News

theaviationhub.co.uk • James Field

American Airlines 737 MAX 8 found with apparent bullet holes after Medellín stop; investigation opened

Maintenance crews discovered apparent bullet holes — including a projectile lodged in the right wing — on an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 after an overnight stop in Medellín. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and both criminal and aviation authorities have opened probes.

2026-02-24T11:33:22.484038-08:00

Aviation Source

U.S. Airlines Brace for Record 171 Million Passengers in Spring Travel Surge (Mar 1–Apr 30)

2026-02-24T15:15:09.666396-08:00

Reuters

Trump to convene White House meeting on federal-led overhaul of Washington Dulles

2026-02-24T16:06:16.101440-08:00

investor.iridium.com

Iridium 9604: compact tri‑mode IoT module uniting SBD satellite, LTE‑M and GNSS for global asset tracking

2026-02-24T04:17:10.318357-08:00

News Timeline

Reuters

Trump to convene White House meeting on federal-led overhaul of Washington Dulles President Donald Trump will hold a White House meeting Wednesday to review his plan to overhaul Washington Dulles, the primary international airport serving the U.S. capital, the White House said. The meeting follows his December criticism of the Saarinen terminal's design and signals possible federal intervention in the airport's modernization.

2026-02-24T16:06:16.101440-08:00

Trump to convene White House meeting on federal-led overhaul of Washington Dulles

Aviation Source

❗️

U.S. Airlines Brace for Record 171 Million Passengers in Spring Travel Surge (Mar 1–Apr 30) U.S. airlines are bracing for a record 171 million passengers expected to travel between March 1 and April 30. The spring surge will concentrate demand across carriers, airports and screening checkpoints, creating an operational stress test for schedules, staffing and on-time performance.

2026-02-24T15:15:09.666396-08:00

U.S. Airlines Brace for Record 171 Million Passengers in Spring Travel Surge (Mar 1–Apr 30)

FlightGlobal

Top USAF civilian rules out Embraer KC-390 for tanker recapitalisation, backs KC-46 The Air Force's top civilian official said he is not, for now, considering Embraer's KC-390 multi-role tanker in the service's aerial-refuelling recapitalization effort and reiterated support for Boeing's KC-46 as the preferred platform, signalling continuity in US tanker procurement policy.

2026-02-24T12:10:25.673260-08:00

Top USAF civilian rules out Embraer KC-390 for tanker recapitalisation, backs KC-46

theaviationhub.co.uk

❗️

American Airlines 737 MAX 8 found with apparent bullet holes after Medellín stop; investigation opened Maintenance crews discovered apparent bullet holes — including a projectile lodged in the right wing — on an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 after an overnight stop in Medellín. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and both criminal and aviation authorities have opened probes.

2026-02-24T11:33:22.484038-08:00

American Airlines 737 MAX 8 found with apparent bullet holes after Medellín stop; investigation opened

Aviacionline

❗️

ZIPAIR launches inaugural nonstop Tokyo–Orlando charter, first Asia‑Pacific–Florida passenger link ZIPAIR's inaugural nonstop charter from Tokyo Narita to Orlando International Airport landed on 23 February, marking the first-ever passenger link between the Asia‑Pacific region and Florida. The Boeing 787 carried about 280 passengers on the one-off charter, opening a direct Japan–central Florida connection.

2026-02-24T10:36:23.214756-08:00

ZIPAIR launches inaugural nonstop Tokyo–Orlando charter, first Asia‑Pacific–Florida passenger link

CNBC

❗️

Spirit strikes deal with secured creditors, plans Chapter 11 exit in late spring/early summer Spirit Aviation Holdings has struck an agreement in principle with secured creditors that would allow Spirit Airlines to exit Chapter 11 in late spring or early summer. The deal follows the carrier’s second Chapter 11 filing in roughly 15 months and sets the framework for its restructuring.

2026-02-24T08:17:30.946033-08:00

Spirit strikes deal with secured creditors, plans Chapter 11 exit in late spring/early summer

Rolls Royce

Rolls‑Royce F130 clears AEDC altitude and operability tests, advancing B‑52J engine upgrade Rolls‑Royce completed altitude and operability testing of its F130 turbofan at the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tennessee, validating performance for the B‑52J Stratofortress upgrade and clearing a technical milestone ahead of engine flight trials and deliveries.

2026-02-24T06:36:20.496475-08:00

Rolls‑Royce F130 clears AEDC altitude and operability tests, advancing B‑52J engine upgrade

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Hegseth criticizes Pentagon bureaucracy at Colorado space stops on 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used Feb. 23 visits to Sierra Space in Louisville and to Buckley Space Force Base to cast Pentagon procurement and bureaucracy as the industry's primary adversary, pressing for acquisition reform during his nationwide 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour and meeting company staff and new recruits.

2026-02-24T05:34:14.035396-08:00

Hegseth criticizes Pentagon bureaucracy at Colorado space stops on 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour

Menu

North America News

American Airlines 737 MAX 8 found with apparent bullet holes after Medellín stop; investigation opened

U.S. Airlines Brace for Record 171 Million Passengers in Spring Travel Surge (Mar 1–Apr 30)

Trump to convene White House meeting on federal-led overhaul of Washington Dulles

Iridium 9604: compact tri‑mode IoT module uniting SBD satellite, LTE‑M and GNSS for global asset tracking

News Timeline