A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-400, registration N831MH performing flight DL-28 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Nice (France), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 13R when the crew rejected takeoff after hearing a bang. THe crew advised they might have a blown tyre or compressor stall, another crew advised they had seen streaks for flames from the left engine, the Delta crew added, they had some reverser indication. Arriving Emergency Services reported they could see a fuel leak from the left hand engine and smell fuel. The crew shut down both engines, the aircraft was towed to the apron.

A replacement Boeing 767-400 registration N828MH reached Nice with a delay of about 5.5 hours.

The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 30 hours after the rejected takeoff.

https://avherald.com/h?article=53b7e867&opt=0

Incident: American A321 at Charlotte on Jul 5th 2026, engine issues

An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N184US performing flight AA-1817 from Charlotte,NC (USA) to Vancouver,BC (Canada), was climbing out of Charlotte's runway 18C when the crew declared emergency reporting they had right hand engine EGT indications and compressor stalls. The aircraft levelled off at 4000 feet and returned to Charlotte for a safe landing on runway 18C about 25 minutes after departure.

https://avherald.com/h?article=53b7e4e9&opt=0

Incident: American B738 at San Antonio on Jul 5th 2026, bird strike, unreliable airspeed

An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N844NN performing flight AA-2377 from San Antonio,TX to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA), was climbing out of San Antonio's runway 13R when the crew, still on tower frequency, reported they had a bird strike on rotation and unreliable airspeed. They would need to run some checklists and return to San Antonio. ATC declared emergency for the aircraft. The aircraft levelled off at 5000 feet and landed safely back on San Antonio's runway 13R about 20 minutes after departure.

The aircraft returned to service about 22 hours after landing.

https://avherald.com/h?article=53b7e30a&opt=0

Incident: JAL B788 at Osaka on Jul 3rd 2026, hydraulic leak

A JAL Japan Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration JA848J performing flight JL-113 from Tokyo Haneda to Osaka Itami (Japan) with 262 passengers and 10 crew, was on approach to Itami when the crew aborted the approach, entered a hold and subsequently decided to divert to Osaka's Kansai Airport due to a hydraulic malfunction. The aircraft landed safely on Kansai's runway 06L and stopped on the runway. Hydraulic fluid was found leaking. The runway needed to be closed until the aircraft could be towed off the runway and for sweeping.

The airline reported a hydraulic leak was confirmed.

The aircraft returned to service about 26 hours after landing.

https://avherald.com/h?article=53b7dd2f&opt=0

Incident: Delta A319 at Chicago on Jul 4th 2026, suspected fireworks strike

A Delta Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N316NB performing flight DL-1076 from Atlanta,GA to Chicago Midway,IL (USA), had been cleared to land on runway 04R with the controllere advising of fireworks in progress. The aircraft was on short final descending through about 200 feet when the crew heared a bang. The aircraft continued for a safe landing, the crew subsequently reported a firework mortar may have hit the aircraft, they definitely had heard a bang. The aircraft taxied to the apron. A post flight inspection did not reveal any damage.

The FAA reported: "Delta Air Lines Flight 1076 landed safely at Chicago Midway International Airport around 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 4, after the pilot reported that a fireworks mortar struck the aircraft just before landing. The flight departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The FAA will investigate."

The airline reported the aircraft reportedly was contacted by fireworks on final approach, no damage was found.

https://avherald.com/h?article=53b7dbf9&opt=0

Air NZ flight hit by ‘severe’ turbulence, pilot says it’s a ‘mess back there’ - before pushing on to Auckland

Passengers were happy to get in to Auckland after a bumpy ride up from Christchurch.

A morning flight from Christchurch to Auckland on Air NZ was hit by “severe turbulence” not long after take off.

The flight, NZ534, hit the turbulence not long after leaving Christchurch at 8.25am.

On Tuesday, a strong southeasterly flow was battering central New Zealand, driving severe southerly gales, widespread heavy rain, and a rare red heavy rain warning for northern Canterbury and eastern Marlborough.

The cabin crew had just begun the service, providing tea and coffee to passengers when the plane started rocking violently.

The pilot had said there’d be a few bumps on descent, and on landing, but the severity of the shaking not long after take-off was unexpected.

I was on the flight and the plane rocked violently for about 5 minutes and then we seemingly descended.

The pilot - who communicated clearly throughout - said afterwards the “severe” turbulence was not forecast.

They noted it was a “mess back there” (referring to the cabin), and the plan was to go on to Auckland. The crew scrambled back to their seats.

The pilot said the remainder of the flight would have light or moderate bumps (for about 45 minutes), and this was the case.

Before landing, the pilot added: “I appreciate it’s been a rather rough flight. Thanks for bearing with us.”

The flight landed in Auckland at about 9.50am.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/361003225/air-nz-flight-hit-severe-turbulence-pilot-says-its-mess-back-there-pushing-auckland

NTSB Releases Final Report on Rob Holland Accident

50-year-old was one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world.

National Transportation Safety Board authorities investigating the 2025 accident that killed aerobatic pilot Rob Holland have determined the failure of a custom counterweight plug resulted in a jammed elevator and subsequent loss of control during landing.

Holland, 50, was one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world. He held an ATP certificate and had more than 15,000 hours of flight experience.

The accident occurred on April 24 at approximately 11:35 a.m. ET as Holland was attempting to land his aerobatic MX Aircraft Tech MXS airplane at Langley Air Force Base (KLFI) in Hampton, Virginia.

The weather was clear and the winds calm at the time of the accident.

According to witnesses, the airplane made a smooth approach to Runway 08, leveling off about 50 feet above the runway and flying straight down the runway for several hundred feet, then it porpoised twice, pitching up 45 to 60 degrees then climbing several hundred feet and rolling 90 degrees to the left. The aircraft rolled and descended straight down to the ground.

The aircraft pancaked in a ditch off the side of the runway. The NTSB report notes that “all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The left elevator counterweight plug was located about 10 feet behind the wreckage in the grass.”

An electronic flight instrument system was recovered from the accident airplane. The data were consistent with the witness descriptions of the accident sequence.

According to the medical examiner, the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma. Holland tested negative for all drugs.

Holland had flown to Virginia from Smyrna Airport (KMQY) in Tennessee because he was slated to perform in the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow in the MXS. Holland had been performing aerobatics in the customized all-carbon fiber single-seat aerobatic aircraft since 2011. The aircraft was built by a company in Australia.

According to the NTSB final report, the aircraft was issued a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category for the purpose of exhibition and air racing on July 26, 2019.

A representative of the airframe manufacturer stated that Holland had contacted them requesting the company incorporate an adjustable balance tube into the design of the elevator during its construction.

Per the NTSB report: “The design included an access hole in the left and right elevator horns to insert counterweights. The access hole/tube was covered by a plug. The manufacturer described that the plugs were designed as a short-term solution and that no manuals or other information was provided specifying torque valves to be used when installing the plug. The airframe manufacturer also provided a design drawing for the plug that appeared to be dimensionally different from the plug found installed in the accident airplane. The design document also called for an o-ring, which the airframe manufacturer described as a locking device. No o-rings were found on either of the plugs associated with the accident airplane. When asked about the differences observed between the specified plug and the plugs found on the accident airplane, the airframe manufacturer could not explain the discrepancy.”

Following the accident the aircraft manufacturer published an undated mandatory safety notice (SN 2025-01), which was applicable to MXS and MX2 airplanes fitted with adjustable balance tubes that provided instructions for filling existing adjustable balance tubes with a lead/resin mixture.

In November 2025 Holland was posthumously inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame. He learned to fly as a teenager and went on to win many aerobatic competitions and became a favorite performer at airshows.

Among his accomplishments:

Thirteen-time consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic champion

Six-time world 4-minute freestyle champion

Fourteen-time U.S. 4-minute freestyle champion

2015 World Air Games freestyle gold medalist

2012 Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award recipient

2008 World Advanced Aerobatic champion

Ten-time U.S. Aerobatic Team member

37 medals in international competition (14 Gold)

https://www.flyingmag.com/ntsb-releases-final-report-on-rob-holland-accident/

A Former Manager Claims Boeing’s Air Taxi Startup Bypassed Key Safety Tests to Meet Deadlines

Wisk Aero is trying to prove pilotless air taxis can safely carry passengers. A former employee just called that goal into question.

Boeing’s pilotless air taxi startup is facing a new lawsuit.

Wisk Aero, the autonomous aircraft company owned by Boeing, has been sued by a former software manager who says she was fired after filing internal safety reports warning that the company was reducing safety-critical software testing to keep a flight milestone on schedule.

Briahna O’Neill sued Wisk and Boeing in Santa Clara Superior Court on June 29, alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. The case says O’Neill filed two internal safety reports in early 2025, which claimed that Wisk engineers were being pushed to reduce FAA-required testing on the company’s sixth-generation aircraft. She says she was fired in March 2025, less than two weeks after the second report.

Wisk and Boeing declined comment.

A pilotless bet

While the allegations are as yet unproven, they cut to the center of Wisk’s pitch. The California-based company is trying to commercialize a fully autonomous, four-passenger electric air taxi, with no pilot onboard.

Wisk was formed in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk, the electric-aircraft startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page. From the start, it took a different path from many air taxi rivals by aiming directly for an autonomous ride rather than initially launching with a piloted aircraft.

Sebastien Vigneron became Wisk’s CEO in 2025. Before that, he led Wisk’s Gen 6 program, including autonomy, airspace integration, software engineering, systems testing, flight testing, and program management. Former CEO Brian Yutko moved into a senior product development role at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and remains chair of Wisk’s board.

However, the lawsuit may matter more for Wisk than for Boeing. Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, told Inc. he doesn’t view Wisk as central to Boeing’s business or public reputation, particularly because broad adoption of autonomy in air transport remains “a very long way off.”

Testing under scrutiny

O’Neill’s lawsuit focuses on the technical systems Wisk must prove to regulators. The case says she raised concerns about the company’s vehicle-management system, a software layer involved in controlling flight and navigation. It alleges Wisk reduced testing to stay on track for the first flight of its Gen 6 aircraft.

Wisk has made software validation central to its public case for autonomy. In 2024, the company acquired Verocel, a software verification and validation firm, saying the deal would help its effort to certify Gen 6. Then-CEO Brian Yutko said at the time that “high-integrity software development is critical” to certifying an autonomous electric aircraft.

How These Founders Creatively Balance Profit Margins and Fast Growth

Wisk says it has completed more than 1,750 safe test flights across six generations of aircraft and is now testing two Gen 6 aircraft in Hollister, California. In a July 1 blog post, the company described a “multi-layered validation ecosystem” for its autonomy stack, including software simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and surrogate aircraft flights.

In a statement to Inc., the FAA said its priority in eVTOL certification is “ensuring the aircraft is safely designed and produced” through a multi-phase process that ends with type and production certificates. The agency said it works closely with applicants so they understand the standards they must meet and can “quickly address any deficiencies.”

Air taxis get ready to take off

The lawsuit comes as air taxis move from demos toward deployment. Earlier this year, the FAA selected Wisk as part of Texas’s project in the agency’s three-year eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau said the program would provide operational experience to help shape standards for safe advanced air mobility operations.

This week, rival Joby Aviation and Toyota announced a joint venture to prepare for commercial air taxi production, one which will start with a piloted aircraft. Wisk is betting that autonomy can eventually make air taxi service cheaper and easier to scale.

https://www.inc.com/georgia-fearn/former-manager-claims-boeing-air-taxi-startup-bypassed-key-safety-tests/91369431

Delta flight makes emergency landing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport

All passengers and crew were reported safe after a Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing Monday at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- All passengers and crew were reported safe after a Delta Air Lines passenger plane made an emergency landing Monday afternoon at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

The flight was traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles when it was diverted because of engine issues.

Delta Flight DAL 2725 landed safely in Fresno shortly before 4 p.m.

Video from the airport showed the aircraft parked between two American Airlines planes after landing.

No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

Additional details about the nature of the engine issues were not immediately available.

The incident remains under investigation.

https://abc30.com/post/delta-flight-makes-emergency-landing-fresno-yosemite-international-airport/19460539/

Saudia Cargo to add four Boeing 777 freighters to its fleet

Saudia Cargo has announced the addition of four Boeing 777-200 freighters as part of its strategy to double its dedicated cargo fleet and strengthen its operational capabilities in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

The fleet expansion will enhance the carrier’s global network and enable it to meet rising demand for air freight services, deliver greater value to customers and partners, and reinforce the Kingdom’s connectivity with international markets.

The first Boeing 777 aircraft is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the remaining three joining the fleet throughout 2027. The new freighters will support Saudia Cargo’s network across four continents and provide additional capacity to accommodate growing global trade.

In 2025, Saudia Cargo transported more than 570,000 tonnes of freight across a network of more than 90 destinations. The carrier also maintained an on-time performance of over 90%, while holding three IATA CEIV certifications and six ISO certifications. Its Net Promoter Score (NPS) reached 57, reflecting increasing customer confidence.

https://avitrader.com/2026/07/07/saudia-cargo-to-add-four-boeing-777-freighters-to-its-fleet/

India’s civil aviation authority grants Type Certification to Embraer E-Jets

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has awarded Type Certification to Embraer’s E-Jets range of aircraft. The certification covers multiple aircraft from the E-Jets family of small narrowbody aircraft, including the E190, E195, and the E195-E2.

This latest round of certification adds to the E175 aircraft, which has already been type certified by the DGCE for operations in India and is being operated by Star Air, a low-cost domestic airline.

Embraer is increasing its activities in India, and earlier this year, in February, the company an expanded its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adani Defence & Aerospace to establish a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the E175 regional jet, aligned to India’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) programme.

“We welcome the type certification of Embraer’s aircraft and thank the DGCA for its thorough assessment,” said Raul Villaron, SVP sales & marketing, and head of commercial aviation for the Asia Pacific Region. “Embraer’s E-Jets are set to reshape regional aviation in India and support the Indian government’s UDAN vision.”

Villaron was referring to Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), a regional air connectivity scheme launched by the Government of India in 2016 to make air travel affordable and accessible for citizens living in smaller towns and cities.

“The E-Jets offers enhanced range of up to seven hours and performance capabilities to operate from challenging airports with short runways or low pavement strength,” added Adity Shekhar, Embraer’s regional vice president for sales. “This certification enables us to support airlines expanding their networks and opening unique routes by tapping into ‘blue ocean’ opportunities that are too small for a large narrowbody or too far for a turboprop.”

https://www.aircraftinteriorsinternational.com/news/airframer-news/indias-civil-aviation-authority-grants-type-certification-to-embraer-e-jets.html

Navy offers up to $280,000 in bonuses to keep reserve aviators

The incentives, which cover up to seven years, are part of an effort to retain skilled department heads.

The Navy is offering as much as $280,000 in bonuses over seven years to reserve aviators, in an effort to “retain skilled personnel for critical naval aviation enterprise billets.”

The incentives are part of the Navy’s annual Training and Administration of the Reserve Aviation Department Head Retention program. This year’s bonuses were announced in a Navy Administrative Message, or NAVADMIN, released in late June and are aimed specifically at personnel currently serving as department head billets. Specifically, they are incentives for members of the Training and Administration of the Reserve program, who are Navy Reserve sailors who are serving as full-time active duty in support of training reservists.

“By encouraging these critical pilots and naval flight officers to continue their service, we ensure our force remains proficient, lethal, and ready for any mission,” Lt. Cmdr. James Adams, a spokesperson for Navy Personnel Command, told Task & Purpose.

Under this year’s announced bonuses, new incentives will be paid in three, five or seven annual installments, according to the NAVADMIN, with the lowest bonus being $15,000 per year and the highest being $40,000. That can be awarded annually for seven years, for a $280,000 bonus payout to eligible aviators.

Eligibility for the bonuses is limited to lieutenant and lieutenant commanders in the reserves who have completed 12 months as the head of an aviation department. Eligible roles include helicopter sea combat pilots, airborne command and control naval flight officers and electronic attack squadron pilot, among a total of 16 jobs.

“By encouraging these critical pilots and naval flight officers to continue their service, we ensure our force remains proficient, lethal, and ready for any mission,” Adams said.

The amount of eligible aviators fluctuates through the year, Adams said, but “the strategic goal of this program isn’t about hitting a specific quota. It’s a proactive talent management tool designed to retain the leadership capability these individuals represent, which is essential for maintaining full-time readiness within the Navy.”

The bonuses are part of a wider effort in the military to keep experienced pilots in the ranks, rather than lose them to potential private sector positions. This spring the Air Force offered as much as $50,000 per year for eligible active-duty pilots serving as air battle managers or as pilots of manned and unmanned aircraft.

All contracts must be received by the Training and Administration of the Reserve Distribution and Augmentation by Aug. 26, the Navy said.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-reserve-aviator-bonus/

What's behind the massive appetite for new Boeing and Airbus planes

Boeing and Airbus each have order backlogs thousands of aircraft deep, thanks to pandemic-era production slowdowns and persistent air travel demand.

Despite high jet fuel prices, airlines haven't cancelled many aircraft orders.

A new assembly line at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, facility began production on the 737 MAX aircraft Monday. Meanwhile, Airbus (Boeing’s main rival) has reportedly set its sights on delivering 900 commercial aircraft this year — which would be an all-time high for the company.

Both companies have faced supply chain issues since the pandemic. They now each have order backlogs thousands of aircraft deep, which have grown as airlines demand new jets.

There are basically two reasons driving new aircraft demand. One is the planes airlines do have are getting old — a couple decades old, in some cases, said Doug Harned, a managing director at the investment firm Bernstein.

“The good thing about aircraft is that if you maintain them properly, they can last quite a long time, but eventually the costs start to get higher and higher for the old aircraft,” he said.

So, they’ve ordered new ones, but the wait time is long. And even though airlines have faced big fuel bills in recent months, they haven’t canceled many orders for new planes.

Those new jets will help them save in the long run, said Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group.

“New aircraft allow airlines to consume less fuel. That helps airlines offer the low fares that we, as travelers, want,” he said.

Newer planes can also fit more passengers, Harteveldt said. “Not great for us in the leg room, of course, but it helps make these aircraft more cost efficient for airlines to operate.”

The other reason airlines are in the market for new aircraft is demand for air travel is high, both from customers willing to squeeze into those economy seats and from high-income, “premium” customers, said Meghna Maharishi, an airline reporter at Skift.

To attract those customers, airlines have been adding new international routes.

“United is a good example of this, you know, they've added routes to Greenland and Mongolia,” she said.

New routes require new planes. Plus, airlines are upgrading the business and first class seats on those aircraft.

“A lot of that has been meant to cater to those wealthier consumers, because that's the cohort that's really been driving the revenue for these airlines,” Maharishi said.

Fancier first class cabins are also slowing down new aircraft deliveries, said Doug Harned at Bernstein, because regulators have to sign off on the changes.

“So there have been delays, not just in supplying the seats, say, but also just getting certification for new designs,” he said.

Those delays, on top of high demand, are why Boeing and Airbus are effectively booked up for the next six years.

https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/07/06/boeing-and-airbus-enjoy-relentless-aircraft-demand