Aviation events

October 26, 2026 · United States · Accident

Light aircraft crashes with only the pilot on board

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a light aircraft crashed in the southeastern United States at about 9:50 a.m. local time on Monday 26 October. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 26 October its statement gave no information about injuries or a cause.

October 26, 2026 · United States · Incident

Regional jet lands safely after a braking and steering issue

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a regional jet arriving from Mexico landed safely at a major airport in the southern United States at about 10:15 a.m. local time on Monday 26 October, after the crew reported a possible braking and steering issue. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 26 October no cause had been given.

Our article on this: Why One Failure Rarely Brings an Airliner Down

October 25, 2026 · United States · Incident

Flight declares an emergency over a landing gear indication and lands safely

An airliner arriving from the Caribbean declared an emergency as it approached a major airport in the southern United States on Sunday 25 October, after the crew reported a problem with the landing gear, a US newspaper reported, citing initial flight-tracking reports. In a statement, the airline said the emergency was declared "due to a mechanical indication", and that the aircraft landed safely, taxied normally and passengers left at the gate. It said 83 passengers and six crew were on board. As of 26 October no cause had been given.

Our article on this: What Happens When the Landing Gear Won't Come Down?

October 24, 2026 · United States · Security

Flight returns after a passenger disturbance

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said an airliner bound for the US East Coast returned safely to the airport it had left in the western United States at about 11:05 p.m. local time on Saturday 24 October, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The FAA said it will investigate and referred questions to the airline and local authorities. As of 26 October it had given no further details.

Our article on this: What to Do When a Passenger Is in Crisis on a Flight

October 24, 2026 · United States · Incident

Passengers leave a regional jet by the slides after a smoke alert at the gate

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that while a regional jet was pushing back from the gate at a major airport in the southern United States at about 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday 24 October, the crew reported the smell of smoke in the cabin, and passengers left by the emergency slides. The operating airline told the US broadcaster ABC13 that a sensor had alerted the crew to smoke, that it carried out a precautionary evacuation, and that passengers and crew got out safely with no injuries reported. The FAA is investigating; as of 26 October the airline had not said what set off the alert.

Our article on this: Evacuating a Plane? Leave Your Bags Behind

October 24, 2026 · United Kingdom · Incident

Storm winds send a short flight from Ireland to England on to Spain

The aviation news site Airlive reported that on the evening of Saturday 24 October an airliner flying from Ireland to the south-west of England did not land there, as a storm brought strong winds across the UK. Citing flight-tracking data, the site said the crew gave up the descent while still above 20,000 ft and the flight went on to south-eastern Spain, landing safely at about 2:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, nearly three hours after take-off on a route that normally takes under an hour.

Our article on this: What Does 'Mayday Fuel' Mean? Reserve Fuel, Explained

October 23, 2026 · United States · Incident

Business jet returns safely after a hydraulic issue

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a business jet returned safely to the airport it had left in the southwestern United States at about 3 p.m. local time on Friday 23 October, after the crew reported a hydraulic issue. It had been flying to the US Midwest. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 26 October no cause had been given.

Our article on this: Why One Failure Rarely Brings an Airliner Down

October 22, 2026 · United States · Accident

Small aircraft comes down on an interstate highway

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a small aircraft crashed on an interstate highway in the western United States at about 7:50 a.m. local time on Thursday 22 October. Only the pilot was on board. Local broadcaster KOLO described it as an emergency landing on the highway. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 26 October no cause had been given.

Our article on this: What Happens When an Aircraft's Engine Stops? Gliding, Explained

October 20, 2026 · United States · Accident

Light aircraft with three on board crashes into a marsh

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a light aircraft crashed into a marsh in the southeastern United States at about 1:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday 20 October. Three people were on board. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 21 October its statement gave no information about injuries or a cause.

October 20, 2026 · United States · Incident

Transatlantic flight reports a brake issue, then a blown tyre after landing

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a flight from Spain landed safely at an airport in the midwestern United States at about 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday 20 October after the crew reported a brake issue, and then a blown tyre after landing. Passengers left the aircraft by stairs and were taken to the terminal by bus. The FAA said it will investigate.

October 19, 2026 · United States · Incident

Domestic flight lands after a passenger medical emergency

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a domestic flight in the United States landed safely at about 1:30 p.m. local time on Monday 19 October after the crew reported a passenger medical emergency. As of 21 October its statement gave no further details.

October 19, 2026 · United States · Accident

Helicopter crashes at a private home; FAA to investigate

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a light helicopter crashed at a private residence in the northeastern United States at about 8:45 p.m. local time on Monday 19 October. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA said it will investigate. As of 21 October its statement gave no information about injuries or a cause.

October 18, 2026 · United States · Incident

Business jet leaves the runway during a rejected take-off; no injuries

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the pilot of a business jet aborted the take-off and the aircraft went off the runway at an airport in the western United States at about 10:50 a.m. local time on Sunday 18 October. Eight people were on board, and the flight was headed to Canada. According to the Associated Press, the jet struck the perimeter fence, no one was injured, two runways were closed for inspection and the FAA briefly paused flights to the airport. The FAA said it will investigate; no cause has been given.

Our article on this: Why Pilots Reject a Take-off, and What V1 Means

October 18, 2026 · Bulgaria · Security

Flight diverts to Bulgaria after a bomb threat; nothing dangerous found

According to Reuters, a flight from Israel to Austria carrying 51 passengers and six crew diverted to Bulgaria late on Sunday 18 October after a bomb threat. Bulgaria's BTA news agency said the crew reported the threat as the aircraft approached the Romanian border, and the Bulgarian air force sent fighter jets to escort it. The airline said searches of the aircraft, passengers and crew found no danger, and the flight continued to Austria with all passengers after reboarding.

October 17, 2026 · United States · Incident

Regional flight returns after a reported odour; passengers evacuate

According to FOX 2, a regional flight in the United States that had left for the East Coast on the morning of 17 October radioed the tower at about 8:43 a.m. to report the need for an emergency landing, and landed safely back at its departure airport at about 8:59 a.m. Passengers evacuated and were led to a gate; no injuries were reported. The airline said the flight returned shortly after take-off after a reported odour and that the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection. Passengers told local media that oxygen masks dropped and that some people left by the wing. The airline has not said what caused the odour.

Our article on this: Evacuating a Plane? Leave Your Bags Behind

October 17, 2026 · United States · Accident

Small aircraft comes down on a road shortly after take-off; three people hurt

Local police, quoted by KRON4, said a small propeller aircraft made an emergency landing on an expressway in the western United States shortly after take-off on the afternoon of 17 October. The fire department said two adults and a child on board were taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, that no vehicles were involved and that a small fuel spill on the road was absorbed. Police said drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors. The reports do not give a cause.

Our article on this: What Happens When an Aircraft's Engine Stops? Gliding, Explained

October 16, 2026 · United States · Incident

Flight turns back minutes after take-off with smoke from a galley trash can

According to AeroCorner and Simple Flying, a domestic flight in the United States turned back minutes after take-off on 16 October after smoke was found in the cabin, and the crew declared an emergency. The airline said the smoke came from a trash can in the galley. The FAA said the aircraft returned at about 12:30 p.m. and that the incident remained under investigation; a local television station reported that no fire extinguisher was used. No injuries were reported, and passengers continued on another aircraft that afternoon. The reports do not say what was burning.

Our article on this: Smell Smoke on a Plane? Tell the Crew Straight Away

October 15, 2026 · United Kingdom · Incident

Transatlantic flight declares an emergency and returns with an odour in the cabin

A flight that had just left the United Kingdom for the United States declared an emergency at 32,000 ft on 15 October, setting the transponder code 7700, and turned back, according to TheTravel and a report carried by AOL. It landed safely about two hours after take-off and was met by emergency services. The airline said the flight returned to address an odour in the cabin and that passengers left the aircraft normally; the flight was cancelled and passengers were rebooked. The airline has not said what caused the odour.

Our article on this: Smell Smoke on a Plane? Tell the Crew Straight Away

October 13, 2026 · Germany · Security

Airport in Germany briefly closes after a radio fault sends a hijack code

A passenger flight from Greece to Germany sent out an emergency code over Croatia late on the morning of 13 October. Police said the code suggested a hijacking and that neither they nor the control tower could reach the cockpit, so the destination airport suspended flights and air force jets escorted the aircraft, which landed safely. The airline said the code was sent because of a brief malfunction in the radio communication system and that the 178 passengers were never in danger. An airport spokesperson quoted by dpa said six flights were delayed and two were diverted; police said on-site checks found no danger.

Our article on this: What Does Squawk 7700 Mean? Transponder Codes, Explained

October 12, 2026 · Canada · Incident

Transatlantic flight diverts to Canada with an engine issue

The Canadian Press reported on 12 October that a flight from the United States to the Netherlands had been diverted to an airport in eastern Canada. The airline said the diversion was to address an engine issue, that the aircraft landed safely and that passengers left it normally. There were 122 passengers and nine crew members on board. The airline arranged hotel rooms and sent another aircraft to take the passengers on. The report does not say what the engine issue was.

Our article on this: What Happens When an Aircraft's Engine Stops? Gliding, Explained

October 11, 2026 · India · Incident

Flight diverts after a fire in an overhead bin; airline cites a passenger's electronic device

According to a news report that quotes the airline's statement, a flight within India was diverted on 11 October after a fire in an overhead luggage bin. The airline said smoke had been detected from a customer's personal electronic device, that the cabin crew brought the situation under control and that the aircraft landed safely. No injuries were reported. News accounts described the device as a power bank; the airline's statement did not say what it was.

Our article on this: Keep Your Power Bank Within Reach: Battery Fires in the Cabin

October 9, 2026 · United States · Incident

Flight diverts after severe turbulence; eight people taken to hospital

According to news reports, a flight from Colombia to the United States was diverted after severe turbulence and landed at a US airport at about 3:30 a.m. on 9 October. The airline said six passengers and three cabin crew members were affected, and eight people were taken to hospital. The reports differ on whether all eight were passengers. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told a local television station that it would investigate.

Our article on this: Keep Your Seat Belt On: What Turbulence Does to a Cabin

October 7, 2026 · Canada · Security

Regional flight turns back after a passenger tries to open the cockpit door

According to CBC News and The Canadian Press, police in Canada were told on 7 October of a "passenger in crisis" on a small regional flight. About ten minutes into the flight, police said, he tried to open the cockpit door. Four passengers and the flight attendant restrained him, and the pilot turned back and landed. No one else was hurt. Police said an investigation would decide whether charges are put to a prosecutor.

Our article on this: What to Do When a Passenger Is in Crisis on a Flight

October 6, 2026 · United States · Incident

Two airliners make contact on the ground while taxiing

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the left wingtip of an airliner taxiing for departure clipped the horizontal stabiliser of another airliner at a US airport at about 10:30 a.m. local time on 6 October. The second aircraft was being towed and had stopped short of its gate. The FAA is investigating. Its statement does not mention any injuries.

October 5, 2026 · United Kingdom · Incident

Transatlantic flight returns after a rapid descent; oxygen masks drop in the cabin

According to news reports, a flight from the United Kingdom to the United States turned back on 5 October. Flight-tracking data cited by a British broadcaster showed the aircraft at about 36,000 feet and then at about 9,000 feet within about seven minutes. The airline said the aircraft returned after a technical issue and landed safely, and that customers disembarked normally. A passenger told a news agency that oxygen masks dropped throughout the cabin. The reports do not confirm a cause and do not mention injuries.

Our article on this: Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First: Why Seconds Count

October 3, 2026 · International · Accident

Air ambulance jet lost at sea with six people on board

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) says an air ambulance jet with six occupants was approaching the north-east coast of the United States on 3 October when the crew reported electrical difficulties. The aircraft then descended rapidly and contact with air traffic control was lost over international waters. The TSB leads the investigation because the aircraft was registered in Canada, with the US National Transportation Safety Board assisting. On 8 October it said it was deploying a team to support the search and recovery after what it called a fatal accident.

September 30, 2026 · International · Security

Airliner drops into a steep dive after a struggle in the cockpit

According to news reports, a narrowbody airliner dropped into a steep dive on 30 September after a violent struggle in the cockpit. A passenger reached the controls and pulled back, and the aircraft began to level off. He later said he had learned what to do from air-disaster documentaries. Investigations are continuing.

Our article on this: What Happens If the Pilots Can't Fly a Passenger Plane?

September 30, 2026 · United States · Accident

Helicopter with five people on board crashes into the sea

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says a helicopter crashed into the water near a seaplane base off the west coast of the United States at about 7:45 p.m. local time on 30 September. Five people were on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates. The FAA's statement does not describe the condition of those on board.