Accident News

Reuters

High activity

Flydubai co-pilot suspected of planning attack before hiring; investigators see no organizational or foreign-government ties

The co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the captain in an attempt to crash the aircraft, according to reporting citing Israeli officials familiar with the investigation. A preliminary probe reportedly found no indication he was linked to an organization or foreign government, pointing investigators toward a lone-actor explanation.

FlightGlobal

Manila condemns Chinese J-16 intercept of Philippine aircraft as unsafe

A Chinese military aircraft, identified as a Shenyang J-16, conducted what Manila described as a dangerous intercept of a Philippine aircraft, identified in the report’s headline as a Grand Caravan. The Philippines condemned the conduct of the Chinese aircrew; the article provides no further details on the encounter.

New York Times

Australia and Israel investigate flydubai co-pilot’s alleged extremist links after attempted crash

Australian and Israeli authorities are examining the background of an Omani flydubai co-pilot accused by officials of trying to crash an aircraft. Sources said the co-pilot studied at a university in Melbourne and had embraced extremist Islamist views, prompting scrutiny of how those concerns were handled.

Air Data News

High activity

Debris found south of Nantucket from missing Gulfstream G100 air ambulance with six aboard

Debris has been found south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, from a Gulfstream G100 operated by Canadian medical transport company Latitude Air Ambulance. The jet disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean while carrying six people, prompting a search and recovery effort.

NBC News

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Medical Gulfstream G100 carrying six disappears en route from Bermuda to Boston; Coast Guard searches off Nantucket

A Gulfstream G100 operated by Latitude Air Ambulance lost contact shortly after 1 a.m. while carrying four Canadians and two people picked up in Bermuda on a medical flight to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation off Nantucket after the aircraft reportedly underwent a sudden descent.

New York Times

High activity

UAE Calls Flydubai Cockpit Attack a Terrorist Act After Co-Pilot Allegedly Assaulted Captain

The UAE identified the suspected attacker as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, who allegedly struck the captain with a cockpit weapon and tried to seize control of the Boeing 737 en route to Tel Aviv. Two off-duty pilots and passengers intervened, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia.

Wall Street Journal

High activity

Boeing 737 MAX Survives a Nosedive at Near-Supersonic Speed

A Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX endured a violent in-flight sequence roughly two hours into a flight this week, reaching speeds and gravitational forces severe enough to risk structural breakup. The aircraft ultimately survived the near-supersonic-speed dive, highlighting the extreme loads commercial airliners can withstand.

FlightGlobal

Elixir grounds all aircraft after fatal accident involving single-engine trainer

French single-engine trainer manufacturer Elixir Aircraft has grounded its entire fleet following a fatal accident. An emergency directive formalizes the grounding while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, creating an immediate operational and safety review for operators of the company’s aircraft.