Aviation

Passenger bites flight attendant on US-bound Flight

In a shocking incident aboard an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight bound for Seattle, an American airline passenger allegedly bit a female cabin crew member, prompting the aircraft to return to Tokyo.

The flight, ANA 118, took off from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 9:47 p.m. local time but made an unexpected turnaround just over an hour into the journey, as reported by the flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

The 55-year-old male passenger, described as heavily drunk, reportedly bit the crew member’s arm, causing mild injuries. The incident led the pilots to decide to return to Haneda Airport, where the unruly passenger was handed over to the local police, according to ANA.

Upon landing in Tokyo, the American passenger was detained by authorities, and subsequent investigations revealed that he had no recollection of his behavior, attributing it to the influence of a sleeping pill he had taken. The airline spokesperson reported that the man was fined $81,950, marking one of the largest penalties ever imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) against an individual passenger for disruptive behavior on an aircraft.

The incident, which left the flight attendant injured, garnered attention on social media, with some users drawing parallels in mock horror to the “beginning of a zombie movie.”

Aviation

Boeing Faces New Setbacks as 777X Delays Extend and scraps B767-300F

Boeing’s challenges continue as employees halted production due to a strike, creating new obstacles for delivering aircraft to customers. The company now faces financial losses from delays in the delivery of its boeing 777x aircraft.

Boeing recently announced that the new delivery date for the 777-9 will be in 2026, with the freighter variant scheduled for 2028. This news has been frustrating for airlines that have committed to and are waiting for the aircraft.

Mega Comparison of Boeing 777x vs A350-1000 Aircraft

The Boeing 777X program, which began in early 2019, was initially delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Subsequent issues, including defects found during testing, have placed the program under scrutiny by the FAA, which insists on the aircraft meeting all safety standards before entering service. Boeing is now facing pressure from both airlines and investors.

Boeing 777x Delay

New Commercial Airplanes expects to incur pre-tax charges of $3.0 billion related to the Boeing 777X and 767 programs.

The company forecasts a $2.6 billion pre-tax charge due to the updated timeline, which accounts for delays in flight testing for the 777-9 and the impact of the IAM (International Association of Machinists) work stoppage. The first 777-9 delivery is now expected in 2026, with the 777-8 freighter following in 2028.

Exploring the Boeing 777x: Highlights from the Debut at …

In addition, Boeing plans to conclude production of the 767 freighter, resulting in a $0.4 billion pre-tax charge. From 2027 onwards, the company will solely produce the 767-2C aircraft for the KC-46A Tanker program.

In August 2024, Boeing grounded its 777X test fleet after detecting a failure in a key engine mounting structure during a routine inspection. The new boeing 777x, powered by the GE9X engine, is the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, but this issue has caused further setbacks.

Boeing 777x, A close-up of the engine, landing gear, and wing

Comparison of 777x vs A350

Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 continues to secure new orders from airlines, becoming a strong competitor in the wide-body aircraft segment. While the a350 vs b777 offer similar ranges, the 777X is designed to carry a heavier payload.

In other developments, Boeing has hinted at starting production of a new mid-sized aircraft, the Boeing 797, which would likely compete with the Airbus A321 XLR.