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Airfare fell 6.4% in January from a year earlier, the Labor Department said in its monthly consumer price index report on Tuesday. January is typically a slower month for travel as customers take fewer trips following the New Year's holiday. The drop comes even though carriers are facing capacity constraints this year, in part because of an engine recall from Pratt & Whitney , congested airspace and delayed aircraft deliveries. In 2023, airlines had been forced to discount flights, particularly in off-peak periods, after the industry added capacity. ...Those operating environment challenges led directly to industry capacity plans, including our own, coming down 3 points on average as carriers adapted to the new operating environment," Kirby said.

Persons: Airfare, TD Cowen, Helane Becker, Hopper, Ed Bastian, haven't, Bastian, Max, Scott Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Labor Department, Pratt & Whitney, Airlines, Delta, Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Company, United Airlines, International Air Transport Association, CNBC PRO Locations: Southwest, Alaska, United

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal accident investigators are pushing to retrofit current aircraft with better cockpit voice recorders, citing the loss of evidence during last month's blowout of a door panel on a jetliner flying over Oregon. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration should require many current planes to have recorders that can capture 25 hours of audio, up from the current standard of two hours. The FAA announced late last year a proposal to require the 25-hour standard but only on new planes. The FAA received about 115 comments about its proposal during a comment period that ended Feb. 2. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesCockpit voice recorders, or CVRs, are designed to capture conversations between pilots and any other noises that might help investigators understand the circumstances of an accident.

Persons: don’t, ”, Jennifer Homendy, — Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, The National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, United, Alaska Airlines, NTSB, Air Canada Locations: Oregon, Europe, San Francisco

☆ Why AI can’t replace air traffic controllers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Amy Pritchett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In the air traffic control system, everything must meet the highest levels of safety, but not everything goes according to plan. I’m an aerospace engineer who led a National Academies study ordered by Congress about air traffic controller staffing. What air traffic controllers do? The Federal Aviation Administration’s fundamental guidance for the responsibility of air traffic controllers states: “The primary purpose of the air traffic control system is to prevent a collision involving aircraft.” Air traffic controllers are also charged with providing “a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic” and other services supporting safety, such as helping pilots avoid mountains and other hazardous terrain and hazardous weather, to the extent they can. Researchers are using machine learning to analyze and predict aspects of air traffic and air traffic control, including air traffic flow between cities and air traffic controller behavior.

Persons: Tolga Akmen, Timothy Arel, Harry Reid, Ethan Miller, Amy Pritchett Organizations: CNN, National Academies, Congress, Federal Aviation, Air, FAA, London Heathrow, Tolga, Getty, U.S . Senate, Robotics, Cessna, United Airlines, Kansas City Chiefs United Airlines, Harry Reid International, Air Force One, Penn State University, National Science Foundation, Center, Aerial Mobility, NASA Locations: AFP, Las Vegas

☆ A tiny investment firm claims Boeing 'hoodwinked' it into buying a failing supplier — more than a year after Boeing claimed it was 'held hostage' over the same deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ten Oaks Management accused Boeing of "conning" it into buying a failing supplier, in a counterclaim. But when it assumed control of Astech, Boeing alleges it was "held hostage" by the family office and subject to a "bait and switch." AdvertisementHowever, Ten Oaks hit back with a counterclaim last Friday, saying it was duped into buying Astech by Boeing. The complaint says Boeing's contract with Astech was "lopsided" and leading it into bankruptcy because the pricing didn't even cover manufacturing costs. Another Boeing supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, is also facing scrutiny because it builds the Max 9 fuselage.

Persons: —, Astech, Max, Mike Whitaker Organizations: Oaks Management, Boeing, Service, Business, Ten Oaks Management, KC, Court, Ten Oaks, Ten, Boeing KC, US Air Force Ten Oaks, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Carolina, Delaware, Astech

☆ Boeing Disaster Proves Americans Businesses Greedy Mentality Is Broken
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

They expose decades of American corporate philosophy gone awry. A good American company isn’t just a vehicle for financial returns; it is first and foremost an employer, a contributor to economic and/or technological innovation, and a source of US power. But it’s clear that what Boeing — and the entire American corporate body politic — needs is nothing short of a philosophical counterrevolution. Over these three decades of plenty for Boeing’s shareholders, the company’s staff was asked to penny-pinch. Boeing’s stock cratered, and France’s Airbus , a rival once colloquially known as “Scare Bus,” started to eat the American company’s lunch .

Persons: it’s, could’ve, William Lazonick, “, It’s, won’t, William McGee, T.A, Wilson, Frank Shrontz, Max, Peter Robison, —, ”, Dave Calhoun, we’ve, Scott Kirby, hasn’t, “ We’re, Lazonick, wasn’t, Milton Friedman, Michael Jensen, Jensen, nary, Jack Welch, Welch, Wall, ” Lazonick, We’ve, Mary Barra, ” McGee Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Investments, University of Massachusetts, ”, NASA, Airbus, Alaska Airlines Max, Wall, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, CNBC, Washington, University of Chicago, Electric, Wall Street, GE, Dow Jones, Securities and Exchange Commission, Reality Labs, Deutsche Bank, Business, General Motors, United Auto Workers, Companies, GM, & $ Locations: Washington, America

☆ Worried about how safe it is to fly? Here’s what the experts have to say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“I don’t believe that you should be worried,” says Geoffrey Thomas, an aviation safety expert and editor in chief of Airline Ratings, which publishes an annual list of the safest airlines. The list of the world’s safest airlines is topped by Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Finnair and Cathay Pacific. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images“Aviation is the safest mode of transportation,” says Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aviation safety at Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “Unfortunately, with the Japan Airlines accident, we did lose five people on the military aircraft, but everybody made it off of the civilian aircraft. Remote in probabilityDespite concerns, the Boeing 737 has a better safety record than the 747, experts say.

Persons: ”, Geoffrey Thomas, it’s, “, Thomas, Charly Triballeau, Anthony Brickhouse, Florida’s Embry, Brickhouse, Max, we’ve, Willie Walsh, Arnold Barnett, That’s, we’re, ” Barnett, Jason Redmond, Barnett Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Max, Boeing, “, Airbus, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, Getty, Florida’s, Riddle Aeronautical University, US Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Japan Airlines Airbus, Tokyo Coast Guard, FAA, Japan Airlines, NTSB, Reuters, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, European Union, United Locations: AFP, Tokyo, Japan, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

One NTSB investigator arrived at the crash site Friday afternoon, with several more expected to arrive on Saturday. Brianna Walker saw the wing of the plane drag the car in front of hers and slam into the wall. The tower lost contact, and then airport workers saw the smoke from the interstate just a few miles away, King said. According to the FlightAware aircraft tracker, the plane was operated by Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A spokesperson for Ohio State University said the aircraft is not affiliated with the university, and they had no further information about it.

Persons: Brianna Walker, ”, Walker, ” Walker, Robin King, “ we’re, King, Adam Fisher, didn’t, “ Organizations: —, Federal Aviation Administration, Bombardier Challenger, FAA, National Transportation, NTSB, Ohio State University, We’ve, Naples Daily News, Sheriff’s, Jet Worldwide, Fort, Jet, Naples Daily Locations: NAPLES, Fla, Florida, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, Columbus , Ohio, Collier, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

☆ Nigeria's Access Bank Group CEO Among Six Dead in California Helicopter Crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Six people, including the group chief executive of one of Nigeria's largest lenders, were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Friday, authorities said. Six people were on board the helicopter when it crashed around 10 p.m. near Nipton, California, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Access Bank Group CEO Herbert Wigwe's death was confirmed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization, in a post on X, along with that of Nigerian Exchange Group's former Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo. "Terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO Access Bank, his wife and son as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash," Okonjo-Iweala said on X. The helicopter was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California, according to multiple reports.

Persons: Herbert Wigwe's, Ngozi Okonjo, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Herbert Wigwe, Bimbo Ogunbanjo, Iweala, Surbhi Misra, Jyoti Narayan, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Access Bank, World Trade Organization, Exchange, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, FAA, Eurocopter EC, National Transportation Safety Board Locations: Southern California, Nipton , California, San Bernardino County, Halloran, Las Vegas, Nevada, California, Bengaluru

☆ Plane Crashes on Florida Highway, Killing at Least 2, Authorities Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Lola Fadulu | More About Lola Fadulu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

At least two people were killed when a small plane crashed on Interstate 75 near Naples, Fla., on Friday afternoon, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 series jet, was carrying five people when it crashed on the highway around 3:15 p.m., the F.A.A. It was not immediately clear if the plane crashed into any cars or whether anyone on the ground was injured. Photos and video footage from the scene showed the aircraft’s fuselage in flames and a large plume of smoke billowing above the crash site. A six-mile stretch of the interstate will be closed for at least 24 hours, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Bombardier Challenger, Sheriff’s Locations: Naples, Fla, Collier

☆ It’s not just Taylor Swift: Record number of private jet flights expected for this year’s Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Story highlights Clark County expects more than 1,000 private jets -- a record -- to fly in for the Super Bowl. New York CNN —No one’s trip to the Super Bowl is getting more attention than Taylor Swift. The Super Bowl typically draws the highest number of US private jet flights of any event during the course of a year, according to WingX, which tracks private jet traffic. So it’s not surprising that the city’s first Super Bowl could be a record breaker for private jet traffic. The impact on climateThe attention to Taylor Swift’s private jet travel plans has brought some attention to the climate change implications of those flights.

Persons: Taylor Swift, she’s, it’s, Harry Reid, They’ll, ”, Joe Rajchel, WingX, Rajchel, “, That’s, Taylor, Richard Koe Organizations: Super, New, New York CNN, Miami, Harry Reid International Airport, Las, Allegiant, Henderson Executive Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, Clark County Department of Aviation, Las Vegas, Prix, FAA, National Football League, Super Bowl, CNN, Jet, International Energy Agency, Institute for Policy Studies, Private Locations: New York, Tokyo, Vegas, Clark, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Boulder City, Hoover, California, Washington

☆ An airline wants compensation from Boeing after it had to cancel a fifth of its flights due to the 737 Max 9 grounding
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Copa Airlines executives said they expect compensation from Boeing due to the 737 Max 9 grounding. AdvertisementAn airline which suffered disruption due to the 737 Max 9 grounding last month wants compensation from Boeing. The Panama-based carrier Copa Airlines is the biggest operator of the 737 Max 9 outside the US, with 29 such jets. Heilbron said Copa Airlines remains committed to its relationship with Boeing which it considers "an important partner." AdvertisementCopa Airlines was the first carrier to bring the 737 Max 9 back into service after the jet was ungrounded by the Federal Aviation Administration following inspections.

Persons: —, Pedro Heilbron, José Montero, Heilbron, Max, Dave Calhoun Organizations: Copa Airlines, Boeing, Service, Alaska Airlines, Deutsche Bank, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, National Transportation Safety, Business Locations: Panama

Most U.S. adults believe that air travel is generally safe in the U.S., despite some doubts about whether aircraft are being properly maintained and remain free from structural problems. About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say planes are a “very” or “somewhat” safe method of travel, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Slightly fewer than half — 45% — have “a great deal” of confidence in pilots' training, while 38% say that about air traffic controllers. About one-quarter of U.S. adults have a high level of confidence that air travel is safe from terrorist attacks, or that government agencies have enacted necessary safety regulations. Randi Niedfeldt, a retired physician assistant in Wisconsin, has a great deal of confidence in the planes, despite the recent incidents.

Persons: ”, Margaret Burke of, Burke, “, can’t, Sherry Kohn, ” Kohn, Randi Niedfeldt Organizations: Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation, Alaska Airlines, U.S . Department of Transportation, Airline, Boeing Locations: U.S, Oregon, Alaska, Margaret Burke of Pensacola , Florida, California, Pennsylvania, vacuums, Wisconsin

☆ As baby boomers hit 'peak 65' this year, what the retirement age should be is up for debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A fight is brewing in Washington over whether the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots should be raised from 65. The debate comes as baby boomers more broadly are reaching "peak 65" — the biggest number of Americans reaching that age in history. Age 65 has traditionally been thought of as retirement age. In France last year, pension reforms that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 sparked fierce protests. In the U.S., the Senate is expected to mark up a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that will consider the pilots' retirement age.

Persons: Barry Kendrick Organizations: Alliance for Lifetime, Social Security, Finance, Federal Aviation Administration, Congress, Air Line Pilots Association Locations: Washington, U.S, France

☆ Captain Sully and the FAA are warning against plans to force pilots to retire later — as aviation safety comes into laser focus during the Boeing scandal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewCaptain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberg and aviation regulators are warning Congress against raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots to 67. But as Congress works on the reauthorization bill, aviation experts are raising concerns about this potential measure. AdvertisementOn Monday, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker wrote a letter to Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, who sit on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. "The pilot retirement age should not be raised," he said in a Wednesday X post. It says it wouldn't increase the number of pilots working, per the AP.

Persons: —, Chesley, Sully, Sullenberg, Mike Whitaker, Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell, Whitaker Organizations: Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Business, Reuters, Commerce, Science, Transportation, FAA, Pilots, Regional Airline Association, Associated Press, Air Line Pilots Association Locations: Canada

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A “whistling sound” was heard on a previous flight of the Boeing 737 Max 9 whose door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight last month, an attorney representing passengers in a lawsuit said in new court documents. On Wednesday, he filed an amended complaint that adds 18 additional passenger plaintiffs and includes the new allegations concerning the previous flight. He did not specify who they were and declined to confirm whether they were passengers or crew members on the previous flight. He also declined to specify when the previous flight occurred. She cautioned, however, that the pressurization light might be unrelated to the door plug blowout.

Persons: Mark Lindquist, Lindquist, “, ”, Max, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, Court, Associated Press, AP, National Transportation Safety, NTSB, Alaska, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: PORTLAND, Portland , Oregon, Washington state's King County, Max, Alaska, United

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When it comes to dealing with a Florida college student who uses public data and social media to track the private jets of billionaires, politicians and other celebrities, Taylor Swift apparently can't just shake it off. In that message, he emphasized that while he has never intended to cause harm, he also believes strongly in the importance of transparency and public information. “One should reasonably expect that their jet will be tracked, whether or not I’m the one doing it, as it is public information after all,” he wrote. A spokesperson for Swift echoed the legal complaint, saying that “the timing of stalkers” suggests a connection to Sweeney's flight-tracking sites. At one point Sweeney had more than 30 such accounts on Twitter, now known as X after Elon Musk purchased the site for $44 billion in 2022.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift's, Jack Sweeney, Venable, Sweeney, ” Sweeney, ”, Swift, Sweeney “, Elon Musk, Musk, tweeting Organizations: FRANCISCO, University of Central, Associated Press, Federal Aviation Administration, Swift, FAA, Twitter, Elon Locations: Florida, University of Central Florida

☆ Even the wealthy will have to pay extra for parking at the Super Bowl — at least for their private jets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Taylor Rains | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hundreds of private jets are expected to flood Las Vegas this weekend for Super Bowl LVIII. According to the agency, Super Bowl parking spot reservations are handed by aircraft service stations known as fixed-based operators, or FBOs. Scottsdale Airport in Arizona saw a deluge of private jets ahead of the Super Bowl in 2023. Wealthy flyers will also use private charter companies like flyExclusive and VistaJet to schedule a drop-off and pick-up before and after the Super Bowl. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Swift did not immediately respond to comment from BI regarding her planned Super Bowl travels.

Persons: Taylor, —, Heidi Hayes, City's, Harry Reid, Henderson, Hayes, Leona Qi, Jim Segrave, LIV, Breitenfeldt, Ross D, Niall Mulcahy, Mulcahy, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Swift, hasn't, Qi Organizations: Service, Las, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Clark, Clark County Department of Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration, Super, National Football League, FAA, NFL, Harry Reid International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, Boulder City Airport, Flexjet, Private, Associated Press, WM Phoenix, Super Bowl, Scottsdale Airport, Franklin, Signature Aviation, Dassault Falcon, Dassault, Bombardier Global, Gulfstream, Bombardier Locations: Vegas, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Clark County, North, North Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Glendale , Arizona, Arizona, Missouri, Baltimore, Nashville

☆ How Las Vegas airports are bracing for an influx of private jets for the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Taylor Rains | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some 330,000 people are expected to visit Las Vegas this weekend as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. AdvertisementThese include Sin City's main Harry Reid International Airport, as well as Henderson Executive Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, and Boulder City Airport in the suburbs. Speaking to the Henderson and North Las Vegas airports, Hayes told BI there are about 1,100 slots across the two. According to the agency, Super Bowl parking spot reservations are handed by aircraft service stations known as fixed-based operators, or FBOs. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Swift did not immediately respond to comment from BI regarding her planned Super Bowl travels.

Persons: Heidi Hayes, City's, Harry Reid, Henderson, Hayes, Leona Qi, Jim Segrave, LIV, Breitenfeldt, Ross D, Niall Mulcahy, Mulcahy, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Swift, hasn't, Qi Organizations: Las, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Clark, Clark County Department of Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration, Super, National Football League, FAA, NFL, Harry Reid International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, Boulder City Airport, Flexjet, Private, Associated Press, WM Phoenix, Super Bowl, Scottsdale Airport, Franklin, Signature Aviation, Dassault Falcon, Dassault, Bombardier Global, Gulfstream, Bombardier Locations: Las Vegas, Clark County, Vegas, North, North Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Glendale , Arizona, Arizona, Tokyo, Missouri, Baltimore, Nashville

☆ Boeing supplier swings to profit despite recent problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Spirit AeroSystems, the troubled Boeing supplier which builds fuselages and other parts for the company, reported its first adjusted quarterly profit since the start of 2022, helped by increased payments from Boeing. But the continued quality and safety problems at Boeing, and at Spirit AeroSystems, caused the supplier to announce it would not give any outlook for profits the rest of the year. Boeing announced on Sunday that Spirit AeroSystem workers disclosed there were misdrilled holes on 737 Max fuselages the company had built. Because of that agreement, Spirit reported net income of $59 million for the quarter, a large improvement from the net loss of $243 million a year earlier. Spirit has reported net losses every quarter since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

Persons: Max fuselages, Max, AeroSystems Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Alaksa Airlines, Max, Alaska, Federal Aviation Administration, Airbus, Spirit Locations: New York

☆ Bolts appeared to be missing from Boeing 737 Max door plug that blew off midflight, NTSB says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The panel that blew out is used to plug an unused emergency exit. Bolts appeared to have been missing from a door plug that blew out midair on Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines last month, according to a new report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The accident prompted a grounding of the Max 9 by the Federal Aviation Administration for much of last month. "Over these last few weeks, I've had tough conversations with our customers, with our regulators, congressional leaders and more. The Jan. 5 accident occurred just as Boeing was trying to ramp up output.

Persons: John Lovell, Bolts, Dave Calhoun, Calhoun, I've Organizations: National Transportation Safety Board, Alaska Airlines, NTSB, Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Locations: Alaska, Portland , Oregon, U.S

☆ We’re about to get investigators’ first report on the Alaska Airlines flight whose door plug blew off
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The National Transportation Safety Board will release its preliminary report Tuesday on last month’s blowout of a part of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flight, NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss told CNN. On a January 5 Alaska flight 1282, the door plug blew off the side of the plane. The door plug fills a space in the fuselage that can otherwise contain an emergency exit door when plane seats are arranged a certain way. CNN has reported that NTSB investigators have been closely scrutinizing the door plug and whether crucial bolts that hold it in place were properly installed when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration will tell House lawmakers Tuesday that his agency is “closely scrutinizing” Boeing after last month’s door plug blowout.

Persons: Eric Weiss, Mike Whitaker, Whitaker, “, ” Whitaker, ” Organizations: CNN, Transportation, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, NTSB, FAA Locations: Alaska, United States, Renton , Washington

Bolts that helped secure a panel to the frame of a Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing before the panel blew off the Alaska Airlines plane last month, according to accident investigators. The report included a photo from Boeing, which worked on the panel, which is called a door plug. In the photo, three of the four bolts that prevent the panel from moving upward are missing. The investigators said that the lack of certain damage around the panel indicates that all four bolts were missing before the plane took off from Portland, Oregon. A text between Boeing employees who finished working on the plane after the rivets were replaced included the photo showing the plug with missing bolts, according to the report.

Persons: David Calhoun, ” Investigators, Max, Michael Whitaker, —, “ what’s Organizations: Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety, Pilots, NTSB, ”, Alaska, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Spirit Locations: Portland , Oregon, Boeing’s, Seattle, Alaska

☆ A Pennsylvania man who took drone selfies at a stadium and delayed an AFC Championship game now faces up to 4 years in prison: prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A man who delayed an NFL game while taking drone selfies now faces federal charges, prosecutors said. Matthew Hebert, 44, mistakenly thought he was allowed to fly his drone at the time, per prosecutors. AdvertisementA 44-year-old man faces up to four years in federal prison after he flew a drone over a National Football League game in Baltimore, federal prosecutors said on Monday. Hebert flew the drone at around 330 feet for about two minutes, and took at least six photos of himself and the stadium, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Hebert "relied exclusively on the DJI application" to know if he was allowed to fly the drone.

Persons: Matthew Hebert, —, Chadds, Hebert, Prosecutors, DJI Organizations: NFL, Service, National Football League, T, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship, Justice Department, NFL Security, Baltimore Sun, State, Federal Aviation Administration, Ravens, Chiefs, States National Defense, Business Locations: Baltimore, Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania

☆ The Boeing 737 Max blowout has sparked a rare wave of public criticism from airline CEOs and the FAA, with harsh words flying about its quality control
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Airline CEOs have criticized Boeing in the wake of the Alaska Airlines blowout. AdvertisementThe Alaska Airlines blowout in January has subjected Boeing to a torrent of criticism from airline executives. AdvertisementFrom Boeing's biggest customer to regulators' strong words, the incident has sparked a wave of public criticism, a rarity in the aviation sector. AdvertisementAs the FAA increased its oversight of Boeing's production line, Administrator Mike Whitaker said: "The quality-assurance issues we have seen are unacceptable." Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, backed the FAA's actions, saying it "is holding Boeing accountable for its production quality problems."

Persons: —, Stan Deal, Scott Kirby, United Airlines Scott Kirby, Brian Snyder United, didn't, Max, Kirby, Ben Minicucci, Minicucci, Michael O'Leary, Ryanair Michael O'Leary, Yves Herman Ireland, O'Leary, Dave Calhoun, Tim Clark, they've, Clark, Mike Whitaker, Pete Buttigieg, Win McNamee, Donald Trump, Whitaker Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, FAA, Service, Street Journal, Airplanes, United Airlines, REUTERS, CNBC, NBC, Ryanair, Financial Times, Airbus, Emirates, Transportation, Max, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Alaska

☆ Taylor Swift threatens legal action against Florida student
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Attorneys for Taylor Swift are threatening legal action against the Florida college student who tracks the private jets of celebrities and public figures, including Swift. Jack Sweeney confirmed to CNN on Tuesday that he received a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action from attorneys for Swift over the social media accounts he runs that track Swift’s flights. Sweeney is the same person who famously drew ire from billionaire Elon Musk for tracking his jet travels online. Sweeney told CNN over email that he received the letter from Swift’s attorneys after headlines that scrutinized the singer’s carbon footprint. Sweeney also told CNN that he never intended any harm with his actions, noting that he is compiling “public information.”“I actually think Swift has some good songs,” Sweeney added.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, Jack Sweeney, Sweeney, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Musk, ” “, ” Sweeney, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Florida, Washington Post, Twitter, Federal Aviation Administration

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