Episodes

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Ian is joined by aviation journalist Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren to discuss a trio of recently released preliminary accident reports. * UPS flight 2976 — MD-11F crash on take off in Louisville * Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding MD-11s * Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding DC-10s * United Airlines flight 1093 — impact with object at 36,000 feet * airACT 747-400F runway excursion in Hong Kong Plus, Jason reports in from Seoul, South Korea where ...

On this episode of AvTalk, the Dubai Airshow wraps up with a long list of major orders and other announcements. The FAA cancels its cancellation order and air traffic in the US returns to pre-government shutdown levels. Plus, anti-GPS jamming technology is coming from Fokker Services in early 2026. We’re also joined by The Up Front editor-in-chief and Airbus A340-600 aficionado/historian John Walton for an in depth discussion on the development and staying power of Airbus’ longest airplane. AvT...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, US airspace held together—barely—with hastily announced cuts to flights at major airports going into effect and air traffic controller staffing triggers peaking on Sunday. We also discuss comments from President Trump (09:23-15:28) on controller staffing during the shutdown and what effect that sentiment might have on controllers in the future. Updates on the crash of UPS 2976, including the latest updates from the NSTB and the FAA’s decision to ground the MD-1...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss what we know so far about the crash of UPS Airlines flight 2976 in Louisville. To manage some of the burden on air traffic controllers during the government shutdown, the US is telling airlines to cancel up to 10% of their flights in major markets. Embraer says it is working on new ideas, but who knows which ones will come to market? And a bill working its way through the legislature in Brazil reads like a list of consumer complaints against airlines....

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we chat with Katherine Moloney, a pilot and founder of Elevate(her) Aviation, an organization dedicated to raising the percentage of women in aviation careers around the world. Elevate(her)’s research has led to some obvious immediate changes that would be beneficial to the industry overall and others that offer a more sustainable path to growing the number of women joining—and staying—in aviation. Also in this week’s episode, * Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Ai...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss two statistically improbable events — an airACT 747 veered off the runway and struck a vehicle before ending up in the sea and a United Airlines 737-8 MAX struck something at 36,000 feet. We walk through the most likely scenario at this point. Lack of communication (literally) leads to a diversion in Omaha, the NTSB releases its preliminary report on the runway overrun in Roanoke, Boeing is moving up to production of 42 737s per month, and the US Sen...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Russian president Vladimir Putin admits Russian air defenses damaged Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 before it crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. American Airlines unveils its centennial logo ahead of its 100th anniversary next year. More than half of Finnair’s A321 fleet is currently undergoing inspections after the seat covers were washed with water. And there’s money behind a bid to revive Pan Am, with a plan for a hub in Miami. Helpful links for this week’s ...

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss last week’s collision between two Endeavor Air CRJ-900s at La Guardia and what new video tells us about how it happened. Similar to last time the US federal government shut down, focus is on the actions of air traffic controllers. While ATC work slowdowns are widely credited with ending the previous shutdown, there’s reason to believe the situation is different this time around. An Air India 787’s ram air turbine deployed on approach to Birmingham, even th...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we chat with Eliska Hill, Senior Vice President of Cargo for the UK and the rest of the world at Air Partner about the state of the cargo market, where recovery has come post-COVID, and how companies with something to ship are beginning to expect a different level of service. In the Nordics, business is not booming with airlines PLAY and BRA’s Airbus division ending flights and the Greenland airports authority introduces restrictions that cripple Air Greenland’...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a Nouvelair flight almost lands on top of an easyJet A320 in Nice. In Aalborg, Copenhagen, and Oslo, reported drone sightings put a halt to flights. And we spend a lot of time in the low cost segment of the industry with fresh bad news for Spirit Airlines, Frontier’s CEO hitting back at United’s CEO and Ryanair’s move to all-digital boarding passes. Plus, Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren and Jason are back from their schnitzel-stop tour of European low-cost carriers to fil...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a Spirit Airlines crew is slow to respond to a New York Center controller while in the same airspace as Air Force One, leading to some choice words from the controller. We break down what happened over Long Island. Spirit Airlines tells its pilots union that it needs to find $100 million in savings by October 1 or risk seeking bankruptcy court invalidation of their contract. Meanwhile, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says United isn’t interested in Spirit’s ass...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we’re joined by The Up Front editor-in-chief John Walton to discuss the peculiar nature of the Premium Economy cabin on Air Côte d’Ivoire’s new A330neo and the wider issues with cabin certification across the industry. Russian drones enter Polish airspace, triggering a response from NATO and shifting flights further from the border. A WestJet 737 suffers a hard landing at SXM. The NTSB releases its preliminary report on the Delta flight 56 turbulence incident. ...

On this week’s AvTalk, we discuss European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s flight to Plovdiv—from initial breathless reports talking of circling for hours, using paper maps to land and “praying for landing” to what the data actually tells us. Spirit Airlines files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a year. Ryanair and the Spanish airports operator AENA are fighting, with Ryanair threatening to withdraw 1 million seats from Spain in the upcoming win...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Nuuk, Greenland cancels international flights after security screeners need additional training. Korean Air signals its intent to purchase more than 100 Boeing aircraft, but most of the proposed order is for aircraft not yet certified. Reports are swirling that China is looking to make a massive order for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Frontier is taking steps to hasten Spirit’s demise. And authorities in Madagascar expand their investigation into five 777s il...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, United and Delta Air Lines face lawsuits for charging extra for window seats without a window. Serbian investigators reveal the extent of damages to a Marathon Airlines E195 during takeoff in Belgrade and the chain of errors leading up to the flight. A Finnair ATR (operated by NORRA) has an unfortunate incident with a ground power unit. Air Canada’s flight attendants return to work and a tentative agreement could be the first domino to fall in how flight attenda...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Spirit Airlines’ second quarter earnings report raises “ongoing concern” concerns and paints a bleak portrait of the airline’s future. A French notification about a Swiss investigation tips us off to a close call by an Aegean A320neo from last November. Brazilian investigators release their final report on the collision between a GOL 737 MAX and a truck on the runway and reveal the incredible sequence of events the prevented the accident from being much, much w...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, what we learned from days two and three of the NTSB’s hearings on the midair collision at DCA. A Delta A330neo experiences severe turbulence, Boeing adds a new 777-9 to 777X test fleet, and Alaska Airlines unveils a new livery for its 787s. Plus, ANA retires the R2-D2 livery 787, the FAA releases proposed rules for beyond line of sight UAS operations, and Madagascar arrests two people over the transfer of a quintet of 777s to Iran. Helpful links for this week’s...

On this episode of AvTalk, what we learned from the first of three days of investigative hearings by the NTSB into January’s crash at DCA. Russian investigators peel the layers of problems that led to the crash of a Gazpromavia SuperJet. An American Airlines 737 suffers a landing gear problem and fire in Denver. In our strange new series there’s more animal-related aviation news this week and in honor of our 330th episode, Ian gives Jason a pop quiz on the Airbus A330. Helpful links for this w...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Ian returns from Europe and Jason returns from sitting and staring at the wall for a brand new episode. We discuss the conversation around the Air India flight 171 preliminary report, a close call in Mexico City, and another in Minot, North Dakota. Plus, things are looking up for airlines awaiting Boeing 737 MAX deliveries, the NTSB issues a final report that raises questions about moose meat and the Ship to Theseus, and someone smuggles a turtle onto a flight....

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Indian investigators narrow the focus of their investigation on the crashed 787’s fuel cut off switches. Lufthansa has quite the week with a damaged A340 in need of an unpressurized transatlantic ferry flight, a diverted 747 in South America, and a loose cat locked in a lavatory. A young pilot flies to Antarctica without authorization, raising the ire of the Chilean government. A man is ingested by a Volotea A319 engine in Milan and the NTSB releases its prelimi...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Indian investigators have downloaded the data from AI171’s recorders. Chinese authorities decline to release a report on China Southern flight 5735, citing threats to “national security and social stability.” A report on the Heathrow power station fire makes clear that it should have never happened. And a US Air Force base is being overrun by squirrels… again. Helpful links for this week’s episode * China Eastern Airlines flight 5735 data and report announceme...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss all that has happened in Middle East airspace over the past week—from the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and elaborate diversion flights to the Iranian retaliation against US bases in Qatar and the subsequent airspace restrictions to the fragile cease fire and the gradual opening of airways. We also ponder why nearly two weeks after the crash of Air India flight 171, investigators have still not reviewed the data from the flight data recorde...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss the crash of Air India flight 171 shortly after take off from Ahmedabad last week. What we know, what we don’t know, and possible avenues of investigation. We also examine the situation in the Middle East to see what effects current hostilities between Iran and Israel are having on commercial aviation. And we dig into the order numbers from this week’s Paris Air Show. Helpful links for this week’s episode * Flightradar24 data regarding Air India 171...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Silver Airways ceases operations immediately and Qantas says subsidiary Jetstar Asia will wind down flights by the end of July. The NTSB releases the preliminary report on the American Airlines 737 fire in Denver. May was a big month for Boeing, with more than 300 orders, while Airbus recorded orders for precisely 0 aircraft. This month’s Paris Air Show has the potential to close the gap. Southwest is looking at “monetizing its order book,” while American Airli...