Here are the stories for today...
Be safe out there!
Tom
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The incident at Beijing Capital International Airport on June 15th!
Civil Aviation Story Collection
The flight in question was not a domestic flight, but 
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET604, which was flying from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to Beijing.
This flight was operated by an Airbus A350, which is only 1.6 years old, making it a very new aircraft.
The flight landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport at 6 PM on the 15th.
After landing, the plane was taxiing normally to its parking position, but it hadn't gone far when smoke started coming from the main landing gear area, and flames could be seen in the video circulating online.
The airport fire department responded quickly, and fire trucks immediately drove to the side of the aircraft and sprayed fire-fighting foam at the landing gear to cool it down and prevent the tires from igniting due to excessive heat.
Footage taken by eyewitnesses showed several fire trucks parked around the plane, with a large patch of white fire-fighting foam on the ground.
Fortunately, no more serious danger occurred. After
confirming that it was safe, the plane taxied to the parking position normally, and all passengers disembarked normally without any injuries.
Beijing Capital International Airport issued a special announcement today:
It's very rare for the landing gear to catch fire during the landing taxiing phase (tire fire?). I can only think of one reason: sudden braking can cause the brake pads to overheat rapidly, posing a fire risk. However, this usually only happens in extreme situations, such as an emergency abort of takeoff. The safety margin during normal landing taxiing is quite large.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IzxgvgGGDxFo9ydl4GGo3Q
Updated: No serious injuries after Cape Air plane goes off runway at Provincetown Municipal Airport
CapeCod.com
PROVINCETOWN – A Cape Air plane went off the runway at Provincetown Municipal Airport shortly after 8 AM 
Monday. Two pilots and a passenger were on board and appeared uninjured. The Cessna 402C was on a scheduled flight from Logan Airport (Boston) to Provincetown. The FAA will investigate the incident.
From the Town of Provincetown: At approximately 8:12 AM this morning (Monday, June 15), a Cape Air aircraft arriving from Boston overshot the runway while landing at Provincetown Municipal Airport and came to rest beyond the runway area.
The aircraft was carrying three individuals, including the pilot, co-pilot, and one passenger. While no serious injuries were reported, one individual was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
There was some smoke coming from the aircraft, but no fire was observed as a result of the incident. Emergency responders arrived quickly, secured the scene, and addressed any potential hazards. There is no threat to public safety.
Provincetown Police, Fire Department personnel, Airport
staff, and National Park Service Rangers responded promptly and secured the scene.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Massachusetts State Police have been notified and are expected to assist with the investigation.
Provincetown Municipal Airport is currently closed while emergency responders and investigators work the scene.
The Town is grateful for the swift response of all public safety personnel. Further information will be released as it becomes available through the appropriate investigative agencies.
_____
About 5:30 PM, it was reported the on scene investigation was concluding and the plane was being moved to a hangar to allow the airport to reopen in a short time.
8 killed in B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California
By Gary Warner - Stars and Stripes
An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a radar test mission crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday morning.
“Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans,” deputy base commander Col. James Hayes said at a press conference Monday evening. “This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable, and right now our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their loved ones.”
Hayes said the flight crew was a mix of uniformed Air Force personnel, government civilian employees and contractors who were working on radar upgrades for the 60-plus year-old B-52s. None of the identities of those killed will be released until 24 hours after next of kin are notified.
Boeing, which built the B-52 Stratofortress and remains heavily involved in its modernization program, said late Monday that two of its employees were killed in the crash.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the eight crew members who lost their lives in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, California,” the company said in a statement. “It is with great sadness that we confirm two Boeing employees were among those on board. We are in contact with their families and are offering support.”
Hayes said the B-52 was on initial takeoff for a local test flight in support of modernizing the bomber’s radar.
“It took off and immediately after crashed and burst into flames,” Hayes said. “Our team of first responders snapped into action and immediately cordoned off the area and took the appropriate action to start putting out the flames.”
The cause of the accident is under investigation, Hayes said. An initial investigation has been launched and will involve teams of experts from throughout the Air Force.
The crash on an Edwards runway would require the base to close for air operations at least through Tuesday. All other operations resumed Monday afternoon.
Edwards is the Air Force’s largest airfield, at more than 481 square miles in the Mojave Desert, with more than 10,000 military, federal civilian and contract personnel assigned to the base.
The 412th Test Wing at Edwards conducts developmental testing of all U.S. Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components prior to their operational acceptance and throughout their life cycle, according to the Air Force.
Edwards is also the testing center for the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
The Air Force recently announced the base would host the modernization of the B-52H bombers.
The B-52 first flew in April 1952 from Boeing Field in Seattle. The Air Force bought 744 of the bombers between 1952 and when production ended with the H variant in 1962.
The Air Force currently flies 76 B-52H models, which it plans to update with upgraded engines, avionics and other features. Once completed, the modernized bombers will be designated as B-52J.
The updates will “enable the B-52J to remain in the fight for future generations,” the Air Force said.
The Air Force has announced a long-range plan to cut its current bomber force to just two types: the B-21 and the upgraded B-52J Stratofortress. As new B-21s are delivered by manufacturer Northrop Grumman, the Air Force will retire its B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers.
Edwards was established as Muroc Field in 1933 and became the Air Force’s leading test center during the secret development of the Bell XP 59A Airacomet, the first experimental American jet fighter. It flew in 1942, a year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II.
In the Cold War era, it’s where Col. Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947 flying the Bell X-1.
In 1948, Air Force Capt. Glen Edwards was killed in a crash while testing the experimental Northrop YB 49 Flying Wing. The base was renamed in his honor in 1950. The base was the center of high-speed research during the X-15 rocket plane program of the 1950s and 1960s. Rogers Dry Lake, about 65 square miles adjacent to the base runways, allows for safe landing of aircraft when brake or engine failures require a quick landing.
The lake bed was also a NASA landing site for the Space Shuttle.
Modern jet aircraft that have had their first flight or initial testing flight at Edwards include the B-1B, B-2, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.
The B-52Hs currently in use by the Air Force have a five-member crew: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier and an electronic warfare officer who controls the defensive countermeasures on the plane.
Hayes declined to say what roles the people on the B-52 that crashed performed in the modernization program.
Hayes said all the Air Force personnel at the base were thinking of the families of those who died Monday.
“This is a tragedy, and this is going to be the worst days of their lives,” Hayes said. “We understand that, and we want to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
1 killed after aircraft crashes in Polk County cow pasture, wooded area: PCSO
By WTVT Web Staff
The Brief
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- A Polk County aircraft crash involving an experimental plane left one young man dead Monday evening in a local cow pasture.
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- Two pilots taking off from Bartow and Lakeland planned to fly in formation before one pilot reported his friend's plane came apart, then crashed.
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- The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are launching an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
LAKELAND, Fla. - One young man died Monday evening
after his experimental, single-seater plane broke apart and crashed into a Polk County cow pasture.
Aircraft crash response
What we know:
It began as a fun evening for two young men planning to fly in formation. One pilot took off from Bartow, and the other departed from Lakeland.
At about 7:54 p.m. Monday, authorities received a 911 call reporting that a plane went down.
Firefighters reached the aircraft within five minutes, finding the wreckage in a cow pasture and woods about a mile west of Moore Road.
Experimental aircraft wreck
The backstory:
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference the surviving pilot told investigators that he wrote down the exact location where his partner disappeared.
He reported seeing a piece come off the low-wing aircraft just in time to watch the plane come apart and crash straight into the ground.
The experimental, single-seater plane is known to cruise at 200 mph.
No one identified
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the identity of the young man who died.
While the second pilot witnessed the plane come apart, investigators have not determined exactly what caused the fatal malfunction.
Federal aviation investigation
What's next:
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified to help lead the crash investigation, while the Polk County Sheriff's Office will handle the death investigation.
https://www.fox13news.com/news/1-killed-after-aircraft-crashes-polk-county-wooded-area-pcfr
Cellphone fire reported on British Airways flight before landing at Las Vegas airport
By Kiki Intarasuwan
A cellphone caught fire on a British Airways flight from London to Las Vegas on Monday, the airline said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said British Airways Flight 271 landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after the crew reported a cellphone fire on board. The pilot can be heard on air traffic control audio saying the mobile phone fire "scorched the inside of the cabin," but that it was under control.
The Las Vegas airport confirmed the pilot called an alert, but a British Airways spokesperson told CBS News the aircraft arrived as scheduled and did not declare an emergency.
It was unclear what type of cellphone caused the fire.
The FAA said it will investigate the incident.
Electronic devices like cellphones, laptops, and other portable rechargeable electronic devices carry fire risk due to lithium batteries, which can short circuit. Passengers can only carry certain lithium batteries on planes and cannot check them into the cargo hold, according to FAA and airline regulations.
In April, American Airlines tightened restrictions on portable chargers that passengers can bring on flights.
Nearly 100 battery fire incidents occurred in 2025, mostly involving battery packs and vape devices, according to FAA data.
Megan Cerullo contributed to this report.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cellphone-fire-british-airways-flight-las-vegas-airport/
NTSB Final Report: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C
Accident Flight Was The Non-Certificated Pilot's First Flight In The Airplane
Location: Ontario, Oregon Accident Number: WPR24LA158
Date & Time: May 21, 2024, 12:15 Local Registration: N99577
Aircraft: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The accident flight was the non-certificated pilot's first flight in the airplane, which the pilot had recently purchased and taken possession of on the day of the accident. The airplane was on a steep approach as the pilot attempted to land and hit an approach light short of the runway threshold. The airplane then bounced and struck another set of lights before landing hard on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest on the runway and a postimpact fire ensued. A witness who arrived at the scene of the accident stated that the pilot told him that he had misjudged the landing.
A witness reported that the pilot conducted a steep approach to land, consistent with an unstable approach. The airplane was not available for examination following the accident, and whether a mechanical anomaly contributed to the accident could not be determined. The investigation was unable to determine the extent of the non-certificated pilot’s previous flight experience or whether the pilot had received any formal or informal flight instruction.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The non-certificated pilot’s unstable approach to landing, which resulted in a collision with approach lighting, hard landing, and postimpact fire.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
63 Years ago today: On 16 June 1963 A VEB-manufactured Ilyushin Il-14P, operated by Tarom, crashed near Békéssámson, Hungary, killing all 31 on board.
| Date: | Sunday 16 June 1963 |
| Time: | 10:52 |
| Type: | VEB 14P |
| Owner/operator: | Tarom |
| Registration: | YR-ILL |
| MSN: | 14803072 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 31 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 3 km W of Békéssámson - Hungary |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | München-Riem Airport (MUC/EDDM) |
| Destination airport: | Constanta-Kogalniceanu Airport (CND/LRCK) |
| Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:
A VEB-manufactured Ilyushin Il-14P, operated by Tarom, crashed near Békéssámson, Hungary, killing all 31 on board.
The aircraft was carrying West-German tourists from Munich-Riem to Constanta. At around 10:00 a.m., it entered Hungarian airspace.
The flight reported some issues and elected to divert to Arad Airport. The aircraft was observed flying low while trailing smoke. Part of a wing collapsed and the aircraft crashed and burned, killing all 31 on board.
A fuel system failure had caused a fire inside the engine, spreading to the wing.
