Airlines

U.S. airlines lose 2 million suitcases a year. Where do they end up?

The holidays are expected to be extremely busy, according to the Transportation Security Administration. A fortunate few will be among the millions of people returning home without their bags as they head back from their Thanksgiving vacations.

Where do all those misplaced bags wind up, next? Journalist Melanie Peeples set out to investigate. All suitcases that are misplaced by US airlines and are not picked up by their owners ultimately arrive at Unclaimed Baggage.

In Scottsboro, Alabama, it occupies an entire city block and is a massive store. Every day, 7,000 new things are added to the inventory. And all of it is offered at a steep discount.

It is set up like a department store, with bookshelves filled with books and clothing and shoes around because, let’s face it, who hasn’t misplaced a book on a plane? But the jackpot is just up these stairs.

The mezzanine is the most crowded part of the store. Thus, this is where our electronics division is located. However, things up here are even more fascinating. It functions as follows: Up to three months are spent by the airline attempting to return a misplaced suitcase or pole-vaulting shipping container to its owner. However, the airline gives up after three months and compensates the owner back up to $3,800.

Statistically speaking, 99.5% of checked luggage on airlines does not disappear. All of it just adds up to a lot—the 0.5% that does.

Source

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

Air India Initiates Construction of MRO Facility at Bengaluru Airport

The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

Airbus Beluga to Deliver Spare Parts for Stranded British Airways A350

The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.