These are the stories to close the week...
Have a safe weekend!
Tom
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LATAM plane evacuated in Guarulhos after fire in baggage carousel vehicle.
Matthew Alves
A LATAM Brasil Airbus A320 had to be evacuated
on Thursday night (04) at Guarulhos International Airport after a fire started in a baggage carousel vehicle that served the aircraft.
The incident occurred at Terminal 2 of the country's largest airport. The fire broke out during the process of disembarking passengers and baggage from a flight bound for Porto Alegre, on aircraft registration PR-MHR.
One of the passengers recorded the moment of the aircraft evacuation, stating that it was a serious incident, but emphasizing that all occupants managed to get out safely and that no one was injured.
Images circulating on social media show fire and a large amount of smoke near the underside of the aircraft on the right side, with some employees trying to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. In another video, passengers can be seen disembarking via inflatable slides and exiting onto the tarmac. In a third image, firefighters can be seen moving the already burned baggage conveyor belt, and some soot marks on the fuselage of the A320.
LATAM reported the following regarding the incident:
"LATAM Airlines Brasil reports that, during the boarding of passengers for flight LA3418 (São Paulo/Guarulhos–Porto Alegre), there was a small fire in ground equipment belonging to a third-party company responsible for loading cargo for the flight."
The smoke generated by the equipment triggered safety protocols. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft via the boarding bridge (finger) and the escape slide, all with the assistance of personnel trained for this type of situation.
There were no injuries and the situation was quickly brought under control.
LATAM is offering all necessary assistance to affected customers, who will be rebooked on other flights.
The company further emphasizes that safety is at the heart of all its decisions and operations.
Update: “ LATAM Airlines Brasil informs that 159 passengers from flight LA3418 (São Paulo/Guarulhos–Porto Alegre), originally scheduled for yesterday (December 4th), disembarked at 2:54 am this Friday (December 5th) at Porto Alegre airport. The remaining 10 customers will travel on other LATAM flights or by land. ”
Pilot killed in helicopter crash in Locust Grove
By: KJRH Digital
LOCUST GROVE, Okla. — Oklahoma Highway
Patrol is on the scene of downed helicopter near Locust Grove.
It happened around 9:18 a.m. on Dec. 5.
First responders said the pilot died in the crash. Witnesses at a nearby power plant saw the crash called it in.
The FAA and NTSB will release the identity of the pilot after next of kin is notified.
The helicopter was a contracted aircraft for the Grand River Dam Authority.
https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/helicopter-crashed-near-locust-grove
NTSB Prelim: Rutan Long-EZ
The Pilot Attempted Several Times To Restart The Engine And Diverted To Long Beach Airport/Daughtery Field
Location: Long Beach, CA Accident Number: WPR26LA030
Date & Time: October 20, 2025, 16:03 Local Registration: N8183K
Aircraft: Rutan Long-EZ Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On October 20, 2025, about 1603 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Rutan Long-EZ, N8183K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Long Beach, California. The pilot was seriously injured, and a pedestrian on the ground was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, he had flown the airplane from the Compton/Woodley Airport (CPM), Compton, California, to French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California, as part of a flight of two airplanes. About 1530, the flight of two airplanes departed F70, with an intended destination of CPM.
The pilot stated that the flight from F70 to the Corona area was normal and the engine was running smoothly. As he made a turn to the west to follow highway 91, he saw the fuel flow had dropped from 7 gallons per hour to 5 gallons per hour. The engine was still running normally but he radioed the lead airplane regarding the unusual fuel flow. The pilot stated that before reaching Fullerton, fuel flow had dropped to 3 gallons per hour, but the engine continued to run smoothly. The flight of two airplanes continued toward CPM and a few seconds later, the engine “throttled back.” He switched the fuel tank, turned on the electric boost pump, and enriched the mixture. The engine surged and decreased to idle, followed by a total loss of engine power.
The pilot attempted several times to restart the engine and diverted to Long Beach Airport/Daughtery Field (LGB), Long Beach, California. The pilot configured the airplane for best glide airspeed and noted it was descending about 700 ft per minute. When he realized that he would be able to make it to LGB, he initiated a forced landing to a nearby park. He stated that as he approached the park, he did not see anyone in the flight path of the airplane.
During the forced landing to the park, the airplane struck a pedestrian. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
30 Years ago today: On 5 December 1995 Azerbaijan Airlines flight 56, a Tupolev Tu-134, crashed following an engine failure after takeoff from Nakhichevan Airport, Azerbaijan. killing 52 occupants; 30 survived the accident.
| Date: | Tuesday 5 December 1995 |
| Time: | 17:54 |
| Type: | Tupolev Tu-134B-3 |
| Owner/operator: | Azerbaijan Airlines |
| Registration: | 4K-65703 |
| MSN: | 63383 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 27500 hours |
| Cycles: | 17893 flights |
| Engine model: | Soloviev D-30 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 52 / Occupants: 82 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 3,8 km from Nakhichevan Airport (NAJ) - Azerbaijan |
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Nakhichevan Airport (NAJ/UBBN) |
| Destination airport: | Baku-Bina International Airport (BAK/UBBB) |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Azerbaijan Airlines flight 56, a Tupolev Tu-134, crashed following an engine failure after takeoff from Nakhichevan Airport, Azerbaijan. killing 52 occupants; 30 survived the accident.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Tupolev 134 was operating on a return flight between Baku and Nakhichevan. The flight departed Baku at 15:28, arriving at Nakhichevan at 16:37 after an uneventful flight. The plane was refueled and prepared for the flight back to Baku the co-pilot was to be the pilot flying. The airplane took off at 17:52. While climbing through a height of 60 meters after takeoff and at an airspeed of 317 km/h, the no. 1 engine failed. The co-pilot reacted by countering the left bank and five seconds later the flight engineer reported that the right-hand engine (no. 2) had failed. The captain took over control of the airplane. Because the co-pilot had countered the left bank, the captain did not have the sensory information which could have alerted him that it was the left-hand engine that had failed. The airplane continued to climb through 140 m, passing through a layer of smog following which the captain ordered the right-hand engine to be shut down. The flight engineer retarded the right throttle and noticed that the power on the operating engine was decreasing. He brought the throttle back to the original position, but the engine had already stopped. Eight seconds later, the flight engineer reported that both engines had failed. The airplane had reached an elevation of 197 m and the speed had decreased to 290 km/h. The captain then decided to carry out a forced landing.
The plane was then maneuvered for a forced landing during which a sharp right turn was made to avoid an apartment block. In a 37-degree right bank with a 10 m/sec (1960 feet/min) descent rate, the airplane crashed into a field in the southwestern outskirts Nakhichevan, 3850 m from the runway.
Investigation revealed that, following the mechanical failure of the left-hand engine, the crew shut down the working right-hand engine. The Tu-134B flight deck ergonomics contributed in that the flight engineers' engine parameters are difficult to monitor in conditions of weak illumination. The engine failed because it was operated for more than 30 hours with an unrepaired defect.
