FlightGlobal
• Jon Hemmerdinger
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board found that a fractured low-pressure compressor rotor blade caused the 2023 inflight failure and fire involving a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW150A. Investigators cited mechanical resonance and identified 13 similar incidents in their review.
Aviation Safety & Regulation
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Canada’s Transportation Safety Board found that a fractured low-pressure compressor rotor blade caused the 2023 inflight failure and fire involving a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW150A. Investigators cited mechanical resonance and identified 13 similar incidents in their review.
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The Government Accountability Office says vulnerabilities in national airspace communications could allow spoofing and urges the FAA to strengthen its cybersecurity posture. The agency issued nine recommendations, underscoring risks to systems that support air traffic management and the resilience of U.S. aviation infrastructure.
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A U.S. Air Force F-16 assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany crashed Tuesday while attempting to land after a routine training or local mission. The pilot ejected safely before impact and was receiving medical treatment; the base’s F-16CM fleet supports the “Wild Weasel” mission.
A Royal Navy Merlin HC4 helicopter ditched fatally after its crew misdiagnosed an emergency and shut down two functioning engines while attempting to land on HMS Queen Elizabeth at night. The crew had intended to practice night deck landings, according to the report.
A second NATS failure within two weeks has again disrupted UK aviation, prompting major airlines to demand action from the air navigation services provider. easyJet was the worst affected carrier, underscoring the operational and passenger impact of repeated air traffic control failures.
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The FAA is proposing an airworthiness directive covering 95 U.S.-registered Boeing 737 Max aircraft after identifying a manufacturing problem affecting elevator bearings. The agency’s action targets a potential flight-control risk and would require operators to address the affected components.
IATA’s World Safety and Operations Conference will examine how airlines can strengthen resilience as crises multiply and aviation becomes more dependent on sophisticated IT systems. The 2026 agenda also addresses AI and automation, emphasizing the training and human expertise needed to maintain safe operations.
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India’s aviation ministry and DGCA are reviewing SpiceJet’s finances and operations as the carrier faces sustained cash-flow stress. Officials said the oversight, intensified as the Middle East conflict worsened the airline’s difficulties, is intended to ensure that financial pressure does not compromise safety.
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