Flight Safety Information - November 6, 2025 No. 222 In This Issue : Incident: India A20N near Bhopal on Nov 3rd 2025, cargo smoke indication : 4 November 2025 - United Parcel Service - UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) accident 11 dead : These 40 airports could be impacted by the FAA's capacity cuts and flight cancellations : Photo shows UPS cargo plane at moment of fiery crash; left engine detached before takeoff, NTSB says : Crashed UPS jet was part of an aging fleet with an expensive reputation : Investigators find 'black boxes' from UPS plane crash that killed at least 12 : FAA will reduce air traffic by 10% at many airports to maintain safety : Object that cracked plane’s windshield at 36,000 feet identified by officials : Turkish Airlines inks deal to buy minority stake in Spain's Air Europa : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST : Calendar of Event Incident: India A20N near Bhopal on Nov 3rd 2025, cargo smoke indication An Air India Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-EXO performing flight AI-2487 from Delhi to Bangalore (India) with 172 people on board, was enroute at FL370 about 30nm northwest of Bhopal (India) when the crew received cargo smoke warnings for both cargo areas and decided to divert to Bhopal. The aircraft landed safely on Bhopal's runway 30 about 35 minutes later. The airline reported a technical snag. The aircraft was able to continue the flight and reached Bangalore with a delay of about 6.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52f5af21&opt=0 4 November 2025 - United Parcel Service - UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) accident 11 dead Date: Tuesday 4 November 2025 Time: c 17:14 LT Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) Owner/operator: United Parcel Service - UPS Registration: N259UP MSN: 48417/467 Year of manufacture: 1991 Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 8 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Louisville-Muhammad Ali International Airport, KY (SDF/KSDF) - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Louisville-Muhammad Ali International Airport, KY (SDF/KSDF) Destination airport: Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL) Investigating agency: NTSB Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities Narrative: A United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F), N259UP, flight UPS2967, was destroyed when it crashed shortly after taking off from 17R at the Louisville-Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF/KSDF), Louisville, Kentucky. The aircraft lost control, the left wing dropping and colliding with industrial buildings. A post crash fire ensued. The three crew members and eight people on the ground perished and at least eleven people were injured. ADS-B data data suggests the takeoff was started at 17:12.27. Several videos show that the number 1 (left) engine had separated from the wing during takeoff and came to rest close to the runway. The main takeaways from this first #NTSB press conference: - The MD-11 lost its left engine during takeoff roll. This has been documented by CCTV. (Takeoff roll refers to the phase during which the aircraft accelerates on the runway before taking off.) -Both flight recorders were located in the debris. They suffered heat damage, but they are designed to withstand this. -The debris field extends over 800 meters. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/561559 These 40 airports could be impacted by the FAA's capacity cuts and flight cancellations The Federal Aviation Administration's plan to slash airline capacity due to the government shutdown could hit some of the nation's busiest airports, including in Atlanta, Dallas, New York City and Los Angeles, according to a proposed list provided to CBS News by a source familiar with the discussions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that 40 "high-volume" areas will have their air traffic cut by 10% in the coming days to cope with shortages of air traffic controllers, who are working without pay amid the 36-day-long government shutdown. The cuts are expected to be phased in starting Friday, with airlines reaching the full 10% mark by next week, according to two sources familiar with a conversation between the FAA, the Department of Transportation, and the airlines. The FAA has not formally announced which airports will have their capacity cut. CBS News has reached out to DOT for comment on the details of the capacity reduction. When reached by CBS News, the FAA deferred to DOT. A source provided CBS News with a proposed list that includes scores of busy passenger airports in major cities and airline hubs, as well as airports with heavy cargo traffic including Louisville, Memphis, Anchorage and Ontario, California, and an airport in Teterboro, New York, that is frequented by private jets and other general aviation traffic. The list is not final, and it still could change as the FAA has not issued a final order formally requiring airlines to cut their capacity. Here's the list, in alphabetical order by airport code: Advertisement Anchorage International (ANC) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) Boston Logan International (BOS) Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG) Dallas Love (DAL) Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) Denver International (DEN) Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) Newark Liberty International (EWR) Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL) Honolulu International (HNL) Houston Hobby (HOU) Washington Dulles International (IAD) George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH) Indianapolis International (IND) New York John F Kennedy International (JFK) Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS) Los Angeles International (LAX) New York LaGuardia (LGA) Orlando International (MCO) Chicago Midway (MDW) Memphis International (MEM) Miami International (MIA) Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP) Oakland International (OAK) Ontario International (ONT) Chicago O`Hare International (ORD) Portland International (PDX) Philadelphia International (PHL) Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) San Diego International (SAN) Louisville International (SDF) Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA) San Francisco International (SFO) Salt Lake City International (SLC) Teterboro (TEB) Tampa International (TPA) https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/40-airports-could-impacted-faas-035149321.html Photo shows UPS cargo plane at moment of fiery crash; left engine detached before takeoff, NTSB says A UPS cargo plane crashed near a Louisville airport on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people. An official said CCTV footage showed the left engine of the plane detached prior to takeoff. A screenshot image shows the aircraft banking sharply to the left at the moment of the crash. Surveillance footage showed the UPS cargo plane that crashed near a Louisville airport lost its left engine just before takeoff, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board said. During a press conference on Wednesday, J. Todd Inman, an NTSB member, said that the CCTV security footage reviewed by the agency showed "the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll." Takeoff roll is the distance an aircraft travels on the runway just before it goes airborne. "This and other videos, along with evidence we are finding, are very valuable assets to our investigators," Inman said. The UPS plane, a 34-year-old widebody jet manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas, which merged with Boeing Company in 1997, was headed to Honolulu on Tuesday when it crashed near the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening. The tail number was N259UP. It was first delivered to Thai Airways in 1991, before being acquired by UPS in 2006. A screengrab of a social media video that was posted by Reuters showed the cargo plane banking hard left in the moment of the impact before the aircraft was engulfed in flames. It's very rare, but engines can shear off at high vibrations. Mark Stephens, a former Delta MD-11 pilot and instructor, described it to Business Insider as a washing machine that spins out of control. "The most dangerous time to lose an engine is right after takeoff," he said. "They would have very little time to react." Louisville Fire Department chief Brian O'Neill said on Tuesday that the aircraft had around 38,000 gallons of fuel on board. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in an X post on Wednesday evening that the death toll had reached at least 11 people and expected it to be 12 "by the end of the day." The crash caused UPS to halt package sorting operations at Worldport, the company's automated package sorting facility near the Louisville airport. UPS said in an updated statement on Wednesday that it canceled Second Day air shipping services from the facility. A Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider that its technical team is supporting the NTSB's investigation in the matter. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this accident," the spokesperson said. There are about 60 MD-11 aircraft flying worldwide for cargo airlines UPS, FedEx, and Western Global, per Cirium. It has not flown passengers since 2014. This is the second major cargo airline crash in a month. On October 20, an Emirates SkyCargo plane killed two people on the ground after it ran off the runway in Hong Kong. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/photo-shows-ups-cargo-plane-004944797.html Crashed UPS jet was part of an aging fleet with an expensive reputation The jet, which was first launched in 1990 as a passenger plane, hasn't carried a passenger flight since 2014. It remains active as a cargo plane for companies like UPS and FedEx. LOUISVILLE, KY – The plane at the center of a deadly Kentucky crash has been a workhorse in the cargo industry for years, but it had gained a reputation as an aircraft that was behind the times. The MD-11 used to carry passengers, but that ceased over a decade ago, primarily due to its high fuel and maintenance costs, experts told USA TODAY. Its tenure as a cargo plane is also likely nearing an end for the same reasons. “The model was antiquated by the time it came out – except, of course, for cargo. It’s a workhorse,” Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, said in a phone interview. It's a "big, heavy" aircraft, Schiavo said. While the jet has had a number of safety incidents, its reputation and fate in the aviation industry has been dominated by economic woes. “It’s economics. The airplanes are an older design. They’re not as fuel efficient. They require more maintenance than later generation airplanes,” said John Cox, the founder of Safety Operating Systems and the longtime author of USA TODAY's “Ask the Captain” column. As of early 2025, there are about 82 active MD-11 freighters flying for three main companies: FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and Western Global Airlines, according to Aerospace Global News. FedEx currently operates the largest active fleet and both it and UPS have said they are phasing out MD-11s in favor of newer planes. The cause of the Kentucky crash wasn't immediately clear, and 28 members of the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Louisville on Wednesday to investigate alongside the Federal Aviation Administration. Why did passenger airlines stop flying MD-11s? The final passenger MD-11 was retired by KLM in 2014. At that time, KLM said that "the aircraft was expensive to maintain, had high fuel consumption, and spare parts were hard to find," according to a release from KLM. Aviation experts told USA TODAY that MD-11s were largely phased out of use for economic reasons, with carriers favoring more fuel-efficient, modern aircraft. “In general, the economics of an aircraft dictates how long they keep it in service,” said Ross “Rusty” Aimer, the CEO of Aero Consulting Experts and a longtime United Airlines pilot. Additionally, MD-11s were known among pilots as a difficult aircraft to fly, Aimer said. “It had kind of a reputation of being a hard airplane to land,” he said. Aviation expert Daniel Rose, an attorney with Kreindler & Kreindler, in an interview with USA TODAY, said MD-11s were retired from passenger service because they were too expensive to operate, both in terms of fuel and maintenance costs. Aviation attorney Ladd Sanger, whose work has included crash litigation, pointed to the age of the surviving MD-11 fleet as well as a reason why they are being retired. “Aircraft have a useful life – and these aircraft are all 30 plus years old, some 40 years old, and they’re nearing their life,” he said. McDonnell Douglas built only 200 aircraft between 1998-2000 before discontinuing the MD-11, according to simpleflying.com. How often are MD-11s involved in incidents? A National Transportation Safety Board database lists only two other critical incidents in the past decade involving McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft like the one that crashed in Louisville. Both were operated by UPS, according to information on the NTSB’s Aviation Accident and Incident Data System. In 2016, one of the tri-engine planes operated by UPS had a “rejected takeoff” at Seoul, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport. Injuries were listed as minor, although details in the NTSB database report are very limited. A Korean language report from South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board contains pictures showing a UPS MD-11 nose-down in the grass past the end of a runway. More recently, in 2021, a UPS MD-11 that had departed Louisville experienced a tailstrike upon landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. However, according to the NTSB database report, the flight crew was able to take back off and return for an “uneventful landing.” The NTSB database report said the plane was “substantially damaged” with later inspections showing damage to the lower aft fuselage and aft pressure bulkhead. An MD-11 takes off from the Mojave Airport in California November 9, 2005, in this file photo. Both of these events were characterized as “accidents,” terminology the NTSB database defines as “an event where there was 100% hull loss of the aircraft or there was a fatality.” MD-11s have also been involved in several fatal accidents, the most recently coming in November 2009, when an Avient Aviation MD-11 crashed on takeoff from Shanghai, China, killing three. Earlier that year, a Fedex MD-11 crashed while landing at Tokyo, Japan’s Narita International Airport, killing the plane’s two pilots. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/05/louisville-plane-crash-ups-jet-md-11/87103820007/ Investigators find 'black boxes' from UPS plane crash that killed at least 12 NTSB says one of three engines detached from plane at takeoff Louisville airport reopens, runway where accident happened will be closed for 10 days No apparent link to US government shutdown, NTSB official says Death toll includes three crew members, nine others on ground Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. federal safety investigators have located the "black box" recorders from the wreckage of a UPS (UPS.N), opens new tab cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff from the airport at Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least 12 people, officials said on Wednesday. Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, also confirmed that a large "plume of fire" erupted around the plane's left wing and that one of its three engines detached from that wing as the wide-body jet was rolling down the runway. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here. The 34-year-old MD-11 freighter was bound for Honolulu with three crew members aboard when it crashed just after clearing a fence at the end of the runway during takeoff on Tuesday evening, striking a number of structures just beyond airport property, Inman said. The plane was immediately engulfed in a fireball, igniting a string of blazes and scattering a debris field that stretched about a half a mile (800 m) through an industrial corridor, including a petroleum recycling facility that was set ablaze and exploded. The crash and ensuing fires also forced a shutdown of the airport for the night and disrupted airport-based operations at the UPS Worldport facility, the company's global cargo hub for its air shipments worldwide, slowing delivery services. Inman, in the first NTSB briefing since the disaster, said the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were built to withstand crash impacts and intense heat from fires and they appeared to be intact when located on Wednesday amid the crash debris. "We feel comfortable that once we get these to our lab in (Washington) D.C. that we will be able to get a good readout of the applicable data, and that will be yet another point of information that will really help us understand what happened," Inman told reporters. The NTSB typically issues preliminary reports into major air crashes within 30 days, but it takes 12 to 24 months to complete a full investigation, make a finding of probable cause and issue recommendations to help avoid similar incidents. GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY Earlier on Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in Kentucky aimed at hastening the flow of disaster response resources to the scene of the crash. As of Wednesday evening, at least nine people were confirmed to have been killed on the ground, in addition to the three members of the plane's crew who perished, according to authorities. "I'm deeply saddened to share that the death toll has risen to 12, with several individuals still unaccounted for," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on social media platform X as recovery teams continued to pick through the crash zone. Authorities said on Tuesday that 11 people injured on the ground, some very seriously, had been hospitalized. It was not known whether any of them were later counted among the dead. About 200 firefighters and emergency personnel and 50 trucks were called on Tuesday to battle the blaze that filled the evening sky with thick, black smoke. Still, Beshear said a nearby convention center, restaurant and Ford Motor Co (F.N), opens new tab plant escaped the blaze. Independent Pilots Association President Captain Bob Travis said the three pilots in the plane were all on duty. The union, which represents about 3,300 UPS pilots, said in an interview that it is a party to the investigation led by the NTSB. UPS OPERATIONS AFFECTED The international airport in Louisville reopened to air traffic early on Wednesday, although the runway where the accident happened is expected to remain closed for another 10 days, officials said. UPS, which had halted package-sorting operations in Louisville after the crash, said it was resuming operations at its Worldport air cargo hub on Wednesday evening. "Our goal is to begin returning the network to a normal cadence with flights arriving at destinations Thursday morning," a company spokesperson said. The NTSB's Inman said so far there was no evidence of a link between the accident and a 36-day U.S. government shutdown that has strained air traffic control. He said the airport tower was believed to have been "at its proper complement" of personnel. Production of MD-11 planes ended in 2000, and passenger service officially ended in 2014. Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab has owned the program since its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. For cargo operations, there are about 50 MD-11 planes being operated by FedEx (FDX.N), opens new tab and UPS worldwide. Boeing and GE Aerospace (GE.N), opens new tab, which produces the engines for the plane, said they had offered support to the investigation. U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse said investigators were expected to focus on the engine which was seen on video to be ignited and appeared to have separated from the aircraft. "It is designed to fly if you lose one engine, but we need to see the effect of losing that engine on the rest of the aircraft," Brickhouse said. The plane was fully loaded with fuel for an 8-1/2-hour flight to Honolulu. It was the first UPS cargo plane to crash since August 2013, when an Airbus aircraft went down on a landing approach to the international airport in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both crew members. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/death-toll-louisville-ups-plane-crash-rises-9-2025-11-05/ FAA will reduce air traffic by 10% at many airports to maintain safety WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic by 10% at many busy airports, the agency said Wednesday, in a move intended to keep the nation's airspace safe during the government shutdown. As the U.S. government shutdown enters a record 36th day, air traffic controllers, who are required to work without pay, are feeling the squeeze. Air traffic controllers warn of 'tipping point' as U.S. government shutdown drags on The FAA plans to reduce air traffic in 40 "high-volume markets" beginning on Friday. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told reporters the agency wants to reduce the pressure at those airports before safety is compromised. "We just can't ignore it," Bedford said, "when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating." The FAA has already been delaying flights at some airports because of widespread staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. The government shutdown, now in its sixth week, has taken a growing toll on those controllers, who are required to work without pay until it ends. Some have taken on second jobs, and many are calling out sick. Even before the shutdown, the system was more than 3,000 certified controllers short. Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy say they would meet with airline leaders to figure out how to implement the reductions fairly before announcing the details. They did not immediately announce which airports would be affected by the reductions. But the agency has been reporting persistent staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities around some of the nation's busiest airports, including major airline hubs in Dallas, Houston, Newark, N.J., and Phoenix. 2025 government shutdown Air traffic controllers helped end the last government shutdown, and may again Earlier this week, NPR spoke to several air traffic controllers who say morale at the agency was already low before the government shutdown, due to a longstanding staffing shortage across the system, mandatory overtime and stagnating wages. They said morale has fallen even lower during the longest government shutdown on record. They asked NPR not to use their names because they're afraid of retaliation from the FAA. "I think we're reaching a tipping point," said one air traffic controller who works at a facility in the Midwest that handles high-altitude traffic. "This is kind of about the point in the last shutdown where people just started getting fed up with it." It was more than a month into the last government shutdown in 2018 and 2019 when a small number of air traffic controllers in a few key facilities called in sick, causing major disruptions at airports up and down the East Coast. The reductions announced on Wednesday could cause even more disruption, forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule thousands of flights per day. Secretary Duffy acknowledged that will likely cause widespread frustration. But he said the decision was not taken lightly. "Our heart goes out to those who will have flights disrupted," said Duffy. "This is what we feel like we have to do to make sure we maintain that safety profile." Bedford said he could not recall a similar situation during his 35 years working in aviation. "Then again, we're in a new territory in terms of government shutdowns," Bedford said. "And we look forward to a time when we can get back to business as usual." https://www.npr.org/2025/11/05/nx-s1-5600082/faa-airport-traffic-reductions-shutdown Object that cracked plane’s windshield at 36,000 feet identified by officials The Weather Balloon Floating Away at National Weather Service Headquarters in Sterling Virginia. Authorities have determined what they believe caused a United Airlines aircraft’s windshield to crack at an altitude of 36,000 feet. The incident took place above Moab, Utah, during a flight from Denver to Los Angeles on Oct. 16. Layers of the cockpit window cracked mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. The plane did not lose cabin pressure. United said 134 passengers and six crew members were on board. One pilot sustained minor injuries. A California company called Windborne Systems said it started looking into the situation shortly after the National Transportation Safety Board reported that it was investigating. They determined that the Boeing 737 Max most likely collided with one of their weather balloons, despite the company’s strongest precautions to avoid such impacts. Windborne CEO John Dean stated in a post on X that he was astonished “to see spallation of the windshield.” He noted that Windborne’s balloons weigh merely 2.4 pounds at launch, with a small sandbag serving as ballast. “The system is designed to not pose a risk to human life in the worst case event of a collision. This is what the FAA 101 and ICAO weight limits are for.” “I find this extremely concerning, and unacceptable in the case of a collision, regardless of what the official regulations are,” Dean continued, “It resulted in injury to a pilot, which I’m simply not okay with whatsoever.” The Associated Press reports that Windborne has launched over 4,000 balloons and that the company affirmed that it adheres to all FAA regulations regarding the dimensions and construction of its balloons, which collect data for improving meteorological forecasting. https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2025/10/object-that-cracked-planes-windshield-at-36000-feet-identified-by-officials.html Unraveling Europe’s Unique Airline Safety Rules: Seatbelts and Turnarounds Explained When we think of airline safety, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the constant reminder to fasten our seatbelts. Airlines around the world, including in Europe, stress the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened, even when the seatbelt sign is off. However, there’s a surprising exception to this rule during a specific time: the turnaround process. What Is the Turnaround Process? The turnaround is the phase where an airplane prepares for its next flight after passengers disembark. For many European airlines, this time is crucial as they aim to get the plane ready as quickly as possible for the next set of passengers. The idea is simple: an airplane on the ground is not earning money. Airlines, especially those with short-haul flights, aim to keep planes in the air as much as possible during the day. For example, Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, is famous for its incredibly fast 25-minute turnaround. In this time, everything must happen simultaneously: unloading passengers, offloading baggage, and refueling the plane. This high-paced process has one significant caveat: passengers need to keep their seatbelts unfastened while refueling is taking place. Why Refueling Makes Seatbelt Use Dangerous This policy seems strange at first, especially since we’re so used to hearing about the importance of seatbelts. The reasoning behind this practice is safety-driven. Aviation regulators in Europe have determined that refueling presents a fire risk, and in the rare case of an emergency, they want to ensure there are no delays when evacuating passengers. The theory is simple: if a fire were to occur during refueling, a fast exit could be the difference between life and death. For this reason, European airlines ask passengers to unfasten their seatbelts while refueling is underway, which allows for a quicker evacuation if necessary. It’s crucial that passengers can quickly exit the aircraft in an emergency, and wearing a seatbelt during refueling could slow down that process. The Key Difference Between Europe and the US In contrast, the rules in the United States are slightly different. US airlines, under FAA guidelines, typically allow passengers to wear their seatbelts during refueling, provided the boarding door remains open until the process is complete. While some US airlines follow a similar practice to European carriers by requesting seatbelts to be unfastened during refueling, it’s not a universal mandate across the board. The primary distinction lies in how the US ensures that the door stays open, which serves as a safety measure during the refueling process. Other Surprising Safety Differences in Air Travel The seatbelt rule during turnaround is just one example of how airlines differ in their safety practices across the world. In many countries, it is a standard procedure to have window shades open during taxi, takeoff, and landing. This is to ensure passengers are aware of their surroundings and can quickly adjust their eyes if evacuation is necessary. Another lesser-known rule involves USB cables and chargers. On many international airlines, passengers are required to unplug these devices before takeoff and landing, as they could pose a tripping hazard in an evacuation. Similarly, hand luggage is banned from certain emergency exit rows to minimize obstacles in the event of an emergency. In the US, infants under the age of two are not allowed to be secured by a special infant seatbelt attached to the parent’s seatbelt, a practice allowed in many other parts of the world. What This Means for Travelers For travelers flying through Europe, understanding the reasons behind these unique safety practices can provide peace of mind. It’s a reminder that every airline, and country, has its own approach to safety. The turnaround process, though it may seem like a small detail, has significant implications for how airlines operate efficiently while maintaining high safety standards. So, the next time you’re traveling on a European airline, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to unfasten your seatbelt. It’s simply a precaution to ensure you can exit the plane quickly in case of an emergency during refueling. And while this may not be something you’ll encounter on all airlines globally, it’s a key part of the safety culture in Europe. Conclusion: The Unique Safety Measures of European Airlines European airlines have crafted their own set of safety protocols that set them apart from their counterparts in the United States and other parts of the world. From the quick turnaround times to the seatbelt rules during refueling, these measures prioritize efficiency and safety for all passengers. Understanding these differences can make travel feel safer and more transparent, so you’re always prepared for what’s to come. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/unraveling-europes-unique-airline-safety-rules-seatbelts-and-turnarounds-explained/ Bombardier Lowers Global 8000 Cabin Altitude to 2,691 Feet Global 8000's predecessor, the 7500, has a 2,900-ft cabin altitude at FL410 Bombardier has reduced the cabin altitude of its Global 8000 to 2,691 feet at FL410, a threshold the Canadian manufacturer claims as the lowest in the industry. Announcement of the reduced cabin altitude—which compares with the 2,900 feet of the ultra-long-range twinjet’s Global 7500 predecessor—comes as the aircraft approaches certification and just weeks after Bombardier confirmed a Mach 0.95 top speed for the Global 8000, another high watermark in the business aviation sector. Bombardier stressed the cabin altitude's importance for passenger well-being. “The ultimate comfort in the sky is feeling like you’re at home. We have focused heavily on elevating the passenger experience, imperative priorities for ultra-long-range travel,” said Stephen McCullough, senior v-p of engineering and product development at Bombardier. Along with the lower cabin altitude, Bombardier incorporates a Pũr Air system with HEPA air filtration for fresh air onboard the long flights. Bombardier said the Global 8000 remains on track to enter service by year-end. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-11-04/bombardier-lowers-global-8000-cabin-altitude-2691-ft Turkish Airlines inks deal to buy minority stake in Spain's Air Europa MADRID, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS), opens new tab has signed a deal to buy around one-quarter of Spanish carrier Air Europa, the airlines said on Thursday. Turkish Airlines is to invest 300 million euros ($355 million) in convertible debt, which will be exchanged for a stake expected to be in the range of 25% to 27%, under a deal agreed in August. Spain's Hidalgo family, through Globalia, will continue to be the majority shareholder of Air Europa, while British Airways owner IAG will retain its current 20% stake through the purchase of shares from Globalia. Turkish Airlines has said it has no plans to increase the stake. The transaction, which will close once regulatory requirements have been met in about 6 to 12 months, values Air Europa at approximately 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion). The deal is a rare case of a non-European carrier buying a stake in an airline on the continent and comes as airlines are looking to consolidate the continent's fragmented market by snapping up smaller struggling operators. Turkish Airlines beat European rivals Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), opens new tab and Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA), opens new tab to secure the agreement to share control of the carrier with the Hidalgo family. Advertisement · Scroll to continue After announcing the deal, Air Europa said it had repaid a loan of almost 500 million euros from Spain's state-owned industrial holding company SEPI one year ahead of schedule. https://www.reuters.com/business/turkish-airlines-inks-deal-buy-minority-stake-spains-air-europa-2025-11-06/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Dear Fellow Pilot, Researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are conducting a study to better understand the mental health of professional pilots and the barriers they may face in seeking support. If you are currently a professional pilot, working in any sector and region of the global aviation industry, you are invited to participate in this anonymous, voluntary survey. The survey includes questions on anxiety, depression, self-stigma, and attitudes toward disclosing mental health concerns to civil aviation regulatory bodies (e.g., FAA, EASA, CAA, ANAC, etc.). It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. No identifying information or IP addresses will be collected, and all responses will remain completely confidential. Your participation will help identify key challenges and support the development of resources and industry practices that prioritize pilot well-being and safety. Thank you for your time and contribution to this important research. Link to the Survey Questionnaire https://forms.gle/AnJuk3TZ2u96SpFq9 Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss this further. Best Regards, Bill Deng Pan Ph.D. in Aviation Student CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis