Flight Safety Information - November 10, 2025 No. 224 In This Issue : Incident: PIA B773 near Karachi on Nov 6th 2025, cracked windshield : Incident: Jetblue A21N at Boston on Nov 3rd 2025, engine fire indication : Boeing 737-8AS (WL) - Engine Failure (India) : Crash: UPS MD11 at Louisville on Nov 4th 2025, burst into flames on takeoff : US airlines' daily cancellations exceed 2,700 as shutdown impact extends : United Airlines Flight Attendant Reportedly Quits After Getting Drunk on Job : Blame game over Air India crash goes on : Iranian airline, banned by US and Europe, launches commercial flights to Afghanistan : Boeing Breaks Ground on $1 Billion South Carolina Expansion as 787 Orders Surge : Central Asian Airlines Order $7 Billion Worth of Boeing 787s in Historic Fleet Expansion : Can China's New C919 Jet Really Compete With Boeing And Airbus? : FAA Orders Immediate Inspections Of MD-11 Engine Pylons : “Ag Pilot Simulator Training Included in USAIG’s Performance Vector Annual Benefits Program.” : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST : Calendar of Event Incident: PIA B773 near Karachi on Nov 6th 2025, cracked windshield A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration AP-BMS performing flight PK-859 (sched. dep Nov 5th, act. dep Nov 6th with delay of 13 hours) from Lahore (Pakistan) to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) with 344 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 130nm northwest of Karachi (Pakistan) when the crew decided to divert to Karachi after the right hand windshield cracked. The aircraft landed safely in Karachi about 80 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground in Karachi for about 20 hours, then continued the journey and reached Jeddah with a total delay of about 34.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52f7f018&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A21N at Boston on Nov 3rd 2025, engine fire indication A Jetblue Airbus A321-200N, registration N4077J performing flight B6-31 from Boston,MA (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 132 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Boston's runway 33L when the crew declared Mayday reporting a right hand engine (PW1133G) fire indication, they were working the related checklists. The crew subsequently reported the fire indication was out, they would be landing overweight. The aircraft stopped the climb at 5000 feet and positioned for an approach to runway 33L. The aircraft landed without further incident on runway 33L about 25 minutes after departure. Emergency services checked the engine and found no fire or damage to the engine. A replacement Airbus A321-200N registration N2151J reached Amsterdam with a delay of about 9 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Boston 4 days later. https://avherald.com/h?article=52f72d8c&opt=0 Boeing 737-8AS (WL) - Engine Fail;ure (India) Date: Sunday 9 November 2025 Time: c. 23:27 LT Type: Boeing 737-8AS (WL) Owner/operator: SpiceJet Registration: VT-SLF MSN: 33593/1914 Year of manufacture: 2006 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-7B Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Category: Serious incident Location: near Kolkata-Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU/VECC) - India Phase: Approach Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM/VABB) Destination airport: Kolkata-Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU/VECC) Investigating agency: AAIB India Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: SpiceJet flight SG670, a Boeing 737-800, VT-SLF, suffered an engine failure during approach to Kolkata. The aircraft ended up landing safely and nobody was injured. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/561757 Crash: UPS MD11 at Louisville on Nov 4th 2025, burst into flames on takeoff A UPS United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N259UP performing flight 5X-2976 from Louisville,KY to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 3 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Louisville's runway 17R at 17:13L (22:13Z) when the aircraft impacted ground and came to a rest at approximate position N38.146 W85.734 about 0.57nm past the runway end and about 0.09nm to the left of the extended runway centerline bursting into flames. All three on board perished, 10 fatalities on the ground are confirmed and 11 injuries on the ground reported, too. The aircraft had already been handed off to departure frequency but did not report on departure frequency anymore. According to ADS-B data the aircraft achieved 185 knots over ground near the aiming markers runway 35L still on the runway centerline but never became airborne. According to pictorial evidence engine #1 (left hand engine, CF6) separated the airframe during rotation for takeoff, the departure of that engine may also have failed the center engine #2. The FAA reported: "UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate." Ground observers reported the aircraft had been delayed for about two hours for work on the left hand engine (engine #1), the engine #1 separated during the takeoff run, the center engine emitted streaks of flames, the aircraft impacted a UPS warehouse and ploughed through other facilities before coming to rest in a large plume of fire and smoke. The local governor reported the plane hit two businesses near the airport, the three occupants of the aircraft died, 4 people on the ground are confirmed dead, the death toll could rise. At least 11 people are treated in hospitals for in part serious injuries, that number might rise further, too. The aircraft with 38000 gallons of fuel climbed to about 175 feet AGL before descending again. UPS reported they are halting package sorting at Louisville. The NTSB reported: "NTSB is launching a go-team to investigate Tuesday’s crash of a UPS MD-11 cargo aircraft, Flight 2976 near Louisville, Kentucky. NTSB Board Member Todd Inman will serve as the on-scene spokesperson. The investigative team is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky tomorrow. A media briefing will be held tomorrow, with the time and location to be announced." On Nov 5th 2025 20:00Z the NTSB reported in a press conference, the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been identified, show some limited fire damage, the NTSB is hopeful to be able to read the recorders out but won't be able to tell before the recorders have been prepared for readout at the NTSB lab. After being cleared for takeoff a large plume of fire occurred at the left hand side, the aircraft gained enough height to clear the airport perimeter fence before impacting a building. The CCTV show the left hand engine separated from the aircraft during the takeoff run. The debris field is about half a mile long. The NTSB is also looking into maintenance of the aircraft. Another briefing will be held on Thursday, which will be the first full day on scene for the NTSB, which is anticipated to stay on scene for a week. End of Media briefing. In their second media briefing on Nov 6th 2025 the NTSB released a photo of CVR and FDR (see below) and reported, that the FAA, United Parcel Service, IPA, the mechanics for UPS, Boeing and GE engines are parties into the investigation. The NTSB currently consists of over 30 individuals not including the individuals in Washington. According to the ADS-B the aircraft was at 475 feet MSL at 183 knots over ground at 17:13:32L (22:13:32Z) - Editorial note: the threshold of runway 35L/runway end 17R is at 461 feet MSL. The NTSB performed a "FOD Walk" (check for foreign object debris) on both runways 17L and 17R. Multiple pieces of engine fan blades were found on runway 17R along with the main component of the #1 engine, all debris was transferred to a secure facility. The FDR download was successful and revealed 63 hours of flight data, a FDR group was formed at the headquarters in Washington. The CVR was also downloaded successfully, two hours of audio including the accident flight were recovered. Maintenance data have been collected from San Antonio,TX (USA), where the aircraft had undergone maintenance for several weeks. Immediately prior to the departure and crash of the aircraft the NTSB is not aware that any maintenance has been done to the aircraft or that the aircraft was delayed. End of media briefing. On Nov 7th 2025 Louisville Mayor reported they are mourning the loss of 13 people (including the 3 crew on board of the aircraft), the death toll might still rise. 9 people are still unaccounted for. In their 3rd media briefing on Nov 7th 2025 the NTSB reported, the CVR contained 124 minutes of good quality recordings. The takeoff run was uneventful initially through the different speed call outs, about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust a repeating bell was heard which persisted until the end of the recording 25 seconds later. The crew attempted to control the aircraft. The transcript will be made available when the majority of other factual group reports have been placed into the docket, so a few months down the line. The bulk of the left engine pylon was still attached to the engine when the engine separated from the wing. Additional pieces of the engine attachment have been found in the grass next to runway 17R. The investigation is also looking for possible locations of the still missing people. The 475 feet ADS-B altitude reported the previous day equates to about 100 feet AGL. When the FDR has been analysed the meaning of the repeated bell will become clear though there is working theory it might be related to fire. The NTSB had received the job cards for all work done on the left hand engine. An MD11 simulator test, available at Louisville, will be conducted on Saturday (8.11.). On Nov 8th 2025 UPS announced: "Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet. MD-11s are approximately 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet. The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve. Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on." On Nov 9th 2025 the FAA released Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2025-23-51 grounding all MD-11 aircraft. The EAD states: "This AD prohibits further flight until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by the Manager, AIR-520, Continued Operational Safety Branch, FAA." reasoning: "This emergency AD was prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff. The cause of the detachment is currently under investigation. This condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing." and providing the determination: "The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design." https://avherald.com/h?article=52f5748f&opt=0 US airlines' daily cancellations exceed 2,700 as shutdown impact extends WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights on Sunday as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the nation would “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingered into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season. The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports began to cause more widespread disruptions in its third day. The FAA last week ordered flight cuts at the nation’s busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work. In addition, nearly 10,000 flight delays were reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Friday, and more than 1,500 on Saturday. The FAA reductions started Friday at 4% and were set to increase to 10% by Nov. 14. They are in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will impact all commercial airlines. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta stood to have the most cancellations Sunday, followed by Chicago O'Hare International, where wintry weather threatened. In Georgia, weather could also be a factor, with the National Weather Service office in Atlanta warning of widespread freezing conditions through Tuesday. Traveler Kyra March finally arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday after a series of postponements the day before. “I was coming from Tampa and that flight got delayed, delayed, delayed. Then it was canceled and then rebooked. And so I had to stay at a hotel and then came back this morning," she said. The FAA said staffing shortages at Newark and LaGuardia Airport in New York were leading to average departure delays of about 75 minutes. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan was mostly empty Sunday morning, with minimal wait times at security checkpoints as delays and cancellations filled the departures and arrivals boards. Earlier Sunday, Duffy warned that U.S. air traffic could decline significantly if the shutdown persisted. He said additional flight cuts — perhaps up to 20% — might be needed, particularly if controllers receive no pay for a second straight pay period. “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy told “Fox News Sunday." “As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said. With “very few” controllers working, "you’ll have a few flights taking off and landing" and thousands of cancellations, he said. “You’re going to have massive disruption. I think a lot of angry Americans. I think we have to be honest about where this is going. It doesn’t get better,” Duffy said. "It gets worse until these air traffic controllers are going to be paid.” The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years, and multiple presidential administrations have tried to convince retirement-age controllers to remain on the job. Duffy said the shutdown has exacerbated the problem, leading some air traffic controllers to speed up their retirements. “Up to 15 or 20 a day are retiring,” Duffy said on CNN. Duffy said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted him with an offer to lend military air traffic controllers, but it’s unclear whether the staff is certified to work on civilian systems. Duffy denied Democratic charges that the flight cancellations are a political tactic, saying they were necessary due to increasing near-misses from an overtaxed system. “I needed to take action to keep people safe,” Duffy said. “I’m doing what I can in a mess that Democrats have put in my lap.” Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. carriers, said air traffic control staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday, the highest of the shutdown, and that staffing problems contributed to 71% of delay time. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 7, controller shortages have disrupted more than 4 million passengers on U.S. carriers, according to Airlines for America. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/thanksgiving-air-traffic-could-slow-163901620.html United Airlines Flight Attendant Reportedly Quits After Getting Drunk on Job A longtime United Airlines flight crew member had to resign from her post after getting highly intoxicated on a recent international flight, according to multiple reports. The flight attendant, who has been identified as 56-year-old Margit Lake by The Sun, was working an overnight flight from San Francisco to Heathrow Airport in London on October 17. Lake reportedly consumed "multiple" miniature liquor bottles that she brought on board, putting herself in a state where her colleagues "were so concerned for her welfare that they called ahead to have an ambulance waiting on arrival," per Paddle Your Own Kanoo. Paramedics were called to Heathrow to be prepared for the flight landing. Upon arrival, they “smelled alcohol" on Lake's breath, and she was later hospitalized. Lake was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 216 milligrams, almost 11 times the legal limit of 20 milligrams to work on an aircraft. Lake offers explanation, accepts punishment In a court hearing last week, Lake, who submitted her resignation following the incident after more than two decades on the job, pleaded guilty to performing an aviation function while over the alcohol limit. It's an offense that could have carried up to two years in prison. However, the court opted for a fine as punishment, docking Lake £1461, along with a £584 victim surcharge and £85 in court fees, which adds up to just over $2,800 out of her pocket. While not an excuse, Lake's lawyer Ben Lansbury offered an explanation for his client's behavior. "She had the alcohol because she needed to calm down," Lansbury said. “It was something of a shock to her as to what happened. She deeply regrets what happened." https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/united-airlines-flight-attendant-reportedly-223149763.html Blame game over Air India crash goes on Nearly five months after a plane crash in India which killed 260 people, the investigation has become mired in controversy – with the country's Supreme Court the latest to weigh in. Flight 171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad in western India on 12 June. It crashed into a building just 32 seconds after taking off. An interim report was released in July, but critics argue it unfairly focused on the actions of the pilots, diverting attention away from a possible fault with the aircraft. On Friday, a judge in India's Supreme Court insisted that nobody could blame the aircraft's captain. His comments came a week after the airline's boss insisted there was no problem with the aircraft. During a panel discussion at the Aviation India 2025 summit in New Delhi in late October, Air India's chief executive Campbell Wilson admitted that the accident had been "absolutely devastating for the people involved, for the families of those involved, and the staff". But he stressed that initial investigations by Indian officials, summed up in a preliminary report, had "indicated that there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, the engines or the operation of the airline". He added although Air India was working with investigators it was not involved directly. Because the accident happened in India, the investigation is being led by the country's Air Accident investigation Bureau (AAIB). However, because the aircraft and its engines were designed and built in America, US officials are also taking part. A month after the accident, the AAIB published a preliminary report. This is standard procedure in major accident investigations and is meant to provide a summary of the known facts at the time of publication. The report will typically draw on information gleaned from examination of the crash site, for example, as well as basic material downloaded from the flight data recorder. It will not normally make firm conclusions about the cause of the accident. However, the 15-page report into Air India 171 has proved controversial. This is largely due to the contents of two short paragraphs. First, it notes that seconds after takeoff, the fuel cutoff switches - normally used when starting the engines before a flight and shutting them down afterwards – had been moved from the "run" to the cutoff position. This would have deprived the engines of fuel, causing them to lose thrust rapidly. The switches were moved back to restart the engines, but too late to prevent the disaster. It then says: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so." That indirectly reported exchange sparked intense speculation about the role of the two pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and his first officer Clive Kunder, who was flying the plane at the time. A former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Robert Sumwalt, claimed the report showed "this was not a problem with the airplane or the engines". "Did somebody deliberately shut down the fuel, or was it somehow or another a slip that they inadvertently shut off the fuel?" he said during an interview with the US network CBS. Indian aviation safety consultant Capt. Mohan Ranganathan strongly implied that pilot suicide could have caused the accident, in an interview with the country's NDTV channel. "I don't want to use the word. I've heard the pilot had some medical history and... it can happen," he said. Mike Andrews, a lawyer acting on behalf of victims' families, thinks the way in which information has been released has "led people unfairly and inappropriately to blame those pilots without all the information". "An aircraft like this - that is so complex - has so many things that could go wrong," he explains. "To seize upon those two very small, decontextualised pieces of information, and automatically blame pilots for suicide and mass murder... is unfair and wrong." What we know so far about Air India crash investigation That view is echoed by Capt. Amit Singh, founder of the Safety Matters Foundation, an organisation based in India that works to promote a safety culture in aviation. He has produced a report which claims the available evidence "strongly supports the theory of an electrical disturbance as the primary cause of the engine shutdown" that led to the disaster. He believes an electrical fault may have caused the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), a computerised system which manages the engines, to trigger a shutdown by cutting off the fuel supply. Meanwhile the flight data recorder, he suggests, may have registered the command to shut off the fuel supply, rather than any physical movement of the cutoff switches in the cockpit. In other words, the switches themselves may not have been touched at all, until the pilots tried to restart the engines. Capt. Singh has also challenged the way in which the investigation has been carried out in India's Supreme Court. He told the BBC the way in which the preliminary report was framed was biased because it "appears to suggest pilot error, without disclosing all the technical anomalies that occurred during the flight". Meanwhile the Supreme Court itself has already commented on the issue. It has been considering a petition filed by Pushkarraj Sabharwal, the father of Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal. The 91-year-old has been seeking an independent judicial inquiry into the tragedy. "It's extremely unfortunate, this crash, but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed. Nobody can blame him for anything," Justice Surya Kant told him. A further hearing is expected on 10 November. 'Flat out wrong' The theory that an electrical fault could have caused the accident is supported by the US-based Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS). Its founder is Ed Pierson, a former senior manager at Boeing, who has previously been highly critical of safety standards at the US aerospace giant. He believes the preliminary report was "woefully inadequate... embarrassingly inadequate". His organisation has spent time examining reports of electrical issues on board 787s. They include water leaks into wiring bays, which have previously been noted by the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Authority. Concerns have also been voiced in some other quarters. "There were so many of what we consider electrical oddities on that plane, that for them to come out and to all intents and purposes direct the blame to the pilots without exhaustively going through and examining potential system failures, we just thought was flat out wrong," he says. He believes there was a deliberate attempt to divert attention away from the plane and on to the pilots. The FAS has called for wholesale reform of current international air accident investigation procedures, citing "outdated protocols, conflicts of interest and systemic failures that endanger public trust and delay life-saving safety improvements". 'Keeping an open mind' Mary Schiavo, an attorney and former inspector general at the US Department of Transportation, disagrees that the pilots have been deliberately put under the spotlight. She thinks the preliminary report was flawed, but only because investigators were under intense pressure to provide information, with worldwide attention focused on them. "I think they were just in a hurry, because this was a horrific accident and the whole world was watching. They were just in a hurry to push something out," she says. "Then, in my opinion, the whole world jumped to conclusions and right away was saying, 'this is pilot suicide, this was intentional'. "If they had to do it over again, I don't think they would have put those little snippets from the cockpit voice recording in," she says. Her own view is that "a computer or mechanical failure... is the most likely scenario". International rules for air accident investigations stipulate that a final report should appear within 12 months of the event, but this is not always adhered to. However, until it is published, the true causes of the accident will remain unknown. A former air accident investigator who spoke to the BBC emphasised the importance of "keeping an open mind", until the process has been completed. Boeing has always maintained that the 787 is a safe aircraft – and it does have a strong record. The company told the BBC it would defer to India's AAIB to provide information about the investigation. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/blame-game-over-air-india-223432101.html Iranian airline, banned by US and Europe, launches commercial flights to Afghanistan The inaugural flight reportedly landed in Mazar-i-Sharif with 120 passengers from Iran. A US-blacklisted Iranian carrier, Meraj Airlines, has begun operating commercial flights to Afghanistan, according to the Taliban administration in the northern province of Balkh. The move highlights Tehran’s continued efforts to expand its regional presence despite long-standing US sanctions targeting its aviation and defense sectors. Haji Zaid, the Taliban governor's spokesperson in Balkh, was quoted by Afghan International, a London-based 24/7 Afghanistan News Channel, as saying on Saturday that Meraj Airlines would offer four flights per week between Iran and Afghanistan: one to Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, and three to Kabul. The inaugural flight reportedly landed in Mazar-i-Sharif with 120 passengers from Iran. Illicit cargo transfers by Meraj Airlines Meraj Airlines, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tehran, was sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury in August 2014 under Executive Order 13224, which targets entities accused of supporting terrorism or facilitating the transport of weapons. The Treasury alleged that Meraj had transferred “illicit cargo, including weapons,” from Iran to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key Iranian ally during the Syrian civil war. The airline is still barred from operating in the United States and the European Union. The re-emergence of a US-designated entity in Afghanistan’s aviation sector highlights Iran’s growing engagement with the Taliban-led government—a relationship that has deepened since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Analysts note that such connections allow Tehran to project soft influence through economic and transport links while circumventing Western isolation. Until now, Afghanistan’s regular flight operations were handled almost exclusively by domestic carriers: Ariana Afghan Airlines, the semi-state-owned national carrier, and the privately owned Kam Air. The entry of an Iranian airline—particularly one under Western sanctions—adds a new geopolitical layer to the country’s limited aviation network. The move also comes amid renewed US and Western pressure on Tehran over its controversial nuclear program. Washington and its allies have maintained multiple layers of sanctions against Iran, not only for its support of armed groups across the Middle East but also for its uranium enrichment activities and its repeated refusal to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Regional observers believe that the Taliban’s willingness to host a sanctioned airline may draw quiet concern from Western governments already wary of Afghanistan’s growing economic and political ties with Iran, China, Russia, and India. While no independent confirmation has yet verified Meraj’s ongoing flight operations to Mazar-i-Sharif, the Taliban administration’s announcement signals a deepening of Iran-Afghanistan cooperation—one that sits squarely at odds with Western sanctions policy and Washington’s broader attempts to isolate Tehran. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iranian-airline-banned-us-europe-141102784.html Boeing Breaks Ground on $1 Billion South Carolina Expansion as 787 Orders Surge Boeing marked a major milestone in American aerospace manufacturing Thursday with the groundbreaking of a massive $1 billion expansion at its South Carolina facility, home to the 787 Dreamliner program. The expansion comes as airlines worldwide continue placing substantial orders for the fuel-efficient widebody aircraft, driving unprecedented demand for Boeing's flagship long-haul jet. The North Charleston facility, which has been the sole production site for the 787 since 2020, will increase its monthly output to 10 aircraft by 2026, up from the current rate of approximately 7 per month. The expansion represents one of the largest industrial investments in South Carolina's history and underscores the 787's position as the best-selling widebody aircraft in aviation history. Record Order Backlog Drives Expansion Boeing's decision to dramatically expand its South Carolina operations stems from overwhelming market demand for the 787 Dreamliner family. After more than 1,200 deliveries, the 787 backlog stands at nearly 1,000 airplanes, including more than 300 orders added just this year. This surge in orders has positioned the program for sustained growth well into the next decade. The Dreamliner program has accumulated over 2,250 orders from 90 customers worldwide, establishing itself as the best-selling widebody airplane in history. Recent major orders have included significant commitments from Qatar Airways, which placed the largest single order for South Carolina-built aircraft in Boeing's history, along with substantial orders from United Airlines, American Airlines, and other major carriers. Massive Infrastructure Investment The expansion will fundamentally transform Boeing's South Carolina footprint with several major additions: New Final Assembly Building: A new final assembly building similar in size to the current final assembly building, which is roughly 1.2 million square feet, and will include airplane production positions, production support and office space. Enhanced Campus Facilities: A parts preparation area facility, a vertical fin paint facility, Flight Line stalls and more at the Airport Campus, along with significant additions to the Interiors Responsibility Center where many of the 787's interior components are manufactured. The construction project represents a joint venture between HITT Contracting and BE&K Building Group, with workers logging over 6.2 million hours and numbering more than 2,500 during the build. Economic Impact and Job Creation The company is investing more than $1 billion in this infrastructure program and plans to create more than 1,000 new jobs over the next five years. This expansion will significantly boost Boeing's already substantial South Carolina workforce, which currently employs more than 8,200 people across its campuses in North Charleston and in Orangeburg. The economic impact extends far beyond Boeing's direct employment, with the expansion expected to generate substantial benefits for suppliers, contractors, and service providers throughout the region. South Carolina has positioned itself as a major aerospace manufacturing hub since Boeing established operations there in 2009. Strong Market Fundamentals The expansion is underpinned by robust long-term demand projections for widebody aircraft. The commercial aviation industry is expected to need more than 7,800 new widebody airplanes over the next two decades, according to Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook. "We continue to see strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family and its market-leading efficiency and versatility," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are making this significant investment today to ensure Boeing is ready to meet our customer's needs in the years and decades ahead." Recent Order Activity Highlights The 787 program has experienced particularly strong momentum in 2025, with Boeing having landed orders for 61 of the jets in 2025 through September. Major recent orders include: Qatar Airways Record Deal: The Middle Eastern carrier placed what became Boeing's largest ever order for South Carolina-made planes, with an agreement for 130 787 Dreamliners as part of a broader $96 billion deal announced during President Trump's visit to Qatar. Continued U.S. Carrier Demand: American Airlines, Avolon Aerospace Leasing Ltd., El Al and United Airlines have all placed significant 787 orders in recent months, demonstrating sustained demand from both domestic and international operators. Delivery Performance: Dreamliner deliveries are up 42 percent to 28 so far in 2025, indicating Boeing's ability to meet production commitments while managing the expansion. Political and Economic Support The expansion has garnered strong support from political leaders at all levels. "With visionary leadership, President Trump is restoring America's industrial base and breathing life back into our great manufacturing states, including the great state of South Carolina," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster praised the investment as "a tremendous vote of confidence in our state's people and business climate", while U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham called it "the ultimate vote of confidence for the South Carolina workforce". Production Capabilities and Timeline For more than a decade, BSC has been the home of the full 787 Dreamliner production cycle. Teammates fabricate, assemble and deliver the three Dreamliner models – 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 – to customers around the world. The facility's enhanced production capabilities will enable Boeing to more efficiently meet growing demand for all three variants of the Dreamliner family. The assembly plant is on track to increase its monthly production rate to seven aircraft from five this year and double it to 10 by 2027. Industry Implications The South Carolina expansion represents Boeing's commitment to maintaining its competitive position in the widebody market, particularly as airlines increasingly prioritize fuel-efficient aircraft for long-haul routes. The 787's advanced composite construction and efficient engines have made it particularly attractive to carriers focused on sustainability and operational economics. The investment also reinforces the United States' position as a major aircraft manufacturing center, with South Carolina joining Washington state as a critical hub for Boeing's commercial aircraft production. This geographic diversification provides Boeing with enhanced production flexibility and reduced operational risk. Looking Ahead With the groundbreaking complete, Boeing expects the expanded facilities to begin contributing to increased production rates by 2026. The May 787 orders raise the backlog of carbon-fiber jets that Boeing builds next to Charleston International Airport to 889 planes, providing the facility with a robust order book that will sustain operations for years to come. The expansion positions Boeing to capitalize on the anticipated recovery and growth in long-haul international travel, as airlines worldwide continue modernizing their fleets with more efficient aircraft. For the South Carolina aerospace industry, the investment represents validation of the state's emergence as a global aviation manufacturing powerhouse, with implications extending far beyond the immediate economic impact. As airlines continue placing orders for next-generation widebody aircraft, Boeing's expanded South Carolina operation will play a crucial role in meeting global demand while strengthening American aerospace manufacturing capabilities for decades to come. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-breaks-ground-1-billion-153043639.html Central Asian Airlines Order $7 Billion Worth of Boeing 787s in Historic Fleet Expansion Boeing secured a series of major aircraft deals worth more than $7 billion from Central Asian airlines during the C5+1 Summit in Washington, D.C., marking a transformative moment for the region's aviation industry. Air Astana, Somon Air, and Uzbekistan Airways collectively committed to purchasing up to 37 Boeing aircraft, including 26 of the fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliners, signaling ambitious plans to position Central Asia as a critical transit hub between East and West. The announcements, made at the 10th anniversary summit of the diplomatic platform linking the United States with five Central Asian nations, represent the largest coordinated aircraft purchase in the region's history and underscore growing confidence in Central Asia's aviation potential. Kazakhstan's flag carrier Air Astana announced its largest-ever aircraft purchase, agreeing to acquire up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal that will grow the airline's widebody fleet to as many as 18 aircraft. The order includes five firm commitments, five options, and five purchase rights, with deliveries scheduled between 2032 and 2035. "Air Astana is strategically committed to boosting its service capabilities from Central Asia/Caucasus to Asia, Europe and the rest of the world over the next decade," said Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana. "With its customer friendly cabin, fuel efficiency and range flexibility, the fleet of up to 18 Boeing 787-9 aircraft is destined to become an outstanding success with the airline and its discerning passengers." The expansion builds on Air Astana's existing commitment to three 787-9s arriving via lessors in 2026-2027, bringing the potential total fleet to 18 Dreamliners. The airline currently operates three Boeing 767-300ER widebody jets connecting Kazakhstan with destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The new aircraft will enable Air Astana to launch direct routes to North America while enhancing capacity on existing long-haul services. The carrier, which describes itself as Central Asia's leading airline by revenue and fleet size, has operated Boeing aircraft since its founding in 2002. Tajikistan's Somon Air made aviation history by placing its first-ever widebody aircraft order, committing to up to 14 Boeing aircraft including four 787-9 Dreamliners and ten 737 MAX 8 jets. The deal represents the airline's largest-ever aircraft commitment and marks its entry into intercontinental operations. "This significant investment not only marks our first widebody order but also reinforces our dedication to providing exceptional service and comfort to our passengers," said Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air. "With flexibility built into this commitment, Somon Air can adjust its fleet further based on market demand." Currently operating six Next-Generation 737 aircraft to 25 destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Somon Air plans to use the 787-9s to launch new intercontinental routes from Dushanbe to Europe and North America. The 737 MAX 8 aircraft will modernize the carrier's short and medium-haul operations while providing a 20-25% reduction in fuel burn compared to their predecessors. Uzbekistan Airways Expands Dreamliner Fleet Uzbekistan Airways converted existing purchase options into firm orders for eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, bringing its total order book for the widebody aircraft to 22 units. The signing ceremony was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. The order builds on a significant fleet expansion agreement announced in September 2025, when Uzbekistan Airways initially ordered 14 787-9s with options for eight additional aircraft. The airline now has one of the largest 787 order books among Central Asian carriers. "The Boeing 787 Dreamliner family has proven to be the cornerstone of our long-haul operations," said Uzbekistan Airways Chairman Shukhrat Khudaikulov. "With this new contract, we are further strengthening both our airline's and our nation's position as a leading aviation hub in Central Asia, while providing our passengers with greater global connectivity." Uzbekistan Airways is currently the only Central Asian airline operating long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliners, having successfully used the aircraft for almost a decade. The carrier operates international services to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, including routes to New York JFK and Resende, Brazil. Strategic Geographic Positioning The coordinated aircraft orders reflect Central Asia's strategic positioning as a natural bridge between European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. The region's carriers are capitalizing on their geographic advantage to develop hub-and-spoke operations that can compete with established Middle Eastern airlines. "For the first time, Central Asia's airlines are thinking globally," observed a senior aviation analyst in Almaty. "With long-range aircraft such as the 787-9 entering service, airlines like Air Astana, Uzbekistan Airways and Somon Air will soon operate non-stop flights to Europe, North America and the Far East, routes that once required stopovers." The geographic positioning allows Central Asian carriers to offer competitive routings between Europe and Asia, potentially capturing transit traffic that currently flows through Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. Economic and Political Context The deals were announced during the C5+1 Summit, a diplomatic platform established in 2015 that promotes cooperation between the United States and the five Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The summit marked the 10th anniversary of the platform, celebrating a decade of progress in regional diplomacy, sustainable development, and economic cooperation. For Boeing, the timing aligns with broader U.S. strategy to showcase American exports as a cornerstone of Washington's engagement with the region. The combined orders are expected to support more than 20,000 jobs across the United States, according to Boeing estimates. The deals also represent a significant vote of confidence in Boeing's 787 program, which has established itself as the best-selling widebody aircraft in history with more than 2,250 orders from 90 customers worldwide. Fleet Modernization and Efficiency Gains The 787 Dreamliner offers Central Asian carriers significant operational advantages, including 20-25% better fuel efficiency compared to previous generation aircraft, extended range capabilities, and enhanced passenger comfort features. The aircraft's advanced composite construction and efficient engines make it particularly attractive for airlines seeking to reduce operating costs while expanding route networks. Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Eurasia and India, emphasized the strategic value of the aircraft for regional carriers. "The versatility of the 787-9, combined with its outstanding performance, range, and operating economics, provides these airlines with the essential tools needed to scale their operations effectively." The fuel efficiency gains are particularly important for Central Asian carriers operating in a competitive international environment where operational costs can determine route viability. Looking Ahead The Central Asian Boeing orders represent more than fleet renewal, they signal the region's emergence as a serious player in global aviation. With strategic geographic positioning, modern aircraft, and growing government support, Central Asian carriers are positioning themselves to compete effectively in international markets. The success of these ambitious expansion plans will depend on the airlines' ability to develop sustainable route networks, build brand recognition in international markets, and effectively utilize their geographic advantages to attract both point-to-point and transit passengers. As Boeing continues production ramp-up at its South Carolina facility, the Central Asian orders contribute to the strong global demand for the 787 program while supporting American aerospace manufacturing jobs. The deals underscore the 787's position as the preferred aircraft for airlines seeking to modernize fleets and expand global connectivity in an increasingly competitive aviation market. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/central-asian-airlines-order-7-173012905.html Can China's New C919 Jet Really Compete With Boeing And Airbus? For decades, the commercial aviation market has been dominated by two major airline companies: Boeing and Airbus. China wants to change the game. Its state-owned planemaker, Comac, developed the C919 jet to directly compete with the workhorses of the aviation world, the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 series. The C919 was successfully brought into service by China Eastern Airlines in 2023, and so far, they have already received hundreds of orders, the majority of which were placed by Chinese airlines. Nevertheless, the C919 still has a long way to go before it can actually stand tall with these giants of the aviation world. Beyond China, it is not yet authorized to fly in the US or Europe. Those approvals could take several more years. Beyond that, while Comac has demonstrated its ability to construct a fully functioning aircraft, manufacturing hundreds of them over a short period is a different ballgame altogether. Boeing and Airbus possess decades of supply chains, global service networks, and a trusted reputation with airlines. Comac isn't even close to achieving that level of production yet. Still, there's some hope. Since Boeing is tangled in production issues and Airbus is already sold out for the decade on its narrowbody liners, there is a potential opening in the market for Comac to enter through — if it can manage to amp up its production to meet the current demands of the industry. China calls the C919 its first homegrown large passenger jet, although this may not be the whole truth. The plane is mainly comprised of parts sourced from the West and is rumored to have been built with potentially stolen American expertise. GE and Safran supply the plane's engines, Honeywell its avionics and landing gear, and Parker Aerospace its flight controls. It is not easy to replace these components because aviation certification makes switching suppliers slow and costly. However, this dependency on Western parts poses a risk as well as an opportunity. Export controls or tariffs by the U.S. would interfere with production -- although this might simply drive China to build its own aerospace supply chain faster. It has done this before in other industries by using state subsidies and long-term planning to catch up. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Comac to make the C919 successful, including selling the planes below cost to local carriers. The strategy is developing a foundation for a future where China will not require Boeing and Airbus to sustain its airlines. The real challenge facing Comac is the global perception. With the growing trends around customer satisfaction, airlines care a lot more about reliability and passenger trust, which become differentiating factors for them. Right now, the C919 is not viable outside of its home market. While China's aviation regulator has certified it, without certification from Europe's EASA or the U.S. FAA, it doesn't stand much chance of survival if it cannot fly internationally. Even if it somehow manages to overcome that barrier, convincing foreign carriers to invest in and trust a Chinese jet will take time and a lot of serious marketing efforts. Comac could potentially play on price while competing. If it sells the C919 for 10 to 20 percent less than, let's say, an A320, cost-sensitive airlines in Asia, Africa, and Latin America might make the switch to the cheaper option. This has been done a few times in history before as well. Airbus faced the same sort of skepticism when it started back in the 1970s. However, with government support and continuous innovation, it now stands as Boeing's proud equal, with the A320 recently surpassing the Boeing 737 as the most popular plane of all time. Comac could follow in the footsteps of Airbus by starting slow and state-funded. For now, the C919 won't break the Boeing-Airbus duopoly overnight. However, it's a credible start, and its success would signal that China can build its own aviation ecosystem. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/chinas-c919-jet-really-compete-042500408.html FAA Orders Immediate Inspections Of MD-11 Engine Pylons The FAA has ordered immediate inspections of all McDonnell-Douglas MD-11s before further flight, mandating a voluntary grounding already in place based on Boeing recommendations while more is learned about the Nov. 4 UPS MD-11 fatal accident. The emergency airworthiness directive (AD), issued late Nov. 8, targets engine pylons, but offers few additional details. It prohibits operations "until the airplane is inspected and all applicable corrective actions are performed using a method approved by" the FAA. The FAA directive "was prompted by an accident where the left-hand engine and pylon detached from the airplane during takeoff," the agency said, referring to the UPS accident. "The cause of the detachment is currently under investigation," it added. It does not reference any specific Boeing inspection recommendations. With no specific inspection instructions, the AD is serving as a de facto placeholder while investigators continue their work. The FAA directive follows Boeing's recommendations that MD-11 operators ground their tri-jets while investigators work to understand more about the Nov. 4 accident. Boeing, which bought McDonnell-Douglas in 1997, made the recommendation late Nov. 7. “With safety as our top priority, we recommended to the three operators of the MD-11 Freighter that they suspend flight operations while additional engineering analysis is performed,” the manufacturer said. “This recommendation was made in an abundance of caution, and we will continue coordinating with the FAA on this matter.” UPS and FedEx quickly followed Boeing’s guidance. The third remaining MD-11 operator, Western Global, did not immediately respond to an inquiry. The manufacturer did not provide any details on what prompted its decision. Boeing later said it supports the FAA's directive. “We will remain in close communication with the operators as they work to follow the requirements” of the AD, it added. Investigators are in the early stages of the NTSB-led probe into the UPS accident. The MD-11, operating as Flight 2976, experienced a major engine-related failure as it was on its takeoff roll. The aircraft’s left (No. 1) GE Aerospace CF6-80C2 engine and most of its pylon separated from the wing as it was accelerating down Louisville’s Runway 17 Right. Videos show flames streaming from the inboard left wing as it took off. The aircraft rotated and cleared the airport perimeter but went down in an industrial area less than 0.5 nm from the runway end, triggering a large fire. Officials have confirmed 14 fatalities, including all three pilots onboard Flight 2976. Investigators have not determined whether an engine malfunction triggered the chain of events, or if the pylon separation was caused by some other issue. Also not clear is if either of the other two engines were affected. Investigators plan to conduct simulator tests over the weekend on several possible scenarios, NTSB Member Todd Inman told reporters Nov. 7. The global MD-11 fleet is powered by two engine types: the CF6-80C2 series and Pratt & Whitney PW4000s. Boeing's recommendation and the FAA directive suggest investigators and safety experts are concerned about more than just the engine type. Boeing is among the parties participating in the probe. Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery database shows 59 MD-11s in service or recently parked and 10 in storage. The active fleet of 59 aircraft belongs to FedEx (29), UPS (25) and Western Global (five). It includes six aircraft that were parked for at least 30 days before the grounding. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/faa-orders-immediate-inspections-md-11-engine-pylons 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 . 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