Aerospace

Small Plane Crashes Into Power Lines In US, Triggers Major Blackout

In the wake of the plane crash, 90,000 houses faced electricity loss.

On Sunday, a small plane about 30 miles north of Washington, D.C., creating widespread disruptions and requiring rescuers to work through the night to rescue two people on board the aircraft who were still trapped in the cables.

According to the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service, the plane crashed in Montgomery Village, Maryland, at around 5.30 p.m. (2230 GMT) in cloudy and wet conditions. About 100 feet above the earth, it got entangled in live electrical cables.

LATAM Airbus aircraft A320 suffers heavy damage after flying through storm(Opens in a new browser tab)

Despite the fact that over 90,000 houses and businesses in Montgomery County lost electricity as a result of the plane crash, one-quarter of the county as a acing the outage. No one was injured in the incident.

“Power has been cut to sections of the county after a small plane crashed with several power wires near Rothbury Drive and Goshen Road. @mcfrs is already on the scene. The Montgomery County Department of Police tweeted, “PLEASE AVOID THE AREA as there are still live wires.

A small plane has crashed into power lines in the area of Rothbury Dr & Goshen Rd, taking out power to parts of the county.@mcfrs is on scene. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA, as there are still live wires. #MCPD #MCPNews
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) November 27, 2022
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Due to the rainy weather, the crash occurred close to a commercial area, although its exact cause is yet unknown. According to one estimate, the plane may have hit lines as high as 10 stories up. That could not be immediately confirmed, the Washington Post reported.

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Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.