On this episode of AvTalk, we’re flabbergasted to learn about the events aboard a Delta flight last August as the first officer threatened to shoot the captain if they diverted the flight due to an onboard medical emergency. Elsewhere, the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger trial is underway in Boston, Southwest might flight to the other Dallas airport a few years from now, and Lufthansa might need to start lifting weights.
First officer threatens to shoot captainAccording to an indictment issued this week in Salt Lake City, a first officer on a Delta flight last August threatened to shoot the captain if they diverted the flight due to an onboard medical emergency. The first officer was part of a program that deputizes flight crews and allows them to carry a gun onboard, so this was not an idle threat. We walk through the sequence of events laid out by the government and discuss if the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program has outlived its usefulness.
JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger trial beginsThe trial over the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger began this week in Boston, pitting the two airlines against the US Department of Justice, which is arguing the merger should be blocked on competition grounds.
SAS, Sky Team, and a lucrative joint ventureBrett Snyder at Crankyflier published an excellent piece detailing the wisdom of SAS’ move to Sky Team with the real money in joining the AF-KLM, Delta, Virgin Atlantic transatlantic joint venture.
Spirit Aerosystems loses $204M in the third quarterA major supplier of fuselages and other components to Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems lost $204 million in the third quarter, largely in part due to quality issues and rework necessary on a large number of aircraft.
Southwest orders more MAX and might go to DFWSouthwest Airlines order an additional 108 737-7 MAX aircraft this week, bringing its total 737 order book over 500 aircraft. And the airline also said that by 2025 it could be operating flights out of DFW.
Lufthansa is trying to make weightLufthansa may need to install a counterweight in the rear of its 747s after installing its new Allegris cabin, thanks to the weight of the business class seats. The airline may also need to forgo installing the new seats on the upper deck of the 747 because of the cabin width.
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Check back soon for a transcript of this episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 240: First officer threatens to shoot captain over medical diversion appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.
AvTalk Episode 210: Passing the Medium Flocking Bird Test
AvTalk Episode 209: Ian’s surprise solo show
AvTalk Episode 208: The FAA says fly better
AvTalk Episode 207: Time for a Safety Summit
AvTalk Episode 206: The DOJ suit we’ve all been expecting
AvTalk Episode 205: These close calls keep getting closer
AvTalk Episode 204: Two tail strikes and an all stop
AvTalk Episode 203: United’s disturbing dive after departure
AvTalk Episode 202: Less than 100 feet apart
AvTalk Episode 201: Sending the last 747 home
AvTalk Episode 200: Boeing earnings and arraignment, NTSB comments again
AvTalk Episode 199: One crashed, two came close
AvTalk Episode 198: Organ Transplant Logistics
AvTalk Episode 197: The problem with the ET302 final report
AvTalk Episode 196: Our favorite conversations from 2022
AvTalk Special Episode: Southwest Airlines’ Operational Meltdown
AvTalk Episode 195: Boeing gets an early Christmas gift
AvTalk Episode 194: What do you do on a 13 hour test flight?
AvTalk Episode 193: The final 747 leaves the factory
AvTalk Episode 192: He fought the wire and the wire won
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