Aviation

Passenger opens emergency exit on plane after bomb threat

According to Jakarta globe report, A navy officer was questioned by Soekarno-Hatta International Airport authorities after he joked about carrying a bomb on a Lion Air flight heading to Padang, West Sumatra..

The officer was a passenger on the flight and was seen carrying cabin baggage. When a flight attendant tried to help him place carry-on in the overhead compartment, the officer told the attendant not to touch it.

“It’s heavy. There’s a bomb in it,” the officer reportedly said.

The flight attendant immediately reported the incident to the pilot who then decided to re-screen the entire plane and passengers. The passengers were asked to return to the waiting room while the airport crew took the baggage out and checked all suitcases.

The flight eventually left for Padang without the naval officer. He was forced to get another ticket from f;lag carrier Garuda Indonesia after Lion Air refused to fly him.

The officer was also asked to make a written apology to airport management for the incident.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.