Aviation Safety & Regulation News

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Lockheed Skunk Works X-59 QueSST completes maiden flight from Plant 42

Lockheed Skunk Works’ X‑59 QueSST made its maiden flight from the U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The Skunk Works‑built demonstrator will begin airborne low‑boom acoustic measurements intended to supply regulators with data needed to enable overland commercial supersonic operations.

2025-10-28T08:59:27.785661-07:00

FlightGlobal

Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B crashes near Kwale; 11–12 on board feared dead

2025-10-28T07:26:28.876235-07:00

FlightGlobal

AirACT Boeing 747‑400 freighter recovered from Hong Kong waters after Oct. 20 runway excursion that killed two

2025-10-27T02:29:00.514524-07:00

USNI News

F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Seahawk from USS Nimitz crash in South China Sea; all crew rescued

2025-10-26T15:59:52.474675-07:00

Aviation Safety & Regulation News Timeline

The War Zone

❗️

Lockheed Skunk Works X-59 QueSST completes maiden flight from Plant 42 Lockheed Skunk Works’ X‑59 QueSST made its maiden flight from the U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The Skunk Works‑built demonstrator will begin airborne low‑boom acoustic measurements intended to supply regulators with data needed to enable overland commercial supersonic operations.

2025-10-28T08:59:27.785661-07:00

Lockheed Skunk Works X-59 QueSST completes maiden flight from Plant 42

FlightGlobal

❗️

Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B crashes near Kwale; 11–12 on board feared dead A Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registration 5Y-CCA) crashed near Kwale shortly after departing Diani/Ukunda en route to Kichwa Tembo on Tuesday. Kenyan authorities report 11–12 people on board — mostly Hungarian and German tourists — and say there are believed to be no survivors; an investigation is underway.

2025-10-28T07:26:28.876235-07:00

Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B crashes near Kwale; 11–12 on board feared dead

FlightGlobal

MD Helicopters wins FAA approval for MD 500D retrofit package to approach MD 530F capability MD Helicopters has won FAA approval for the first in a series of upgrade packages for older D‑model variants of the MD 500 light‑single. If combined, the retrofits would bring the older airframes toward the performance and capability of the company's MD 530F.

2025-10-28T04:56:01.248193-07:00

MD Helicopters wins FAA approval for MD 500D retrofit package to approach MD 530F capability

FlightGlobal

Second import‑substituted MC‑21‑310 prototype (006) with PD‑14 engines completes maiden flight United Aircraft's second import‑substituted Yakovlev MC‑21‑310 prototype, serial 006 and powered by Aviadvigatel PD‑14 engines, performed its maiden flight from the Irkutsk plant on 28 October. The sortie advances the Russified narrowbody's flight‑test and domestic certification campaign ahead of service entry.

2025-10-28T00:18:27.084555-07:00

Second import‑substituted MC‑21‑310 prototype (006) with PD‑14 engines completes maiden flight

AeroTime

Qantas opens enrolments for Australia's first dedicated Group Safety Academy with Griffith and RMIT Qantas has opened enrolments for the Qantas Group Safety Academy — Australia’s first dedicated safety education academy — developed with Griffith University and RMIT. Classes start in January next year with four micro‑credentials at launch and a further eight courses slated for 2026 after the inaugural intake.

2025-10-27T23:15:36.261540-07:00

Qantas opens enrolments for Australia's first dedicated Group Safety Academy with Griffith and RMIT

Skift

U.S. to expand facial‑recognition to photograph all non‑citizens exiting airports, seaports and land borders A new federal rule will authorize U.S. authorities to capture facial‑recognition images of all non‑citizens exiting the country through airports, seaports and land crossings. The policy expands biometric collection at ports of entry and obliges operators to integrate exit‑photo processes into existing passenger and border workflows.

2025-10-27T16:57:28.028073-07:00

U.S. to expand facial‑recognition to photograph all non‑citizens exiting airports, seaports and land borders

The War Zone

Navy probes USS Nimitz fuel after MH-60R and F/A-18F crash in South China Sea U.S. Navy investigators are examining the USS Nimitz's fuel supply as a possible factor after an MH-60R Seahawk and an F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed into the South China Sea within about 30 minutes on Sunday; all crew were recovered safely, President Donald Trump said.

2025-10-27T16:12:22.352149-07:00

Navy probes USS Nimitz fuel after MH-60R and F/A-18F crash in South China Sea

Flying Magazine

❗️

NTSB: Expectation Bias, Pilot Distraction and Inoperative CVR Cited in 2023 Houston Hobby Runway Collision The NTSB's final report into the 2023 runway collision at Houston Hobby attributes the accident to expectation bias and pilot distraction, and notes that an inoperative cockpit voice recorder hindered investigators' ability to reconstruct crew communications. The findings underscore human-factor risks and gaps in safety data capture.

2025-10-27T12:37:46.632024-07:00

NTSB: Expectation Bias, Pilot Distraction and Inoperative CVR Cited in 2023 Houston Hobby Runway Collision

Create a free account to see more recent Aviation Safety & Regulation stories.