Air France, Airbus Found Guilty of ‘Corporate Manslaughter’ in 2009 Crash

Both companies are expected to appeal the decision.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:51 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air France A330-200. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A Paris court found two pillars of France’s aviation industry, Air France and Airbus, guilty of corporate manslaughter on Thursday in connection with the fatal crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009.

The accident, which killed all 228 passengers and crew on board the Airbus A330, set off years of legal wrangling in Europe and Brazil as family members of those killed looked to secure compensation and an apology. Thirty-three nationalities were represented on the transatlantic flight; the majority of the passengers were from France, Brazil, and Germany.

Prosecutors who brought the case to trial last year allege that failures inside both companies, including poor training and mishandling of earlier incidents, led directly to the crash of Flight 447.

A lower court cleared Air France and Airbus of all charges in 2023, but that decision was effectively reversed by Thursday’s ruling. The two companies deny any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal the verdict, which could send the case to France’s highest court.

Air France and Airbus were both ordered to pay the maximum penalty for corporate manslaughter, €225,000, or about $260,780.

There is no direct equivalent to the crime of corporate manslaughter in U.S. law. Some news outlets outside France reported the convictions as involuntary manslaughter.

Flight 447 disappeared from radar on June 1, 2009, over the Atlantic Ocean while traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. Investigators determined that icing on the aircraft’s pitot tubes resulted in inaccurate airspeed measurements, which caused the autopilot to disconnect. The pilots reacted incorrectly and inadvertently pushed the airplane into an unrecoverable stall.

The incident stunned the aviation world, since the aircraft vanished without a distress call and seemed to have fallen out of the sky. The A330 was also considered to be among the safest commercial aircraft in the world.

France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety released three interim reports and a final report detailing the technical and human factors that contributed to the crash. A transcript of the flight’s cockpit voice recorder showed a gradual breakdown in communication and task-sharing among the pilots as they struggled to control the aircraft.

French authorities began investigating Air France and Airbus for manslaughter in 2011 after determining that the carrier was aware of technical problems with airspeed monitoring systems on its airplanes and failed to train pilots to resolve them. The case was dropped in 2019 for lack of evidence but revived in 2021.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

Detroit-Bound Flight Diverted Over Ebola Restrictions

U.S. customs officials determined that a passenger from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was on board.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 10:02 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air France Airbus A350 (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

An Air France flight from Paris to Detroit was forced to divert to Canada on Wednesday after U.S. customs officials determined that a passenger from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was on board, in violation of temporary travel restrictions meant to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the flight was barred from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and had to land at Montreal-Trudeau instead.

“Due to entry restrictions put in place to reduce the risk of the Ebola virus, the passenger should not have boarded the plane,” CPB told CBS News.

The U.S. government is limiting entry for travelers without American passports who were recently in the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda. An ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region has killed almost 150 people.

It was not immediately clear if the passenger from the Congo had been exposed to the virus or was showing symptoms.

“There was no medical emergency on board, and like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry requirements of the countries it serves,” Air France said in a statement.

A business-class passenger on the flight told CBS News that the remaining passengers were flown from Montreal to Detroit on the same aircraft.

Starting Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security will require all U.S.-bound flights carrying passengers who have recently been in the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda to arrive via Washington Dulles. The government is “focusing public health resources” at Dulles and will implement “enhanced public health measures” there, the department said.

An American doctor working in the Congo fell sick with Ebola earlier this week and was flown to Germany, where he is receiving treatment. Several other Americans who were exposed to the virus in the region are in isolation at facilities in Europe; they remain asymptomatic for the time being, according to the CDC.

Zach Vasile

Sinkhole Shuts Down Runway at LaGuardia

The issue was discovered Wednesday morning.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 04:03 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Regional aircraft at New York LaGuardia Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

A sinkhole at LaGuardia Airport caused flight cancellations and delays on Wednesday as crews worked to resolve the issue.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns and operates the airport, said staff identified a sinkhole near Runway 4/22 around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The runway was immediately shut down, officials said, and emergency construction and engineering crews were brought in to determine the cause of the sinkhole and complete repairs “as quickly and safely as possible.”

“The Port Authority is in close communication with airlines and airport partners and will continue providing updates as conditions evolve,” the agency said in a statement around 2 p.m. “Travelers should expect delays and cancellations, particularly with forecast thunderstorms expected later today, and are strongly encouraged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight status information.”

No injuries were reported in connection with the sinkhole.

According to tracking website FlightAware, there were 94 cancellations and 88 delays at LaGuardia as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Port Authority did not say when it expects Runway 4/22 to reopen.

Zach Vasile

United Projects Rise in Summer Air Travel

The carrier expects to serve about 53 million people between June and August.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 02:59 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 8. (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

United said Tuesday that it expects to fly about 53 million people this summer between June and August, 3 million more than the same period last year.

The carrier said it is seeing “double-digit increases in demand” for certain destinations, mostly tied to high-profile events. It cited solar eclipse-related tourism in Spain, Iceland, and Greenland; travel to FIFA World Cup matches in Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, and Guadalajara; and concerts in London and Amsterdam.

The projections suggest that enthusiasm for air travel has not softened despite a significant increase in ticket prices over the past few months. Carriers have upped fares and fees in an attempt to offset rising jet fuel prices.

While the economic impact has been notable in the U.S. – even helping to trigger the collapse of Spirit Airlines – North American carriers are still better positioned than their counterparts in Europe and Asia. Europe is more reliant on oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran since early March, and many Asian countries lack domestic oil production and refining capabilities.

There were also concerns that the partial shutdown of the federal government could hamper the summer travel season, but that issue was resolved by Congress last month.

United said it expects to serve about 3.9 million passengers over the Memorial Day period, between May 21 and 27. That translates to roughly 575,000 customers per day across around 5,000 daily flights.

Zach Vasile

China Confirms Order for 200 Boeing Aircraft

President Donald Trump announced the deal last week, but Beijing did not comment until Wednesday.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 12:26 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A look at the Boeing 777's nose and door factory. (Photo: Boeing)

China on Wednesday confirmed it will buy 200 new aircraft from Boeing, its first order with the company in almost 10 years.

President Donald Trump announced the deal last week during his state visit to China, but Chinese officials did not acknowledge the order until Wednesday morning, when the country’s commerce ministry released a statement on trade talks with Washington.

The new aircraft will help China meet “its own needs for air transport development,” the statement said.

The ministry did not say which aircraft type or types China will buy.

The 200-unit purchase falls well short of Wall Street expectations. Analysts had expected Boeing to secure an order of around 500 jets during Trump’s visit, given that CEO Kelly Ortberg was traveling with the president.

Trump later told reporters that Beijing could expand the deal to 750 aircraft under the right conditions.

Boeing has not commented on the order.

Zach Vasile

Delta Adds Flights for NFL Games in Europe

The carrier announced expanded service to Spain and Germany this fall.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 11:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta A330-300 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Santi Rodriguez)

Delta will operate extra flights this fall to help U.S. football fans reach regular-season NFL games in Europe.

The carrier said it will add two flights each on existing routes between Atlanta and Madrid and between Detroit and Munich. The Atlanta Falcons will play the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on Nov. 8, and the Detroit Lions will face the New England Patriots in Munich on Nov. 15.

The additional flights from Atlanta will depart on Nov. 4 and 5, with return service on Nov. 9. The two extra flights from Detroit will both depart on Nov. 11 and return Nov. 16.

All four flights will use Airbus A330 aircraft.

“With these added flights to Madrid and Munich, customers can enjoy a premium, elevated travel experience from takeoff to touchdown, arriving ready to celebrate, connect, and be part of an incredible atmosphere abroad,” Jeff Arinder, Delta’s vice president of international network planning, said in a news release.

The NFL International Series promotes American football and the league outside the U.S. by staging games in foreign countries, mostly in Latin America and Europe. This year, games will be held in London, Paris, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Melbourne, Australia, in addition to Madrid and Munich.

Zach Vasile

Norse Atlantic Moving Toward Sale

The low-cost, all-long-haul carrier announced layoffs and furloughs earlier this month.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 09:25 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Norse Atlantic Airways 787-9. (Photo: Norse Atlantic Airways | Malcolm Nason)

Norse Atlantic Airways is laying the groundwork for a potential sale as its financial health falters.

The Norwegian low-cost carrier recently brought on JPMorgan Chase to lead a potential sale process, according to a report from Bloomberg. The airline could be valued at around €1 billion, or $1.15 billion, the financial news outlet said. Executives are reportedly comfortable with either an acquisition or merger.

Bloomberg cited sources it said are familiar with the company’s internal discussions.

Norse Atlantic is struggling with higher jet fuel prices and route disruptions stemming from the war in Iran. Earlier this month, the airline announced plans to eliminate about 75 administrative positions and furlough some crew members. It will also institute temporary pay cuts for non-flying crews.

Officials said the restructuring is part of a broader ongoing effort to lower costs.

Norse Atlantic operates only long-haul flights, with destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and North America. It connects New York-JFK with London, Rome, and Athens, and Orlando, Florida, with London.

Zach Vasile

Report: FAA Ends Investigation of Airline Compliance with Emergency Flight Cuts

The agency in December warned of $75,000-per-flight penalties.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air traffic control tower in St. Louis. (Photo: Shutterstock | ArtByArthur)

The FAA has closed its investigation into airline compliance with mandatory flight reductions during the federal government shutdown last year without any public findings or fines.

According to Reuters, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford wrote in response to questions from U.S. senators that all airlines except one were found to be in “substantial compliance” with the restrictions.

The outlet said it saw a copy of Bedford’s written responses.

The unnamed carrier that was not in compliance with the agency’s orders “received an administrative warning,” according to the report.

It was not immediately clear if any other action would be taken, or if the details of the probe would be made public.

The FAA in November cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports in an attempt to ease the burden on air traffic controllers working without pay due to the government shutdown. The reductions – which targeted airports such as Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, and many more – resulted in thousands of canceled flights per day, in addition to thousands of delays.

Cuts started at 4%, rose to 6%, and were dropped entirely days after the federal government officially reopened on Nov. 12.

In December, the FAA said it would investigate whether major airlines had complied with the restrictions. The agency warned that carriers could face fines of up to $75,000 per flight that exceeded the emergency limits.

Zach Vasile

Riyadh Air Begins Public Ticket Sales for Flagship London Heathrow Route

Full-service flights between Riyadh and London will start in July.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 02:25 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The fuselage of a Riyadh Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Photo: Riyadh Air)

Riyadh Air’s long-awaited nonstop service to London Heathrow is opening to the public.

Tickets for the Riyadh-to-London route became available for purchase by members of the general public for the first time on Tuesday. Fully public, regularly scheduled flights operated with a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will commence July 1, officials said.

Riyadh Air launched its inaugural route to London Heathrow in October 2025, but so far only airline officials and their families have been able to use it.

The airline operates from King Khalid International Airport. It is Saudi Arabia’s second flag carrier, after Jeddah-based Saudia.

“Today marks a truly exciting milestone for Riyadh Air as we introduce our new aircraft and signature premium experience on our established London route,” CEO Tony Douglas said in a news release. “It demonstrates our deep commitment to delivering a truly world-class journey for our guests, one that blends exceptional comfort, cutting-edge technology, and our distinctive Saudi ‘Hafawa’ hospitality from the moment they step on board.”

While still in its start-up phase, Riyadh Air is looking to add over 100 cities to its network by 2030. Confirmed future destinations include Jeddah, Cairo, and Dubai. Locations such as Paris, Madrid, and Manchester are reportedly under consideration.

Riyadh Air is also seeking permission from the Department of Transportation to begin commercial flights to the U.S. It has not said what destinations it is looking to serve.

Zach Vasile

JetBlue to Exit Northeast Airport

Service will end this summer, officials said.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue will end service at an airport in New England this summer.

In a post on social media, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire confirmed the carrier will suspend operations there after July 8. JetBlue currently connects Manchester to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Fort Myers, all in Florida.

According to the airport, JetBlue said it had to “make a tough call as to how to best support national connectivity in a time of capacity crisis.” The problem was made worse by the recent surge in jet fuel prices, officials said.

“We know the community will also be disappointed to hear this news,” the post read. “However, we will continue to seek new carriers and routes and hope to welcome JetBlue back to MHT in the future.”

In its own statement to NBC10 Boston, JetBlue said it is “ending service on a small number of underperforming routes and redeploying aircraft to support growth on routes with stronger customer demand.” It confirmed its last day of operations at Manchester will be July 8.

The carrier did not respond to a request from AirlineGeeks for information about the other underperforming routes.

JetBlue launched service at Manchester less than two years ago, in January 2025. That summer it offered flights between Manchester and New York-JFK, in addition to the connections to Florida.

Zach Vasile