale to China in nearly a decade and strengthen Ortberg’s recovery plan as the company evaluates the design of its next clean-sheet aircraft. Boeing Plans New Jet Boeing is expected to begin making initial technology selections for a new single-aisle aircraft as soon as next year, with a formal launch projected around the turn of the decade. Rival Airbus is plotting a parallel timeline for its own A320neo successor, setting up a direct competitive clash. The single-aisle segment remains the financial backbone of commercial aviation, with an A320 or 737 taking off every two seconds worldwide. Industry sources indicate Boeing is targeting the upper end of the narrowbody market, where it currently has no product beyond the 737 MAX 10. The initial aircraft would sit closer in size to the out-of-production Boeing 757 than any current 737 variant. From this entry point, Boeing plans to build out a broader family of efficient workhorse jets to eventually replace the entire 737 line. Conservative Design Initial design preferences point to a single-aisle airliner that prioritises evolution over revolution. The aircraft will retain the familiar tube-and-turbofan architecture that has defined jet travel since the 1950s. However, its wings will be significantly more advanced, featuring longer, thinner profiles with hinged tips similar to the Boeing 777X design. Ortberg recently paused an experimental $1.5 billion program developed with NASA, the X-66 demonstrator, which featured strut-braced carbon-fibre wings. Boeing concluded that risk-averse airline customers and regulators, still affected by the 737 MAX crashes, were not ready for such a radical design. The CEO instead redirected resources to projects more relevant to Boeing’s immediate financial recovery, given the company’s $47 billion debt load. Engine Strategy and the Open Rotor Debate Boeing is in active discussions with the three major engine manufacturers about advanced ducted turbofans, designed to reach maturity by the late 2030s. The planemaker is leaning away from open-rotor concepts such as the RISE technology suite jointly developed by GE Aerospace and Safran. Rolls-Royce, with its UltraFan 30 derivative, remains a key contender for future narrowbody propulsion. Several airlines and lessors have voiced strong concerns about open-rotor architecture. Steve Udvar-Hazy, the influential figure in aircraft leasing, told Bloomberg that airlines do not want the technology because of safety implications, particularly the risk of detached blades severing hydraulic lines. Additional concerns include cabin reinforcement requirements, passenger perception of the exposed blades, and the certification challenges that would follow. Cockpit Redesign and Supplier Coordination Engineering teams at Boeing are intensifying exploratory work with suppliers on multiple technological fronts. The work includes a redesigned flight deck intended to be more user-friendly for pilots, a direct response to the lessons learned from the 737 MAX tragedies. Other areas under review include cockpit electronics and the auxiliary engine in the tail of the aircraft. Engine reliability remains a top concern across the industry. John Plueger, the recently retired CEO of Air Lease Corporation, told Bloomberg that the industry will not tolerate a repeat of the teething problems seen with the latest generation of fuel-efficient engines. The Pratt & Whitney GTF engine has faced manufacturing issues requiring extensive rework, grounding fleets of Airbus jets around the world. Market Pressure and Customer Sentiment Most airline customers favour reliability and quick implementation over technological breakthroughs. Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair (FR), Boeing’s largest European customer, expressed a clear preference for production stability rather than new design programs. He stated that Boeing should focus on producing existing models in greater volume to meet worldwide demand. Boeing currently holds an order backlog of more than 6,000 commercial aircraft. In 2024, the company secured more orders than Airbus for the first time since 2018, signalling early momentum in Ortberg’s turnaround plan. Near-term priorities include certifying the 737 MAX 7, the 737 MAX 10, and the 777X, all of which are more than five years behind schedule. China Deal and the Political Backdrop The potential China order represents both a commercial and political milestone. Chinese carriers urgently need additional capacity, while Trump would secure a high-profile trade win. Boeing’s relationship with China began in 1972, when President Richard Nixon’s visit led to an order for 10 Boeing 707 jets within months. That deal helped establish China as the world’s second-largest aviation market. A new mega-order would mark a symbolic return to that earlier era of commercial partnership, while reinforcing Boeing’s competitive position against both Airbus and emerging challengers, including China’s COMAC and Silicon Valley-backed JetZero. Boeing’s Official Position Bobbie Egan, a Boeing spokeswoman, told Bloomberg that the company remains focused on its recovery plan, delivering the existing backlog, and certifying the new 737 MAX and 777X models. She added that internal teams continue to evaluate the market, advance key technologies, and improve financial performance to ensure readiness when the time is right to launch a new product. Boeing declined to elaborate further on its long-term strategy. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/05/14/boeing-plans-new-single-aisle-jet-larger-than-737-max-10/ Air India Temporarily Suspends Three U.S. Routes Air India will suspend three U.S. routes and cut back flying on others as it battles regional airspace closures and high jet fuel prices. The carrier said Wednesday that it will temporarily suspend service between Delhi and Chicago, Delhi and Newark, New Jersey, and Mumbai and New York-JFK starting in June. Flights between Delhi and San Francisco will be reduced from 10 times weekly to seven times weekly through August. Air India will continue to offer seven weekly flights between Delhi and New York-JFK, and service between Mumbai and Newark will increase, from three times weekly to seven times weekly, to accommodate some of the displaced traffic. In Canada, the airline will cut Delhi-Vancouver service from seven times weekly to five times weekly. Flights between Delhi and Toronto will drop from 10 weekly to five weekly through July, then increase to daily service in August. https://www.yahoo.com/travel/articles/air-india-temporarily-suspends-three-161244627.html Allegiant Air and Sun Country complete merger, creating larger budget airline for travelers LAS VEGAS (AP) — Allegiant Air said Wednesday it has completed its purchase of Sun Country Airlines, finalizing a deal that combines two low-cost carriers at a turbulent time for the budget airline industry following the recent shutdown of rival Spirit Airlines. Las Vegas-based Allegiant said the transaction closed after receiving required regulatory and shareholder approvals. When the deal was first announced in January, Allegiant said it was valued at about $1.5 billion, including debt. “Today marks a defining moment in Allegiant’s history as we officially join forces with Sun Country,” Allegiant CEO Gregory Anderson said in a statement, adding that the new combined airline is positioned to offer broader access to affordable travel. The deal comes as both airlines and travelers are grappling with a sharp run-up in jet fuel costs driven by the war in the Middle East, a jump that is already showing up in higher fares and fees across the industry. That increase is hitting low-cost airlines especially hard, since they have less room to absorb rising costs. The pressure was especially acute for Spirit Airlines. The ultra low-cost carrier shut down after 34 years May 2, its collapse accelerated by the sharp rise in fuel costs following years of financial strain, including heavy debt, repeated restructuring efforts and ongoing cash-flow problems. Against that backdrop, Allegiant and Sun Country say their tie-up gives them more ways to generate revenue. Along with passenger flights, Sun Country brings into the fold cargo flying for Amazon, as well as charter trips for sports teams, casinos and the U.S. Department of Defense,. Allegiant says the expanded network is also expected to give travelers more options, especially in smaller and mid-sized markets, with about 195 aircraft serving nearly 175 cities and more than 650 routes. For now, travelers shouldn’t expect any changes. Both airlines will continue to operate separately, and customers can keep booking, checking in and managing trips just as they do today. Allegiant said it will take time to bring the two airlines together. Over the long term, the combined company is expected to operate under the Allegiant name and remain headquartered in Las Vegas, while adding new options and connections across its broader network. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/markets/stocks/articles/allegiant-air-sun-country-complete-233659276.html Repo Man Had 'Six Hours To Find 20 Pilots' While Seizing Jet Aircraft From Bankrupt Spirit Airlines People who are behind on their car payments aren't the only folks who might see the repo man, they also come for leased aircraft after the carrier has gone out of business. The sudden demise of Spirit Airlines left aircraft scattered around the country after completing their final flights, reports the Wall Street Journal. It was up to Nomadic Aviation Group to retrieve these aircraft and bring them somewhere to be stored. Like many airlines, Spirit leased its aircraft rather than purchasing them directly. Spirit already tried to turn in half its fleet as it declared bankruptcy for the second time last year, and lessors were watching closely as the airline spiraled toward liquidation. While the shutdown wasn't unexpected, the speed at which it took place was. Spirit's Airbus fleet was left wherever its last flights just happened to land. Some were even abandoned at the gates where passengers disembarked and found themselves stranded mid-trip. This blocked the gates from further use, but there were no longer any Spirit employees to move them out of the way. That's where Nomadic comes in. They work on behalf of the leasing companies to retrieve these aircraft where they were left, ensure they're still airworthy, and fly them to a storage facility. They'd also been monitoring the Spirit situation for some time, apparently, but how sudden the shutdown was came as a surprise to them, too. "I had six hours to find 20 pilots," co-founder Bob Allen told the Wall Street Journal. Many of the pilots he found for these unusual ferry flights used to fly for Spirit Airlines. Not your average repo Numerous Spirit Airlines aircraft parked in storage in the Arizona desert Numerous Spirit Airlines aircraft parked in storage in the Arizona desert - Rebecca Noble/Getty Images Repossessing an airliner is a bit more complicated than pulling up with a truck, latching on, and towing it away. Airports aren't going to just hand a multi-million dollar aircraft over to someone other than the airline that normally operates it. Once the legal hurdles are cleared, Nomadic still has to fuel the aircraft, file flight plans, and move flight crews into place, just like a regular airline. A licensed mechanic and an FAA representative have to check each aircraft to ensure it is safe and airworthy before taking flight. The longer a plane sits, the more maintenance and inspection it needs before it can get back into the air, and so it's in Nomadic's best interest to move as quickly as possible to minimize how much work is needed before it can fly again. Then there's the question of where all these aircraft are going to go until the powers that be determine their fate. The answer is actually rather simple: two desert facilities just outside Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, selected for the same reason that Davis-Monthan Air Force Base — known as the Boneyard – is in the Tucson area. From Fox 10 Phoenix: "The reason we take them out here to Arizona is No. 1, Arizona is a dry climate," Allen said. "So airplanes that sit in wet climates, they start to deteriorate. They start developing [corrosion]. This is a very difficult situation for not only Spirit and its airlines and it's employees, but also for the leasing industry. So they're trusting us to do this as efficiently as possible." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/markets/stocks/articles/repo-man-had-six-hours-032500196.html Graduate Research Request candidate in Aviation with a specialization in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. With nearly 40 years of experience in aircraft maintenance and aviation safety, his dissertation research examines how Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) experience and describe decision-making during troubleshooting, inspection, and repair activities in Part 121 and Part 135 operations. The IRB-approved study seeks currently employed Part 121 and Part 135 AMTs with at least one year of maintenance experience to participate in one confidential 60 to 75-minute virtual interview focused on real-world maintenance decision-making. Participation is voluntary and confidential, and no proprietary or company-specific information will be requested. Although employed by the FAA, this research is conducted solely in an academic capacity and is not affiliated with or conducted on behalf of the FAA. Individuals interested in participating or learning more may contact Steve Poiani at poianadf@my.erau.edu. Steve Poiani Doctoral Candidate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University poianadf@my.erau.edu CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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