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Pave Hawk Helicopter and Crew Destroyed by Bird Strike

It was a quiet winter evening in the English village of Cley next the Sea, population 400. 2014 was just one week old and everyone was just getting back into the swing of post-Christmas living. Peaceful. Quiet. Until a flock of geese took down a US Air Force helicopter in their backyard. The helicopter was…

Read more… 15 Aug 25

Angara Flight 2311: An-24 Disappears on Go-Around Near Tynda

On the 24th of July 2025, Angara Airlines flight 2311 from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda disappeared from radar during a go-around at Tynda Airport. The wreckage was discovered 15 kilometres from the airport. There were no survivors. The tragic flight was a multi-stop service connecting Russia’s far eastern communities. The first flight departed Khabarovsk on time…

Read more… 8 Aug 25

From B-52 Bomb Bays to Birthday Flights

It seems like a good time for a bit of lightness as a break from fatal crashes. Luckily, I have just the thing: some reader contributions along with a personal story. Neil of AirC Images mailed me with this amazing photograph and video of his father. This is Neil’s dad Cornell as a young boy…

Read more… 1 Aug 25

CRJ 200 ferry flight crash with 19 on board at Kathmandu

Last week, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, formed by the Government of Nepal to investigate the accident of 9N-AME on the 24th of July 2024, released their final report. There’s a lot going on here, so I hope you are seated comfortably! New! You can also listen to an automatically generated audio file of the…

Read more… 25 Jul 25

Air India 171 Crash Triggered by Fuel Cutoff

On the 12th of June 2025, a Boeing 787-8, registered in India as VT-ANB, was operating as flight Air India 171 for a passenger flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The Boeing Dreamliner crashed shortly after take off, killing all of the crew, 229 passengers and 19 people on the ground. One passenger survived with…

Read more… 18 Jul 25

How the B-52 Lands in Crosswinds

I’m here, defeated but not yet horizontal, the victim of a relentless summer cold that feels like the universe’s revenge for something I can’t even remember. If I don’t make it, please avenge me by naming a B-52 after me. I’m thinking about B-52s after watching this one land at the airshow at RAF Fairford,…

Read more… 11 Jul 25

Accident Reports

Bomber 139's Third Run: Downhill to Disaster

On the 6th of February 2023, a Boeing 737-3H4 Large Air Tanker crashed into a ridge line of 222 feet elevation in Fitzgerald River National Park in Western Australia. There…

It's clear, but just barely: Ground collision at Seattle

There was light snow and congestion on the morning at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the 5th of February 2025. Visibility was good but the temperatures hovered just above freezing and…

Demystifying

Another quick round of questions and answers

It’s time for another Questions and Answers session. I started this series a few years back, when a reader asked if there was a way to pose aviation questions outside…

Durga Puja Pandal Shows Air India Flight 171 Crash

The following video from a religious festival in West Bengal, India, has caught a lot of social media attention. It shows a detailed representation of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner…

History

Gladys Ingle Inflight Wheel Change: Emergency Action or Stunt?

This video of a mid-air wheel exchange goes viral once a year or so, but I never get tired of watching it. Last week, it showed up on Reddit and…

The Disappearance of the Hawaii Clipper May Not Be as Mysterious as Was Thought

This week, we have a guest post by J.B. Rivard who wrote an article for the American Aviation Historical Society (AAHS) and used one of my articles as a reference.…

Fun Stuff

The Mystery of the Caged Tyres and the Porcupine Who Flew Home

This photograph was posted to r/shittyaskflying, a subreddit dedicated to asking silly questions and giving silly answers. In this case, the photograph is enough to make one wonder what’s going…

Songs About Failed Spacecraft and Space Disasters

This week, I’m handing over Fear of Landing to my friend Jack Keller who promised me a playlist of music relating to my interests. All of the titles except one…