Aviation

The US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, also left stranded tourists wondering how to get home — or to their next destination — after the FAA temporarily closed airspace over the Caribbean. Julie Hurwitz was one of many left with a travel-induced headache after airlines canceled more than 425 flights in and out of the Caribbean on Saturday, with over half of them to and from Puerto Rico according to

Passengers on two planes that took off from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport earlier this month had a hair-raising experience after the pilots had to perform an emergency manoeuvre to prevent a potential mid-air collision. The reason for this near-catastrophic accident? It appears that the pilots of one of the planes accidentally turned right just after takeoff when they had actually been instructed to turn left. While the incident occurred on December 18, details

Captain Tammie Jo Shults Honored with Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the retired Southwest Airlines pilot who heroically saved 148 lives during a catastrophic mid-flight emergency in 2018, was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame on April 11, 2025. The honor recognizes not only her legendary emergency landing but also her pioneering career as one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in United States Navy history. "It feels surreal

When 71% of United Airlines flight attendants rejected their tentative contract in July, they sent a clear message: a 27% pay increase doesn't cut it when you've lost 25% of your purchasing power to inflation over five years of working without a raise. Now United flight attendants are discovering what happens when you vote "no" and send negotiators back to the table. Federal mediation talks between United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) took an une

As we close out 2025, it's been an extraordinary year in aviation. From historic aircraft orders and supersonic breakthroughs to regulatory reforms and sustainability milestones, the industry has witnessed remarkable developments across commercial, general, and advanced aviation. Whether you're an aviation professional, enthusiast, or frequent flyer, this Altitude quiz will test how closely you've followed the year's biggest stories. Pour yourself a festive drink, settle in,

When the federal government shutdown disrupted operations in late 2025, America's airline pilots demonstrated that crew resource management extends far beyond the cockpit—stepping up to support air traffic controllers working without paychecks during the holiday season. At Dallas-Fort Worth, Captain Michael Torres organized a "Controllers' Pantry," coordinating with fellow pilots to stock a break room with groceries and essentials. "These professionals are working twelve-hour

On the evening of August 2, 2025, Mark Finkelstein lifted off from Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Oak Island, North Carolina, in his two-seater Jabiru aircraft—affectionately nicknamed "Air Finky"—for what should have been a routine 20-minute coastal flight. Thirteen minutes later, everything changed. "At some point, the engine started to lose power," Finkelstein recalled. "At a certain point, the engine just stopped altogether and the propeller just stopped." The 17-year vete

When the engine on their small aircraft suddenly failed at 6,000 feet on a pitch-black November night over Oklahoma, certified flight instructor Owen Navarro had just seconds to make life-or-death decisions. With his 16-year-old student pilot Landon Atkinson beside him, Navarro demonstrated the kind of calm professionalism that defines true heroes in aviation. It was Friday, November 18, 2025, and the pair had taken off from Ponca City Airport, heading back to Sundance Airpor

When devastating flash floods struck Kerr County, Texas, in the early hours of July 4, 2025, Coast Guard Lieutenant Ian Hopper and his three-person crew embarked on one of the most harrowing rescue missions in recent Coast Guard history. For their extraordinary courage and life-saving efforts, the crew of Rescue 6553 received medals from Secretary Kristi Noem in a ceremony on July 11, 2025. The mission began when the Guadalupe River rose rapidly, trapping hundreds of campers—

The U.S. government admitted in court documents to failures that led to the January midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people in all . The government made the admission in a court filing Wednesday about liability for the Jan. 29 crash between American Eagle Flight 5342, which was on approach to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. “The United States admits that it owed a duty of c

Captain Christopher Pennington became an internet sensation in early November when his pre-flight speech aboard Delta Flight 2052 went viral, amassing millions of views across social media platforms. On November 6, 2025, as passengers boarded the evening flight from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham, anxiety filled the cabin. The U.S. government shutdown had sparked concerns about air traffic control staffing shortages and flight safety. Sensing the tension, Pennington stepped into t

Lieutenant Commander Brenda Robinson never imagined she'd turn left into the cockpit when boarding an aircraft. Growing up in 1960s Pennsylvania, she assumed aviation meant turning right—toward the flight attendant galley. Today, the trailblazing pilot who shattered multiple barriers in naval aviation dedicates her retirement to ensuring young people of all backgrounds know the cockpit is within their reach. In 2025, Robinson was recognized as a Remarkable Woman finalist for

Air-ground radio communications have revealed that a JetBlue Airbus A320 crew in the Caribbean was startled by a US Air Force tanker in their vicinity which apparently did not have its transponder active. The A320 had been operating from Curacao to New York JFK as flight B61112 on 12 December. Some 15min after take-off it had been instructed to follow a heading of 005° and cleared to climb to 35,000ft. Air traffic control then gave the crew a direct routing to the KARUM waypo

When Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica in October 2025, Captain Barrington Irving didn't hesitate to answer his homeland's call for help. The Jamaican-born aviator piloted a Boeing 737-800 cargo jet on two relief missions in November, delivering over 100,000 pounds of critical medical supplies to storm-ravaged communities. "This is my homeland; the soil that I was born on," Irving said. "I wanted to ensure that the people of Jamaica receive the necessary medical supplies t

At 90 years old, most people would be content to watch planes from the ground. Not Jere Fountain. This North Carolina pilot is still logging over 500 hours annually—and he's using every minute to save lives. Fountain, a Korean War Army veteran from Richlands, North Carolina, volunteers with Pilots N Paws, a non-profit that transports rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters to their forever homes. While many pilots his age have long since hung up their wings, Fountain qualified

In March 2025, Jared Isaacman received the prestigious R.A. "Bob" Hoover Trophy from AOPA, joining an elite circle of aviators who inspire a love of flight in others. At 42, the tech billionaire and commercial astronaut has lived several lifetimes worth of aviation achievements—and he's just getting started. Isaacman's journey began inauspiciously when he dropped out of high school at 16 to found United Bank Card (later Shift4 Payments) from his parents' New Jersey basement w

Michael Schneider didn't set out to become a hero. The founder and chief pilot of Pilots To The Rescue simply saw a problem and decided to do something about it. In 2015, after learning about abandoned puppies in rural North Carolina scheduled for euthanasia due to lack of shelter space, Michael and fellow pilot Brian Orter flew south for their first rescue mission. That single flight would change everything. A year later, Michael founded Pilots To The Rescue, a nonprofit org

Harrison Ford, 83, received the inaugural E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership in 2025 from the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, recognizing decades of environmental activism that extends far beyond his legendary Hollywood career. The actor, who serves as inaugural vice chair of Conservation International since 1991, has long used his fame and aviation skills to make tangible differences in conservation and humanitarian efforts. Ford, who ea

Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the retired Southwest Airlines pilot who heroically saved 148 lives during a catastrophic mid-flight emergency in 2018, was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame on April 11, 2025. The honor recognizes not only her legendary emergency landing but also her pioneering career as one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in United States Navy history. "It feels surreal," Shults told MidAmerica Nazarene University, her alma mater, after the ind

Shopping for the pilot in your life can feel like navigating through turbulence without a flight plan. Between the technical jargon, the brand loyalties, and that knowing look they give when you suggest another "Remove Before Flight" keychain, it's enough to make anyone want to declare an emergency. But here's the good news: pilots are creatures of habit who genuinely love their gear. Get it right, and you'll be their co-pilot for life. Get it wrong, and well … let’s just sa