Airline Safety And Security News
Regulators rule out Ryanair’s standing-room only flights
Ryanair’s plans to get rid of seats and introduce pay-toilets will not happen for at least two years, European safety regulators have ruled.
International Workshop on Global Aviation Safety Roadmap Inaugurated Today
The International Workshop on Global Aviation Safety Roadmap (GASR), being organised by the Delhi Branch of Aeronautical Society of India, was inaugurated here today.
DHS performs 100 percent watchlist matching for domestic flights
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced that 100 percent of passengers traveling within the United States and its territories are now being checked against terrorist watchlists through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program—a major step in fulfilling a key 9/11 Commission recommendation.
BAR UK calls for urgent review of EU Airline Regulations
The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing over 90 airlines, has called on the UK government to tackle the EU Commission over unfair EU Regulations against member state airlines.
Advice for travellers whose plans have been disrupted by Icelands volcanic ash
Leading travel insurance website, insurewithease.com, is offering advice for travellers who may be facing delays or cancellations as a result of the volcanic ash drifting towards the UK from Iceland and disrupting flights to and from virtually every UK airport.
Volcanic ash gridlocks European airspace
Tens of thousands of airline passengers across Northern Europe face travel chaos today after a mushroom cloud of volcanic debris from Iceland heads towards the Continent. All UK airspace has been closed since midday, leaving thousands of families returning from their Easter holidays stranded.
Polish president among 132 killed in plane crash in Russia
Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his wife have been killed after their plane crashed whilst landing at an airport in western Russia. All 132 onboard, including the head of the Polish army, died whilst the the Tupoleve Tu-154 tried to land in thick fog at Smolensk airport in western Russia.
Two women arrested for trying to smuggle corpse on to a plane
Two women have been arrested at Liverpool Airport after allegedly trying to smuggle a dead relative on to a passenger plane bound for Berlin. The 91-year-old German is believed to have died a day earlier, and that his two relatives were attempting to smuggle his body back home to avoid repatriation fees. They tried to fool check-in staff that he was just sleeping.
EU misses opportunity to improve air safety
The European Commission’s recently published proposal for a Regulation on air accident prevention and investigation has failed to address critical measures that would improve air safety, claims Mike Ambrose, Director General of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Pilot with fake licence arrested before taking off with 101 passengers
A pilot suspected of flying using a fake licence for over a decade has been arrested whilst preparing for take-off in a jet with 101 passengers on-board. The 41-year-old Swede was at the controls of a Boeing 737 at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport when he was handcuffed by police.
Terror alert forces BA jet to return to Heathrow
A British Airways jumbo jet was forced to return to Heathrow after a major terror scare, it has emerged today. The Boeing 747, which was bound for Mexico City, was more than halfway across the Atlantic last Friday when U.S. authorities barred it from entry into U.S. airspace due to “serious concerns” about one of its passengers.
Cancer risk from full body scanners “extremely low”
The potential health risks of airport full body screenings have been raised by a new report, highlighting the danger of cancer causing radiation. It also argues that women and children should not be subject to scanning, even though the radiation dose from body scanners is “extremely small”.