Aviation

At least 2 dead, after fiery plane crash on Florida highway

A devastating incident unfolded on Friday afternoon as a small plane crashed onto a Florida highway near the affluent enclave of Naples, resulting in at least two fatalities, authorities confirmed.

The aircraft, described as a Bombardier Challenger 600 jet, went down on Interstate 75 in Naples at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Unfortunately, the Florida Highway Patrol reports that the plane’s collision with a vehicle during the crash increased the incident’s severity.

Three people survived the crash despite the terrifying conditions; nonetheless, the Naples Airport has verified that their current condition of health is unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA both launched investigations into the disaster when the FAA revealed that five people were on the tragic aircraft.

🔥🚨BREAKING: There was a plane crash in Naples Florida. Credit @.JobaRobinson pic.twitter.com/tXH69uR8mC
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) February 9, 2024

The flight left from Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, according to the NTSB. The pilot may have radioed an emergency about a dual engine failure as the aircraft approached the Naples airport, according to preliminary NTSB reports.

Following the collision, a massive fire and a huge cloud of black smoke that could be seen from the scene of the accident rising into the sky revealed a sight of disaster.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.