Airline Ratings is out with its list of the 20 safest airlines in 2021. While I appreciate recognizing an airline’s stellar safety record, I’m not sure a “top 20” list accurately reflects which airline is safer. The 20 Safest...
“Personal Protection Window” Debuted As Latest Flight Safety Measure
A UK company has introduced a new “personal protection window” it claims will help mitigate safety-related fears about filling airplane middle seats. The new “personal protection window” isn’t all that revolutionary, but does create an extra layer of protection...
Two Passengers Ejected From Delta Flight For Mobile Phone Joke
A couple of general travel tips. First, put your phones in airplane mode when asked by a flight attendant. Second, don’t scare people by naming your phone or wi-fi network something sinister. Nerves are easily rattled onboard a plane…as...
Does Terror Alter Your Travel Choices?
Another terror attack in London and the Hague sparked concerns for my family and raised the question of whether or not acts of terror alter our travel choices. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
FAA Bans Select Apple Laptops From Flights
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has banned select Apple laptops from commercial flights due to fire risks posed by internal lithium batteries. FAA rules prohibit recalled lithium batteries onboard commercial flights: Lithium batteries recalled by the manufacturer/vendor must not...
Delta, JetBlue Offer Travel Waivers For Dominican Republic
After a number of highly-publicized deaths of U.S. tourists, Delta and JetBlue are offering official travel waivers for passengers traveling to the Dominican Republic in the months ahead. Meanwhile, American and United are offering “re-accomodation” on a case-by-case basis....
Ask The Pilot: When Lighting Strikes An Airplane
One working theory around the crash landing of the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet-100 that killed 41 in Moscow last week is that lighting struck the aircraft, causing significant damage. I asked LALF reader 121Pilot, a U.S. commercial airline pilot, if lightning can...
“Belligerent” Alaska Airlines Passenger Caught Smoking, Reacts Oddly
An Alaska flight diverted to Chicago after a passenger responded poorly to a flight attendant request to extinguish his cigarette. Perhaps the passenger did not get the memo that domestic flights in the USA have been non-smoking since 1990....
A History Of Aircraft Groundings (Part 3 – Boeing 737 MAX)
121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the USA, has graciously written a three-part series on the history of aircraft groundings. Today, we explore part three, on the current Boeing 737 MAX grounding. Click here for part one on the...
A History Of Aircraft Groundings (Part 2 – The Jet Age)
121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the USA, has graciously written a three-part series on the history of aircraft groundings. Today, we explore part two, the jet age. Click here for part one. McDonnell Douglas DC-10 The fifth aircraft...
A History Of Aircraft Groundings (The Early Years – Part 1)
121pilot, a commercial airline pilot in the USA, has graciously written a three-part series on the history of aircraft groundings. Today, we explore the propeller era. In evaluating the FAA’s decision to ground the 737MAX, it’s helpful to review...
Korean Air Ejects Passengers With Peanut Allergy. Fair?
Two teenage boys were thrown off a Korean Air flight after mentioning their peanut allergy. The story again raises the question of how should these situations should be handled. The Patel brothers were traveling from Atlanta to Manila via Seoul...
Exclusive: U.S. Commercial Pilot Addresses Boeing 737 MAX Safety
121pilot, a frequent commenter on this blog, is a U.S. commercial airline pilot. I asked him to address the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX and he graciously agreed. His thoughts are below. There has been a great deal...
Poisoned By An Airport Water Fountain?
Six unrelated people, six very-related symptoms. What caused these passengers to start vomiting on a Frontier flight? On New Year’s Day, Frontier Flight 397 took off from Cleveland to to Tampa with 226 passengers onboard. Inflight, six passengers, all...
Airline Fatalities Rise 900% in 2018, But…
The numbers don’t lie…2018 was a comparatively bad year for commercial aviation safety. But let’s keep things in perspective. 2018 marked an all-time high in number of flights and passengers carried: 4.5 billion passengers on 45 million flights. As...
Confirmed: Lion Air 737 Max Crashes Minutes After Takeoff
188 passengers and crew are feared dead as debris from a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 has washed up onshore near Jakarta. Lion Air flight JT-610 took off this morning at 6:21 A.M. from Jakarta enroute to Pangkal Pinang. Just...
Security Lapse Forces Evacuation Of Frankfurt Airport
7,000 passengers were delayed or stranded due to a security lapse at Frankfurt Airport on Tuesday. A French family of four tested positive for explosives while undergoing a security screenings, but was still allowed to leave a secure screening...
Pilots Suspended After Fistfight in Cockpit Over Meal Tray
Two pilots have been suspended for a fight over a meal tray that turned bloody. An Iraqi Airways flight heading for Baghdad with 157 passengers onboard encountered a problem during meal service. According to the first officer, who later...
Should Pilots Be Allowed To Smoke Onboard?
Earlier today I wrote about the Air China flight that rapidly descended due to depressurization. Chinese authorities have confirmed pilot vaping is to blame. Is it ever okay for pilots to smoke or vape onboard? It’s a serious question,...
Air China 737 Rapidly Drops 25,000 Feet
Air China Flight 106, a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Hong Kong to Dalian, dropped from 35,000 feet to 10,000 feet within 10 minutes earlier this week. The question is, why? Ostensibly the answer is because the flight lost pressure in...
