Spirit Airlines shuts down, aircraft technicians are in short supply, Sonex reopens while WACO closes, China Eastern Flight 5735 was intentionally crashed, the NTSB United Flight 1382 final report is published, United Flight 169 strikes a truck at Newark, airport ground vehicle transponders are to be added, and the Jeju Flight 2216 accident in South Korea.
Aviation News
Spirit Airlines shuts down, industry’s first Iran war casualty
Spirit Airlines shut down operations on May 2, 2026, and canceled all flights. In a statement, the company announced “an orderly wind-down of operations” and “Unfortunately, despite the company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook.”
Also on May 2, the DOT released Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Secures Relief for Spirit Airlines’ Flyers and Employees with actions for flyers and former Spirit employees. These include capped ticket prices, reduced fares, and benefits for former Spirit Airlines team members.
Aircraft Technicians Make Six Figures and Airlines Can’t Find Enough of Them
Aircraft mechanics are aging out, with over 40% over 60 and nearing retirement. As airlines await new aircraft, their existing fleets require intensive maintenance. According to an industry report, North America is expected to face a shortfall of almost 7,000 certificated mechanics. The estimated shortfall of noncertificated maintenance personnel is 15,000. Entry-level salaries have jumped about 50% since 2020, and some carriers have offered signing bonuses of up to $75,000 to recruit workers.
Sonex Reopens Under New Ownership
ON Capital, Inc., led by aviator and general contractor Stephen Osborne, has acquired all assets of Sonex LLC, including the Sonex Aerospace and the AeroConversions line of products. “The lights are on, crews are working, and kits are moving.” Stephen Osborne is a lifetime EAA member, a third-generation aviator, a warbird pilot, and a flight-school owner.
See also: Sonex Reopens – Here for the Long Haul
Waco Aircraft Ceases Operations
Waco Aircraft Corporation has ceased operations and terminated most, if not all, of its employees. About 60 people worked at the plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. Employees left work as usual on Tuesday and shortly afterward received an email telling them not to report for work on Wednesday. A sign was posted on the front door on Wednesday confirming the bad news.
See also: DIMOR Group Announces Closure of U.S. Aircraft Manufacturing Operations in Battle Creek, Michigan.
China Cover-up After Pilot Killed 132 by Flying Plane into Mountain
The NTSB confirms earlier leaks that China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735, a Boeing 737, was intentionally crashed into mountains in Guangxi province in March 2022, killing all on board. The flight recorders show that both engines were shut down manually, the autopilot was switched off, and the jet was put into a nosedive.
United Airlines 1382 NTSB Final Report [PDF]
The NTSB has issued its final investigation report on the February 2, 2025, incident involving United Airlines flight UA-1382. The Airbus A319 experienced a right-hand engine failure, and the pilots performed an emergency stop on the runway. Passengers saw an engine fire, panicked, and overwhelmed the flight attendants as they attempted to exit the aircraft with their carry-on luggage. In the mayhem, slides were deployed while the left-side engine was still running.
Driver on N.J. Turnpike hurt as United plane hits pole on approach to Newark airport
United Airlines Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, hit a tractor-trailer and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. The truck driver was briefly hospitalized. The incident was caught on the truck’s dash cam.
Deadly LaGuardia Airport crash investigation prompts Port Authority to install transponders in airfield vehicles
In March, Jazz Aviation flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured.
The fire truck involved in the crash did not have a transponder. The NTSB says in order for ASDE-X to work well, vehicles on runways need transponders. The Port Authority has now announced that it will install transponders on all airfield vehicles at local airports.
Several companies produce FAA-certified VMATs (Vehicle Movement Area Transponders):
- uAvionix — VTU-20 all-in-one design operating on 1.5 watts in an IP67-rated enclosure, and supports both permanent and magnetic mounting. The VTU-20 has been deployed to over 60 airports across the National Airspace System.
- PASSUR Aerospace (formerly L3Harris / Exelis) — ARiVA VMAT providing options for internally and externally mounted VMAT units. PASSUR has supplied and installed more than 2,300 VMAT ADS-B units throughout the United States.
- FreeFlight Systems — VMAT 1.0, with hot-start capability, a compact rugged design, low power draw (10–40 VDC input). It is operational at major U.S. airports, supporting thousands of vehicles. FreeFlight Systems
- AirBOSS (INDMEX Aviation) — The Portable Vehicle Tracking Transponder (PVTT), includes hardwired GPS modules and software-based tracking applications.
The Last Moments of Jeju Flight 2216
Jeju Air Flight 2216 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in South Korea. On December 29, 2024, the Boeing 737-800 experienced bird strikes on approach to Muan, affecting both engines. The right engine lost thrust, the pilots issued a mayday, and attempted a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the landing gear did not deploy, and the aircraft belly-landed beyond the normal touchdown zone on Runway 19. The aircraft skidded off the runway at high speed and collided with a concrete structure. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed, with only two flight attendants surviving.
The investigation concluded that all passengers would have survived if the ILS antenna structure and its support berm had been built of frangible (breakaway) materials in accordance with international safety guidelines.
Mentioned
The Real Heroes Are Dead By James B. Stewart in The New Yorker, February 3, 2002.
Hosts this Episode
Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.
