Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
Federal investigators are examining the landing of an Amazon-operated cargo jet that departed the runway, struck vehicles on a public road and caught fire at Miami International Airport, killing five people. The crash disrupted more than 200 flights, while two runways remained closed during the investigation and cleanup.
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United Airlines canceled a planned Denver flyover commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks after concerns emerged about the public reaction to a Boeing 777 flying alongside four F-16 fighter jets. The formation was scheduled to coincide with the moment of United Flight 175’s impact.
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Federal investigators are examining the landing of an Amazon-operated cargo jet that departed the runway, struck vehicles on a public road and caught fire at Miami International Airport, killing five people. The crash disrupted more than 200 flights, while two runways remained closed during the investigation and cleanup.
Boeing is repairing hundreds of microscopic cracks in structural reinforcing members on the two 747-8s being converted into the next Air Force One fleet. The manufacturing problem has added extensive structural work to a program already several years late and facing roughly $3 billion in cost overruns.
An investigation praised the One Air Boeing 747-400 freighter crew for its structured response after multiple technical failures emerged following departure from London Heathrow, including cabin depressurization and unreliable airspeed indications. The incident underscores the importance of disciplined crew procedures during rapidly evolving failures.
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President Donald Trump plans to use the Qatari-donated Boeing 747 on his upcoming trip to Ireland, the aircraft’s first international mission since it was swapped in Turkey. The planned flight renews scrutiny over the jet’s security, presidential use and the circumstances surrounding its prior deployment.
An Air China Boeing 747-8 has returned to flight after spending nearly three days stranded at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The aircraft sustained damage to its refueling ports when a fuel truck moved away while still connected, disrupting the jumbo jet’s operation.
GE Aerospace is using a Boeing 747 flying testbed to evaluate the GE9X, LEAP-1A, LEAP-1B and other engine technologies. The platform enables in-flight testing of propulsion systems and supports development and validation across multiple commercial aircraft programs.
The U.S. is investing in expanded B-52 bomber capacity at Morón Air Base in Spain after Madrid barred the facility’s use for long-range bomber missions against Iran. The move underscores the operational and political constraints shaping U.S. bomber basing in Europe.
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