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US reports China Eastern jet fuel supplies are off ahead of fatal 2022 crash
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board published data this week indicating that the fuel supply was'switched off' to both engines of a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 before a 'the aircraft crashed into a hillside on southern China in March 2020, killing all 132 passengers. The NTSB announced on Wednesday that its investigation into China's worst air disaster in 30 years found no safety concerns. Fuel switches are physical controls that regulate fuel flow into the engines on Boeing 737 aircraft. A pilot must lift the switch before switching from run to stop. This is the first major update of investigation on this deadly crash. China's aviation regulator decided to forgo releasing an annual report on its investigation into the crash in March. The fourth anniversary passed without any explanation of what caused the accident. The NTSB released the data in response to a Freedom of Information Request. It came from the flight data recorder of the plane. The data showed that both fuel switches were moved from the run to the cutoff position simultaneously before the jet went down. In 2022, it was reported that the investigators had focused their attention on the actions taken by the flight crew. They had not found any technical malfunctions. The fuel switches of both engines were moved from their run to cutoff positions while the aircraft was cruising at 29000 feet. The NTSB reported that the engine speeds dropped after the fuel switches were moved. The Boeing 737-800 crash, which was operated as China Eastern Flight MU5735 in China, was the deadliest air disaster China has seen in decades. Deliberate crashes occur very rarely. In March 2015, the co-pilot of Germanwings deliberately crashed an Airbus A320 in a French mountainside killing all 150 people on board. The actions of the captain involved in the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad in June that resulted in the death of 260 people has been scrutinized. A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau revealed that the fuel-engine switches of the plane had been switched almost simultaneously, from run to shutoff, just after takeoff. A source who was briefed in July on the early assessment by U.S. officials of the evidence said that the cockpit recording of the dialogue between the two pilots confirmed the view that Captain Sabharwal cut off the fuel flow to the engines. The Chinese regulators 'have not released a complete report detailing their findings in the investigation of the crash, and have provided 'no updates of the probe since more than two year. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China declined to respond to a question posed about U.S. findings during a press conference on Wednesday. One of two black boxes found in the wreckage is the flight data recorder. The NTSB lab in Washington was contacted to analyze the flight data recorder because Boeing is a US aircraft manufacturer. Reporting by Casey Hall, David Shepardson and David Gregorio; editing by Raju Gopikrishnan & David Gregorio
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Air Force One to be deployed as soon as possible on the Fourth of July, according to US plans
A U.S. Air Force official and someone familiar with the program have confirmed that the U.S. Air Force plans to deliver a Boeing 747, which Qatar has donated to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft will 'join Air Force One in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The White House received the luxury jet in 2025, and requested that the Air Force upgrade it quickly to presidential standards. L3Harris was chosen to perform the overhaul. If the company is able to meet its deadline, Donald Trump could have a brand new presidential jet in time for national celebrations. A person claimed that there was a possible effort to?deliver a jet three weeks sooner to coincide with Trump's June 14 birthday, ahead of the deadline on July 4. Democrats and proponents of good governance have criticized the Qatari gift, warning that it could be a conflict of interests which would influence presidential decisions. Trump dismissed criticisms of accepting a?13-year old airplane at a $400-million list price. He said it would be "stupid to reject the offer." Air Force One's current fleet consists of two modified 747 200B aircraft. Air Force One is the name given to any?Air Force aircraft that carries the U.S. President. Experts have stated that retrofitting the luxury aircraft offered by Qatar's royal family will require security upgrades, improved communications to prevent spies from listening in, and the ability of fending off incoming missiles. A spokesperson for the Air Force said that "the aircraft is on track to be delivered this summer." Air Force spokesperson said that the aircraft is being painted after completing modifications and flight tests. OFFICIAL JETS DELAYED The official replacement program for Air Force One -- Boeing's attempt to convert two 747-8 planes into next-generation president jets -- has been four years behind schedule. Delivery is not expected until the middle of 2028. This could leave Trump without his new, coveted planes by the time his term in office ends in January 2029. Boeing has a contract for $3.9 billion that was fixed in 2018. However, costs have since ballooned and the company is now claiming $2.4 billion against earnings. Boeing hired Steve Sullivan in 2025, a former Northrop 'Grumman executive, who worked on the?B-21 bomber program. This was done to stabilize the ship. Air Force's executive airlift fleet recently received a new color scheme of red, white and dark blue, a palette Trump has long advocated. A previous version of the design was scrapped by 2022. The new?livery, which replaces the two-tone white and blue scheme in place since Kennedy's time, will be applied to VC-25B – the military designation of the Boeing 747-8. The vice president, cabinet members, and other senior officials use four?Boeing 747-8-200s. They will be repainted. The Air Force bought two ex-Lufthansa 747-8i planes for $400 million in?December. One will be used as a trainer for aircrews and maintainers and the other for spare parts.
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AirAsia has ordered 150 Airbus A220 jets for $19 billion.
AirAsia, a Malaysian budget carrier, has ordered 150 A220-300 jets designed in Canada from Airbus. This is the largest single-firm order for the jetliner ever. The companies announced this at an event held in Quebec on Tuesday. Airbus' commercial aviation CEO Lars Wagner stated that AirAsia was the "launch customer", of the new 160-seat configuration. AirAsia's CEO Tony Fernandes stated that his airline would "buy" 150 more aircraft if Airbus made a stretched version the A220 jet. The announcement confirms previous reports about a deal to purchase 150 A220-300?jets. Fernandes stated that the order is worth $19 billion. This is a good deal for the Airbus A220. Its rival Embraer E2 won a campaign with Finnair last March and outsold it three to one in 2013. Airbus wants to increase A220 production in order to break even with the program that it took from Canadian planemaker Bombardier for free last year. The province of Quebec has a minor stake in the A220 Program, which is produced in a facility in Mirabel, just north of Montreal. A separate assembly line is also located in Mobile, Alabama. Mirabel is where A220 planes are manufactured for non-US customers. In January, it was reported that Airbus would begin offering airlines and leasing companies a larger version 110-130 seat A220 jetliner in preparation for launching the development of this aircraft later this year. The kickoff is intended to?gather enough pre-orders for the A220-500, which has a seating capacity of 180. Reporting by Alison Lampert, Ryan Patrick Jones and Caroline Stauffer.
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US FAA chief to answer questions from legislators after agency cited for fatal air crash
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be questioned on Capitol Hill, on May 19, after a report revealed that'systemic failures within the agency led to the devastating mid-air collision last year which killed 67 people. The collision of an American Airlines regional plane and a Black Hawk Army helicopter in January 2025 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, was the most deadly aviation accident to occur in the United States for more than two decades. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is scheduled to appear before a Senate Aviation Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 17, to answer questions regarding the agency's response to a number of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. Hearing comes at a time when the House and Senate are passing competing bills to address air safety. The close calls have shown that our aviation system is fragile. We cannot afford to delay the implementation of safety standards. The FAA has not yet commented. The NTSB found that the FAA allowed helicopters to fly close to the airport without any safeguards to keep them separate from planes, and failed to act on data or recommendations to move helicopter traffic from the airport. Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, has rebuked FAA for its failure to communicate and address safety and culture issues at the 26th busiest airport in the United States, which is also home to the busiest runway in the country and is frequently used by members of Congress. The?NTSB gave more than 30 recommendations for the FAA. They cited a number of failures that occurred before the Washington crash. There have been 85 close calls between commercial aircraft and helicopters near Reagan Airport since 2021. The NTSB found that the FAA handled traffic differently at Reagan, and it was not able to accept a suggestion to include hot spots on a chart of helicopter routes. Homendy stated that the FAA did not also review helicopter routes as required annually and had routes which were not designed to provide proper separation.
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NextDecade sees Middle East conflict boosting long-term LNG ship charters
Peter Fitzpatrick, NextDecade Shipping Vice President and speaker at an event held in Houston on Wednesday, said that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will cause more companies to hire LNG ships on long-term contracts as opposed to the spot market. Fitzpatrick stated that the LNG industry was comfortable hiring ships on the spot markets when there were oversupplies of the fuel. Very few "long-term" deals were made in 2024 or 2025. Fitzpatrick said that the market is adapting to increased volatility, as it is becoming aware of its existence. "The geopolitical crises will have a long-term effect on shipping, as we'll see more long-term contracts where you can manage your own risks and not just rely on the spot markets," said Fitzpatrick at the Global LNG Forum hosted by Lloyd's Register. The difficulty in determining when the equipment would be available will hinder the ability of U.S. developers to make investment decisions. Fitzpatrick said on the'sidelines of the conference that it was difficult to obtain gas turbines because of the number of data centers and LNG expansion being built. He added that European resistance to long term purchases is also making FID difficult for some U.S. developers. Patrice 'Brossard, general manager of Gaztransport & Technigaz North America, said that the industry was on track to build up to 100 carriers a year. The new ships can carry up to 15% more cargo than the current tankers. The United States is already the largest LNG exporter in the world. Its capacity to export LNG will double by 2030. NextDecade will build a 30,000,000 metric ton export facility in Brownsville. Curtis Williams, Houston Reporter; Nathan Crooks and Kirsty Donovan, Editors
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What is the hantavirus which killed three passengers on a cruise ship?
The World Health Organization says the threat to the public's health is low. What has happened on the cruise ship? The WHO announced on Wednesday that eight hantavirus cases, including three deaths, were linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel operator, reported that three people were evacuated on Wednesday. Two of them were'seriously' ill. One patient is still in intensive care in South Africa. A man who was a passenger aboard the ship and returned to Switzerland for treatment in Zurich. Nearly 150 people are still aboard the ship that has been marooned in Cape Verde waters since Sunday. It is expected to depart for Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday. All passengers who do not show symptoms, currently those on board the ship, will be allowed to disembark once they reach the Canary Islands. Spain announced that the 14 Spanish passengers who were quarantined would be in a military clinic, and all other passengers would be returned to their home countries for quarantine. What is a Hantavirus? Hantaviruses can cause disease in humans and are transmitted by rodents. The WHO estimates that there are between 10,000 and 100,000 cases of human infection worldwide each year. Severity varies by strain. The Andes hantavirus is typically found in Argentina and Chile. The Hondius left Argentine on April 1st. How is the virus spread? Hantavirus is mainly spread by rodents. People are infected when they come into contact with their urine, feces, or saliva. It is spread less commonly through contaminated surfaces. Andes is the only hantavirus known to spread via prolonged, close human-to-human contacts. The WHO stated on Wednesday that it was not aware of any changes to the virus which could have made it more transmissible this way. However, it believes some human-tohuman transmission has occurred on the Hondius. Studies show that the virus is more likely to spread in the early stages when a patient has symptoms. Maria Van Kerkhove (Director of Epidemic and Pandemic management, WHO) said in an interview Wednesday that close contacts meant sharing a bunk room or a cabin on the ship. She explained that experts are working to determine which passengers are high-risk and low-risk based on the contact they have with sick passengers. What are the symptoms of infection? Hantaviruses are found in many parts of the globe. They cause different symptoms and diseases. Some even do not. According to the WHO symptoms can appear one to eight week after exposure. These include muscle aches, fever and digestive issues. The?Andes Hantavirus, as well as other hantaviruses found in the Americas, can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This condition progresses rapidly and causes fluid accumulation in the lungs and heart complications. WHO reports that hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome can cause up to 50% mortality, as opposed to the 1-15% of infections in Asia and Europe. Can HANTAVIRUS infection be treated? Since there is no specific treatment, the current approach focuses on supportive measures, such as rest and fluids. Some patients may require breathing assistance, such as a ventilator. The prevention of rodents is based on measures such as keeping surfaces and areas clean. During an outbreak, "contact tracing" can provide earlier hospitalization for those who may have been exposed to the virus, thus improving outcomes and preventing spread. WHAT ARE THE RISE RISKS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC Experts said that the cruise ship outbreak was unusual. However, disease outbreaks such as influenza are more common in ships because of the close proximity of people on board. Experts from the WHO and other countries are investigating the current outbreak, but the U.N. agency for health says that the risk to public health is low. Pollard explained that by knowing the virus responsible for the outbreak, public health protocols could be used on board the ship (such as containment and isolate) and in the countries where returning passengers were present. The WHO has warned that hantaviruses will continue to spread worldwide.
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US airline jet fuel prices jumped by $1.8 billion (56%) in March
The U.S. Transportation Department reported that major U.S. airlines spent just over $5 billion in jet fuel during March. This is up $1.8 'billion, or 56%, from what they spent in February. Fuel cost $3.13 per gallon in March, an increase of 74 cents and 31% compared to February. USDOT reported that fuel consumption increased by 20% in March. The disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel's war against?Iran have?roiled the global oil markets. The soaring jet fuel price has created the biggest crisis in the aviation industry since the COVID-19 epidemic. In March 2025, airlines spent $3.88 Billion on jet fuel. This is a far cry from the $5.06 Billion they spent in?March of this year. Major U.S. airlines?have raised air fares, increased baggage fees and cut some routes. Fuel can account for as much as a quarter or more of airline operating costs. Spirit Airlines, the ultra-low cost carrier that ceased operations last Saturday, announced this week it had paid an additional $100 million for fuel in March and April. The fuel price spike was cited as the reason why its restructuring plan had failed, and that it was forced to end operations. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said last week that "every?airline" is affected by high fuel prices. It's your responsibility to build your company in such a way that it is resilient and can survive these events because they do happen. Last month, low-cost 'carriers' asked the USDOT for a $2.5 billion bailout to address rising fuel costs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters that he didn't think it was necessary at this time. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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Politico reports that Rosneft has taken new legal action against Germany regarding the Schwedt refinery.
The Russian oil company Rosneft reportedly filed a lawsuit against its German subsidiaries that are the majority owners of the PCK Schwedt Refinery. This was reported by the 'Politico' news outlet on Wednesday. The Berlin-Brandenburg higher administrative court was not available to comment immediately. The German Economy Ministry did not respond to a phone call for a comment. Politico, citing an official from the court, reported that Rosneft had filed a lawsuit on March 30 in order to meet a deadline set by a German Economy Ministry order issued in late February, which placed certain units of the Russian 'firm' under trusteeship. The decision to put them under a trusteeship was made as part of an effort to establish long-term controls?after the prior framework required state control to be renewed each six months. Rosneft filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the previous trusteeship but it was unsuccessful. (Writing Miranda Murray Editing Madeline Chambers
HawkEye, a space analytics company, raises $416 Million in US IPO
HawkEye 360, a space?analytics company, raised $416 million in its U.S. IPO on Wednesday.
In the IPO Herndon, a Virginia-based company, sold 16 million shares at $26 each, giving it a value of approximately $2.42 billion. The firm had set a target price of $24-$26 per share.
HawkEye 360, Suja Life and other consumer brands are expected to 'test investor demand' for defense technology in the upcoming months.
HawkEye also will gauge the appetite for space-technology offerings as investors wait to see if SpaceX files a public filing that could boost confidence amongst peers in pursuing listings and tapping equity markets.
HawkEye, founded in 2015, provides data on signal intelligence to national security, defense and intelligence agencies. Satellites are used to detect, analyze and locate radio frequency emissions around the world.
HawkEye has more than 30 satellites. The U.S. Government and its allies account for the bulk of their revenue.
The?company acquired ISA in December, increasing its capabilities in classified intelligence systems and signal processing, while strengthening ties with U.S. agencies.
HawkEye will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday under the symbol "HAWK", with Goldman Sachs Morgan Stanley RBC Capital Markets Jefferies among its underwriters.
(source: Reuters)