DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ A United Airlines flight was diverted to San Francisco after a passenger made a bomb threat, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A flight from LA to Vancouver made an emergency landing in San Francisco on Monday night. The diversion followed a bomb threat made by someone on the flight, an airport official said. AdvertisementAdvertisementA United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver made an emergency landing after an alleged bomb threat was made, airport officials said. However, about an hour into the journey the plane turned around and headed to San Francisco, tracking data from Flight Radar 24 shows. In March, a United flight was grounded in Vermont after a note, discovered in the plane's bathroom, indicated there was a bomb onboard.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, United Airlines, LAX, San, ABC7, FBI Locations: LA, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, California

☆ Elon Musk says SpaceX should receive clearance to attempt second Starship launch this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SpaceX is pushing hard to launch the second spaceflight of its Starship rocket this week. CEO Elon Musk claimed the company will receive its federal launch license in the coming days, the final hurdle before a second attempt. The company has been waiting for the completion of a federal environmental review led by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Musk did not specify who informed him of the impending regulatory approval, and SpaceX did not respond to CNBC's request for clarification. SpaceX needs a launch license from the FAA in order to make its second attempt at flying Starship to space.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: Super, SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, FAA Locations: Texas, U.S

☆ Airlines predict record Thanksgiving US holiday travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Major U.S. airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Monday they expect record air travel over the Thanksgiving holiday air travel period. Airlines for America says Nov. 26 will be a record-setting air travel day with 3.2 million passengers. The record travel comes despite airline flight cuts to New York airports because of air traffic controller staffing. A government watchdog said in June critical ATC facilities face significant staffing challenges, posing risks to air traffic operations. In the summer of 2022, there were 41,498 flights from New York airports in which ATC staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, David Shepardson, Alistair Bell Organizations: Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Major U.S, Transportation Security Administration, Airlines for America, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, TSA, Federal Aviation Administration, JetBlue Airways, JFK, New York, Thomson Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Major, New York, New York City, Burlington , Vermont, New

[1/3] An electric air taxi by Joby Aviation sits at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 12, 2023. REUTERS/Roselle Chen Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Electric air taxis could be transporting passengers from JFK Airport to downtown Manhattan by 2025 - on quiet, emissions-free journeys that take around seven minutes. Manufacturer Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) carried out an exhibition flight at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York on Sunday, the city's first-ever electric air taxi flight and the first time Joby has flown in an urban setting. The idea is that travelers will book their trip, similar to a rideshare app. Reporting by Roselle Chen, Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roselle Chen, Joby, JoeBen Bevirt, Rosalba O'Brien, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Joby Aviation, REUTERS, JFK, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Thomson Locations: Downtown Manhattan, Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Manhattan, New York

A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington December 8, 2015. "We're getting closer and closer," Watterson said of the certification work. However, delays in certification have forced Southwest to convert dozens of orders for 150-seater MAX 7 aircraft into the larger 175-seater MAX 8 variant. Both the MAX 7 and the largest model MAX 10 are waiting for the FAA's certification, with MAX 10 slated for its first delivery in 2024. "The fact that the number of open items is converging, not diverging like it was probably a year ago, shows that they're getting closer and closer," Watterson said.

Persons: Matt Mills McKnight, Andrew Watterson, Watterson, We're, Dave Calhoun, they're, Rajesh Kumar Singh, David Shepardson, Valerie Insinna, Diane Craft Organizations: Boeing, REUTERS, Rights, Southwest Airlines, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Reuters, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Airbus, Thomson Locations: Renton , Washington, Dallas, Southwest, Washington

☆ Grimes resorted to tracking Elon Musk's private jets in attempt to serve him with custody papers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Grace Kay | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One process server used a jet-tracking to try to serve Elon Musk with the custody papers. AdvertisementAdvertisementA person hired by Grimes' legal team tracked Elon Musk's private jets for days in an attempt to serve him with custody papers, according to court documents obtained by Insider. In Grimes' latest filing, she documented numerous attempts to serve Musk with the custody papers. AdvertisementAdvertisementChristopher Melcher, a California family law attorney and partner at Walzer Melcher, told Insider that the use of jet tracking by the process server was unusual but not unreasonable. In her court papers, Grimes' team said a different process server who had handed her complaint to Musk's security at X was proof enough that she'd served the billionaire.

Persons: Grimes, Musk, —, Claire Boucher, LADD, Jeff Bezos, Taylor Swift, Christopher Melcher, Walzer Melcher, she'd Organizations: Elon Musk, Service, Elon, Musk, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, PIA Locations: California, Tesla's Texas, Boca Chica , Texas, Texas, San Francisco, Hawthorne , California

The nation’s top accident investigator said Thursday that a surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports this year is a "clear warning sign” that the aviation system is under stress. She said there has been a “lack of meaningful” training — and more reliance on computer-based instruction — by the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines. There have been many close calls in recent months, with the scariest occurring in February in Austin, Texas. An air traffic controller had cleared both planes to use the same runway. The NTSB is investigating about a half-dozen close calls this year, and the FAA says there were 23 of the most serious class of close calls in the last fiscal year, up from 16 the year before and 11 a decade ago.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Homendy Organizations: National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Fort Worth International, Newark Liberty International, Logan International, FedEx, Southwest Airlines, NTSB Locations: U.S, Dallas, New Jersey, Boston, Austin , Texas

☆ Here are the 'unwritten rules' of air travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A new report has an ominous warning for air travelers. "No matter what you do on a plane, you're probably annoying another passenger," it states. "When the unwritten rules of airlines etiquette are broached, it can lead to conflict," writes Lindsey Roeschke, a travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult who authored the report. Nearly one in five respondents said concerns about other passengers' behavior may deter them from taking a trip. Some 77% of people in the survey said they were "bothered" by it, with 51% saying they were "very bothered."

Persons: Lindsey Roeschke, Thomas Trutschel, I'm, —, Zs —, Roeschke, Gen Zs, Sandy Huffaker, Zs, hasn't, that's, Sara Nelson Organizations: Morning, United Arab Emirates, Passengers, CheapAir.com, Getty, Photothek, Corbis, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Association of Flight, NBC Locations: Asia, New York, United States of America, Berlin, Germany, United States

☆ US FAA to hold new round of runway-safety meetings after close calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A commercial aircraft approaches to land at San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California, U.S., January 6, 2022. The new meetings with the FAA, airlines, pilots, airport vehicle drivers and others will take place by Dec. 31. On Thursday, a U.S. Senate Commerce subcommittee will hold a hearing on recent incidents that raised questions about FAA air traffic control operations. The hearing will include FAA Air Traffic Organization head Tim Arel, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Rich Santa, Air Lines Pilots Association President Jason Ambrosi and former FAA administrator Randy Babbitt. The FAA said in September it was seeking recommendations on making it compulsory for airports to include cockpit-alerting technologies that could improve runway safety.

Persons: Mike Blake, Washington Reagan, Tim Arel, Jennifer Homendy, Rich, Jason Ambrosi, Randy Babbitt, Homendy, Bernadette Baum Organizations: San Diego International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, Fort, U.S, Senate, FAA Air Traffic Organization, Transportation, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Rich Santa, Air Lines Pilots, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, Cessna, FedEx, Southwest Boeing, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, U.S, Boston, Newark, Washington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin , Texas

☆ SpaceX finally says it's ready to launch Starship, again. The world's most powerful rocket could reach space for the first time in mid-November — if the FAA says yes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

SpaceX is gunning for a mid-November launch date of its massive Starship rocket. AdvertisementAdvertisementElon Musk 's company SpaceX announced on Friday it hopes to schedule a second test flight of its Starship Super Heavy rocket by mid-November. Musk's goal is to use the Starship's immense power, created by 33 engines able to generate about 500,000 pounds of thrust each, to reach the barren planet, Insider previously reported. Insider previously reported that the flame deflector was missing during the rocket's initial launch. Now, it's up to the FAA to complete the pending assessment of the Starship and issue the company's launch license.

Persons: gunning, —, Elon Musk Organizations: SpaceX, FAA, Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Fish, Independent

☆ Investing in Space: Regulatory hold up keeps Varda spacecraft stuck in orbit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. There's a small spacecraft zipping around Earth right now, but, unlike most satellites in orbit, it wants to come down. The launch went great, the spacecraft has been healthy, drugs were made, but the necessary license for capsule reentry has not been granted. That may make sense for launch but it's a bit more difficult for reentry," Asparouhov said. How the stratosphere reacts to a reentry capsule in September is very different than February, which is very different than June."

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, it's, Varda —, Delian Asparouhov, Varda's, Varda, Asparouhov, " Varda Organizations: Air Force's Utah, Federal Aviation, Air Force, FAA Locations: Varda, Australia, Utah

☆ Design revealed for space toilet with a view
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A restroom with an out-of-this-world view could be the surprise highlight for travelers adventuring with space tourism start-up Space Perspective. “Why not have a loo with a view?” Jane Poynter, Space Perspective“That’s why the toilet seat itself has a cushion, so you can sit there,” adds Poynter. And trips to the “edge of space” – like those proposed by Space Perspective and Zephalto – are different again. Space Perspective hopes to start transporting groups of up to eight passengers on flights by the end of 2024. Space Perspective intends to start tests fights imminently.

Persons: Jane Poynter, Poynter, ” Poynter, Dan, Isabella Trani, It’s, there’s, ” Jane Poynter, ”, Poynter –, Dennis Tito Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Michelin, Space, US Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, US Coast Guard, “ Locations: Florida, British

☆ FAA completes safety review of SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Tuesday it had completed the safety review of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license. The FAA is continuing to work on an environmental review and is consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on an updated Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act. The FAA and the USFWS must complete this consultation before the environmental review portion of the license evaluation is completed. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Skipper, David Shepardson Organizations: Boca Chica, Reuters, SpaceX, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Thomson Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S

☆ Elon Musk appears to have given up on trying to camouflage his private-jet travels with an FAA program used by Jeff Bezos and Taylor Swift
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Grace Kay | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Last year, Elon Musk stopped using an FAA program allowing jet owners to fly incognito, JetSpy said. REUTERS/Aly SongThe FAA launched the PIA program in 2019 and has issued 390 alternate ID codes since the program began, an FAA spokesperson told Insider. Musk used his first alternate ID through the PIA program about a month later. The incognito registration number also doesn't prevent Sweeney from tracking the private jet via ADS-B Exchange, a public flight-tracking database. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The PIA program limits the ability to identify an aircraft in real-time using inexpensive, commercially available receivers," an FAA spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: Elon Musk, JetSpy, Musk, —, hasn't, Jack Sweeney, Sweeney, he's, LADD, it's, Elon, Aly Song, Forbes, Jeff Bezos, Taylor Swift, Christian Renneissen, Collins Organizations: FAA, Service, Twitter, Federal Aviation Administration, PIA, University of Central Florida, Gulfstream, Elon Locations: California, Texas, SpaceX's, Brownsville, Hawthorne, Shanghai, Rome

☆ Google cofounder Sergey Brin's secretive 'air yachts' have been approved for flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sergey Brin's airship company LTA Research recently received flight clearance for its vessel Pathfinder 1. Brin launched the company in 2016 and plans to use his airships to deliver humanitarian aid. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementGoogle cofounder Sergey Brin's secretive airship is ready to take flight. LTA Research, Brin's company that aims to deliver humanitarian aid through "lighter than air" blimp-like vehicles, announced this week that its Pathfinder 1 vessel received its airworthiness certificate.

Persons: Sergey Brin's, Brin, —, Sergey, Alan Weston, Weston —, — Weston, Ruben Sprich, It's Organizations: LTA Research, Pathfinder, Service, LTA, Moffett, NASA, Google, Goodyear, IEEE Spectrum, Financial Times, Boeing, Bloomberg, Weston, FAA Locations: airspaces, Bay, Palo, Akron , Ohio

☆ The FAA Finally Gets Permanent Leadership
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Andrew Tangel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mike Whitaker sailed through a confirmation hearing earlier this month, a contrast to the experience of President Biden’s previous nominee. Photo: Michael Reynolds/EPA/ShutterstockThe U.S. Senate confirmed President Biden’s pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday, giving the air-safety regulator its first permanent leader in more than 18 months. Mike Whitaker , who previously served as deputy FAA administrator during the Obama administration, will confront a slew of problems—from short-staffed air-traffic control to outdated technology and heightened safety worries after a spate of close calls at U.S. airports earlier this year.

Persons: Mike Whitaker, Biden’s, Michael Reynolds, Obama Organizations: U.S . Senate, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S

☆ Rocket Lab expects to resume Electron launches before year-end after September failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Electron rocket launches the Baby Come Back mission from New Zealand on July 17, 2023. Rocket Lab expects to resume launches of its Electron vehicle before the end of the year, the company announced Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration, which is overseeing Rocket Lab's failure investigation, authorized the company to resume Electron launches from its facility in New Zealand. Rocket Lab stock rose about 5% in after-hours trading from its close at $4.09 a share. Rocket Lab is scheduled to report third-quarter results after markets close Nov. 8.

Persons: Peter Beck Organizations: Rocket, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, SpaceX, CNBC Locations: New Zealand

☆ FedEx says U.S. Express service disrupted, blames FAA IT outage overnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Oct 25 (Reuters) - FedEx Corp (FDX.N) on Wednesday said its U.S. Express deliveries could be delayed due to an overnight Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information technology system outage. FedEx's signature Express service uses planes to provide overnight deliveries. The company said shipments delayed due to the outage are not eligible for a refund or credit. "Potential delays are possible for package deliveries across the U.S. with a delivery commitment of October 25, 2023," FedEx said in a service alert. In an email to Reuters, FedEx said the IT outage at its Memphis, Tennessee, air hub was an "FAA issue."

Persons: Bing Guan, Lisa Baertlein, David Shepardson, Alexander Smith Organizations: FedEx, REUTERS, FedEx Corp, U.S ., Federal Aviation Administration, Reuters, FAA, United Parcel Service, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Carson , California, U.S, Memphis , Tennessee, Louisville , Kentucky, Los Angeles, Washington

☆ Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson said he took 'magic mushrooms' 48 hours before allegedly trying to shut off plane's engines, court documents say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe Pete Muntean Cheri Mossburg Josh Campbell | Elizabeth Wolfe | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Emerson told investigators he “had consumed ‘magic mushrooms’ approximately 48 hours prior to the incident on the plane,” an affidavit filed by prosecutors states. Off-duty pilot Joseph D. Emerson was accused of trying to shut off a plane's engines mid-flight. “The officer and Emerson talked about the use of psychedelic mushrooms and Emerson said it was his first-time taking mushrooms,” the affidavit says. Authorities do not believe the incident was an act of terrorism or ideologically motivated violence, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN. ‘It was very shocking,’ suspect’s neighbor saysEmerson’s neighbor, Ed Yee, told CNN it was “very shocking” to hear of the suspect’s alleged actions.

Persons: Joseph D, Emerson, “, “ Emerson, ” Emerson, It’s, Matt Johnson, Johns Hopkins, Johnson, Derealization, Joseph Emerson, “ I’m, ”, Jenna Plank, Emerson “, LiveATC.net, ‘, ’, Aubrey Gavello, ” Gavello, “ Laura Coates, Alex Wood, Wood, ” Wood, Ed Yee, ” Yee Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Sunday, US, Office, District of Oregon, Facebook, Portland police, Investigators, Everett , Washington , Alaska Airlines, Horizon, Embraer, Portland International Airport, FBI Locations: Washington, San Francisco, Oregon, Portland , Oregon, Port, Portland, Multnomah, Everett , Washington , Alaska

☆ Why an off-duty pilot who is accused of trying to turn a plane's engines off mid-flight was allowed to sit in the cockpit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

An off-duty pilot was charged with trying to turn off a plane's engines while riding in the cockpit. The pilot was sitting in the "jump seat" which gave him easy access to the cockpit's operations. The 'jump seat'Emerson was riding in the plane's cockpit "jump seat" when he began acting strangely, according to federal court documents. "As far as we know, this pilot was perfectly legal and perfectly certified to be riding in the jump seat," Brickhouse said of Emerson. According to a probable cause statement, Emerson told police he had taken the psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he tried to stop the engines.

Persons: —, Joseph Emerson, Emerson, Anthony Brickhouse, Brickhouse, LM Otero, Emerson's, Robert Nickelsberg, Ross Aimer Organizations: Service, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Emerson, Associated Press, AP, Airlines, Aviation Administration, FAA, New York Times, Air Lines, St Paul International Airport, Multnomah County Circuit, Industry Locations: Everett , Washington, San Francisco , California, Dallas Fort Worth, Grapevine , Texas, Emerson's, Minneapolis, Minneapolis , Minnesota, Multnomah County

HOUSTON (AP) — Flights were delayed and canceled Wednesday evening at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport as crews cleaned up after two private jets clipped wings when they were moving on the airfield, officials said. No injuries were reported and the city fire department said there was no risk of fire after the collision around 3:30 p.m. at the airport southeast of downtown. “Due to the debris caused by the accident, the airfield is shut down until further notice,” Hobby Airport said on X. In an update just after 5 p.m., the airport said it diverted 11 flights and canceled four, ABC 13 reported. The money will go toward new safety measures, including automation to alert air traffic controllers about planes that are heading for the wrong runway.

Persons: Houston's William P, Hawker H25B, Biden Organizations: HOUSTON, —, Hobby Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna, FAA, ” Hobby, ABC Locations: Houston's, downtown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted 98-0 to approve President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday, ending a span of nearly 19 months in which the agency was without a Senate-confirmed chief. Michael Whitaker is a former deputy FAA administrator and most recently served as chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate that is developing an air taxi. Whitaker's confirmation seemed assured last week, when members of the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed him unanimously. The nomination of Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington languished for months, then failed to get out of the Commerce Committee because of opposition from Republicans and independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. The FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 2022, when Stephen Dickson stepped down midway through his five-year term.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Michael Whitaker, Whitaker, Whitaker's, Maria Cantwell, Phil Washington, Stephen Dickson Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Federal Aviation Administration, Hyundai, Senate, Denver International, FAA Locations: Arizona

What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats. The Federal Aviation Administration says its approved medical examiners are trained to gauge a pilot's mental health. The Horizon close call could result in the re-examination of the practice of letting off-duty pilots or other airline employees sit in the cockpit jump seat. Security experts say it would be difficult if not impossible to stop every determined criminal or terrorist who targets aviation. The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was arrested Sunday joined Horizon as a first officer or co-pilot in 2001.

Persons: We’re, ”, Jon Loffi, It's, Joseph David Emerson, Emerson, Jeffrey Price, “, Ross Aimer, ” Price, ” Loffi, Loffi, Pete Buttigieg, Karen Yee, ” Allen Scott, ___ Claire Rush Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Oklahoma State University, FAA, FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Oklahoma State, FedEx, Pacific Southwest Airlines, Security, Transportation Security Administration, Sunday, Virgin America, Mercury, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: U.S, Oklahoma, French, California, Alaska, Multnomah County , Oregon, Portland, Pleasant Hill , California, San Francisco, Jose, Portland , Oregon

CNN —An off-duty pilot who was riding in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight en route to San Francisco on Sunday is facing dozens of attempted murder charges after he tried to shut down the plane’s engines mid-flight, authorities say. “The fire suppression system consists of a T-handle for each engine; when pulled, a valve in the wing closes to shut off fuel to the engine,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement to CNN. The flight crew detained the suspect and the plane was diverted to Portland International Airport, the Port of Portland said in a statement. After Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America in 2016, Emerson became a first officer with Alaska and worked about three more years to become a pilot for the airline, according to the airline statement. “Throughout his career, Emerson completed his mandated FAA medical certifications in accordance with regulatory requirements, and at no point were his certifications denied, suspended or revoked,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

Persons: Joseph D, Emerson, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Joseph Emerson, “, Mike Karn, LiveATC.net, ”, Aubrey Gavello, ” Gavello, Laura Coates, Alex Wood, Wood, ” Wood, Gavello, “ I’m, Ed Yee, ” Yee Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Sunday, Port, Portland police, Horizon, Airlines, Embraer, American Airlines, Portland International Airport, FBI, Detention, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Hamas, Passengers, Alaska, Alaskan Airlines, Alaska Air Group, Virgin America, Airbus, Boeing, Canadair Regional Jet, Havilland Locations: San Francisco, Portland , Oregon, Portland, Oregon, Everett , Washington, Sunday, Port, Multnomah, Israel, Alaska

☆ Off-duty pilot accused of trying to disable jetliner faces first court hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An Alaska Airlines plane takes off from the airport in Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 10, 2023. Alaska Airlines (ALK.N) Flight 2059 was operated by Alaska Air Group's regional subsidiary Horizon Air, the carrier said. An FAA pilot database showed Emerson listed as a certified pilot who received a medical clearance last month. Aviators are expected to self-report any mental health conditions, two U.S. pilots told Reuters. The FAA told airlines in a separate notice on Monday the incident "is not connected in any way, shape or form to current world events" but said it is "always good practice to maintain vigilance."

Persons: Todd Korol, Joseph David Emerson, Emerson, Adam Silverthorne, David Shepardson, Allison Lampert, Steve Gorman, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis, Jamie Freed Organizations: Alaska Airlines, REUTERS, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Alaska Air Group's, Horizon Air, U.S, Reuters, Embraer, Aviators, The Air Line Pilots Association, NRI Flying Club, NRI, FBI, Thomson Locations: Alaska, Calgary , Alberta, Canada, Pacific Northwest, Portland , Oregon, Portland, Everett , Washington, San Francisco, Multnomah County, North America, California

Search resuls for: "FAA"

25 mentions found