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United Airlines Flight Hits Drone At 3,000 Feet: Pilots Describe Incident United Airlines Flight Hits Drone At 3,000 Feet: Pilots Describe Incident
United Airlines Flight Hits Drone At 3,000 Feet: Pilots Describe Incident A United Airlines flight reported a midair collision with a drone. The incident occurred when the passenger plane was approaching San Diego International Airport on Wednesday morning, April 29.  The Boeing 737, operating as United Airlines Flight 1980 from San Francisco, was flying at approximately 3,000 feet when the flight crew informed air traffic control (ATC) that they had "hit a drone," according to KNSD, NBC 7 San Diego. The pilots described the object as "small," "red," and "shiny," in an audio recording posted on social media. United Airlines flight 1980 (Boeing 737)…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Terrifying Near-Miss Involving Southwest Jets Under Investigation Terrifying Near-Miss Involving Southwest Jets Under Investigation
Terrifying Near-Miss Involving Southwest Jets Under Investigation The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a terrifying near-miss involving two Southwest Airlines planes. The incident happened at Nashville International Airport on Saturday, April 18, just after 5 p.m. local time. That's when the planes came within 500 feet of each other vertically — half the required separation distance. The pilots received instructions from air traffic control, the FAA said, that put one plane in the path of another Southwest jet that was taking off from a "parallel runway," according to ABC News. One plane was arriving from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, an…

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by Joe Lombardi
Traffic
Pilots Meow, Bark On Approach To Reagan National Airport, Air Traffic Controller Shuts It Down Pilots Meow, Bark On Approach To Reagan National Airport, Air Traffic Controller Shuts It Down
Pilots Meow, Bark On Approach To Reagan National Airport, Air Traffic Controller Shuts It Down A new audio clip released by TMZ appears to capture pilots meowing and barking on the approach to Reagan National Airport in Arlington. The pilots can be heard meowing and woofing into the radio as they made their approach into the DC area. A good time was not had by all: The pilots were quickly put in the doghouse when an air traffic controller stepped in to put an end to the shenanigans. "You guys... uh need to be professional..." he said, while the pilots responded with more animal noises. "This is why you still fly an RJ (regional jet)."  @tmz 🐈✈️ Two pi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Close Call Between United Plane, Black Hawk Chopper Sparks FAA Investigation Close Call Between United Plane, Black Hawk Chopper Sparks FAA Investigation
Close Call Between United Plane, Black Hawk Chopper Sparks FAA Investigation The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near-collision involving a passenger plane and a military helicopter. The incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 and a California National Guard Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk chopper occurred near John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, on Tuesday, March 24, around 8:40 p.m. local time, during the United flight’s final approach, the FAA said. The United flight, carrying 168 passengers, including  six crew members, was en route from San Francisco when the Black Hawk helicopter crossed its path while returning fro…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
800+ Flights Canceled As FAA Orders Huge Cuts During Gov't Shutdown: What To Know 800+ Flights Canceled As FAA Orders Huge Cuts During Gov't Shutdown: What To Know
800+ Flights Canceled As FAA Orders Huge Cuts During Gov't Shutdown: What To Know Airlines began canceling hundreds of flights after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered reductions as the longest federal government shutdown in US history strains air traffic control staffing. According to FlightAware, at least 834 US-based flights were canceled as of 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. That's a dramatic increase from the 202 flights that were scrapped on Thursday, Nov. 6. The hubs most affected included Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Phoenix. Around 1,360 US-based flights were also delayed as airports struggle with fewer air traffic controllers and …

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Flights Slashed At Baltimore Airport, 39 Others Amid Gov't Shutdown: See Which Ones Flights Slashed At Baltimore Airport, 39 Others Amid Gov't Shutdown: See Which Ones
Flights Slashed At Baltimore Airport, 39 Others Amid Gov't Shutdown: See Which Ones Thousands of flights are expected to be canceled as the Federal Aviation Administration reduces air traffic capacity during the longest government shutdown in US history. The FAA will begin cutting flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 major airports across the country on Friday, Nov. 7. The agency said it would officially announce the airports on Thursday, Nov. 6, but several media outlets obtained the FAA's list. The cuts are expected to start at 4% Friday and gradually reach 10%, ABC News reported. Flights scheduled between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. will be affected by the reduction. Th…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Record-Long Government Shutdown Forces FAA To Cut Flights At 40 High-Volume Airports Record-Long Government Shutdown Forces FAA To Cut Flights At 40 High-Volume Airports
Record-Long Government Shutdown Forces FAA To Cut Flights At 40 High-Volume Airports Travelers could soon face major disruptions as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepares to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports.  The move comes as the government shutdown stretches into its second month, creating unprecedented strain on air traffic control staffing. On Wednesday, Nov. 5, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced a 10 percent reduction in capacity at 40 “high-volume” airports, starting Friday morning, Nov. 7. The list of affected airports has not yet been released. The decision is a direct response to …

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Ted Cruz Pushing To Raise Pilot Retirement Age: Here's Why Ted Cruz Pushing To Raise Pilot Retirement Age: Here's Why
Ted Cruz Pushing To Raise Pilot Retirement Age: Here's Why Sen. Ted Cruz is urging President Donald Trump to support raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots to 67, which a major union has condemned. Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Trump, Reuters reported. The request comes right as the United Nations holds an important aviation meeting in Montreal. The Texas Republican is asking the Trump administration to support a proposal from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to raise the global pilot retirement age. "America should lead on the international stage in support of raising, or …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Spirit Flight Urged To Move Away From Air Force One: 'Get Off The iPad!' Spirit Flight Urged To Move Away From Air Force One: 'Get Off The iPad!'
Spirit Flight Urged To Move Away From Air Force One: 'Get Off The iPad!' An air traffic controller repeatedly ordered a Spirit Airlines flight to turn away from Air Force One's path over Long Island. The tense moment in the skies near New York City happened on Tuesday, Sept. 16. According to FlightAware, Spirit flight 1300 left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 7:57 a.m. and landed in Boston at 11:07 a.m. Audio of the incident from LiveATC was posted on social media. An air traffic controller is heard urgently instructing the Spirit pilots to move away from Air Force One's path. Air Force One was flying to the United Kingdom with President Donald Trump abo…

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by Chris Spiker
Traffic
Passenger Jet, Blackhawk Nearly Collide Over Reagan National In DC: New NTSB Report Passenger Jet, Blackhawk Nearly Collide Over Reagan National In DC: New NTSB Report
Passenger Jet, Blackhawk Nearly Collide Over Reagan National In DC: New NTSB Report New details from a federal safety report reveal just how close Washington, DC skies came to disaster this spring, when a military helicopter and a packed passenger jet nearly collided near Reagan National Airport and the Pentagon. A Blackhawk helicopter landing at the Pentagon and a packed passenger jet approaching Reagan National came within just 0.4 miles and 200 feet of colliding, federal investigators revealed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a near-miss over Washington, DC this spring could have ended in catastrophe. On May 1, just after 2:30 p.m., Priority Air Tr…

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by Zak Failla
News
'Mayday, Mayday': United Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Dulles After Mid-Air Incident 'Mayday, Mayday': United Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Dulles After Mid-Air Incident
'Mayday, Mayday': United Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Dulles After Mid-Air Incident A United plane carrying 219 passengers and 11 crew members made an emergency landing after the captain radioed a chilling triple “Mayday” moments into climb-out, the airline said in a statement released Monday, Aug. 4. “Engine failure, left engine, United One-Zero-Eight declaring an emergency. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” the pilot of the Boeing 787 told air-traffic controllers at about 5,000 feet on Friday, July 25, according to recorded radio traffic released by aviation monitors. Controllers immediately cleared the airspace and asked whether the crew could return to the field at Washing…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Delta Flight Narrowly Avoids Collision With Another Jet Before Takeoff Delta Flight Narrowly Avoids Collision With Another Jet Before Takeoff
Delta Flight Narrowly Avoids Collision With Another Jet Before Takeoff A Delta Air Lines crew was forced to slam the brakes on its takeoff when an arriving jet swooped onto the same runway and passed barely 200 feet overhead. Delta Flight 590, heading to Atlanta and carrying 144 passengers, had reached approximately 70 mph on a runway at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City on Monday, July 21, according to a report by CBS News and data from FlightRadar24.  The pilots noticed an Aeromexico jet descending ahead of them and decided to abort the takeoff. “We are holding on the runway,” the Delta captain radioed; another voice replied “Wow”…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Near Miss: Delta Regional Jet Narrowly Avoids Collision With B-52 Bomber Near Miss: Delta Regional Jet Narrowly Avoids Collision With B-52 Bomber
Near Miss: Delta Regional Jet Narrowly Avoids Collision With B-52 Bomber A near-miss forced a pilot to yank his Delta regional jet into a sharp turn when a hulking B-52 bomber suddenly crossed his landing path, according to multiple reports. The flight was lining up for final approach to Minot, North Dakota sky on Friday, July 18, when the bomber appeared, according to ABC News. The plane, operated on behalf of Delta by SkyWest, had departed from Minneapolis with 80 people aboard. Cleared by the tower only moments earlier, the crew broke off the descent and looped behind the military plane in what the pilot later called an “aggressive maneuver” to land. Ac…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Northeast Airports Among Worst For Summer Delays, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast Airports Among Worst For Summer Delays, New Study Says: Here's Why
Northeast Airports Among Worst For Summer Delays, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast travelers will experience some of the worst travel delays over the summer, according to a new study. Upgraded Points released its 2025 study of Airports With the Most Summertime Flight Delays on Monday, July 7. The travel website studied federal data since 2022 to determine which airports and airlines experience the most issues during the summer. The study found that the New York City metro area has the highest rate of summer flight cancellations and some of the longest tarmac waits in the country. Crowded runways, unpredictable weather, and Northeast airspace conge…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
JetBlue, United Unveil Major Airline Alliance: What Travelers Need To Know JetBlue, United Unveil Major Airline Alliance: What Travelers Need To Know
JetBlue, United Unveil Major Airline Alliance: What Travelers Need To Know JetBlue Airways and United Airlines are linking their loyalty programs in a major new partnership that promises more flights, easier booking, and expanded travel perks. United and JetBlue announced the new "Blue Sky" alliance in a joint news release on Thursday, May 29. The deal will give United its long-desired access to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport by 2027. United flyers will get greater access to JetBlue's Caribbean vacation destinations like Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica. JetBlue customers can use United's larger global network for cities like Beijing, London, Pa…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Major airline CEOs are calling on Congressional lawmakers to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems, especially after recent widespread issues at Newark Liberty International Airport. The top executives sent the open letter to Congress on Wednesday, May 21. The group showed its support for a federal modernization plan to replace decades-old technology and hire thousands of new air traffic controllers. The letter was signed by executives from Alaska Airlines, American, Atlas Air, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and UPS, along with the industry group Airline…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Near Disaster At LaGuardia Airport: Passenger Jet Aborts Takeoff Due To Potential Collision Near Disaster At LaGuardia Airport: Passenger Jet Aborts Takeoff Due To Potential Collision
Near Disaster At LaGuardia Airport: Passenger Jet Aborts Takeoff Due To Potential Collision Federal authorities are investigating an incident in which two planes nearly collided on a runway. A Republic Airways plane nearing liftoff found a United Airlines jet suddenly in its path at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Authorities announced on Monday, May 19, details of the event that occurred just after noon on Tuesday, May 6. The Republic jet was forced to abort takeoff because the United plane was suddenly in its path. Audio obtained by ABC News revealed a controller telling the Republic pilot: “Sorry about that, I thought United had cleared well before that.” New runway safe…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
United Airlines Adding Luxury Suites To International Flights: See What's Inside United Airlines Adding Luxury Suites To International Flights: See What's Inside
United Airlines Adding Luxury Suites To International Flights: See What's Inside International travelers can soon fly on United Airlines in luxury suites with caviar, champagne, and much larger screens. United unveiled its Polaris Studio suites in a news release on Tuesday, May 13. The premium seating will be on the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flyers can soon relax in lie-flat seats with privacy doors, hoodie-pajamas, and Ossetra caviar served as hors d'oeuvres. The luxury service will begin in 2026, starting with flights from San Francisco International Airport to London and Singapore. The suites will be in the first row of eac…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Equipment Failure Disrupts Newark Airport Air Traffic Control — Again Equipment Failure Disrupts Newark Airport Air Traffic Control — Again
Equipment Failure Disrupts Newark Airport Air Traffic Control — Again Another air traffic control outage hit Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, May 11, as federal authorities announced plans to reduce the number of flights into the troubled travel hub. “There was a telecommunications issue at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace,” the FAA said in a statement. “The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed.” The 11 a.m. outage marked the latest disruption at Newark Liberty, which diverted or canceled dozens of…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Scary Silence At Newark Airport: FAA Radar Goes Dark During Pre-Dawn Outage, Officials Confirm Scary Silence At Newark Airport: FAA Radar Goes Dark During Pre-Dawn Outage, Officials Confirm
Scary Silence At Newark Airport: FAA Radar Goes Dark During Pre-Dawn Outage, Officials Confirm Air traffic controllers guiding planes in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a brief but significant disruption after a telecommunications outage shut down radar and communication systems at a nearby control center, officials said. The incident happened at Philadelphia TRACON Area C around 3:55 a.m. Friday, May 9, and lasted approximately 90 seconds, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The facility, located near Philadelphia, monitors aircraft approaching and departing the airspace for several major airports in the Northeast — including Newark Liberty. "Commu…

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by Cecilia Levine
Traffic
Flights Diverted At Reagan National Airport During Police Helicopter ‘Urgent Mission’ Flights Diverted At Reagan National Airport During Police Helicopter ‘Urgent Mission’
Flights Diverted At Reagan National Airport During Police Helicopter ‘Urgent Mission’ Several flights heading to Reagan National Airport had to be redirected over the weekend as a police helicopter completed an "urgent mission," according to the Federal Aviation Administration. At least three flights had to make a second approach because a US Park Police helicopter was reportedly in the area searching for missing persons. The redirected flights on Sunday, May 4, came days after two other flights had to abort landing plans at the airport due to a US Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying in the area. Following the diverted flights on Sunday, the FAA issued a statement cl…

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by Zak Failla
News
Air Traffic Controller Crisis Triggers Major Delays, Cancellations At Newark Airport: Officials Air Traffic Controller Crisis Triggers Major Delays, Cancellations At Newark Airport: Officials
Air Traffic Controller Crisis Triggers Major Delays, Cancellations At Newark Airport: Officials A crisis in air traffic controller staffing has pushed Newark Liberty International Airport into a travel meltdown, with 93 flight cancellations and 294 delays reported as of Sunday afternoon, May 4, according to data from FlightAware and airline officials. The staffing collapse has gotten so bad that United Airlines slashed 35 roundtrip flights per day from its Newark schedule starting this weekend, United CEO Scott Kirby announced on Friday, May 2.  Kirby blamed "long-simmering FAA challenges" that "boiled over" this week. FAA tech failures left controllers unable to manage inc…

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by Cecilia Levine
Traffic
FAA Cracks Down At Reagan National After Safety Scares, Boosts Controller Oversight FAA Cracks Down At Reagan National After Safety Scares, Boosts Controller Oversight
FAA Cracks Down At Reagan National After Safety Scares, Boosts Controller Oversight A major shakeup is underway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) as federal officials move to tighten oversight and protect the well-being of air traffic controllers following recent safety concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this week that it will boost staffing, review arrival rates, and deploy mental health support services for air traffic control teams working at the busy Virginia airport. The action comes in response to recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations after a string of concerning runway incidents near DCA, inclu…

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by Zak Failla
News
Delta Flight Has Near Miss With Air Force Jet After Takeoff From Reagan National Delta Flight Has Near Miss With Air Force Jet After Takeoff From Reagan National
Delta Flight Has Near Miss With Air Force Jet After Takeoff From Reagan National A Delta Air Lines flight had a near miss with a US Air Force jet shortly after taking off from Reagan National Airport. The incident occurred Friday afternoon, March 28, near Reagan National in Arlington County, Virginia. Both aircraft continued safely to their destinations, authorities said. Delta Flight 2983, an Airbus A319, departed Reagan National at about 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time en route to Minneapolis, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. At the time, four US Air Force T-38 Talon jets were conducting maneuvers nearby, preparing for a flyover at Arlington National Cemeter…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NTSB Makes DCA Recommendations After Deadly Crash Between Passenger Plane, Army Helicopter NTSB Makes DCA Recommendations After Deadly Crash Between Passenger Plane, Army Helicopter
NTSB Makes DCA Recommendations After Deadly Crash Between Passenger Plane, Army Helicopter Federal aviation officials are taking urgent action to prevent future midair collisions after a catastrophic crash between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two urgent safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday, March 11, in response to the accident, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Collision Over DCA The crash occurred around 8:48 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, when the Amer…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes
Hundreds Of FAA Staffers Cut By Trump Administration Amid String Of Plane Crashes The Trump administration has fired hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, including safety engineers and technicians, despite four fatal aviation accidents since Inauguration Day—a move some warn could compromise air travel safety. On Friday, Feb. 14, several hundred FAA workers received termination notices, as reported by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union.  “We are troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees PASS represents without cause nor based on performance or conduct,” said PASS natio…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Audio Released In Plane Crash Over DC That Trump Says 'Should Have Been Prevented' Audio Released In Plane Crash Over DC That Trump Says 'Should Have Been Prevented'
Audio Released In Plane Crash Over DC That Trump Says 'Should Have Been Prevented' President Donald Trump believes that Wednesday night's crash involving an American Airlines plane and black hawk over the Potomac River "should have been prevented."  Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday with his take on the collision, questioning why it could not be avoided (scroll down for air traffic audio). "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport," he posted. "The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.  "It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near-collision at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a charter plane carrying the No. 19-ranked Gonzaga men’s basketball team and a Delta jet.  The incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 27, as the Delta aircraft was taking off for Atlanta, Georgia. According to reports, an air traffic controller urgently instructed the charter plane to "Stop, stop, stop" just before it crossed paths with the departing Delta flight. The quick action avoided a potential disaster, and no injuries were reported. “In the years I’ve bee…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NTSB Report Sheds Light On Deadly Plane Crash That Originated In Maryland NTSB Report Sheds Light On Deadly Plane Crash That Originated In Maryland
NTSB Report Sheds Light On Deadly Plane Crash That Originated In Maryland The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report detailing the events leading up to a plane crash in Windham, NY, that claimed the life of a Virginia pilot dedicated to rescuing dogs in need. The crash occurred on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, at approximately 6:10 p.m. The single-engine Mooney M20J, piloted by 49-year-old Seuk Kim of Springfield, VA, was traveling from Harford County Airport in Maryland to Albany International Airport when it went down in a remote, wooded area of Greene County, as previously reported by Daily Voice. According to the NTSB report, t…

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by Cecilia Levine