Human errors and track defects caused more than 3,000 rail accidents over the last decade, killing 23 people and injuring nearly 1,200. Yet federal railroad regulators failed to implement most of the safety recommendations that emerged from accident investigations. That’s according to an original analysis by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland. Behind those numbers, the Howard Center found, is a powerful industry that uses its money an

Meet the New Year, same as the Old Year.  The effects of rising tariffs are expected to tamp down import demand, the leading retail industry trade group predicts, as policy-driven uncertainty rolls on into 2026. The recent months of year-over-year declines in import cargo volume through the busiest U.S. container ports is expected to continue in the New Year, according to data from the National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracker. Volume totaled 2.07 million twenty foot e

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

The California Department of Motor Vehicles said this week that it is delaying the cancellation of thousands of migrant truck driver licenses. The announcement means approximately 17,000 migrant truck drivers won’t have their commercial licenses revoked on Jan. 5. Instead, they can remain on the roads and will have another two months to re-test and re-apply. The decision comes amid pressure from the U.S. Department of Transportation , which announced in November 2025 that it

Experts from Wärtsilä Marine, a leader in maritime technology, have identified 4 trends that will shape the shipping industry by 2026. From new decarbonization strategies to the integration of digital technologies, shipowners and operators must adapt to remain competitive and sustainable. Life cycle optimisation Fleet renewal will no longer depend solely on the age of the vessels; instead, the maritime industry is taking a more holistic approach to the life cycle of each ves

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

More than 18,000 Amtrak workers will receive a $900 bonus before the end of the year, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Thursday evening. Funding for the bonuses will come from Amtrak’s executive leadership team bonus packages, the statement said. The federal administration urged executive leadership “to forgo 50% of the bonus packages that would have been paid out under the misplaced priorities of the previous executive bonus structure.” Amtrak set all-time

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