Weekly News Debrief: 27 January - 2 February

 NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK:

US Major Crash in Washington DC:

  • On the 29th of January 2025, an American Airlines regional jet suffered a midair collision with a US Army Black Hawk Helicopter.
  • The American Airlines flight was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington DC. As it approached Reagan International Airport, it suffered a midair collision over the Potomac River.
  • All 67 individuals onboard lost their lives, marking the end of a 15-year period without any major, fatal aviation incidents in the country. 







Philadelphia Air Ambulance Accident:
  • On the first of February, a Learjet 55, crashed shortly after takeoff.
  • The aircraft was transporting a six-year-old Mexican girl who had received life-saving treatment in the U.S., along with her mother, a doctor, a paramedic, and two pilots.
  •  The intended route was from Philadelphia to Tijuana, Mexico, with a planned stop in Missouri.
  •  Tragically, the jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board and one person on the ground. 
  • Nineteen others on the ground sustained injuries. 
  • Preliminary investigations suggest a possible catastrophic engine failure or bird strike as potential causes. 

Budget 2025 Affects Aviation:

  • The Civil Aviation Budget has been slashed by 10% in the Budget 2025, announced on the 1st of February.
Air India Fined by the DGCA:
  • Air India has been fined 30 lakh Rupees by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, due to allegedly allowing a pilot to operate despite non-compliance with certain regulatory requirements.

Boom Supersonic XB-1 takes Historic Flight:
  • The aircraft broke the sound barrier on Tuesday, 28th February, demonstrating a milestone in commercial aviation.
  • The aircraft aims to revolutionize air travel, bringing us back to the Concorde days.


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