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Five arrested in suspected plot near RAF Fairford

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André Orban
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B52 at RAF base Fairford © http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/newsphoto.aspx?newsphotoid=2146 www.defenselink.mil, Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2084616

British counter-terrorism police are investigating an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after five men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, 27 September. The air base is used by the US Air Force. 

Police received a call at about 00:45 reporting three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be travelling towards the base. Armed officers arrested the men in the nearby Whelford area, initially on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

Army bomb disposal specialists are examining the vehicles. Police established a 400-metre cordon and evacuated around 85 nearby households as a precaution. All five men remained in custody when counter-terrorism police issued their afternoon update.

RAF Fairford has been used by US bombers for operations against Iran. That makes the base’s role relevant context, but investigators have not publicly established who was behind the suspected plot or whether it was connected to Iran. Police have also not confirmed that explosives were found or that an attack took place.

Sources: Metropolitan Police,

Four killed in helicopter crash near Montreal

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André Orban
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Robinson R44 helicopter (for illustration only)

Four people died when a helicopter crashed and caught fire in a field near Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville, about 50 kilometres south-east of Montreal, on Saturday, 26 September. Quebec provincial police said the crash was reported shortly after 14:30 local time. All four occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. 

The helicopter came down near Rang des Écossais, close to Highway 10. Police said preliminary information suggested it had encountered difficulties shortly after taking off and crashed near its departure point. The cause has yet to be established.

Police believe it was a private aircraft. The victims’ identities and the helicopter’s type had not been released in the initial reports. The Aviation Safety Network lists the helicopter as a Robinson R44 Raven I registered C-GARB.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent investigators to the site. Quebec police are also investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Source: toronto.citynews.ca

Nor’easter disrupts hundreds of US flights

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André Orban
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A powerful nor’easter disrupted air travel across the northeastern United States on Saturday, 26 September. By 13:07 Eastern Time, around 425 flights involving US airports had been cancelled and 1,338 delayed, according to FlightAware figures reported by Reuters. Those figures cover US airports nationwide, rather than cancellations solely at airports in the storm’s path.

The storm brought strong winds and heavy rain along the East Coast. The US National Weather Service also warned of coastal flooding, hazardous surf and dangerous rip currents as conditions continued through the weekend.

Power cuts affected more than 119,000 homes and businesses at one point on Saturday, according to the figures cited by Reuters. More than 88,000 remained without power across New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania at 13:07 Eastern Time.

New York and New Jersey had declared states of emergency in areas expected to be hardest hit. Travellers with flights to, from or through the northeastern US should check their airline’s latest flight status, as disruption figures may change while the storm continues.

Two escape after microlight crashes into Lake Bütgenbach, East Belgium

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André Orban
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A microlight aircraft crashed into Lake Bütgenbach in eastern Belgium shortly before 19:00 on Friday, 25 September. Both occupants escaped from the enclosed cabin before the aircraft sank. The cause of the crash remains unknown. 

The 20-year-old passenger reached a buoy, while a fisherman on the lake rescued the 71-year-old pilot. Emergency services took both by helicopter to a hospital in Liège. The passenger was discharged on Friday evening, and the pilot was expected to leave hospital on Saturday.

The aircraft had taken off from an airfield in nearby Büllingen. Witnesses reported seeing it fly low over the lake before it turned left and struck the water between Berger Strand and the Worriken leisure park.

The wreckage sank to the bottom of the lake. Its recovery is planned for next week.

Source: GrenzEcho

 

Three more Belgian F-35s arrive at Florennes

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André Orban
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Belgium ordered a first batch of 34 F-35As in 2018 to replace its fleet of 54 F-16s. © Benoit Denet

Three Belgian F-35A fighter jets landed at Florennes Air Base on Friday afternoon, 25 September, bringing the number stationed there to seven. The aircraft arrived shortly after 14:30 following a flight from the Azores, supported by two US Air Force KC-135 refuelling aircraft.

The jets had left Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on Tuesday, together with the first three F-35A jets for the Finnish Air Force. They join four F-35As delivered to Florennes in October 2025, where Belgium’s 1st Squadron is introducing the aircraft into service.

Eight other Belgian F-35As are stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for pilot training. Another aircraft, FL014, remains in the United States and is expected to fly to Florennes when refuelling support is available.

The next four Belgian F-35As are expected in the first half of 2027 and are intended for Kleine-Brogel Air Base. Belgium has ordered 34 aircraft and is considering another 11, which would bring its fleet to 45 if it places the additional order.

Source: Gérard Gaudin in L’Avenir

Fewer trains to serve Brussels Airport during October tunnel works

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André Orban
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Rail services to Brussels Airport-Zaventem will be reduced every day from 3 to 18 October 2026 while infrastructure manager Infrabel renovates the southern section of the tunnel serving the station. Trains will be able to enter the airport station only from the north, reducing the number of services that can stop there. 

On weekdays, the Brussels Airport–Namur–Dinant intercity service will run only between Brussels-Luxembourg and Dinant. The Antwerp–Hasselt/Tongeren service will be split, leaving no direct airport connection from stations between Leuven and Hasselt/Tongeren. SNCB advises affected passengers to travel via Brussels-North.

The Knokke–Brussels–Liège intercity and Brussels–Rotterdam EuroCity trains will not stop at the airport during the works. The Knokke service will instead stop at Zaventem station. Other airport trains will continue, although some departure times will change and journeys may take longer.

Passengers with a valid train ticket can use De Lijn buses R26 or 82 between Zaventem station and the airport. SNCB puts the bus journey at about six minutes and advises travellers to include buses when searching for alternatives in its journey planner.

Additional timetable changes will apply on the weekends of 3–4, 10–11 and 17–18 October. Passengers catching a flight should check their specific journey before departure and allow extra time for transfers.

Source: SNCB

Bangkok airports stay open as flooding prompts Thai Airways ticket waiver

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André Orban
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Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports remained open on Saturday, 26 September, despite severe flooding across the capital and surrounding areas. Some flights were delayed, and water reached part of a taxiway at Don Mueang, but the Transport Ministry said aircraft could continue taking off and landing. 

Road travel to both airports has been disrupted. Thailand’s tourism authority advised passengers to check their flight status and allow extra time. It said the main routes to Suvarnabhumi remained open but recommended avoiding the flooded Lat Krabang area.

Thai Airways has offered passengers affected by the flooding one date change without a change fee for tickets departing Bangkok between Saturday, 26 September, and Tuesday, 29 September. The new flight must follow the same route and travel class, and the journey must be completed by Tuesday, according to the airline’s stated conditions. Passengers whose flight is cancelled may request a full refund.

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has set up an emergency centre to coordinate road, rail, water and air transport responses as heavy rain continues. For air travellers, the immediate difficulty may be reaching the airport even when their flight remains scheduled.

Sources: nationthailand.com, THAILAND.GO.TH

Lufthansa 747 bound for Toronto diverts to Manchester after emergency declaration

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André Orban
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Lufthansa flight LH470 from Frankfurt to Toronto diverted to Manchester on Saturday, 26 September, after the crew selected the emergency transponder code 7700 while over the United Kingdom. The Boeing 747-400, registered D-ABVY, landed safely at Manchester at approximately 15:57 local time. 

Emergency vehicles attended the aircraft after landing. AIRLIVE reported that the jet stopped on a taxiway for checks, including monitoring of its brakes following a landing with fuel intended for the transatlantic flight.

The reason for the emergency declaration has not been confirmed. Selecting code 7700 signals a general emergency; it does not, by itself, identify a technical fault or medical problem. AIRLIVE reported an initial plan for the aircraft to continue to Toronto, but its subsequent departure has not been verified. Meanwhile, the return flight from Toronto to Frankfurt LH471 has been cancelled.

Contacted by Aviation24.be, Lufthansa Group spokesperson Anne Hahn provided the following statement:

“Lufthansa Flight LH470 from Frankfurt to Toronto on September 26, with 371 passengers on board, turned back over Scotland for safety reasons. The reason was smell in the cabin. An emergency landing was declared to secure priority landing rights and the aircraft landed safely in Manchester. Since the plane landed with overweight due to fuel, it was inspected by the fire department as a precaution. The passengers were then able to exit the plane normally. The Boeing 747-400 aircraft is currently being inspected.

The passengers were accommodated in hotels for the night. A Lufthansa replacement flight from Manchester to Toronto departed on Sunday, September 27, at 16:40 UTC (17:40 BST) and landed in Toronto at 23:52 UTC (19:52 local time).

We apologise to our guests for this situation and the disruption to their travel plans. The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority at all times.”

The replacement Boeing 747-400 aircraft carried registration D-ABVW.

Source: airlive.net

Etna ash grounds Brussels Airlines flight, stranding 140 passengers in Sicily

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André Orban
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Around 140 Brussels Airlines passengers have been left in Sicily after volcanic ash from Mount Etna forced the cancellation of their Saturday evening flight from Catania to Brussels Airport. The airline said the service was due to arrive in Brussels at 21:15 on 26 September.

The flight SN3131 from Brussels (Airbus A319 registered OO-SSU) was diverted to Palermo after Catania Airport suspended arrivals and departures until at least 12:00 on Sunday, 27 September, its operator said. The restrictions follow ash emissions from Etna, although the reopening time may change as conditions are reassessed.

Brussels Airlines spokesperson Joëlle Neeb said the stranded passengers could return on Sunday or Monday. The airline has cancelled its planned Sunday departure from Catania, while another service scheduled to arrive in Brussels on Sunday is being routed via Palermo.

TUI has also diverted a Catania service to Palermo. Passengers on flights redirected to the western Sicilian airport are being transferred by bus, adding a lengthy ground journey to the disruption.

Source: ansa.it

Delta adds Detroit–Athens and Boston–Venice flights for summer 2027

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André Orban
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Delta Air Lines will launch two seasonal routes to Europe in 2027: Detroit–Athens and Boston–Venice. They join the airline’s previously announced Austin–Paris service, which is due to begin in March.

Boston–Venice will operate four times a week from 7 May to 29 October using an Airbus A330-300. Venice will become Delta’s third Italian destination from Boston, alongside Rome and Milan; the Boston–Milan service will increase to daily flights in 2027.

Detroit–Athens will operate three times a week from 8 June to 28 October on an Airbus A330-200. It will be the first non-stop link between the two cities and give passengers connections through Detroit to more than 40 US destinations, according to Delta.

The already announced Austin–Paris Charles de Gaulle route is scheduled to start on 27 March 2027. It will operate daily during the summer season with an Airbus A330-900neo.

Delta also plans to start several existing European routes earlier in spring 2027, including services to Rome from Minneapolis–St Paul and Detroit. Detroit–Rome and New York JFK–Copenhagen will operate daily when they resume, while Cincinnati–Paris will continue three times weekly from January through March.

SAS flight diverts to Billund after smoke-like smell in cabin

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André Orban
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An SAS Airbus A320neo, registered EI-SCE, operating flight SK528 from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda, made a precautionary landing at Billund Airport on Friday evening, 25 September, after a smell resembling smoke was detected in the cabin. The aircraft landed normally, according to SAS and local police.

Emergency services were called to the airport at 20:57 under a “Standby 2” alert. Police said no visible smoke had been observed on board. Passengers left the aircraft after landing, and firefighters entered to inspect it.

SAS said diverting was standard procedure in the circumstances. The airline arranged for passengers to travel onwards by bus to Copenhagen late on Friday; their subsequent travel arrangements were not yet clear.

The cause of the smell remains under investigation.

Source: netavisengrindsted.dk

Death toll rises to 17 in DR Congo aircraft crash

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André Orban
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Let L-410 © Public Domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2317829. The Tracep Congo Aviation plane that crashed at Kenge was similar to this one.

Seventeen people died when a small aircraft crashed at Kenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, 25 September, according to the deputy governor of Kwango province. The revised toll comprises 16 adults and a baby; earlier reports, including the account supplied, gave a lower figure.

The aircraft was a Let L-410 operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, registered 9S-GUC, according to a Congolese transport ministry adviser cited by the national news agency. It was travelling from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it crashed at Kenge.

Among those killed were Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalayi Tiende, president of the High Military Court, and Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, the armed forces’ auditor general. Both were returning from an official mission in Kikwit, the Congolese military said.

Local officials reported that the aircraft encountered a problem and that its crew appeared to be looking for a place to land. The cause has not been established. Investigators were sent to Kenge to examine the wreckage.

Sources: ACP, Radio Okapi

Air Canada targets Vietnam flights in 2027 after air agreement expands

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André Orban
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0

Air Canada plans to seek approval for scheduled flights to Ho Chi Minh City in 2027 following an expansion of the air transport agreement between Canada and Vietnam. The airline has not yet announced a Canadian departure airport, schedule or launch date.

The revised agreement is intended to create more opportunities for passenger and cargo services between the two countries. Air Canada said it will work with the relevant authorities to complete the approvals and procedures needed to operate in Vietnam.

The announcement followed talks between Canadian and Vietnamese representatives in Ottawa during a state visit by Vietnam’s General Secretary and President Tô Lâm. Air Canada described Vietnam as an important market in Canada’s wider relationship with Southeast Asia.

The proposed service remains subject to government approval. No flights have been put on sale.

Airbus identifies coating defect affecting A321neo fuselages

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André Orban
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Airbus has identified a quality defect in the coating applied to fuselage stringers on some A321neo aircraft. The manufacturer says it has contained the source of the problem, has a remedy available and considers the aircraft safe to continue operating.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that around 500 aircraft are affected, roughly half already in service and half still in production. The same source said the longer-range A321XLR is unaffected. Airbus has not publicly confirmed those figures.

The issue was found while parts were undergoing rework on the production line. According to the Reuters source, Airbus has told customers that no immediate repair is required, and deliveries are continuing without the additional work being completed beforehand.

The defect comes as Airbus works to raise narrow-body production from around 60 to 75 aircraft a month. It follows a separate A321neo fuselage-panel quality issue reported in December 2025, which also carried no stated safety risk but contributed to delivery delays.

Jet2 flight evacuated at Tenerife South after reported bomb threat

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André Orban
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Passengers and crew were evacuated from a Jet2 aircraft at Tenerife South Airport on Friday, 25 September, after a passenger reportedly made a bomb threat. Spain’s Civil Guard carried out a precautionary security check of the aircraft and baggage.

The aircraft was operating flight LS1536 to London Stansted, scheduled to depart at 11:20 local time. Flight information lists the aircraft type as a Boeing 737-800 with registration G-JZBM.

Passengers were subsequently allowed to reboard, and the flight departed at approximately 13:45, around two and a half hours late. Jet2 confirmed that passengers had been asked to leave the aircraft following an incident involving someone on board and said it had worked with the authorities before the flight continued.

No explosive device has been reported as found. Authorities have not released further details about the passenger or announced whether any action will be taken.

Source: canarianweekly.com

Embraer hands over Uzbekistan’s first C-390 transport aircraft

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André Orban
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Embraer has delivered the first C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft to the Uzbekistan Air Force. The handover took place on 25 September at the manufacturer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, making Uzbekistan the first C-390 customer in Central Asia to receive an aircraft.

The contract, signed in late 2024, also covers training, support and spare parts. Embraer did not disclose the number of aircraft ordered or when the first C-390 will arrive in Uzbekistan.

The C-390 is designed for missions including cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and humanitarian operations. Embraer lists a maximum payload of 26 tonnes and a cruising speed of 470 knots. It can also be equipped for air-to-air refuelling.

Uzbekistan plans to use the aircraft to modernise its military airlift capabilities. The handover in Brazil marks the first delivery under the agreement; the air force has yet to announce when the type will enter operational service.

Heart Aerospace unveils 36-seat ES-36 as JSX commits to 50 aircraft

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André Orban
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Heart Aerospace has unveiled the ES-36, a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft that replaces its earlier ES-30 design. US carrier JSX has signed a deposit-backed purchase agreement for 50 aircraft, with rights to buy another 50. The agreement converts a letter of intent signed in 2023.

The ES-36 adds six seats compared with the ES-30 while retaining the earlier design’s maximum take-off weight and battery capacity. Heart has also changed the propulsion layout from four nacelles to two, each with an electric motor driving a propeller.

Heart says the aircraft is designed to fly up to 200 kilometres on battery power alone, plus reserves. For longer flights, two onboard turbine-powered generators would supply electricity to extend its range to 1,200 kilometres, plus reserves. These are design targets, rather than demonstrated performance figures.

JSX intends to use the aircraft to expand services from smaller airports and will work with Heart on the cabin, charging, turnaround procedures and route planning. Heart says the ES-36’s shorter wingspan and planned short-field performance should make it suitable for airports with limited space.

Heart is building its first pre-production ES-36 in Los Angeles. It is targeting a first flight in the second half of 2028 and entry into service in 2031, subject to FAA certification.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol launches five tenders for airport renewal

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André Orban
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Schiphol has launched five tenders for long-term construction and maintenance partners as it prepares to renew and modernise its infrastructure. The airport plans to invest €10 billion in renewal and quality improvements between 2025 and 2035, including work to address overdue maintenance.

The tenders cover terminals, technical installations, aircraft aprons and operational buildings. Work will include passenger boarding bridges, gate power and pre-conditioned air systems, charging facilities for electric equipment, climate control and fire stations.

Many of Schiphol’s existing construction and maintenance contracts expire in 2028. The new framework agreements are due to begin that year and run for nine years, giving the airport and its partners a longer period to plan and deliver the work.

Schiphol says it will take a stronger role in managing its infrastructure, including maintenance planning and asset performance, while appointed contractors carry out specialist construction and technical work.

Germany takes delivery of its first F-35A fighter

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André Orban
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A German F-35 Fighter Aircraft is on display. Germany plans to acquire 35 F-35A aircraft for 10 billion euros, with deliveries due to be completed by 2029. The aircraft will replace Germany’s Tornado fleet. Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin handed over Germany’s first F-35A fighter jet in Fort Worth, Texas, on 19 September 2026. The handover marks the start of deliveries under Germany’s order for 35 aircraft; it does not mean the jet has arrived in Germany.

The F-35As are intended to replace the German Air Force’s ageing Tornado aircraft, including in Germany’s contribution to NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements. Deliveries of the fleet are planned to be completed by 2029.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, sensors and ability to share information with other forces. NATO Allied Air Command also said the acquisition would strengthen joint training and operations as more member countries introduce the F-35.

Germany’s order is valued at approximately €10 billion. German industry, including Rheinmetall, is involved in the wider F-35 production programme.

RECARO doubles aircraft seat production capacity in Poland

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André Orban
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0

RECARO Aircraft Seating has opened an expanded production and office facility in Swiebodzin, Poland, increasing the site’s annual capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 passenger seats. The investment, described by the company as a double-digit million-euro sum, has more than doubled the facility’s total area to over 22,000 square metres.

The expansion adds about 8,600 square metres for production, logistics and RECARO’s cut2dress cover operations. Production lines have increased from four to eight, with a new layout designed to improve material flow and separate assembly from logistics. Automated storage and picking systems are planned by the end of 2027.

The site also gains around 3,000 square metres of office space, bringing its total office area to almost 5,000 square metres. RECARO plans to recruit more than 200 employees in Swiebodzin over the next five years.

The Polish facility specialises in Economy Class seats, producing RECARO’s R1, R2 and R3 platforms. According to the company, it has manufactured nearly 660,000 passenger seats to date.

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