NEWSJan 23, 2024U.S. Sanctions Fly Baghdad for Financing Iran-Backed Terrorist Groups in Syria, Lebanon, and IraqThe U.S. has placed sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad and its CEO, Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, for assisting Iran-backed militant groups across the Middle East. The sanctions were announced on January 23, alongside a fifth round of sanctions on Hamas for using cryptocurrency to finance their operations. According to the U.S. Treasury Department (USDT), Fly Baghdad and its CEO have worked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.Read More →
NEWSJan 16, 2024Ukraine Shoots Down Two Russian Spy Planes in Blow to Russia's War EffortIn a significant development, Ukraine claims to have successfully shot down a Russian A-50 spy plane and an IL-22 command aircraft, marking a major blow to the Kremlin's air force. General Valerii Zaluzhny announced the destruction of the prized warplanes, highlighting the potential disruption to Russia's missile capabilities and the resilience of Ukrainian forces in countering advanced air assets. The incident raises questions about the evolving dynamics of the conflict and the strategic implications for both nations in the ongoing geopolitical landscape.Read More →
NEWSDec 27, 2023Pro-Palestinian Protests Target Major US Airports During Holiday Travel SeasonIn a shocking event, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked off traffic into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on December 27. The protests come as American airports handle some of the busiest travel days of the year due to Christmas and New Years. Protests at airports are not an uncommon occurrence since disrupting passenger traffic is viewed by protestors as an effective way to enact change.Read More →
STORIESDec 27, 2023The Russian Concorde: Why Did The Tupolev TU-144 Fail? During the Cold War, the ever-looming threat of technological inferiority drove innovation in the aviation industry on both sides of the Iron Curtain. One of the most prominent examples was the race to conquer commercial supersonic air travel. The Tupolev Tu-144 was built as the Soviet Union's response to the Concorde in the West. Unlike the Concorde, the Tu-144 never experienced the same level of success as its western counterpart.Read More →
NEWSDec 24, 2023Russia Has Spent $12 Billion to Keep its Aviation Sector Alive Amid Western SanctionsFacing Western sanctions and disrupted supplies, Russia invests over $12 billion to fortify its aviation sector, aiming for self-reliance in aircraft manufacturing. President Putin's vision includes producing over 1,000 domestic aircraft by 2030, navigating challenges while ensuring the industry's resilience amid international tensions and potential electoral pressure.Read More →
NEWSDec 08, 2023Israeli Airlines Have Refunded More Than $155 Million to Passengers After Widespread CancellationsIsrael's commercial aviation industry has suffered severe losses as a result of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict that escalated immensely in October. El Al and low-cost carriers have reported major losses due to necessary cancellation refunds, and foreign carriers have reduced capacity into Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) near Tel Aviv.Read More →
NEWSDec 08, 2023US Conducts Military Flights in Guyana to Prevent Possible Venezuelan InvasionThe U.S. will conduct joint military flights with Guyana as growing border tensions with Venezuela create the potential for a Venezuelan invasion of the country. Guyana, which currently has a small aviation industry due to its small size and population, will likely see a major expansion in the coming years. The discovery of vast oil reserves in Guyana is expected to create strong demand for business travel, with United Airlines already announcing a direct route connecting Houston: the global hub for oil and gas.Read More →
NEWSNov 25, 2023GPS Spoofing: Why are Planes Getting Hacked in the Middle East?In a recent development that has raised alarms among aviation experts, dozens of commercial airliners flying over parts of the Middle East have reported experiencing GPS spoofing attacks in recent months. These attacks involve the transmission of false GPS signals, effectively tricking aircraft navigation systems into believing they are in a different location than their actual position.Read More →
NEWSNov 21, 2023United Airlines Suspends Pilot for Israel-Hamas War CommentsUnited Airlines came under fire this week after one of its pilots expressed praise for the October 7 attacks in Israel. Although Mossallam created this post on October 7, his views were only well-publicized once Stop Antisemitism shared screenshots of his Facebook post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on November 20. On November 21, a spokesperson from United said that the pilot was removed from service with pay and the airline will look further into the situation.Read More →
NEWSNov 11, 2023U.S. Drone Shot Down Near Yemen Amid Rising Middle East TensionsOn the week of November 6, a United States military drone was shot down in the Middle East. The shootdown comes among rising tensions between the United States and its ally Israel and Iran. In recent weeks, the United States military has slowly increased it's presence in the Middle East over fears of Israel's conflict with Hamas escalating into a regional conflict. Read More →
