These are the stories for today...
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Plane crashes into airport hangar leaving two dead and a dozen injured
By Noora Mykkanen
At least two people have died and several more were injured after a plane smashed into an airport hangar in Australia, causing a fire.
A pilot and one passenger were killed after a light
aircraft crashed into the building at Parafield Airport in Adelaide, South Australia.
The emergency services rushed to the scene after reports that the plane had smashed into the hangar and caused a large fire.
Plumes of thick smoke were seen from miles away after the incident at the airfield, which is nestled among houses.
Around 11 workers inside the hangar were wounded and taken to the hospital with serious burns, according to 7news.
The pilot and the passenger succumbed to their injuries at the scene and were confirmed dead following the incident at about 2.10 pm local time (4.30am GMT).
The number of casualties is feared to rise as authorities are not yet sure how many people were inside the plane or in the building.
Student pilots were rescued from the building.
The aircraft involved was a Diamond DA41 Twin Star plane, officials confirmed.
‘It just happened all so quick’
John Swanell was driving by the airfield when he witnessed the plane nosedive.
He told ABC Australia: ‘The pitch that it took, you could
hear it struggle then straight down.
‘I just heard the crash, it just happened all so quick.’
He said the scene turned ‘so black’ within minutes after smoke began rising from the wrecked building.
People in the surrounding neighbourhoods have been told to stay indoors to avoid the smoke, the fire service said.
Anyone struggling to breathe because of it should seek medical attention, it said.
An investigation has now been launched into the incident involving a twin-engined Diamond DA41 aircraft, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed.
It said: ‘The ATSB has deployed a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Brisbane offices, specialising in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, human factors and survival factors.
‘They will arrive on site on Thursday morning, and over coming days will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components of interest for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.’
Between October and December 2025, Australia saw 20 aviation incidents, which killed nine people across them.
The deadliest was on October 11, when a Piper Cherokee plane crashed in Shellharbour Airport, New South Wales, killing three people on board after it fell quickly after takeoff.
Port Authority to use tracking devices on airport vehicles after deadly LaGuardia crash
ByEyewitness News
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Port Authority will put tracking devices on vehicles at its airports in the wake of last month's LaGuardia Airport crash that claimed the lives of two Air Canada pilots.
The tracking devices have been recommended by FAA and were highlighted by NTSB in its preliminary report on the crash between an Air Canada plane and a Port Authority fire truck.
Port Authority will expand their use after testing them at Newark Liberty International Airport last year.
When Port Authority Police Department Truck 1 entered the runway at LaGuardia Airport at the time of the crash, the NTSB said the airport's ground surveillance system - the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X, or ASDE-X - did not generate an alert warning because the vehicle did not have a tracking device.
Experts say a tracking device could have prevented the crash.
https://abc7ny.com/post/port-authority-use-tracking-devices-airport-vehicles-deadly-laguardia-crash-between-air-canada-plane-fire-truck/18990101/
American Airlines tightens rules for portable chargers amid lithium battery concerns
By Megan Cerullo
American Airlines this week will introduce new restrictions on portable chargers that passengers can bring on flights for their electronic devices.
Starting Friday, American Airlines customers may carry only two power banks, which must be visible to airline personnel while in use on flights. When not in use, the chargers must be within a passenger's reach on the aircraft and may not be stowed in an overhead bin, the airline told CBS News.
American Airlines is introducing the policy change after nearly two dozen lithium battery incidents on flights operated by commercial airlines this year. In 2025, nearly 100 such battery incidents occurred, mostly involving battery packs and vape devices, according to FAA data.
"We know our customers rely on portable chargers to keep devices powered throughout their journey. To support safety on board while ensuring our customers continue to have the ability to charge when on the go, American is requiring customers to keep these devices easily accessible during flight," the airline said in a statement to CBS News. "Additionally, new limits also apply to the number of portable chargers customers can bring onboard and their watt-hour capacity."
Southwest Airlines also recently changed its policy on battery packs, limiting customers to one per customer.
What does American Airlines allow?
- American Airlines passengers are limited to two portable chargers, each of which may not exceed a capacity of 100 watt-hours
- Porgage chargers must be visible or within reach for the duration of the flight
- The chargers may not be stored in overhead bins or recharged aboard aircraft
The carrier's new rules apply to external power banks that can be plugged into electronic devices, such as laptops or smartphones. Some suitcases also feature built-in charging ports powered by lithium-ion batteries, which also would fall under the new guidelines.
Edited by Alain Sherter
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/american-airlines-rule-change-power-bank-lithium-battery/
Japan Airlines to Test Humanoid Robots for Baggage Handling at Haneda Airport
Written By Aminu Abdullahi
At Haneda Airport, the next ground crew assistant may look less like a cart and more like a person.
Japan Airlines plans to begin testing humanoid robots in
May 2026 to help with airport ground operations, including physically demanding baggage and cargo tasks on the tarmac. The trial, led by JAL Ground Service and GMO AI & Robotics, comes during a growing labor crunch.
The country’s aviation sector is under pressure from a surge in international tourism combined with a shrinking working-age population. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, more than 7 million visitors arrived in the country in just the first two months of 2026, following a record 42.7 million the previous year.
Airport ground handling remains labor-intensive, requiring workers to operate in tight spaces while lifting heavy loads. JAL Ground Service Co. President Yoshiteru Suzuki said using robots for such tasks would “inevitably reduce workers’ burden, providing significant benefits to employees,” according to Kyodo News.
His counterpart at GMO, Tomohiro Uchida, highlighted the gap between visible automation and reality, stating: “While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labor and face serious labor shortages.”
What the robots can do
The machines being tested include humanoid models developed by Unitree Robotics. In a recent demonstration, a compact robot, roughly 130 cm tall, was seen pushing cargo onto a conveyor belt beside an aircraft and gesturing to nearby staff.
Equipped with sensors such as 3D LiDAR and depth cameras, these robots are designed to navigate complex environments and interact with human workers. They can operate for about two to three hours before needing to recharge. The companies say humanoid design is key.
Unlike fixed automation systems, these robots can function within existing airport infrastructure without major modifications, making them more adaptable to real-world conditions.
A phased approach to deployment
The project will run through multiple stages, potentially lasting until 2028. It will begin with analyzing airport workflows to determine where robots can safely operate, followed by simulations and real-world testing that mirror daily operations.
Future roles could expand beyond cargo handling to include cleaning aircraft cabins and even operating ground support equipment. However, critical responsibilities, especially those related to safety, will remain under human control.
https://www.eweek.com/news/japan-airlines-humanoid-robots-haneda-airport-apac/
NTSB Prelim: Republic RC-3
While Enroute At An Altitude Of About 2,500 Mean Sea Level... The Propeller RPM Began To Overspeed
Location: Phoenix, AZ Accident Number: WPR26LA153
Date & Time: April 12, 2026, 14:23 Local Registration: N6518K
Aircraft: Republic RC-3 Injuries: 3 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On April 12, 2026, about 1423 mountain standard time, a Republic RC-3 airplane, N6518K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The amphibious airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that he departed Hangar Haciendas Airport (AZ90) Laveen, Arizona with two passengers onboard for a local flight. While enroute at an altitude of about 2,500 mean sea level, travelling toward Camelback Mountain, the propeller rpm began to overspeed. The pilot attempted to lower the propeller rpm, but the engine and propeller did not respond. Shortly after, smoke was observed coming out of the left side of the engine cowling and the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a gear-up forced landing on a road, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage keel hull underside. During the landing sequence, the left wing contacted a water backflow valve, damaging the leading edge of the left wing and the left wing sponson.
Postaccident examination revealed the engine’s right-side exhaust tail pipe had separated from the exhaust manifold. The examination also found thermal damage and fractures to an aluminum panel, the air intake ducting for the carburetor, the fuel delivery line to the carburetor, and electrical wiring including both magneto P-leads.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
74 Years ago today: On 29 April 1952 Pan Am flight 202, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, crashed following an in-flight break-up 450 km south-west of Carolina, MA, Brazil, killing all 50 occupants.
| Date: | Tuesday 29 April 1952 |
| Time: | 04:40 |
| Type: | Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-26 |
| Owner/operator: | Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) |
| Registration: | N1039V |
| MSN: | 15939/12 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1949 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6944 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W R-4360-B6 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 50 / Occupants: 50 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 450 km SW of Carolina, MA - Brazil |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport, RJ (GIG/SBGL) |
| Destination airport: | Port of Spain-Piarco Airport (POS/TTPP) |
| Investigating agency: | CAB |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Pan Am flight 202, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, crashed following an in-flight break-up 450 km south-west of Carolina, MA, Brazil, killing all 50 occupants.
Flight PA202 originated at Buenos Aires, destination New York, with en route stops scheduled at Montevideo, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. The flight departed Buenos Aires 18:52 UTC. After a scheduled stop at Montevideo the flight arrived at Rio de Janeiro at 01:05, April 29. The flight departed Rio de Janeiro at 02:43 for a direct off-airways flight to Port of Spain. At 06:16 the flight reported abeam of Barreiras, flying at 14,500 feet under VFR conditions and estimating abeam of Carolina, Brazil, at 07:45 UTC. This was the last known message from the flight. The aircraft was later found to have crashed in dense jungle.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The separation of the no.2 engine and propeller from the aircraft due to highly unbalanced forces, followed by uncontrollability and disintegration of the aircraft for reasons undetermined."
