Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s embattled health secretary was forced out of the US administration Friday amid a scandal over his use of costly private jets for government travel. Tom Price was the latest top official to join in a stream of steady and embarrassing exits …
Read More »Budget airlines to drive plane demand in next 20 years: Boeing
Singapore, Singapore | AFP | Smaller planes will dominate aviation orders worldwide in the next 20 years, driven by the needs of budget airlines in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, Boeing said Friday. Nearly three in four of the 41,030 new commerical planes expected to be delivered in the period at …
Read More »Israel finalises deal for 17 more F-35 stealth fighters
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israel has finalised a deal to purchase 17 more F-35 stealth fighters in addition to 33 of the ultra-high-tech jets already ordered, the defence ministry said Sunday. Israel has already taken delivery of five of the jets, made by US-based Lockheed Martin and the most …
Read More »India clears $650 mn Boeing army chopper deal: defence sources
New Delhi, India | AFP | India approved a $650 million purchase of six attack choppers Thursday from US aviation giant Boeing, officials said, as it boosts its military might amid border tensions with China and Pakistan. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which approves big-ticket purchases, gave the green light to …
Read More »Foiled Australia plane plot directed by Islamic State: police
Sydney, Australia | AFP | A man instructed by Islamic State to bring down an Etihad Airways flight tried to use an unsuspecting passenger to carry a bomb on board, with a second poisonous gas plot also in the works, Australian police alleged Friday. The improvised device, using “high military-grade explosive”, …
Read More »Australia foils ‘terror plot’ to bring down airplane
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia has foiled an Islamist-inspired terrorist plot to bring down an aircraft with an improvised explosive device, authorities said Sunday, after four people were arrested in raids across Sydney. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the plot appeared to be “elaborate” rather than planned by a …
Read More »Two UN peacekeepers killed in Mali helicopter crash
Bamako, Mali | AFP | Two German UN peacekeepers were killed Wednesday when their helicopter crashed as they were monitoring clashes in northern Mali, German and UN officials said. UN diplomats confirmed that the attack helicopter and the crew had been supplied by Germany to MINUSMA, the UN mission in Mali. “Sadly we …
Read More »Airlines will need 637,000 new pilots over next 20 years: Boeing
New York, United States | AFP | Airlines will need 637,000 new pilots over the next 20 years to keep pace with the growth of global air traffic, Boeing reported Tuesday in an annual report on the subject. Its latest estimate of the pilot requirements is up 3.6 percent from last …
Read More »German fighter jets help Korean plane make emergency landing
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Two German air force jets were deployed late Saturday to escort and help a Korean plane land in Stuttgart after it lost contact with air traffic controllers. The Korean Air plane with around 200 people was flying from Seoul to Zurich when communication with controllers …
Read More »Kuwait airline says US laptop ban lifted
Kuwait City, Kuwait | AFP | Kuwait Airways said Sunday that a ban on laptops and tablets in the cabins of its US-bound flights had been lifted by Washington. “Now our passengers flying from Kuwait International Airport to in #NY will be able to use all of their personal electronic devices,” …
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