Flight Safety Information - September 29, 2026 No. 191 In This Issue : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Runway Excursion (Guyana) : Flight Attendants Fall Sick on Hawaiian Flight : Smoke in cabin forces Boston-bound Delta flight to make emergency landing in Portugal : Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch Triggers FAA Probe A Month After MAX 7 Approval — And Airlines Are Pushing Back: Report : Man gets 2-year prison stint for unruly behavior on airplane : NTSB: Citation V in Overrun Was Snow-coated, Overweight : Capt. Sully inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame 17 years after ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ : Incoming Air India CEO outlines priorities: Safety, reliability, profitability : America's Fastest Spy Plane SR-71 Blackbird May Fly Again: : Iranian airliner with passengers on board seized at Istanbul over €3-million debt : Calendar of Events Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Runway Excursion (Guyana) Date: Sunday 27 September 2026 Time: c. 14:45 LT Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Owner/operator: Air Services Limited Registration: 8R-ASL MSN: 208B0707 Year of manufacture: 1998 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Mahdia Airport (MHA/SYMD), Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni - Guyana Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi Departure airport: Georgetown-Eugene F. Correira International Airport (OGL/SYGO) Destination airport: Mahdia Airport (MHA/SYMD) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: An Air Services Limited Cessna 208B Grand Caravan veered off runway 17 after landing at Mahdia Airport (MHA/SYMD), Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni, due to a tire puncture, causing the pilot to lose directional control. The six occupants were not injured and the aircraft received minor damage. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/582734 Flight Attendants Fall Sick on Hawaiian Flight Seven flight attendants were evaluated by medical personnel after a strange odor was reported on board a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu on Thursday. In a statement released to KHON-TV, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian's parent company, said the flight arrived at Honolulu safely and "without incident." The flight attendants were checked by medical staff at the gate and then released, the airline said. No passengers required medical attention. The flight was identified as Alaska Airlines Flight 803, operating under the Hawaiian brand. There were 252 passengers on board, and nine crew members. The aircraft involved is an Airbus A330-200. According to KHON, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and American Medical Response staff evaluated the flight attendants at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport's Terminal 1. The flight attendants complained of nausea and headaches but ultimately declined transportation to an area hospital. Alaska said it will thoroughly inspect the aircraft before it is returned to service. "Safety is our priority and we thank the medical professionals for their response," the airline said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flight-attendants-fall-sick-hawaiian-144100402.html Smoke in cabin forces Boston-bound Delta flight to make emergency landing in Portugal A Delta Airlines Airbus 330 headed from Barcelona, Spain to, Boston made an emergency landing Sunday in Portugal. An airport spokesperson said the plane was diverted there after a mechanical problem that produced smoke in the cabin. The plane landed safely, but first responders treated eight passengers on the tarmac and took three others to an area hospital. A mechanical problem with a Delta Airlines flight headed from Barcelona, Spain, to Boston prompted an emergency landing in Portugal on Sunday, the airline operator told Reuters. What they're saying The airline said flight DL251, an Airbus A330 aircraft, landed safely at the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto after being diverted there because of smoke in the plane's cabin. What we know First responders treated eight passengers on the tarmac and took three other passengers to an area hospital for treatment, according to a spokesperson for Portugal's emergency and civil protection authority. The plane left Barcelona at 3:15 p.m. and landed in Porto two-and-a-half hours later, data from flight tracking service Flightradar24 indicated. There was no word on the cause of the mechanical issue. Flightradar24 showed Monday's scheduled flights involving the plane as canceled. https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/smoke-cabin-forces-boston-bound-140642944.html Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch Triggers FAA Probe A Month After MAX 7 Approval — And Airlines Are Pushing Back: Report Boeing has identified a software glitch in its 737 MAX lineup that could affect an automated navigation feature during certain landing scenarios. In the affected scenario, pilots may have to fly the aircraft manually without some autopilot functions, potentially increasing their workload at low altitude. Boeing notified 737 MAX operators about the issue in late August and said at the time that it did not pose a safety risk, according to a company document, per the report. The FAA is now investigating the issue and could take action if it determines that additional measures are necessary. Boeing Co. is facing fresh scrutiny over its 737 MAX lineup after identifying a software glitch that could affect an automated navigation feature during certain landing scenarios. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the issue with the 737 MAX lineup has prompted an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pushback from some airlines. Boeing shares closed about 1% higher on Friday, inching up another 0.2% during the after-hours trade. Software Glitch Could Affect Landing Automation The glitch emerged after a cockpit software update and can occur when pilots change their planned flight path following a missed approach, the report said. In the affected scenario, pilots may have to fly the aircraft manually without some autopilot functions, potentially increasing their workload at low altitude. Boeing notified 737 MAX operators about the issue in late August and said at the time that it did not pose a safety risk, according to a company document, per the report. The company is working with airlines on procedures that would allow pilots to restore the automated navigation feature if needed, while also developing a permanent software fix, the report added. The FAA is now investigating the issue and could take action if it determines that additional measures are necessary. Boeing said it learned about the glitch from an operator in November 2024, but the issue initially did not meet its criteria for a formal safety review. After receiving additional feedback from airlines, Boeing began a formal review and shared its findings with the FAA. New Jet Rollout Could Get Complicated The software issue could also create complications for Boeing's newest 737 MAX variants, including the MAX 7 and MAX 10. The FAA approved the MAX 7 for passenger service last month with the new software, while Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has said he expects the MAX 10 to receive regulatory approval soon. The FAA said the outcome of its investigation could affect the MAX 10's certification if regulators determine the glitch constitutes an unsafe condition requiring corrective action. The issue has already prompted some airline customers to push back. Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) and United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL) have told Boeing they do not want to receive new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the affected software, instead requesting an earlier software version. Southwest has been waiting years for the MAX 7 and plans to begin flying the aircraft next year. Ortberg Touted 737 Max 7 Certification As A Critical Milestone For BA Earlier in July, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg touted that the certification of the 737 Max 7 is a critical milestone for the company. "It's the first new airplane we've certified in a long time. We're done with the dash testing on the 7, and we expect certification here very shortly," he said, with the aircraft receiving FAA approval eventually in August. Ortberg added that the 737 Max 10 certification will follow right after the Max 7, following which Boeing will introduce it in the market. He said that while the certifications will help Boeing, it's a signal of the company's attempt at regaining the trust of the FAA. "We've been working very, very hard to be more transparent and work collaboratively with the FAA and establish that trust so they allow us to sell these aircraft," he added. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/boeing-737-max-software-glitch-102226102.html Man gets 2-year prison stint for unruly behavior on airplane A 52-year-old South Carolina man has been sentenced to federal prison for drunk and combative behavior aboard an international flight last year that caused the plane to be diverted to Alaska. Michael Shane Orndoff Jr., of Greenwood, received a two-year sentence, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a news release. "Regrettably, events such as this have become all too common," said Michael J. Heyman, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska. "Air travel is an essential mode of transportation, especially for Alaskans, and we remain committed to ensuring that every passenger can fly without fear of belligerent and dangerous behavior." The fracas unfurled December 17, 2025, when, according to court documents, Orndoff boarded a Delta Airlines flight in Atlanta bound for Seoul, South Korea. The flight had been airborne for about an hour by the time Orndoff had consumed four to six large glasses of wine, the documents said. He became intoxicated and belligerent toward the flight crew and others on the plane, including leaning into and breathing on an adjacent female passenger, federal prosecutors said. When crew members refused further alcohol service to Orndoff, the documents said, he attempted to coax other passengers, including a minor, to buy alcohol for him. Eventually, Orndoff grabbed a bottle of wine from a service cart and locked himself in a bathroom, prosecutors said. He emerged shortly thereafter with the now empty wine bottle, returned to his seat and continued to harass nearby passengers, the documents said. The female passenger got up and approached crew members in the forward cabin, requesting to be moved to another seat. Orndoff chased the passenger to the front of the plane and began pounding on the cockpit door while demanding more alcohol, the documents said. The pilots sealed themselves in the cockpit and diverted the flight to Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage while crew members and several passengers subdued Orndoff with zip ties, according to the documents. Airport police boarded the flight upon landing and escorted Orndoff off the plane. His blood alcohol concentration was eventually measured at .192 - more than double the legal driving limit of 0.08% in most U.S. states. "Mr. Orndoff's violent and disruptive behavior jeopardized the safety of the flight crew and his fellow passengers," said Matthew Schlegel, special agent in charge of the FBI's Anchorage Field Office. "Interfering with a flight crew is a federal crime that can have catastrophic consequences." Earlier this month, an American Airlines flight headed from Dallas to Newark was diverted to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International after an unruly passenger causing a disturbance had to be restrained with zip ties and duct tape. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/man-gets-2-prison-stint-005939384.html NTSB: Citation V in Overrun Was Snow-coated, Overweight Rejected takeoff initiated above the decision speed A Citation V that slid off the runway in Pagosa Springs in 2024 Inadequate preflight planning, poor preflight inspection, and an attempt to take off above a Cessna Citation V’s mtow with snow-contaminated wings led to a runway overrun on Dec. 27, 2024 at Stevens Field Airport (KPSO) in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, according to a newly released NTSB final report. The overweight condition and contaminated wings likely kept the airplane from rotating at the pilot's calculated speed, and by the time she rejected the takeoff, the airplane was already above decision speed. The planned Part 91 flight was bound for Tulsa Riverside Airport (KRVS) in Oklahoma, but ended when the airplane ran off the end of Runway 1 at KPSO. The light jet ran into the grass, damaging both wings; the two pilots and eight passengers were not injured. According to the NTSB, the pilot's type rating required a qualified second-in-command (SIC), but the copilot held no such rating and, by his own account, did not meet the requirements to act as SIC. The pilot told investigators that she was aware the copilot had no flight experience in type but assumed he was properly trained based on his job at a flight simulator training provider. The airplane’s lease agreement required the lessee, a passenger aboard the flight, to hire “professionally trained and qualified” pilots. But according to the lessee, the management company that operated the airplane, Metroplex Flight Services, arranged the pilots itself and asked only for a passenger count, never for passenger or baggage weights. Passengers told NTSB investigators that the flight crew filled every exterior luggage compartment, loaded a stroller into the lavatory and a child’s car seat into an empty passenger seat, and let each passenger keep a personal bag at their seat. The pilot calculated weight using ForeFlight’s standard average passenger weights—205, 184, and 87 pounds respectively for men, women, and children—for the five men, four women, and one child aboard, plus an estimated 130 pounds of baggage in the rear compartment and 110 pounds in the nose, arriving at a calculated payload of 1,285 pounds. Weights for each bag were determined by “heaviness,” not scales, the NTSB said. The pilot told investigators the airplane’s takeoff weight was about 15,700 pounds, equal to mtow. After the accident, a passenger gave investigators additional figures, including about 100 pounds of luggage inside the cabin and roughly 240 pounds for three dogs aboard, bringing the total reported weight of people, animals, and baggage to 2,154 pounds. Using that information, investigators calculated the airplane’s actual takeoff weight at about 16,502 pounds, some 600 pounds over the 15,900-pound takeoff weight, with the center of gravity near its forward limit and likely outside the operating envelope. The pilot said she performed a standard preflight inspection and noticed only liquid water on the wings, with no icing or other contamination. Airport surveillance video, however, showed snow already accumulating on the wings as the pilot and copilot walked out to the airplane, and continuing to fall as passengers boarded. One passenger said FBO personnel, working with a handheld brush because the airport had no deicing capability, cleared the wings three separate times over about 11 minutes. According to the copilot, the pilot performed a tactile check of the wings after all passengers were loaded, but video showed no such check on the airplane’s right wing—the only wing visible on camera—after the final snow removal. Contamination remained visible on the wings as the airplane began taxiing, the ramp pavement was wet, and the snowfall rate appeared to increase once the airplane left the ramp. About 20 minutes passed between the last time snow was brushed from the wings and the start of the takeoff roll. The report cited FAA Advisory Circular 135-17, which states that snow or frost can reduce wing lift by as much as 30% and increase drag by 40%. The pilot gave conflicting accounts of what followed. She initially said the airplane accelerated normally through the 96-knot decision speed and 103-knot rotation speed, but did not rotate despite full aft deflection of the control yoke. Later, she told investigators that the airplane did not seem to accelerate at the expected rate. Data downloaded by the NTSB from the airplane’s Garmin GTN 750 avionics units showed it reached 120 knots indicated airspeed and 138 knots ground speed before the pilot rejected the takeoff with maximum braking and full reverse thrust. That is above the speed that FAA guidance describes as “the maximum speed by which a rejected takeoff must be initiated to assure that a safe stop can be completed within the remaining runway.” The airplane ran off the end of the runway, continued into the grass, and pivoted left before stopping. Passengers and crew exited and were met by airport emergency personnel. A post-accident examination found no evidence of pre-accident flight-control or engine anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-09-25/snow-coated-overweight-citation-v-doomed-2024-takeoff Capt. Sully inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame 17 years after ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame last week — 17 years after the "Miracle on the Hudson." Sullenberger is best known for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on New York's Hudson River in 2009 after a bird strike disabled both engines. All 155 people on board survived. The emergency landing became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Sullenberger was "enshrined" in the hall of fame on Sept. 24 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. In a social media post in August recognizing Sullenberger, the National Aviation Hall of Fame said his "calm leadership under pressure became a defining moment in aviation history." "His actions made him a global symbol of professionalism, skill, and heroism in aviation," the Hall of Fame post said. The NAHF said that in the years since landing a plane on the Hudson River, Sullenberger has "continued to serve the industry as a leading advocate for aviation safety, pilot training, and public service, including his role as U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization." A retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Sullenberger was widely praised for his calm decision-making and aviation expertise, earning international recognition and numerous honors. He later wrote several books, became an aviation safety advocate and public speaker, and served as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization from 2022 to 2025. In November 2025, Sullenberger said in a social media post that he was among those who would be included in NAHF's Class of 2026. "I’m deeply honored to be named to the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2026 Class alongside an extraordinary group of individuals whose work has shaped aviation and space exploration," he said in November. "My sincerest thanks to the NAHF for this recognition and congratulations to my fellow inductees. It’s a privilege to be part of a community so dedicated to advancing flight and inspiring future generations." Sullenberger being "enshrined" in the National Aviation Hall of Fame comes just a couple of months after he announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and that the disease is in its early stages. Also inducted into the hall of fame alongside Sullenberger were: William F. Bahret (posthumous), a radar engineering pioneer at Wright Field's Avionics Lab who is often called the "father of stealth" for developing methods to measure and predict radar signatures based on shape and materials without physical models, the Hall of Fame said. Leonard Michael Greene (posthumous), an inventor and aerodynamics engineer who held more than 200 patents, including the widely used Aircraft Stall Warning device. He also founded Safe Flight Instrument Corp. and co-founded the Corporate Angel Network, which uses empty seats on corporate aircraft to fly cancer patients to treatment for free, according to the Hall of Fame. Dr. Shannon Lucid, a former NASA astronaut and biochemist who logged more than 5,300 hours in space across five missions, including a record-setting 188-day stay aboard Russia's Mir Space Station. Selected as an astronaut in 1978, she was among the first women to join NASA's astronaut corps and later served as the agency's chief scientist, the Hall of Fame said. John D. Odegard (posthumous), founder of the University of North Dakota's School of Aerospace Sciences, who transformed a small flight program into one of the world's leading collegiate aviation schools. He also helped develop FAA-accredited degree programs and expanded UND's work in weather, atmospheric science and space exploration, according to the Hall of Fame. Ross Perot Jr., who became the first person to circumnavigate the globe by helicopter at age 23 when he co-piloted the Bell 206L-2 Spirit of Texas in 1982. He later developed Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the nation's first purely industrial airport, and continues to support aerospace innovation through The Perot Group and Hillwood, the Hall of Fame said. Dr. Peggy A. Whitson, a biochemist and astronaut who flew three long-duration International Space Station missions, became the first woman to command the ISS and later commanded two Axiom Space missions. She also became the first woman and first non-pilot to lead NASA's Astronaut Office and holds the U.S. record for the most cumulative days in space, according to the Hall of Fame. The NAHF said the Class of 2026 "is a remarkable ensemble of individuals who have left an indelible mark on the aviation and space industries. Their contributions span a wide spectrum of accomplishments, furthering the frontiers of flight and exploration." https://www.4029tv.com/article/women-death-row-executions/73868721 Incoming Air India CEO outlines priorities: Safety, reliability, profitability Air India's incoming Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tewolde Gebremariam, has declared passenger safety, operational reliability, and sustainable profitability as the airline's top priorities, aiming to rebuild customer confidence and financial health amidst widening losses. Incoming Air India CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has prioritised passenger safety and operational reliability, advocating for a stronger safety-reporting culture. The airline aims for sustainable profitability by enhancing revenue streams across its international network, commercial activities, and cargo business, alongside strict cost discipline. Employees are encouraged to proactively report safety concerns and will be rewarded for ideas that generate cost savings and operational efficiencies. Air India plans to improve its disruption recovery processes to global standards and empower frontline staff to resolve customer issues more quickly. The airline has faced significant losses, reporting a consolidated net loss of ~₹22,238 crore in FY26, highlighting the urgency for financial turnaround. Passenger safety and operational reliability will be Air India's foremost priorities as it enters the next phase of its transformation, with a stronger safety-reporting culture and better disruption recovery needed to improve customer confidence, the airline's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD)-designate Tewolde Gebremariam said on Monday. Tewolde -- during his first townhall with Air India's employees -- also said Air India must focus on achieving sustainable profitability by improving both revenue and cost performance, according to sources. Tewolde will formally assume the role of Air India CEO and MD after all necessary regulatory approvals are received, sources said. Addressing Financial Challenges Air India's losses have widened sharply over the past three years, with the group reporting a consolidated net loss of ~₹22,238 crore in FY26, more than double the ~₹10,859 crore loss in FY25. In FY24, Air India's consolidated loss stood at ~₹6,677 crore. Revenue enhancement opportunities were being examined across the international network, commercial activities and cargo business, while cost discipline would have to become part of the airline's organisational culture, he said. The airline was also planning programmes to reward employees for ideas that generate measurable cost savings and operational efficiencies. Fostering a Safety Culture Tewolde said every employee has a role to play in maintaining safety and should be empowered to raise concerns and report issues without hesitation, according to sources. "Everything we do must be safe. Safety is a shared responsibility, and every Air Indian has a role to play," he said, according to sources. The MD pointed out the importance of proactive reporting and continuous improvement, telling employees that they should speak up when they identify a concern. "If you see something, say something. The stronger our reporting culture, the stronger our safety culture," he said, according to sources. During the last couple of months, Air India has faced several safety-related incidents. On August 4, flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi suffered a sudden altitude upset after all three hydraulic systems briefly failed, injuring 24 people. The pilot of this flight tested positive for marijuana, and was later sacked. On September 6, another pilot was removed from Zurich-Delhi flight AI151 after failing a breathalyser test for alcohol. Enhancing Operational Performance On operational performance, Tewolde said customers should remember Air India for its reliability. He said the airline should ensure that flights depart and arrive on time, baggage travels with passengers and disruptions are communicated transparently. Air India should also recover quickly when disruptions occur, he said. While some disruptions caused by factors such as weather and technical issues cannot be avoided, Tewolde pointed out the need to minimise their impact and ensure that service recovery processes meet global standards, sources said. He also called for greater support and empowerment for frontline employees so they can take quicker decisions to resolve customer issues. "Wherever you are in the organisation, you will be empowered to make decisions that help our customers and supported in delivering the right outcomes," he said, according to sources. On profitability, Tewolde stated Air India could not lose focus on financial performance even as external factors have affected its path to breakeven, according to sources. https://www.rediff.com/business/report/air-indias-new-ceo-focuses-on-safety-reliability-and-sustainable-profitability/20260929.htm America's Fastest Spy Plane SR-71 Blackbird May Fly Again: Report The US space agency has reportedly contacted several former engineers who worked on the SR-71A Blackbird spy planes. NASA may soon bring one of its retired SR-71A Blackbird spy planes back into the skies after nearly 27 years. The US space agency has reportedly contacted several former engineers who worked on the famous aircraft. It wants their help with a possible return-to-flight project. David Ash, a former US Navy and Joby test pilot, reached out to Mike Relja, a former US Air Force and NASA test engineer, to help with the effort. Relja, now in his late 70s, told Aviation Week that he was surprised when NASA contacted him about the project. "I told the guy, 'You know, I'm too old to be doing this. I wish you well. I'd like to see you make it. It would be interesting. But I just don't think you can get there from here," Relja recalled. The aircraft at the centre of the effort is SR-71A Tail No. 844, which has been sitting on display at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California since its last flight. The aircraft was removed from its display pole sometime before April this year, according to commercial satellite images obtained by Aviation Week. NASA employees then moved it into the hangar that was once used for the Space Shuttle. Tail No. 844 has a special place in the SR-71's history. It made the final flight of an SR-71 Blackbird on October 9, 1999. The aircraft has been on display since then. Another former NASA SR-71 test engineer, Tim Conners, also received an offer to join the project. He turned it down, although he said he would like to see the aircraft fly again. NASA has not confirmed that it is working to return Tail No. 844 to the skies. "We recognize the interest in the SR-71 and its remarkable history at NASA but have no additional information to share regarding the aircraft at this time," NASA spokesperson told Aviation Week. The project comes after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman spoke about plans to build a new fleet of experimental X-planes. At the All-In Summit in Los Angeles earlier this month, Isaacman showed an image of a new aircraft. The aircraft appeared to have some features similar to the SR-71, including its tail design, engine areas and cockpit. He also said NASA would soon be flying as high and as fast as it had in the past, and then go beyond those limits. Relja said it would be difficult to operate Tail N0. 844 as it has not flown for nearly 27 years. He said the aircraft could have water and sand inside it after spending so many years on display. "I do know they've got people working on it. But again, without equipment, it's beyond me what they're doing," Relja said. The aircraft has two engines. There is also a spare engine under it. These engines may not have been properly maintained or rotated for decades, he said. "When we were operational, if we had a spare engine, every 90 days we had to rotate the engine. Every 180 days, we had to run it to keep it as a ready spare. Now you're talking about engines that have been sitting for 30-plus years," Relja added. The supply of spare parts is another big problem as the US Air Force and NASA destroyed around $600 million worth of Blackbird spare parts in 2007. NASA would now have to find or make many of those parts again. It would also need supplies of the special JP-7 fuel used by the SR-71. The aircraft also needs triethylborane, a chemical used to start its engines. Special engine oil and hydraulic fluids would also be needed. Relja said special carts were needed for several jobs. "To get the engine out, you need a cart. You need equipment to pull the [engine] spikes, pull the [ejection] seat. All that stuff is gone," he said. Several Blackbirds are displayed at museums in the US and UK. Nine of them flew to their final museum locations. So, their engines and other parts could be used for the project. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nasa-may-bring-legendary-spy-jet-sr-71-blackbird-back-to-skies-report-12114529 Iranian airliner with passengers on board seized at Istanbul over €3-million debt Bailiffs boarded the Caspian Airlines Boeing 737 as passengers sat ready for departure and served a €3 million debt order before it could take off. The seizure came days after US secondary sanctions on Iran's aviation sector took effect, halving international flights at Tehran's main airport. A Caspian Airlines Boeing 737 was seized at Istanbul Airport on Monday by court-ordered enforcement officers acting on a debt claim of approximately €3 million, stranding passengers who had already boarded a flight bound for Iran. Lawyers and bailiffs representing the creditor, aviation representation and supervision company ACM Temsil Gözetim, arrived at the aircraft — registered EP-KPB — as it was ready for departure and served the seizure order before it could take off, according to Anadolu Agency. Passengers and cabin crew were removed from the aircraft and returned to the terminal. Caspian Airlines is a Tehran-based carrier founded in 1993 and operating as part of Iran's state aviation group. It flies Boeing 737s on domestic and international routes, including to Istanbul. Iranian carriers have faced chronic difficulties maintaining their fleets and meeting financial obligations to foreign counterparts as a result of decades of US sanctions, which restrict access to aircraft, spare parts, maintenance services and international financial systems. The war between the US and Iran that began in February has compounded those pressures, with Iranian airspace repeatedly disrupted and international routes curtailed. The seizure came days after sweeping US secondary sanctions on Iran's aviation sector took effect last Wednesday. The US Treasury had sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and nine associated service providers on 8 September under its Operation Economic Outcast, warning that foreign airports, fuel suppliers, ground handlers and ticketing companies that continued servicing Iranian carriers would themselves face sanctions and risk being cut off from the US dollar system. The secondary sanctions triggered a rapid contraction of Iranian aviation internationally, with flights by Iranian carriers suspended in Iraq, the UAE, Azerbaijan and Oman. In turn, Iran's largest private carrier Mahan Air suspended flights to Turkey and Oman. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines suspended their own routes to Iran through 24 October. Qatar Airways suspended services citing airspace restrictions. China, Russia and Pakistan have continued to maintain flights to and from Iran. Daily international flights at Tehran's main airport fell from 80 to 90 before the sanctions to around 41 by Monday, according to tracking data. Tehran has filed formal complaints with the UN, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Court of Justice. Turkey has not formally barred Iranian carriers, which is why Caspian Airlines was still operating the Istanbul route at the time of the seizure. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iranian-airliner-passengers-board-seized-083700631.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . ICAO/EASA Third Global RSOO/RAIO Forum for Aviation Safety — September 29–30, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana., https://www.icao.int/events . ISASI - BOSTON 2026 - September 28, 2026 – October 2, 2026 . Global Aviation Conference Frankfurt- 29-30SEP2026 - Frankfurt, Germany . Defence Aviation Safety Conference 2026 — October 5–6, 2026, United Kingdom. . European Aviation Training Summit 3 – 5 November 2026 • Estoril Congress Centre, Cascais, Portugal . 79TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT MONTREAL | NOVEMBER 10-12, 2026. . Airlines 2026 conference - November 11, 2026 (London) . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV . Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA)conference Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 28th and 29th of October 2026 . Bombardier Safety Standdown (November 10–12, 2026 in Wichita, KS) . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation17 to 19 November 2026, Woburn MA . 2027 ACSF Safety Symposium - April 6-8, 2027 - ERAU Daytona Beach, FL Curt Lewis