Japan Airlines Flight 516, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, and Delta's A350 Order

In this episode, hosts Helwing, Rohan, and Vinay are back to discuss what has been an unnerving start of the year for commercial aviation.

Japan Airlines A350-900 Crash at Tokyo Haneda Airport

On January 2, 2024, a runway collision occurred at Tokyo Haneda Airport between Japan Airlines Flight 516, an Airbus A350-900, and a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 operated by the Japanese Coast Guard.

Flight 516 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, Japan, to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

The collision resulted in a fire and tragically killed five of the six crew members onboard the Dash 8. However, all 367 passengers and 12 crew members on the A350 were safely evacuated with no loss of life.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Door Plug Blowout and the State of Boeing

On January 5, 2024, there was an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9, where a door plug blew out mid-air during a flight from Portland, Oregon.

As a result, nearly 200 planes were grounded, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into the incident.

Helwing, Rohan, and Vinay discuss the incident and the implications for Boeing, highlighting the importance of quality control to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft components.

The incident raises concerns about the potential vulnerabilities and hidden weak spots in Boeing’s manufacturing practices that could pose risks to passenger safety.

Delta Air Lines Second Airbus A350-1000 Order

The crew ends the episode by briefly discussing Delta’s recent order for 20 more Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

This order reflects the carrier’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet and enhance its long-haul capabilities with the wide-body, twin-engine aircraft known for their fuel efficiency, range, and passenger comfort.

Note: The podcast episode may contain additional discussions, insights, and opinions related to these topics.

Hosted by: Helwing Villamizar, Rohan Anand, and Vinay Bhaskara

Produced by: Helwing Villamizar

Music: Fesliyan Studios

Episode Links

• Japan Airlines 516 Crash: What We Know So Far

• NTSB Update: All 12 Door Plug Stops Failed, Leading to Blowout

• FAA Updates on the Grounding of Boeing 737-9 Aircraft

• Delta Air Lines Places Second A350-1000 Order

• Airways Magazine February 2024 Issue