Airlines

Two bodies found in undercarriage of plane at Colombia airport

The bodies of two young men, who may have been from the Dominican Republic, were discovered in the undercarriage of an Avianca plane in the Colombian capital Bogota during maintenance, the airline and the country’s attorney general’s office announced on Saturday.

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“At its arrival to the El Dorado airport in Bogota, staff from the airline discovered the bodies of two passengers who flew irregularly (stowaways) in the undercarriage of the aeroplane,” Avianca said in a statement, adding that the discovery was made on Friday evening.

Avianca offered condolences to the families of the two victims and stated that, although it inspects aircraft before every flight, authorities are in charge of ensuring the security of airports and their restricted areas.

According to a statement from the attorney general’s office, “the technical investigative body of the attorney general’s office is taking out urgent operations to determine the nationality and origin of the bodies aged between 15 and 20, Afro-descendent, which were located inside the aeroplane.”

Dead body found at Frankfurt airport in undercarriage of Lufthansa aircraft from Tehran(Opens in a new browser tab)

Although no identity documents were discovered with the victims, one was determined to be carrying Dominican Republic dollars, and a suitcase containing the men also included documentation from that nation. These findings “indicate that the males may have been on the aircraft since January 3,” when it was last in the Dominican Republic, the office stated.

The bodies had been frozen and partially thawed, according to the statement, and one had burns.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.