The new lounge was officially opened on June 21, 2024, with Air France精东影业 La Premi猫re, Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus and KLM and SkyTeam partner airlines customers free to enjoy the swanky facilities. 

Spread over nearly 12,000 sq. feet, the lounge sits close to the boarding gates for Air France flights and can accommodate 172 passengers.聽

鈥淭he entire space is an invitation to discover the company’s universe, featuring its signature colors 鈥� shades of blue, luminous whites and touches of red 鈥� giving a sleek, chic design,鈥� Air France said in a statement.聽

Some of the furniture has been created by renowned French designers including the Ester chairs by Patrick Jouin, the Ribbon armchairs by Pierre Paulin, and the coffee table by Charlotte Perriand. 

French cuisine, as you might expect, is at the heart of the lounge with Monkfish Provencale, Beef Bourguignon and braised chicken among the culinary delights prepared by the in-house chef.聽

Dishes such as pan-fried prawns or cassoulet with duck confit can also be made on request in the open kitchen. 

There is also a wide selection of French wines and champagnes, spirits, and local beers, as well as cocktails and mocktails prepared by a bartender.

This new lounge features a spa treatment area by , which has been an Air France partner for nearly 20 years.聽 聽

Air France customers can find their Zen in two cozy cabins, offering a choice of three free facial treatments: 鈥榓nti jetlag鈥�, 鈥榠nstant detox鈥� and 鈥榠lluminating eye-care’.   

Passengers traveling in Air France精东影业 La Premi猫re cabin also have access to a private hideaway dedicated to just them.聽聽

Designed in a similar way to the La Premi猫re suites, the private area offers a 鈥渃omfortable, chic and made-to-measure layout鈥� for up to 12 guests with its own dining area.聽

Flying Blue Ultimate customers also have access to an area entirely reserved for them with large armchairs for extra comfort during their wait.  

In addition, there is another area dedicated to relaxation and rest for passengers particularly in need of switching off from the world and a closed-off cabin for making calls.聽

As standard for most contemporary lounges there is free Wi-Fi and numerous electric and USB sockets near the seats. 

And perhaps the most welcome luxury for some passengers are the showers which are available to use throughout the day.  

Over the summer, Air France will be operating 26 flights a week between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and LAX including 21 operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft equipped with La Premi猫re suites.聽聽聽

Air France-KLM generates over $75B per year for French and Dutch economies聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-20

Flight UA 35 departed San Francisco International Airport (SFO) at 10:53 local time on March 7, 2024.聽

Shortly after the flight took off, however, one of the aircraft精东影业 six tires fell off, damaging cars in a parking lot as it plummeted to the ground. 

Footage captured the moment the 256-pound (116 kilograms) tire slipped off the B777-200精东影业 landing gears. 

Subsequent video clips showed the damage that the fallen tire caused on vehicles in a parking lot next to the airport runway.

The airliner immediately diverted and made an emergency landing back at LAX airport, where it was able to safely land at 13:17 local time.

All 235 passengers, ten cabin crew and four pilots were safe. 

Ground personnel from LAX were seen on a video clip inspecting the aircraft shortly after landing.

United Airlines arranged another B777-200 aircraft to take the passengers onward to KIX airport. The flight is currently enroute to Japan where it is expected to arrive past midnight on March 9, 2024.

An airline spokesperson told The New York Post that the tire landed in an employee parking lot at SFO airport and caused damage to several vehicles. The spokesperson also said that the aircraft is designed to land safely even when tires are either missing or damaged.

This is the second United flight incident to occur in less than a week. On March 4, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 737-924精东影业 left engine burst into flames en route to Fort Myers. The incident forced the pilot to initiate an emergency landing in Houston精东影业 George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

United Airlines pilot diverts Boeing 737 as flames burst from engine: video聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-06

According to the ATSB, the compressor turning tool was discovered behind the fan blades of number one engine on the Airbus A380-842 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on February 2, 2024. 

Mechanics at LAX were carrying out a maintenance inspection on the Airbus A380 when the foreign object debris was found.  

In an investigation report drafted and published on the ATSB website, investigators said that the tool in question was first reported lost on December 6, 2023.聽聽

The ATSB indicated that it expects to release a final report sometime after July 1, 2024, following completion of the investigation. 

鈥淪hould a critical safety issue be identified during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken,鈥� the ATSB said.  

According to the website (PYOK), Qantas told the publication that it was taking the incident 鈥渆xtremely seriously鈥�. 

The Australian flag carrier said it had notified the ATSB when the tool was found.  

鈥淭he tool is a piece of flexible plastic. It had no effect on the operation of the engine,鈥� the airline told PYOK.  

The Airbus A380, registered VH-OQI, was delivered to Qantas on January 13, 2011, and can carry 485 passengers.

Blow to Qantas as Airbus A350 Project Sunrise delayed, new A220 cabin revealed聽

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-02-23

Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava arrived at LAX airport on November 4, 2023 via a Scandinavian Airlines flight. 

According to the FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at LAX discovered that Ochigava was not carrying a passport or flight ticket.

Ochigava initially told officials that he left his passport in the aircraft. However, authorities found that not only was there no passport in the plane, but Ochigava was also not on the passenger manifest for flight SK 931 from Copenhagen.

When Ochigava精东影业 personal belongings were searched later on, officials found Russian and Israeli identification cards.

“When questioned, Ochigava gave false and misleading information about his travel to the United States, including initially telling CBP that he left his passport on the airplane,” the FBI affidavit said.

Confused stowaway

When questioned how he managed to board the flight without a passport or even a flight booking, Ochigava said that he was confused, had no sleep for three days and could not remember how he boarded a plane without a ticket, boarding pass or passport. 

Unlike usual stowaways, Ochigava did not behave inconspicuously on the flight. According to Scandinavian Airlines cabin crew, Ochigava wandered around the plane, attempted to engage in conversation with other passengers, and moved seats several times.

During the almost 12-hour flight, Ochigava also requested two meals during each meal service, and tried to eat chocolate that was reserved for cabin crew.

Ochigava told the FBI that he had a PhD in economics and marketing, and had previously worked as an economist in Russia.

According to the US Code, Ochigava could be imprisoned for up to five years if convicted.

Serial stowaway strikes again, playing dangerous game with airport security

• Aircraft

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-06-02

It is a dark tale of revenge, hijack and ultimately mass murder that wouldn鈥檛 look out of place in the latest Hollywood thriller.  

On December 7, 1987, a British Aerospace 146-200A, operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines (which was owned by USAir) crashed in San Luis Obispo County, California, resulting in the deaths of all 43 passengers and crew on board.  

However, subsequent investigations would discover that this was not merely a tragic accident, and that a handful of those on board were likely killed by a disgruntled former USAir employee before the jet met its grizzly end.聽

Campaign of revenge

David Burke, 35, was born in Croydon, United Kingdom (UK), on May 18, 1952, but emigrated to the United States (US) with his parents.  

They moved to Rochester, New York, where Burke began a career with USAir, before eventually moving to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to take up a new role with the airline.聽

In 1987, after 15 years with the airline, Burke was fired from his job after he was caught on CCTV stealing receipts worth $69 from in-flight cocktail sales. 

Burke pleaded with his boss Ray Thompson, who oversaw USAir operations in Terminal One at LAX, to be reinstated but he was refused. 

Unbeknownst to Thompson, this refusal would set Burke on a campaign of revenge that would shake the aviation industry to its core and tragically lead to his murder.聽 聽

‘Incensed’ by his dismissal

After he was sacked, Burke was reportedly moody and violent, and just three days before the plane crash, he took his girlfriend and her young daughter on a six-hour drive at gunpoint.  

According to the , the girlfriend, who was also a USAir employee, told police that Burke was “incensed” by his dismissal on November 18, 1987.聽

Ray Thompson was known to take regular flights from LAX to San Franciso Airport (SFO) where he lived. 

On the day of the crash, it was reported that Burke was seen at the USAir offices at LAX, possibly to find out what flight Thompson was flying on. 

Crucially Burke knew his way around the airport, and he was familiar with the security codes that were needed to access restricted areas.  

It is not fully clear whether Burke精东影业 identification cards were taken from him or if he had kept one. But either way he probably relied on his familiarity with LAX employees to navigate security while hiding a handgun that he borrowed from a friend. 

One USAir employee told the LA Times following the crash that, 鈥渋t精东影业 always possible to get through [security] if they know your face鈥�.聽聽聽

Murder in the sky

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 took off on December 7, 2023, shortly after 3:30 pm local time and was due to land at SFO at 4:43 pm.  

The four-engine British Aerospace 146-200A aircraft had 38 passengers and five crew members on board.  

Tragically, apart from David Burke no one was aware of the terrible fate that the aircraft would meet that day or that the disgruntled former USAir employee had managed to smuggle a Smith and Wesson .44 magnum revolver onto the flight.  

The exact sequences of events that unfolded on Flight 1771 are somewhat shrouded in mystery. The aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) only managed to pick up small pieces of conversation and much of it was of poor quality. 

Following the crash, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) published a report which tried to piece together what happened on the flight before the aircraft crashed.  

According to the FBI, the jet was cruising at around 22,000 feet when someone was recorded entering the lavatory. Investigators found this was probably Burke so that he could load the handgun in secret. 

At some point during the flight, Burke also wrote a note for Thompson on an air sickness bag, although it is not clear if he handed it to his former boss.  

鈥淗i Ray. I think it’s sort of ironical that we end up like this. I asked for some leniency for my family. Remember? Well, I got none and you’ll get none,鈥� the note read.  

In another part of the recording Captain Gregg Lindamood or First Officer James Nunns were receiving a message from air traffic control when two “high-level gunshot-like sounds鈥� were heard. It is believed that these were the gunshots that killed Thompson. 

One of the pilots then advised air traffic control that there had been shots fired on board the plane and shortly after a cabin crew member entered the cockpit.聽

in 1987: Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771, a BAe 146, is attacked by a disgruntled PSA employee, using his credentials to bypass security with a gun. He kills his former manager (also a passenger) the crew and crashes the jet in California (US), killing all 43 aboard.

— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters)

In 2001, reported that the flight recorder picked up the sound of someone pounding on the cockpit door and what the FBI described as “unauthorized entry” into the cockpit.聽聽

A 鈥渢errible commotion鈥� then followed and more gunfire, which was most likely the pilots being killed or incapacitated.  

The CVR then picked up a final gunshot which is thought to be the murder of an off-duty pilot who worked for PSA and happened to be on the flight. 

Investigations concluded that maybe the off-duty pilot had attempted to reach the aircraft controls and level the plane as it thundered towards the ground.  

However, ultimately, he was unsuccessful and at 4:16 pm the aircraft crashed in the Santa Lucia Mountains between Paso Robles and Cayucos.  

A witness who saw the plane crash said that it 鈥渟ounded like it was breaking the sound barrier鈥� as it fell to the ground.  

At the crash site investigators later found the air sickness bag note written to Thompson and parts of a revolver with six empty castings.  

A fragment of Burke’s fingertip was also found lodged in the gun trigger suggesting he was holding the firearm when the aircraft crashed.聽 聽聽聽

The victims and the lessons聽

Killer Hijackers: Former USAir Employee David Burke. PSA Flight 1771 (1987). Murdered 42 passengers & crew.

— Luke鉁嶐煆� (past aviation account 鉁堬笍) (@Drawingyterss)

The Flight 1771 tragedy was also notable due to some high-profile passengers on board the flight.聽

Among those killed was James Sylla, the President of Chevron USA, and three of the firm精东影业 public affairs executives. Three executives of Pacific Bell were also killed. 

The crash is seen as a precursor of corporations ensuring that multiple executives do not travel on the same flights.  

Following the crash, a great deal of focus was placed on how Burke was able to smuggle a firearm past security at LAX.  

New Federal laws were passed that ensured all airline and airport employee credentials were seized when a staff member leaves their position. 

A policy was also brought in to ensure all aviation staff faced the same security checks as passengers at airports.   

Korean Air Lines Flight 007: the Boeing 747 shot down by a Soviet Su-15 in 1983

• Aviation History

byIan Molyneaux

2023-09-01

The Boeing 737 took off from Las Vegas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States (US) but returned to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) when the crew became concerned about a strange smell. 

According to FOX Business, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Southwest jet landed back at LAX at around 8:30 pm local time on Thursday, October 12, 2023.  

A passenger who was on the flight described the odor in the cabin as a 鈥渂urning smell鈥� but Southwest said it found nothing unusual on inspection of the aircraft. 

“We didn鈥檛 find anything abnormal after inspection, aircraft was swapped and continued on to its destination,鈥� the airline told FOX Business on October 14, 2023. 

The spokesperson added: 鈥淚t was not smoke to my knowledge. It was just an unusual odor. Routine for emergency vehicles to meet the aircraft in situations like that.” 

Footage from inside the airport after the passengers deplaned was shared on social media. The video appeared to show multiple emergency vehicles outside the terminal with their lights flashing. 聽

I fly constantly but this was a 1st. Vegas to Tulsa Thrs night on . Half hour into flight plane turns around & goes back to Vegas because of burning smell in the cabin. Immediately deplane & surrounded by fire trucks.Crazy but SW handled well

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk)

Responding to the passenger精东影业 post on X (formally known as Twitter) Southwest wrote: 鈥淧lease know that the Safety of our Customers and Crew Members is our number one priority, and we appreciate you hanging in there with us.鈥� 

The FAA confirmed there were no injuries, and that the agency is investigating the incident.聽

Wizz Air CEO reveals new details about three聽Airbus A320s stranded in Ukraine

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-10-13

According to the airline the aircraft suffered a 鈥減otential mechanical issue鈥� and the order to divert was carried out.  

The Boeing 737 landed at LAX on Friday, July 21, 2023, and was held on the tarmac as vehicles, including several fire trucks, gathered around the jet. 聽

In an 18-minute video shared online the Southwest aircraft can be seen with airport officals stood around the aircraft and a flurry of vehicles coming and going. 聽

鈥淪outhwest Flight 1397 landed safely at runway 24L.聽There was a mechanical issue and a brief ground stop that was already lifted,鈥� an LAX spokesperson told the .

The flight was travelling from Sacramento in California when it was forced to divert to LAX. 

鈥淔light 1397 from Sacramento to Burbank diverted to LAX this afternoon because of a potential mechanical issue with the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely, and we are working with our customers to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible,鈥� A spokesperson for Southwest said. 

They added: 鈥淭he original aircraft is out of service and will undergo a maintenance review.鈥� 

Exploring the use of robotics and automation to enhance airport ground handling

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-07-06

A passenger who was disgruntled after missing his flight from Las Vegas Airport (LAS) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) faked a bomb threat in anger, prompting evacuation of passengers in a JetBlue aircraft.

Airport officials told US media outlets that the passenger, who has not been publicly identified, missed his flight from Las Vegas but that his luggage remained onboard the plane.

The passenger then called the airport, announcing a bomb threat, claiming that his luggage contained explosives.

Firefighters, police, and bomb squad personnel were dispatched in minutes on the LAX airport tarmac.

The aircraft was held on the tarmac for more than an hour before passengers were allowed to deplane via a truck-mounted staircase.

The LAX Police Department conducted an investigation to ensure that the aircraft and the passenger精东影业 luggage was indeed bomb-free.According to, Las Vegas police officers back in Nevada have taken “enforcement action鈥� against the vindictive passenger

Bomb scare on Ryanair flight forces 190 passengers to evacuate

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-03-20

Flight DL 1714 was scheduled to fly from LAX airport to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on March 24, 2023, and the aircraft, a Boeing 737, was still on the tarmac when the incident occurred. 

Based on Los Angeles Police Department reports, a passenger walked towards a flight attendant just as the aircraft was pushing away from the gate. The passenger then asked the flight attendant, 鈥淲hat do I do now?鈥�.

When the flight attendant told the passenger to go back to his seat, he ran to the emergency exit. Before he could be stopped, the passenger turned the latch on the emergency exit, opening the door and causing the slide to deploy. The passenger then used the slide to exit the aircraft.

When the passenger reached the tarmac, he jumped into the passenger seat of a baggage cart. Two baggage handlers held the passenger down until the Los Angeles Airport Police (LAAP) came and detained the passenger.

“Due to the circumstances, the FBI has been notified,” LAAP精东影业 Captain Karla Rodriguez said, as reported by . “The aircraft was returned to a gate and passengers are in the process of being deplaned in order to be transported in another aircraft so that they can continue with their flight plans.”

Delta Air Lines released a statement seen by CBS News, which read: “Delta flight 1714 operating from Los Angeles to Seattle returned to the gate due to an unruly passenger. The aircraft was taxiing for takeoff when the passenger exited the aircraft and was initially detained by Delta staff ahead of being arrested by local law enforcement. Customers are being re-accommodated on a new aircraft and we apologize for the inconvenience and delay in their travel plans.”

Man arrested for stabbing flight attendant, trying to open emergency exit: video

• Civil Aviation

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-03-07

Zered Akolo, 26, from Antioch, was stopped at the airport on 16 January 2023, shortly after arriving at Heathrow on a flight from Los Angeles.

He told Border Force officers that he was travelling to visit university friends, but when his two checked-in suitcases were searched, around 47 kilos of herbal cannabis were found inside.

The photographer initially denied the bags were his, despite them bearing his name tags.

National Crime Agency (NCA) officers questioned the 26-year-old and subsequently charged him with attempting to import Class B drugs.

At a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in west London on Thursday, 16 February, Akolo subsequently pleaded guilty to importing Class B drugs and a judge sentenced him to 32 months in prison.

Akolo精东影业 conviction is the first following a series of cannabis interceptions made off flights from the US to Heathrow throughout January and February. So far, at 19 US nationals and one Canadian are known to have been charged.

Cannabis can be grown legally in many states in the US and it attracts a premium price on the UK black market.

鈥淎kolo was foolish in the extreme to think he could get away with a brazen drug smuggling trip like this. As a result, he faces a long period of time away from friends and family in a British jail,鈥� said NCA Heathrow Branch Commander Andy Noyes.

He added: 鈥淚 hope this case serves as a warning to others who would consider acting as drugs mules for organised criminal gangs 鈥� it isn鈥檛 worth taking the chance.鈥�

Up to 80 vehicles 鈥榮tolen鈥� from meet-and-greet firm at Heathrow Airport

• Airport

byIan Molyneaux

2023-02-07