Flight Safety Information - June 29, 2026 No. 126 In This Issue : Incident: American A319 at Miami on Jun 26th 2026, rejected takeoff due to runway incursion : Incident: BAW A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 23rd 2026, fumes on flight deck : Incident: Eurowings A319 at Munich on Jun 24th 2026, cargo door open indication : Incident: Westjet B38M near Goose Bay on Jun 13th 2026, fumes affect all flight attendants and 2 passengers : Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter - Fatal Accident (France) : American Airlines flight aborts takeoff in Miami after business jet enters the same runway : United jet has close call with drone near Newark Airport : Pilots react to a Boeing 777 freighter that came within feet of the ground in a 'reckless' stunt over Texas : Power banks and vapes are now the biggest safety threat to aircraft, says aviation authority : Juveniles suspected of pointing lasers at helicopter flying over Monroe County, sheriff says : 2 US-Bound Lufthansa Boeing 747s Forced Into Overweight Landings Within 24 Hours : Fleet Groundings Mount at Several Russian Airlines as Sanctions Strain Maintenance – Kommersant : Airlines For American CEO Tells Senators Many Near Misses Not Reported : The Largest Commercial Jet Engine On Earth Also Has Large And Unique Problems : China Eastern Airlines to buy 25 Airbus A330neo jets for list price of $9.4 billion : Calendar of Events Incident: American A319 at Miami on Jun 26th 2026, rejected takeoff due to runway incursion An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N716UW performing flight AA-308 from Miami,FL (USA) to Bermuda (Bermuda), was cleared for takeoff from Miami's runway 08R and was accelerating for takeoff when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed after spotting a business jet crossing the runway about about 880 meters/2880 feet down the runway. The A319 vacated the runway at the first right exit about 370 meters/1200 feet down the runway. Ground Control subsequently told the crew of the Netjets business jet that they had just crossed an active runway, the crew claimed they had been cleared to cross which tower denied telling them he had cleared another aircraft with different callsign and numbers. The A319 departed about 20 minutes later. https://avherald.com/h?article=53b29c00&opt=0 Incident: BAW A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 23rd 2026, fumes on flight deck A BAW British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUC performing flight BA-445 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 36L when the crew stopped the climb at FL110 declaring PAN PAN and reported they had fumes on the flight deck. The aircraft returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 06 about 20 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 30 hours, then positioned to London Heathrow. It remained on the ground in London for another about 18 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=53b29726&opt=0 Incident: Eurowings A319 at Munich on Jun 24th 2026, cargo door open indication An Eurowings Airbus A319-100, registration D-ABGJ performing flight EW-7175 from Munich to Hamburg (Germany), was climbing out of Munich's runway 08L when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet and returned to Munich for a safe landing on runway 08L about 15 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the captain announced they had indication of an open cargo door. The aircraft returned for an overweight landing and taxied to the apron. After about 45 minutes a technican arrived to check the sensor and the aircraft was cleared to depart again. The aircraft was refueled, departed again and reached Hamburg with a delay of about 90 minutes. https://avherald.com/h?article=53b14292&opt=0 Incident: Westjet B38M near Goose Bay on Jun 13th 2026, fumes affect all flight attendants and 2 passengers A Westjet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-GDDR performing flight WS-65 from Glasgow,SC (UK) to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 153 people on board, was enroute at FL320 about 110nm northwest of Goose Bay,NL (Canada) when the crew contacted Medilink and subsequently decided to divert to Goose Bay after all 4 flights attendants and two passengers experienced shortness of breath due to fumes in the aft cabin. The aircraft landed safely in Goose Bay about 30 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported: "The FA maintained their safety related duties and the aircraft landed at CYYR without incident where ATC had deployed emergency services to meet the aircraft. The crew and passengers were assessed by paramedics and released. Fire crews inspected the aircraft for the source of the fumes and tested the air quality in the aircraft. Maintenance personnel identified the source of the fumes as a faulty aft galley oven." https://avherald.com/h?article=53b138cd&opt=0 Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter - Fatal Accident (France) Date: Sunday 28 June 2026 Time: 10:59 Type: Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter Owner/operator: Classic Wings/KIAS Airlines Registration: D-FIPS MSN: 874 Year of manufacture: 1991 Fatalities: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Tomblaine, near Nancy-Essey Airport (ENC/LFSN) - France Phase: Initial climb Nature: Parachuting Departure airport: Nancy-Essey Airport (ENC/LFSN) Destination airport: Nancy-Essey Airport (ENC/LFSN) Investigating agency: BEA Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter skydiving plane, operating for Tandemotion Parachutisme, crashed immediately after takeoff from Nancy-Essey Airport (ENC), France. All eleven on board suffered fatal injuries. The aircraft had been engaged in skydiving flights during the morning. ADS-B data indicate that at 10:53, the flight landed on runway 21 following a drop. It vacated the runway to the apron and taxied back to the runway at 10:58. It commenced the takeoff from the taxiway B intersection of runway 21, just like the previous flights. The takeoff distance available from that point is about 750 meters. ADS-B datapoints then suggest the aircraft slightly drifted to the left on takeoff. From a position over the runway threshold it made a left hand turn and crashed on a road just outside the airport perimeter. “A mechanical failure caused the crash,” the prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle said. The plane “plummeted straight down, and we do not yet know the cause of the accident,” he added. There was “no flight path consistent with an emergency landing.” “The victims include five instructors, their five students, and the pilot,” the prefect explained during a press conference. The students were a group of private healthcare worker who had come to try skydiving for the first time. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/573133 American Airlines flight aborts takeoff in Miami after business jet enters the same runway An American Airlines flight headed to Bermuda aborted its takeoff in Miami Friday evening after a business jet entered the same runway, getting as close as a third of a mile apart at one point. American Airlines Flight 308 stopped takeoff “after receiving clearance” when the flight crew observed another aircraft on the runway, an airline spokesperson told CNN Saturday. A tense exchange between the business jet pilot and an air traffic controller ensued when the incident happened around 6 p.m. ET, air traffic control audio shows. “You just crossed an active runway,” the controller said, according to a ATC.com recording of air traffic control audio. “You just told me to cross the runway, sir,” the pilot said. “No, we said Amerijet 461,” the controller responds. The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday it is investigating the incident. The aborted takeoff is the latest in a string of recent aviation incidents heading into the Fourth of July holiday. On Friday, a United Airlines passenger jet nearly collided with a drone as it was coming in to land in New Jersey, its pilot said. NetJets Flight EJA434, the business jet, was being operationally controlled by a third-party maintenance vendor when the incident happened, according to the private aviation company. “We appreciate the quick actions of our crew members and thank our customers for their understanding,” American Airlines said in the statement. The flight later departed for Bermuda, the spokesperson said. https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/27/us/american-airlines-flight-aborted-takeoff-miami United jet has close call with drone near Newark Airport A drone came within 100 feet of a United Airlines jet as it approached Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday, prompting a federal investigation, according to aviation officials and air traffic control audio. The incident involved United Flight 1513, a Boeing 737 arriving from Key West with 106 passengers and five crew members on board. The aircraft landed safely around 5:30 p.m., and no injuries were reported. “We almost hit a drone right there, about 100 feet below us,” the pilot told air traffic controllers as the aircraft made its final approach. The audio was verified by CNN. In radio transmissions, an air traffic controller asked the pilot to confirm the location of the sighting. “Right where you are now?” the controller said. “Exactly,” the pilot replied. The pilot described the object as circular in shape and estimated it was about three feet wide. A second pilot flying a GoJet Airlines aircraft into Newark at roughly the same time also reported seeing a drone at about 2,000 feet, according to the radio traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident. “United Airlines Flight 1513 landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport after the crew reported a drone sighting while on approach,” the FAA said in a statement. United confirmed that account in a statement on Saturday, saying the aircraft “reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark” and that passengers deplaned normally at the gate. It is illegal to fly drones in controlled airspace around airports without authorization due to the risk posed to aircraft. The FAA has repeatedly warned that unauthorized drone operations near flight paths can have serious consequences. The FAA says it receives more than 100 reports each month of drone sightings near airports from pilots, law enforcement and the public. Operators who violate airspace restrictions may face significant fines and potential criminal charges. Newark Liberty, one of the nation’s busiest airports, has been the site of previous drone-related concerns. Authorities have not said whether the operator of the drone seen Friday has been identified. The investigation remains ongoing. https://www.nj.com/essex/2026/06/united-jet-has-close-call-with-drone-near-newark-airport.html Pilots react to a Boeing 777 freighter that came within feet of the ground in a 'reckless' stunt over Texas A Boeing 777 flew extremely low over Texas, nearly clipping its wing on the ground. Flightradar24 A viral video shows a Boeing 777 freighter coming so close to the ground during an unusual flyover in Texas on Wednesday that people think it must be AI. The footage is real, with the plane's wingtip appearing to come within feet of the pavement as bystanders stood just yards away. The maneuver, now under review by multiple bodies, has veteran pilots scratching their heads. "The 777's wingspan is 200 feet across, so if the pilot clipped a wing, the plane could very likely tumble," Retired Delta Air Lines captain Mark Stephens told Business Insider. "This was reckless and could have been a huge disaster." The aircraft's owner, a privately held company called Jetran LLC, which specializes in aircraft leasing and passenger-to-freighter conversions, said in a Thursday statement that the maneuver does "not reflect operational standards" and that it expects the "relevant parties and authorities to investigate." The company has a few dozen employees and has been involved in cargo aircraft programs for about 45 years. Jetran also said the flyover occurred during a test flight ahead of the 777's planned delivery to Qatar Airways Cargo, the freight division of the Doha-based company. It added that the 777 was not owned by Qatar Airways, and Qatar Airways pilots were not flying. Qatar Airways referred Business Insider to Jetran's statement. These freighters are in high demand as Boeing winds down its 777F program by the end of 2027; its engines don't meet carbon-emissions standards. The International Bureau of Aviation, a consultancy firm for global aviation, estimated that a converted 777 will likely cost upward of $80 million. Extra engine work could put that closer to $100 million. The plane came within feet of the ground Flightradar24 data shows the 777, a former Delta jet registered as N705DN, was flying from Indiana to Dallas-Fort Worth when it took an extremely low-altitude detour over Horseshoe Bay Resort Jet Center near Austin, which is also the home of Jetran. Adjusting for airfield elevation and local air pressure, radar shows the jet at between 0 and 25 feet at its lowest point — a figure supported by the video. Veteran test and ferry pilot Steve Giordano posted his reaction to the event on X, calling it an "insanely bad" idea: "Inches from disaster and for what? Stupid stupid stupid," he wrote. Stephens, who conducted special delivery, ferry, and demo flights during his decades of civil and military flying, said aircraft often perform low passes during tests and air shows. The US Navy's highly skilled Blue Angels acrobatics team's lowest stunt is 50 feet. Stephens said the pilots must be specially trained with specific licenses, and the operators and crew must work within strict federal parameters, including the lowest altitude at which they can fly. "I picked up planes like the [McDonnell Douglas] MD-11, and we usually had to do tests before delivery, but we were never going down to those levels," Stephens said. "I demoed an F-4 for the troops in Quantico and only went down to 1,000 feet." He said it's possible that the pilots on the 777 had the credentials, but it's unclear whether they had the necessary permissions. The Federal Aviation Administration told Business Insider it's "aware" of the extremely low pass and is "looking into it." Mammoth Freighters, the company that completed the 777's conversion, said in a statement that it was not involved in the flight. After Mammoth's statement came out, retired TAP Air Portugal pilot and now CNN Portugal commentator José Correia Guedes posted his thoughts on X: "All that's left is the plane's owner, who's now in a fine mess with the FAA knocking on his door any day now." In the event of a violation, the FAA could impose a civil fine of a few thousand dollars on a pilot and potentially revoke their license. There could also be regulatory violation fines against the operator, which could total hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. https://www.businessinsider.com/pilots-react-to-boeing-777-freighters-reckless-stunt-qatar-texas-2026-6 Power banks and vapes are now the biggest safety threat to aircraft, says aviation authority ‘Pack right for a safe flight’, ' says the UK Civil Aviation Authority Air passengers are typically not permitted to fly with more than two power banks At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. The fire risk posed by lithium batteries is now the number one safety risk to aircraft, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Millions of air passengers have been warned to take portable chargers and vapes into the cabin rather than the hold, as around two lithium-battery-related incidents a week disrupt flights. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has told travellers to “pack right for a safe flight” as part of a summer campaign to prevent “uncontrollable” lithium battery fires on board. Rechargeable lithium batteries, such as those in power banks and vapes, can bring a “fire risk that could be uncontrollable if packed in checked baggage”, said the CAA. It added that CAA figures for overheating passenger devices nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025. Travellers are reminded by the UK’s aviation regulator to take mobile phones, vapes and power banks on board with them and never charge a power bank on a flight. Cases of lithium battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also rose by 91 per cent in 2025. Generally, air passengers are not permitted to fly with more than two power banks or charge their devices on board an aircraft. The CAA added that if each passenger carried four different lithium-powered devices, there could be more than 2,000 on a busy Airbus A380 flight. “Getting it wrong could lead to your bags being removed from the flight, causing significant delays or, even worse, result in a fire that may be impossible to contain,” said the CAA. Laptops packed in hold luggage must also be turned off completely. Giancarlo Buono, director of aviation safety at the CAA, said: “Flying is by far the safest way to travel and we want to keep it that way. “Pack right for a safe flight and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you and the other passengers you’re flying with.” The new warning comes during the build-up to the school summer holidays in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, added: “UK airlines support this important campaign. Flying is the safest form of travel, but as the number of electronic devices we use increases, the risk of lithium battery incidents is a growing challenge.” Aldeslade said: “Electronic devices like tablets, power banks and vapes belong in your hand luggage, not the hold. We'd urge every passenger heading away this summer to take a moment to check before they zip up their bag.” https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/power-banks-vapes-flight-safety-fire-caa-b3003648.html Juveniles suspected of pointing lasers at helicopter flying over Monroe County, sheriff says The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is urging people never to point a laser at an aircraft after a reported laser strike in Bedford Township, Michigan, on Sunday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was following a vehicle, which was wanted for an unrelated incident within its jurisdiction, with one of its helicopters around 1 a.m. The pilots reported the laser strike while flying over Bedford Township. According to the sheriff's office, the lasers came from the 200 block of West Dean Road. Deputies responded to the area and identified an undisclosed number of juveniles as the offenders, officials said. Charges are pending a review by the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office. "Pointing a laser at an aircraft is exceptionally dangerous because a tiny beam on the ground expands dramatically over distance, completely flooding an entire cockpit with blinding light," Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said in a written statement. "This intense glare can instantly incapacitate or disorient pilots during critical, low-altitude phases of flight like takeoff and landing." Goodnough added that pointing a laser at an aircraft can result in severe consequences, including large fines and long prison sentences. Pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration in 2025, according to the federal agency. https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/juveniles-suspected-lasers-helicopter-monroe-county/ 2 US-Bound Lufthansa Boeing 747s Forced Into Overweight Landings Within 24 Hours In the space of just 24 hours, two Boeing 747-8 jumbo jets operated by Lufthansa departed the carrier's hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) bound for destinations on the east coast of the US, but never made it. The two US-bound flights on June 26 and 27 saw huge widebody airliners forced to make a touchdown shortly after takeoff with virtually full fuel tanks. X account Turbine Traveler shared a video of one of those flights, LH402 bound for Newark, surrounded by fire trucks at FRA to tackle its overheated brakes after its unplanned return. As a result of the overweight landings, both flights, LH418 on Friday and LH402 on Saturday, were also canceled. A Rough Start To The Weekend For Lufthansa's 747s On board Saturday's flight to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), LH402, a burning brake smell was the cause of the return. The aircrew reported a smell around 20 minutes after departure and decided to circle back to Frankfurt without dumping fuel. The risk of fire in flight is one of the most severe emergencies possible on any aircraft, and the time it takes to dump fuel from a fully loaded 747 invites a much greater window for the situation to degrade. Considering that the plane had recently just taken off, it could have taken as long as 20 or 30 minutes to bring the plane's weight down before landing. In the other incident, little detail has been released about the exact conditions that caused LH418, bound for Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), to divert on Friday. However, initial reports claim a medical emergency happened soon after liftoff. A user on Reddit's r/flightradar24 forum posted the tracking data of LH418's overweight landing at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) in real time, three days ago. One passenger replied, describing the cause of the diversion: "Baby had a medical emergency. He looks quite happy and lively now, so he should be fine. However, we made an overweight landing without dumping fuel, so they need to inspect the gear." While LH402 circled back to FRA, LH418 diverted to Cologne, where it hit the tarmac 'heavy.' While the 747-8 has an efficient fuel-jettison system, dumping tens of thousands of gallons of jet fuel safely requires climbing to a designated altitude and orbiting over unpopulated areas or water. Just as the potential risk of a fire on the plane is essentially the most time-critical emergency for an aviator, in severe medical emergencies, every minute matters. Spending 20 minutes circling to dump fuel could allow a spark to turn into a flame or make the difference between life and death for a stricken passenger. Modern widebody aircraft like the Boeing 747-8 are intentionally engineered to withstand overweight landings in emergencies, and much of the intense kinetic energy is absorbed by the carbon brake discs and tires. Unfortunately for LH418, it was not possible to find a maintenance technician to inspect the gear fast enough to keep it on time. It was canceled, just as LH402 was due to its severely overheated brakes. Replacing a set of overheated brakes, melted tires, and potentially damaged brake lines typically takes a few days, but it is considered routine maintenance. The casualty in this scenario is the itinerary, with both flights being canceled for maintenance reasons. Since Lufthansa currently has a long-haul capacity shortage, it is critical to get the 'Queen of the Skies,' as the 747 is known, back in the air as soon as possible. As part of its modernization, the airline is actively pushing out its older, much less efficient four-engine Airbus A340-600s and Boeing 747-400s over the next year. However, the 747-8 is the youngest, most modern quadjet they own. As such, the big Boeing jets are crucial for Lufthansa's strategy. In fact, the increased demand for transatlantic flights and premium cabin products has been so high that some Airbus A380 super jumbos were pulled out of storage. This entire situation comes down to delivery timelines for the first production next-gen Boeing 777X widebodies continuing to be delayed. As such, the 747-8s are slated to remain the backbone of Lufthansa's high-capacity routes well into the 2030s even as the new 777X finally debuts. https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-boeing-747-us-overweight-landings-24-hours/ Fleet Groundings Mount at Several Russian Airlines as Sanctions Strain Maintenance – Kommersant Several Russian airlines are operating with unusually high numbers of grounded aircraft as Western sanctions continue to complicate access to spare parts and maintenance, the Kommersant newspaper reported Monday. An analysis by the business daily found that about one-fifth of the aircraft operated by Russia's 11 largest airlines were not in service this summer. However, that figure is heavily skewed by a small number of carriers facing acute maintenance challenges. Excluding state-controlled Aeroflot Group, which has kept most of its fleet flying, nearly 30% of aircraft operated by the remaining major airlines were grounded, according to the newspaper. The figures underscore the uneven impact of sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While flagship carriers such as Aeroflot and low-cost subsidiary Pobeda continue to operate most of their fleets, airlines with larger numbers of newer Western-built aircraft have struggled to obtain engines, spare parts and maintenance support. S7, Russia's largest private airline, has been hit the hardest among the country's major scheduled carriers. Around 32% of its fleet was out of service, largely because of engine problems affecting Airbus A320neo aircraft, Kommersant reported. Other airlines have also experienced elevated grounding rates. About 44% of Nordwind's aircraft were reportedly not flying this summer, including several long-haul Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s. At Azur Air, Russia's largest charter carrier, only six of its 23 aircraft had been cleared to resume operations following inspections by the federal aviation regulator after serious engine issues were identified, leaving roughly 74% of its fleet grounded. Several smaller carriers were also operating with reduced fleets. Around 20% of aircraft at Ural Airlines, 15% at Utair, 19% at Red Wings and 21% at Azimut were out of service, according to the newspaper. Azimut said it was operating all aircraft available after scheduled maintenance. By contrast, Aeroflot Group appeared largely insulated from the disruptions. Around 11% of its combined fleet was grounded, though most idle aircraft belonged to subsidiary Rossiya. Aeroflot's mainline operation had only about 4% of its aircraft out of service, while Pobeda was operating its entire fleet, according to Kommersant. Industry experts quoted by the newspaper said the current level of groundings remains manageable given that Russian airlines have been operating under Western sanctions for more than four years. They cautioned, however, that fleet availability could deteriorate from 2027 as aircraft age and components reach the end of their service lives, with Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jets expected to face particular maintenance challenges. Western sanctions imposed after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine cut Russian airlines off from aircraft manufacturers, spare parts and many maintenance services, forcing carriers to rely on alternative supply chains, domestic repairs and the cannibalization of some aircraft to keep others in service. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/29/fleet-groundings-mount-at-several-russian-airlines-as-sanctions-strain-maintenance-a93119 Airlines For American CEO Tells Senators Many Near Misses Not Reported Urges Congress To Play Critical Role In Reducing Risk By Supporting People, Infrastructure And Operational Stability In The NAS Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu told Congress Tuesday there are "thousands" more near misses in the U.S. than are ever widely reported. Sununu was testifying before the Senate U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation. “I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the subcommittee’s examination of recent near misses and the continued work we can all do to further strengthen the safest aviation system in the world,” he said. “Congress can provide predictability and stability through strategic investment for the foundational components necessary to not only maintain our system but also grow and improve the operational capabilities of the National Airspace System (NAS) while also improving safety through risk mitigation and durability,” Sununu said in his testimony. “The U.S. has built a commercial aviation safety record that is second to none, and that record has evolved through decades of collaboration across the entire aviation ecosystem. Airlines do not compete on safety. Instead, we share information, we learn from mistakes and close calls and we work continuously to strengthen every layer of protection in the system. We welcome these discussions. “Let me end with a clear and unequivocal point: The U.S. aviation system remains the safest in the world. Congress can, and should, optimize our safety capabilities through dedicated and sustained commitment to both the foundational workforce and technology components of the system. While risk can never be entirely eliminated, a stable, well-resourced system enables us to continuously reduce and manage risk across the system—strengthening safety for all users and the traveling public,” he said. FMI: www.airlines.org https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=226004E2-3213-4492-BE03-4533A0CAE1E2 The Largest Commercial Jet Engine On Earth Also Has Large And Unique Problems When General Electric set out to build a jet engine for the Boeing 777X, they didn't just repeat the previous GE90,they decided to push the laws of physics to the extreme. With a fan diameter of 134 inches, the GE9X jet engine's fan diameter is almost the same size as the fuselage of a Boeing 737. It is the world's largest and most powerful commercial jet engine ever built, capable of generating up to 134,300 pounds of thrust. But as any gearhead knows, when you build the biggest, most complex version of any engine, you're not just scaling up the performance, you are scaling up its issues as well. The Boeing 777X program is currently 6 years behind schedule, with a staggering $15 billion in spending. Most of that money has been spent on solving unique problems that simply do not exist on smaller engines, and it starts with the fans. In the world of turbofans, efficiency is driven by the bypass ratio -– the amount of air that goes around the core versus through it. To make the 777X the most efficient jet engine on the planet, GE needed a massive bypass ratio of 10:1. To achieve that, they built a 134-inch front fan. A fan that large creates several issues. Because the diameter is so vast, the tips of the 16 carbon fiber blades travel at supersonic speeds even at low engine rpm. This creates immense centrifugal forces and vibrations that smaller engines never have to account for. Weight, cracked links, and sealing issues with the GE9X The sheer size of the GE9X's nacelle created a ground clearance problem. To get around it, Boeing had to design the 777X with longer landing gear and a specialized wing mounting, all just to keep the GE9X from scraping the tarmac. The weight was another problem. Despite using next-generation carbon fiber and 3D printed parts to keep components light, the GE9X tips the scales at over 21,000 pounds. This mass creates rotational inertia, meaning it needs a lot of energy to get the fan spinning, and even more to slow it down. This engine needs specialized software for the plane to perform optimally. The most dramatic chapter of the GE9X story involves a surgery that Boeing is currently performing on roughly 30 stored aircraft. Because Boeing began building 777X airframes before certification was granted, they now have a fleet of technically obsolete planes sitting at Paine Field. The problem dates back to 2024 when the test fleet was grounded after inspectors found failed thrust links –- the structural components that hold the engine to the wings. These links had developed cracks, forcing Boeing to go back to the drawing board. It was just a part of Boeing's awful 2024 in the skies and space. In early 2026, a new durability issue was identified on the power plant. It was a crack in the GE9X's mid-seal. This mid-seal acts like a boundary between the turbine stages, and the extreme pressures and temperatures inside the core were more than the seal could handle. The Boeing 777X was originally supposed to enter service in 2020. A lot has happened to the 777X since then. It is now slated for a 2027 launch. This five-year delay has cost Boeing over $15 billion in development costs till now, making it one of the most expensive certification campaigns in aviation history. It may be a much-needed one for the company's future, considering Boeing faced criminal charges over its 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. The delay affects General Electric as much as it does Boeing. Because the 777X was built around the GE9X, there is no plan B. Unlike the original Boeing 777, which was offered with engines from GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce, the GE9X will be the sole engine option for the 777X. If the engine has a durability issue, the entire Boeing 777X program grinds to a halt. This lack of flexibility is costing Boeing dearly. As of last year, Boeing had to contend with cancelled 777X aircraft orders, including 15 from Etihad Airways. Why stick with the project? When the GE9X does enter service with its launch customer, Lufthansa, in 2027, it will offer a 10% improvement in fuel burn over the GE90. Considering the razor-thin margins of the airline world, that's a big win. The GE9X is set to be a technical marvel, but it's also a sobering reminder that, in aerospace engineering, the bigger the engine, the bigger the gamble. https://www.jalopnik.com/2199976/largest-commercial-jet-engine-fan-problems-ge9x/ China Eastern Airlines to buy 25 Airbus A330neo jets for list price of $9.4 billion China Eastern expects Airbus to deliver the jets in batches from 2029 to 2033 China Eastern says actual purchase price will be below Airbus's January 2025 list prices HONG KONG/PARIS, June 26 (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS), opens new tab ‌said on Friday it plans to buy 25 A330neo jets from Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab for a catalogue price of about $9.35 billion, as the Chinese carrier expands its widebody fleet to serve more international routes. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in batches from 2029 to 2033, China Eastern said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, adding that the two companies signed the purchase agreement in Shanghai earlier in the day. China Eastern said in the filing that the catalogue price of $9.35 ⁠billion is based on Airbus's January 2025 list prices and the actual transaction price would be lower, with the airline securing a discount more favourable than in previous purchases from the European planemaker. Large discounts are standard practice when airlines place sizeable orders with planemakers. The Shanghai-based airline said the widebody jets would primarily be deployed from Shanghai Pudong Airport to expand intercontinental destinations and increase flight frequencies, bolstering the hub's role as a transfer centre for long-haul routes. The deal comes months after China Eastern in March signed a separate agreement with Airbus to purchase 101 A320neo aircraft at a list price of about $15.8 billion, as major Chinese airlines point to a renewed focus on international expansion as a key growth driver. It also comes as Airbus steps up efforts ‌to ⁠expand its share in the world's second-largest aviation market, where it expects passenger traffic to grow by around 5% annually over the next two decades. Reuters has reported the European planemaker has been in on-off negotiations in recent years to secure a huge order of up to 500 jets in China -- a type of package often tied to state visits -- but no deal was announced when French President Emmanuel Macron visited China ⁠in December. The A330neo is an upgraded fuel-efficient version of the previous-generation Airbus A330 long-haul jet, featuring high-aspect-ratio wings and improved aerodynamics. It is powered by Rolls-Royce (RR.L), opens new tab Trent 7000 engines. China Eastern expects at least 10 of its older A330 jets to be retired on age grounds during the ⁠delivery period, meaning the new planes will partly serve as replacements. The deal would be funded through a mix of the carrier's own capital, bank loans, bond issuances and other financing instruments. China Eastern said the phased payment structure was not expected to have a material impact ⁠on its cash flow or operations. In a separate filing, China Eastern said one offshore unit would issue an overseas bond worth up to 2.8 billion yuan ($411.89 million), without specifying the use of proceeds. ($1 = 6.7980 Chinese yuan renminbi) https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/china-eastern-airlines-buy-25-airbus-a330-neo-jets-94-billion-2026-06-26/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . EAA AirVenture Oshkosh - July 20–26, 2026 . 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