Aviation

Jayawijaya Dirgantara B737-200 shoots off runway

A Boeing 737-200 (PK-JRM) of Indonesian airline Jayawijaya Dirgantara suffered a runway excursion at Wamena Airport, Indonesia. Website aviationsafety.net reported that: “after landing, when the thrust reversers were deployed, the no.2 engine reverser clam shell doors with supporting structure separated from the airplane. Directional control was lost and the aircraft ran off the runway onto the grass. The aircraft carried 12,500 kg of cargo.”

According to planespotters.net the airline has three Boeing 737-200 in its fleet with an average age of 41 years old, the airline however has planned to add one Boeing 737-500.

The registration of the aircraft is PK-JRM, and it is a 43 years old plane. Jayawijaya Dirgantara currently has 3 planes in its fleet, all of which are old Boeing 737-200s. The airline’s fleet has an average age of 40.9 years. The airline is expecting a Boeing 737-500 to be delivered to its fleet.

This is the first time an airplane has its reverser separate from the plane during the process of take off or landing. Considering the age of this plane, it is possible to happen.

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.