Latest news with #HassanShahidi
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flight Safety Foundation Annual Report Warns of Rising Risks from Gaps in Safety Compliance
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flight Safety Foundation's 2024 Safety Report underscores growing concerns about the erosion of aviation safety due to lapses in compliance with international standards, regulations, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Despite more than 5 billion passengers traveling safely by air in 2024, a series of accidents and serious incidents late last year and in early 2025 have revealed critical vulnerabilities. The report stresses that while these events remain rare, their frequency and severity in such a short period cannot be ignored. "We cannot allow complacency to creep into operations. Safety standards have evolved for a reason, and adherence to them isn't optional — it's essential," said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. "Compliance alone does not guarantee safety, but without it, safety cannot be achieved." In the report, the Foundation calls for an industrywide recommitment to safety fundamentals, urging regulators, air navigation service providers, airports, air operators, and manufacturers to reinforce compliance as the first step toward rebuilding a resilient safety culture. From runway excursions and turbulence-related events to high-profile near misses and operations in conflict zones, the aviation sector must remain vigilant. "Aviation's safety net is fraying at the edges. It's time for the entire industry to double down on compliance, discipline, and proactive risk management to restore public confidence and protect lives," Shahidi said. The 2024 Safety Report, which is based on an analysis of data drawn from the Foundation's Aviation Safety Network (ASN) database, shows there were 132 accidents involving airliners of all types in 2024 and that 15 of those events were fatal accidents. The report details airliner and corporate jet accidents based on accident category, phase of flight, and type of operation, among other factors. The 2024 Safety Report is available here on the Foundation's website. In addition, users can access interactive ASN dashboards by clicking here. The dashboards enable deeper exploration of the ASN data. On March 12, the Foundation will host a webinar during which safety experts will discuss 2024's results and the safety issues facing the industry in 2025 and beyond. More information is available on the events page on the Foundation website. About Flight Safety Foundation ( Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation's mission is to connect, influence, and lead global aviation safety. Media Contact:Frank JackmanDirector, Communications and Research+1 703.739.6700, ext. 116jackman@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flight Safety Foundation
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
YAHOO POLL: Are you worried about flying?
The Delta Air Line crash is the latest in a string of air travel incidents. On Monday (17 Feb), a Delta Air Lines plane from Minneapolis crash-landed at Toronto Pearson Airport and flipped over. There were at least 18 injured, including a child. Prior to that, on 29 Jan, a major plane crash occurred when an American Airlines passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter as the plane was about to land at Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport. All 67 passengers aboard both aircrafts died. This crash was reported to be the deadliest plane crash in the US since 2001. Another aviation disaster that gripped the world was the tragic Jeju Air plane crash on 29 Dec. The plane skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames, killing 179 people. YAHOO POLL: Are Gen Zs having an unprofessional attitude towards work? YAHOO POLL: Is Valentine's Day only for lovers? YAHOO POLL: Should generative AI tools be restricted in the workplace? While the occurrence of major aviation disasters so close to each other is concerning, experts have maintained that air travel is safe. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation, told Yahoo News, "We've seen over the last few months several accidents that have occurred in the U.S. and globally. Certainly anytime you see these accidents in such a short period of time, it's a great concern to travellers." However, Shahidi stressed that these disasters are independent and "accidents are always unique". So, whether you're a frequent flier or the occasional traveller, we want to know: Are you worried about flying? Have your say and take the poll. Related: Wreckage of missing Alaska flight found with no survivors What pilots say could have caused a Delta plane to flip belly up 2 passengers kicked off Singapore Airlines flight for abusing crew
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Has flying become less safe?
The latest in a string of air travel incidents, the crash landing of a commercial Delta Air Lines flight at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday has renewed fears that flying may not be as safe as in past years. The Delta flight, which had originated from Minneapolis-St. Paul carrying 80 passengers and crew members flipped upside down as it landed in strong winds, a wing and its tail torn off in the process. Miraculously, no fatalities were reported, though 18 people were injured. The Delta crash is the fourth major air crash in North America over the last month. On Jan. 29, 67 people were killed when an American Airlines flight approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., collided with a U.S. Army helicopter. On Feb. 1, seven people were killed when a medical jet carrying six people crashed in Philadelphia. On Feb. 6, 10 people aboard a small commercial flight were killed off the coast of Alaska. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'We've seen over the last few months several accidents that have occurred in the U.S. and globally. Certainly anytime you see these accidents in such a short period of time, it's a great concern to travelers,' Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation, told Yahoo News. But rather than view the recent crashes as part of a trend that indicates that air travel has become unsafe, Shahidi stressed that 'it's important to note that these are independent. Accidents are always unique.' While the recent spate of incidents is concerning, air safety experts insist that air travel remains safe. Shahidi noted, for instance, that there were zero commercial jet fatalities in the U.S. in all of 2023 and that the likelihood of being involved in a crash is fleetingly small. 'We have a safe air transportation system,' Shahidi said. 'Last year we had nearly nine-and-a-half billion people travel by air. We have thousands of airplanes that take off and land without any issues.' Data compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board shows that when it comes to fatalities, flying is safer now than it was a decade ago. There were 257 fatal accidents globally in 2024, compared with 362 in 2014, the agency says on its website. In fact, prior to the Jan. 29 American Airlines crash, there had not been a single deadly crash involving a U.S. airliner since February 2009, the Associated Press reported. Globally, air travel has also gotten safer in recent years. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study released in September found that the risk of dying during a flight was just one in 13.7 million worldwide. That is far less than the estimated 1-in-350,000 chance of dying on a flight between 1968 and 1977. For further comparison, the National Safety Council calculated that Americans had a 1-in-93 chance of dying in an automobile crash. Research conducted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Academy has determined that between 60%-80% of 'safety failures, injuries, and quality defects across industries like aviation' are attributable to human error. While the exact causes of the recent air travel incidents are all under investigation, air traffic controllers find themselves under increasing scrutiny. Amid long-standing worker shortages at the nation's airports that critics say endanger the lives of passengers, the Trump administration has moved to fire more air traffic controllers as part of its purge of the federal workforce. 'We've seen towers with a shortage of staff and air traffic controllers working longer shifts or six-day shifts,' Shahidi said. 'That is a concern, whenever you have a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers at these facilities. Certainly, we want to make sure that we don't see these shortages continue.' In order to meet targeted staffing levels for air traffic controllers, the FAA would need to hire roughly 3,500 more, according to Reuters. Instead, the Trump administration, as part of its purge of the federal workforce, fired hundreds of air traffic controllers over the past week. "Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago. Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote Monday in a social media post. Monday's crash in Toronto did offer further evidence of how one simple step could dramatically improve a person's chances of surviving a plane crash. 'Seat belts saved lives in the Toronto accident,' Shahidi said. 'You saw the video of people being held upside down. The seatbelts worked, the seats worked as designed. People were strapped in. If they were not, they would have been thrown around violently, resulting in severe injuries and potentially fatalities.'
USA Today
18-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
Maps and graphics: See Delta plane flip after crash in Toronto. All 80 aboard survive.
Maps and graphics: See Delta plane flip after crash in Toronto. All 80 aboard survive. All 80 passengers survived after a jet flipped onto its back during a fiery crash landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday. Here's a closer look at what happened: Delta flight 4819 took off in Minneapolis at 11:47 a.m. local time and flew for an hour and 29 minutes before attempting to land in Toronto around 2:15 p.m. local time. Can't see the map above? Please click here to reload the page. In an unconfirmed video posted to X, a plane can be seen coming for a landing at a snowy airport before impacting, igniting, and rolling onto its starboard side. According to FlightRadar24, an airport weather report indicated a gusting crosswind and blowing snow at the time of the accident. "Winds were out of the west at 270° at 28 knots, gusting to 35 knots. Visibility was 6 miles with a runway visual range of 3000-6000 feet with an improving trend." The flight tracking service also reported that the aircraft touched down on Runway 23 and came to a rest near the intersection of runways 23 and 15. The aircraft involved is a Bombardier CRJ900, a longer version of the CRJ700 model that collided with a helicopter in D.C. earlier this year in an incident that claimed 67 lives. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, praised first responders on the ground at the airport for quick and appropriate actions. 'They were there immediately dousing the aircraft with fire resistant foam,' he said. 'The Toronto Airport is known for being on top of these emergency type situations.' Najm Meshkati, professor of engineering and expert of aviation safety at the University of Southern California, told USA TODAY that a speedy evacuation of passengers by the cabin crew may have saved lives. Videos show passengers exiting from emergency exit doors as firefighters coated the flaming aircraft in foam. Watch the moment passengers exit upside down plane in Toronto Passengers made it safely off of a Delta Airlines plane that flipped upside down in Toronto. Passenger Pete Carlson recounts the experience. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, will be in charge of leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, according to the FAA. Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, Minnah Arshad, Christopher Cann, and Zach Wichter, USA TODAY. Read more:
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Yes, Flying in the U.S. Is Safe
A crane removes airplane wreckage from the Potomac River, where American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a US Army military helicopter, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Feb. 3, 2025. Credit - AFP—Getty Images Flying in the U.S. has rarely looked as dangerous as it has in the past two weeks. Yesterday, one person died and three were injured when a private jet attempting a landing at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona collided with a parked plane. That accident occurred after the Feb. 6 crash of a commuter plane near Nome Alaska killed all 10 people on board, an accident that itself followed the Jan. 31 crash of a twin-engine Medevac plane in Philadelphia that killed seven people, including one victim on the ground. And all of this was in the wake of the Jan. 29 mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Virginia's Reagan International Airport, between a commercial jet carrying 64 people and a military helicopter with three on board, claiming all 67 lives. Such a string of bad luck makes for a jumpy public. Plenty of passengers and potential passengers are likely questioning whether their flights are safe or if the U.S. is facing something of an industry meltdown, due perhaps to understaffing in air traffic control towers, high turnover of pilots, or the mere fact that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently without a permanent administrator. Government officials have hastened to quell any panic. "Air travel is the safest form of travel in the country. So you can travel and feel good about it on American airplanes," said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a Feb. 3 interview on Fox News. There are numbers to back that up. According to the FAA, an average of 45,000 commercial and private flights take off each day in the U.S., carrying 2.9 million passengers across 29 million sq. mi of air space. For all that, any one person's odds of dying in an air disaster are vanishingly small—about one in 13.7 million according to a 2024 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (In comparison, the odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 95.) Experts say the four recent accidents should not be viewed as a systemic, nationwide problem, but rather as four random events that happened to cluster together in time. 'It's understandable when people see these accidents happen so close together that there's concern,' says Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, an international nonprofit that advocates for keeping the skies safe. '[But] these accidents are all independent of each other. They're all different. They are unique circumstances, and they're being investigated.' Adds Juan Browne, a commercial pilot and host of the Blancolirio YouTube blog: 'Statistically, we're on average overall for aircraft accidents. [It's] just that, we've had a couple of bad fatal ones recently, specifically the D.C. mid-air crash. That was the first major fatality we've had with a major airliner here in the United States since 2009. [The recent crashes] could be random clustering.' The Washington disaster, involving two aircraft and more than five dozen victims, is far and away the most complex and the most tragic of the four. The investigation into the accident is still very much ongoing, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that the military helicopter was flying at an altitude of 325 ft., plus or minus 25 ft.—well above its proper ceiling of 200 ft., placing it directly in the landing path of the incoming jet. 'That only gives 100 ft. of possible error,' says Browne, 'and that is just much too tight. We need to separate that traffic out altogether and not allow the helicopters to proceed while the airliners are landing.' An error like that could lay the problem at the feet of air traffic control, but piloting error could also be to blame. The three-person crew of the helicopter included one pilot who was getting a 'check ride,' or proficiency test, in the right hand seat. The commanding pilot had about 1,000 hours at the stick, but the officer taking the proficiency test had just 450, according to Browne. 'So that lack of experience may very well come out to be a factor in the final investigation,' he says. The cause of the Medevac crash is not yet known, but the cockpit voice recorder was recovered and sent to the NTSB for investigation. Icing is thought to have been the cause of the Alaska crash, which occurred when the pilot circled while the runway was being cleared of snow. The Scottsdale crash was caused by mechanical failure, specifically the collapse of the left main landing gear. Pilot error might have been involved in that, says Browne. He cites data from an FAA aviation surveillance system that suggests the plane was descending at a speed of 1,600 ft. per minute, well above the 1,000 ft. per minute maximum. The fact that such different sets of circumstances led to very different kinds of accidents, should provide some reassurance to the flying public, with no connective tissue linking one accident to another. That's not to say the aviation system couldn't be safer still. Browne worries about a steady erosion of experience in commercial aviation—a problem that may not be leading to system-wide breakdowns at the moment, but could in the future. There's 'huge turnover in aviation that's been exacerbated by things like COVID and early retirements,' he says. 'I'm 62 years old. I'm coming up on retirement from the airlines, and I'm joined by thousands of others, and suddenly there's a whole lot of training going on. And it's not only just pilots; I'm talking every aspect of aviation—maintenance, ATC [air traffic control], dispatch.' Washington bureaucracy may play a role as well. The NTSB investigates accidents and makes recommendations to improve safety in the future. But its authority is only advisory; it's up to the FAA to heed the suggestions—and sometimes it doesn't. 'Quite often, the NTSB and the FAA are at loggerheads for getting those recommendations implemented,' says Browne. The FAA could also tighten rules for pilots. Commercial airlines operate under a set of federal aviation regulations known as FAR Part 121—the most stringent set of safety and maintenance rules. Charters for hire operate under looser FAR Part 135 rules. Private pilots flying small planes—so-called general aviation—are governed by the least restrictive regulations, called FAR Part 91. 'The accident statistics also kind of follow,' says Browne. 'In general aviation, we get overall lack of experience, and it leads to a higher accident rate than certainly that of the airlines.' None of this, however, changes those one in 13.7 million mortality odds that MIT calculated. Air travel has never been no-risk—but in American skies it continues to be low-risk. 'We have trained pilots that do their jobs well, trained air traffic controllers that do their jobs well,' says Shahidi. 'We have a safe transportation system in this country.' Write to Jeffrey Kluger at
