S.A.C.A.A. stance emboldens industry to act assertively against harmful engine ruling.
Airlink plans to add 10 Embraer E195-E2 jets to its fleet from Azorra.
SAAF belatedly sends Oryx to Eastern Cape for flood relief.
Tunisia orders a dozen Bell 412EPX helicopters.
Meet Lindi: FlySafair launches South Africa's first free ai travel agent.
Airlink achieves IATA environmental assessment certification.
Milkor and Hanwha Systems sign agreement for AESA radar integration on Milkor 380 UAV.
More air passengers than ever with lowest rate of mishandled baggage thanks to tech investments.
This week in history - 21 May 1965 The last flight of an RCAF Harvard was made.
World Wide Incidents and Accidents
Bonus Video- SAAF Harvard Air2Air shoot
S.A.C.A.A. Stance Emboldens Industry to Act Assertively Against Harmful Engine Ruling
The AIC 18.19 Task Team considers a stalemate position to have been created with the SACAA following the latter's public statement of 14 June 2025 refuting the seriousness of the situation brought about by the 12-year engine overhaul ruling being imposed indiscriminately while dismissing the countrywide havoc being created among aircraft owners and operators alike. Complaints and pledges of support have been streaming in to the various industry representative bodies now united in their endeavours to bring about change.
The Task Team subsequently condemns and repudiates the defiant stance taken by the SACAA in its statement in the strongest possible terms. The position adopted by the Authority is having the counter-effect of which they intended, in that there has been a strengthening widespread determination and resolve on the part of the industry to act assertively and collectively to have the ruling set aside and amended. The Task Team's opposing stance is that all options to seek a resolution have now been exhausted and all rights are being reserved to resort to an alternative course of action.
The Task Team considers the invitation by the SACAA to engage in talks, after first publicly refuting the position of the industry, to be in bad taste if not in bad faith. There has been no inter-action with the industry before doing away with AIC 18.19. The Task Team, on behalf of all applicants in the court process, reserves all rights to deal with allegations made by the SACAA in the public statement, to allow a proper ventilation of the matter through a proper legal process. A statement in this regard may be expected shortly.
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Airlink Plans to Add 10 Embraer E195-E2 Jets to Its Fleet from Azorra
Airlink, Southern Africa's leading full-service airline, plans to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 twin-engine passenger aircraft from Azorra, the Fort Lauderdale-based lease, finance and asset management firm.
Under the scope of an agreement to be finalised soon, Airlink will augment its current 68-strong fleet with the new E2 aircraft, with deliveries from Embraer's facilities in Brazil expected later this year through to 2027. Airlink has operated Embraer aircraft since 2001.
The new 136 and 124-seat aircraft are expected to achieve fuel savings of up to 29 percent compared to the earlier-generation E195s Airlink currently operates. This will enhance Airlink's economic efficiencies and reduce emissions across its schedule and network which covers 45 destinations in 15 countries, including St Helena Island in the South Atlantic and Madagascar.
The addition of the Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered E2s, which have on average 33% more seats than Airlink's current E190s will enable the airline to achieve lower unit costs on high-demand routes. With their additional range, they will also let Airlink expand its network, providing its efficient, reliable and comfortable service to new sub-Sahara Africa destinations.
Airlink will derive additional savings from the high degree of operating, maintenance, training and equipment commonality between its existing E-Jets and the new E2s, including similar flightdecks, operating procedures and handling. This will also ensure a streamlined entry into service.
Airlink CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, says: “The E195-E2 will bolster our business, helping us to be even more competitive on key routes and in doing so, continue providing the great value offering our customers are accustomed to.”
John Evans, CEO at Azorra, says: “This decision marks a significant milestone in our relationship with Airlink. The E195-E2 offers the perfect combination of increased capacity, efficiency and flexibility, helping Airlink expand its network while maintaining the high-frequency service its passengers value. We are proud to partner with Embraer and Pratt & Whitney to introduce this new generation aircraft to Airlink.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, says: “The E2 continues to prove its value for airlines worldwide and this latest development highlights Embraer's growing presence in Africa. It's a great vote of confidence in Embraer and the E2, that Airlink, one of the continent's most successful airlines, and a long time Embraer operator, intends joining the E2 family. We thank Azorra for its support in enabling what will be an important fleet expansion.”
SAAF Belatedly Sends Oryx to Eastern Cape for Flood Relief
Guy Martin www.defenceweb.co.za
A shortage of qualified flight engineers, pilots and aircraft has meant that the South African Air Force (SAAF) belatedly managed to send only a single Oryx helicopter to help with flood relief efforts in the Eastern Cape, where dozens of lives have been lost.
An Oryx departed for the Eastern Cape on Tuesday 17 June, a full week after parts of the province, especially Mthatha, were hit by heavy flooding, resulting in the deaths of over 90 people. Rescuers are still searching for more bodies as some residents remain unaccounted for. Floods damaged 58 schools, 20 healthcare centres, and other infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and power cut in several areas - nearly 3 000 people are estimated to have been left homeless.
The Air Force's workhorse Oryx were not deployed sooner due mainly to a shortage of flight engineers. IOL quoted internal sources as saying the flight engineer shortage has compromised the Air Force's ability to conduct search and rescue operations. defenceWeb understands that disaster management authorities requested SAAF assistance for flood relief, but none was forthcoming until yesterday. According to African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier, the request came fairly early but could not be acted on because aircraft and crews were not available.
He said it should be made clear that municipal disaster response authorities were left without support from the SAAF because the government has not funded the SAAF to provide it. “The President, the Minister of Defence, the Secretary for Defence, the Chief of the SANDF, and the Chief of the SAAF should be feeling the heat,” he said.
“Maybe then, when it becomes blatantly obvious to the public that the Air Force has been so badly underfunded for so long that it can't even reliably respond to floods and other domestic crises any more, we may finally see the political will from Cabinet and Parliament to urgently increase funding to the necessary levels to rebuild the lost capability.”
The SAAF has often supported search and rescue and disaster relief operations, but is battling to currently do so due to a shortage of serviceable aircraft and crew. Only 15-20% of its 199-strong fleet is serviceable at any point, including the 36 Oryx transport helicopters.
In a presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence last week, Armscor pointed out that the Oryx is utilised for various transport of troop as well as to aid in emergencies such as floods and putting out fires. “Not having the platform severely impacts the SAAF's ability to perform these tasks,” it warned.
The state defence materiel agency added that obsolescence issues “are critical and severely impact the overall availability of the platform.” Major servicing of Oryx engines is due, and this is expected to be “a great cost driver”.
The state of the A109 fleet is similar, with the majority of maintenance requirements unfunded (R113 million funded out of R358 million required). “Funding shortage will result in no pilots being trained and various rescue missions not being performed,” Armscor said. Compounding A109 maintenance is the fact that there are delays in the delivery of engines due to the shortage in the supply of titanium as a result of the war in Ukraine.
This leaves seven BK117 and four Super Lynx as the remaining helicopters in the SAAF fleet. According to Armscor, only R19 million of a required R100 million maintenance contract with Airbus Helicopters is funded for the BK117s, while another R200 million is needed to keep the Super Lynx fleet flying (R95 million has been allocated to Leonardo for support).
Compounding aircraft serviceability is the lack of flight engineers. SANDF Director of Corporate Communication Rear Admiral (JG) Prince Tshabalala told IOL that flight engineers are a vital part of SAAF aircrew and critical missions cannot be fully executed without them, impacting operational readiness. “Currently, the SANDF operates at approximately 40% capacity, but once the budgeting process is complete, we will address these operational requirements.”
IOL previously reported that a shortage of flight engineers cripples the operational capacity of the SANDF's most vital aircraft. Fewer than five flight engineers are apparently willing to fly, due to allowances they say are grossly insufficient and misclassified.
“They're considered technicians now, not flight crew, and their allowances have been cut,” explained a senior officer who requested anonymity. This means pilots cannot maintain currency without flight engineers, and helicopter pilots cannot complete their training due to the lack of experienced flight engineers, creating a backlog.
“Many flight engineers are resigning, lured by higher salaries overseas, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, further depleting the fragile workforce,” a source told IOL.
Flight engineer allowances are believed to amount to less than R5 000.
Defence expert Dean Wingrin said that there are only around five flight engineers willing to fly in the SAAF, with four on external deployment. “Lack of incentives and aircrew allowances means those qualified do not want to fly.”
Wingrin explained that a flight engineer is an integral member of the helicopter crew. Like a loadmaster in a transport aircraft, they are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft's systems and equipment. They look after passengers and cargo, man the hoist and gun, act as an extra pair of eyes in confined areas, manage the cargo sling, Bambi bucket etc. They also look after the helicopter when away from base, perform repairs in emergencies, assist with pre- and post-flight checks, etc.
“Without a flight engineer, the helicopter does not fly. Yet, about three years ago, the SAAF saw fit to withdraw the flight engineers' flying allowance (that the pilots receive) and have not done anything to give it back or change the designation to aircrew from technician. This has severely impacted morale,” Wingrin stated. It's no good for paying for maintenance and spares, if the helicopter cannot fly without the flight engineer, he points out.
“It is critical for the SAAF to sort this out quickly, but the situation is deteriorating, pilots are leaving the SAAF in droves. Even if money is provided for desperately needed spare parts and maintenance, there may not be any aircrew left to fly the aircraft.”
Tshabalala told IOL that there are ongoing efforts to review allowances and implement training initiatives through military academies to bolster flight engineer numbers.
An Air Force insider warns of a mass exodus of pilots, which will further exacerbate the SAAF's ability to respond to crises. The Air Force's Central Flying School predicts that operations will come to a halt by December. Another insider said about 70% of helicopter crew will have resigned by the end of next year.
The Tunisian Air Force has ordered 12 Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters for multi-role military and security missions, marking the first order for this Bell 412 variant in the region. Announced at the Paris Air Show that is underway this week, Bell Textron said the order will expand expands Tunisia's rotary wing fleet of 39 Bell aircraft, including Bell UH-1s, 205s and OH-58s. The Tunisian National Guard, meanwhile, recently began operating the Bell 429.
Bell Textron apparently beat out competition from Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo Helicopters to win the contract - Tunisia has been seeking new helicopters for a couple of years.
“The Bell 412 is one of the most trusted platforms globally, and we are honoured to support the Tunisian Air Force as it expands its fleet with this proven and versatile aircraft,” said Tim Evans, Managing Director for Middle East and Africa, Bell. “The Subaru Bell 412EPX has been gaining momentum as an international military platform, we're thrilled to bring it to the Middle East and Africa region with the Tunisian Air Force.”
Bell Textron said that to date, more than 54% of the global Bell 412 fleet performs parapublic and military missions. The Tunisian sale builds on recent entries of the Bell 412 to the Japan Coast Guard, San Diego Fire and Rescue, Croatia Ministry of Interior, Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior and more.
The Subaru Bell 412EPX can carry a pilot and 14 passengers at a speed of 122 knots (228 km/h) and out to 357 nautical miles (650 km). Useful internal load is 5 400 lb (2 440 kg), and external is 6 185 lb (2 805 kg). Power comes from two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-9 engines with a 30 minute dry run capability. They are each rated at 1 122 horsepower for take-off, same as the EPI, but are significantly uprated over the original 900-horsepower engines on the legacy EP.
Fiji Heavy Industries (Subaru from 2017) built earlier Bell helicopters (including the 204, 205 and AH-1) under license for the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) from the 1960s onwards, and co-developed the 412EPX version of the 412EPI from 2015 to meet the Japanese army's requirement for a new utility transport. The first Japanese helicopters (known in Japan Ground Self-Defence Force service as the UH-2) were delivered in 2022.
In addition to manufacturing, Subaru has been acting as a Customer Service Facility for legacy fleets of Bell Textron, servicing helicopters such as the Bell 205B and Bell 412EP. It has been assembling, repairing and customising Bell helicopters for the Japan Coast Guard, Japan National Police Agency and government offices.
The new rotorcraft will increase Tunisia's already sizeable and varied rotary wing fleet. According to the Scramble military aviation database, the Tunisian Air Force currently operates 18 AB205, six AB412, five Bell 205, nine UH-60M, 14 SA342, 24 OH-58D, six AS350B, and ten SA341 helicopters. Three Bell 429s are in service with the National Guard.
Meet Lindi: Flysafair Launches South Africa's First Free Ai Travel Agent
In a pioneering move that ushers in a new era for travel customer service, FlySafair, South Africa's leading low-cost airline, has launched Lindi, a cutting-edge AI interface.
The airline is the first in South Africa to trial a free AI-powered travel assistant, designed to transform the customer experience through technology. At this stage in development, Lindi's capabilities include being able to book flights for a single passenger, change a name or seat, and provide certain travel information. Customers can access Lindi 24 hours a day, seven days a week via WhatsApp, ensuring more convenient, faster, and simpler assistance with their travel requirements.
“Our ambition at FlySafair has always been to provide an affordable, hassle-free, and punctual flying experience,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “AI and Lindi provide an opportunity to offer what is effectively a free private travel assistant to each customer at scale. We are excited about building on her potential to enhance our customer services.”
Gordon notes that since her initial deployment, Lindi has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers, many of whom do not realise they are interacting with an AI entity due to her humanised traits. “The interactions are not only very natural, but she helps people get things done,” he adds.
Lindi also has proudly South African roots, having been brought to life by Stubber - a globally registered tech company founded right here in South Africa.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with FlySafair and apply our advanced AI technologies to create an unparalleled travel experience. Lindi is a testament to the potential of AI in delivering exceptional customer service and next-level Business Process Automation,” comments Guy Duncan, Managing Director of Stubber.
The launch capitalises on the global AI trend, in which AI assistants are increasingly being implemented into apps and digital solutions to transform many industries-from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and retail-benefiting both individuals and businesses.
“There are a number of AI assistants that have been created by airlines to help with general information about flying and destinations, but Lindi is the first that can assist customers with their bookings. As AI is increasingly integrated into our everyday life, we felt it was a good time to bring this innovative technology to our customers and enable them to benefit from AI practically. Lindi offers a seamless, efficient and human-like service that I am confident will set a new standard in the airline industry,” concludes Gordon.
Airlink's world-class environmental stewardship and sustainability practices have been recognised by the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Organisation.
Airlink's IEnvA certification confirms its compliance with global standards for environmental practices and also with the Buckingham Palace Declaration for combatting illegal wildlife trade.
Airlink's IEnvA certification will also benefit its customers and partners.
“Airlink's business and leisure customers are increasingly focussed on limiting their environmental impact. Similarly, environmental preservation and wildlife are core to the livelihoods, enterprises and economies of many of the destinations we serve. As a vital link in that chain, Airlink has a duty to make a positive environmental impact. IATA's endorsement and international certification will help Airlink strengthen trust with its customers, industry partners, regulators and other key players,” explained de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink Chief Executive Officer.
“Playing our part in the global fight against illegal wildlife trade underpins the values of our airline. This was evidenced in our recent collaboration between Airlink Cargo and the Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife's Transport Taskforce in the repatriation of some of the world's most vulnerable and endangered animals back to their natural habitats in Madagascar,” added Hardus Kuschke, Airlink Executive Manager Cargo responsible for Environmental Affairs.
The IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) voluntary certification programme independently assesses the commitment of airlines, airports, cargo handling facilities, freight forwarders and other aviation roleplayers, to continuously improve their environmental and sustainability performance. It is based on globally recognised standards and industry best practices, including the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard and the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). IEnvA also provides guidelines, procedures and other tools to help organisations improve their sustainability management.
The 2016 Buckingham Palace Declaration, is a landmark agreement initiated by United for Wildlife, an organisation founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, to combat illegal wildlife trade. It aims to shut down transportation routes exploited by traffickers of illegal wildlife products and focuses on removing vulnerabilities in the transport and customs sectors.
Milkor And Hanwha Systems Sign Agreement for AESA Radar Integration on Milkor 380 UAV
Guy Martin www.defenceweb.co.za
South Korea's Hanwha Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on the Milkor 380 Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Signed at the 2025 Paris Air Show this week, this partnership aims to deliver a fully integrated, export-ready surveillance and reconnaissance solution to both regional and international markets, Hanwha and Milkor said. The MoU was signed by Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE, and Hyuck Park, Senior Vice President of Hanwha Systems' Defence Electronics Business Division.
“This partnership brings together two highly capable organisations that complement one another,” said Coetzee. “We are looking forward to our continued collaborative efforts with Hanwha. By combining our resources and expertise, we believe we can create great opportunities, not just in the Middle East but across international markets.”
“This collaboration allows us to combine Hanwha's advanced technology with Milkor's innovative platforms to deliver next-generation defence capabilities to global customers,” Park said.
Hanwha Systems said it brings deep expertise in AESA radar technology, having developed advanced airborne radar solutions. The integration of its SAR payload will equip the Milkor 380 with high-resolution imaging, Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication (GMTI/MMTI), and all-weather reconnaissance capability - significantly enhancing its effectiveness in intelligence-gathering and situational awareness.
Hanwha is no stranger to working with South African companies, as it contracted Paramount Aerospace to help test the AESA radar being developed for South Korea's indigenous KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Test flights aboard a modified Boeing 737 took place from Pretoria's Wonderboom National Airport.
As a MALE UAV, the Milkor 380 boasts impressive specifications, having a wingspan of 18.6 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 1 500 kilograms, making it the largest such aircraft designed and built in Africa.
It is built to carry out extended operations and boasts a maximum endurance of 30 hours (when flying at 60 knots and an altitude of 10 000 feet above mean sea level) and a range of over 4 000 kilometres, making it ideal for long-range missions such as border surveillance, maritime patrols, and combat operations.
The UAV is equipped with dual redundant Line of Sight (LOS) communications systems that can maintain contact with its control unit for up to 250 km, with seamless transition between Line of Sight and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications, such as SATCom.
Milkor has partnered with leading companies, such as Germany's Hensoldt, to integrate sophisticated sensor suites, including the ARGOS II HDT Airborne Observation System with laser designator capabilities. These sensors are designed for precision targeting in combat operations and enhance the UAV's intelligence-gathering and electronic warfare capabilities. The Milkor 380 can carry up to 220 kg of payload, including munitions, communication pods and electronic warfare systems.
The Milkor 380 is powered by a four-stroke, four-cylinder turbocharged Rotax 915iS engine developing 135 hp, which gives a maximum speed of 250 km/h and cruising speed of 110-150 km/h.
Payload is 220 kg (excluding fuel), with each outer wing hardpoint able to accommodate 80 kg while each inner wing hardpoint can carry 150 kg. An underbelly station is designed to accommodate the largest payload and is rated to 400 kg. The aircraft's nose is capable of housing several different electro optical/infrared and radar sensors.
The Milkor 380 can be armed, and has already been displayed with Al Tariq X-series precision guided munitions, Halcon Desert Sting DS-16 guided bombs, and FZ602 laser-guided rocket launchers. A mock-up of a Milkor-developed missile has also been shown under the aircraft, as Milkor is exploring in-house missile development.
Annual UAV production stands at eight per year, with plans to reach sixteen units a year by 2026. Last year Milkor had half a dozen Milkor 380s under construction at its Cape Town manufacturing facility.
More Air Passengers Than Ever with Lowest Rate of Mishandled Baggage Thanks to Tech Investments
2024 was a record-breaking year for air travel, with global passenger numbers reaching 5.3 billion, the highest in aviation history. As the volume of passengers soared, so did the number of bags handled. Yet the rate of mishandled baggage continued to decline, according to the newly released SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025. This is a clear sign of industry progress, though challenges remain.
The mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2024, down from 6.9 the previous year, a 67% improvement since 2007. This drop is even more significant considering the surge in global traffic, which grew by 8.2% in 2024 alone. While the total number of mishandled bags dropped slightly to 33.4 million despite record passenger volumes, the proportion of bags mishandled continued to decline, demonstrating the growing impact of technology and automation.
Of the 33.4 million mishandled bags, over 66% (22 million) were resolved and closed in SITA WorldTracer® within 48 hours, underscoring the industry's ability to quickly reunite passengers with their luggage. Specifically, out of the 22 million, 25% were resolved within 12 hours, 38% within 24 hours, and another 38% within 48 hours.
But while these results show clear improvement, baggage mishandling still cost the industry an estimated $5 billion in 2024 and passengers are increasingly expecting more from the industry. The costs, from courier returns and customer service to claims handling and lost productivity, highlight the urgency of continued investment in real-time, automated, and data-driven baggage systems.
Airports and airlines are now handling greater baggage volumes with more precision. Real-time tracking, AI-powered analytics, and self-service solutions are no longer experimental, they are becoming standard and they are clearly having an effect. This shows the real impact of investing in smart, data-driven baggage systems.
In 2024, 42% of passengers had access to real-time baggage updates, up from 38% the year before. Nearly half of travelers say mobile tracking would boost their confidence in checking in a bag, and 38% value the addition of digital ID tags.
Airlines have responded by prioritizing visibility across the baggage journey. Currently, 66% offer automated bag drop, and another 16% plan to by 2027. On the airport side, 65% plan to roll out biometric self-service bag drop by the same year.
One of the standout innovations in 2024 was the integration of Apple's Share Item Location feature with SITA WorldTracer®. Passengers can share the location of their Apple AirTag with airlines, allowing quicker baggage recovery. British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas, Cathay, and Virgin Atlantic are among the adopters.
This integration also powers WorldTracers Auto Reflight, which automatically refights bags on the original bag tag, identifies the cause of mishandling, and begins resolution with no human intervention required.
Delayed bags remain the most common issue, accounting for 74% of mishandled baggage, down from 80% in the previous year. Lost or stolen bags made up 8%, while damaged or pilfered bags increased to 18%, up from 15% in 2023.
Transfer mishandling was the biggest contributor at 41%, showing improvement from 46% the previous year. Tagging or ticketing errors, security issues, and similar factors rose slightly to 17% (up 3 percentage points), while loading failures remained steady at 16%. Operational issues such as customs delays, weather, or capacity constraints increased to 10%, up from 8%.
In 2025, the air transport industry approved the new Modern Baggage Messaging (MBM) standard. Designed to enhance data quality, MBM Version 2 is expected to reduce mishandling by another 5%.
These improvements build on IATA Resolution 753, which mandates baggage tracking at four key stages. The focus now is on using shared data to predict and prevent issues, not just report them.
21 May 1965
The last flight of an RCAF Harvard was made.
The RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Harvard is a variant of the North American T-6 Texan, a widely used advanced trainer aircraft during World War II and beyond.
The Harvard was crucial for training RCAF pilots and those from other Commonwealth nations under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
It was also used for various operational roles.
South Africa, near Nylstroom: A Limair Robinson R44 Raven impacted trees and crashed into a dam during an early morning frost/moisture control flight. The pilot did not survive.
Germany, Leupolz: Due to a misjudgement of the thermal conditions, the 20-year-old pilot was no longer able to approach the airfield in Kißlegg and therefore attempted an out landing. In doing so, she overestimated her speed, causing the glider to crash to the ground. The 20-year-old was able to exit the cockpit on her own and was later flown to a hospital by rescue helicopter. The glider was severely damaged in the crash landing, with the property damage estimated at 30,000 euros. Experts from the police and the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation have begun investigating the cause of the crash at the scene.
UK, RAF Brize Norton (BZZ/EGVN): Two Royal Air Force Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) were vandalised by the direct action protest group "Palestine Action" while parked on the apron at RAF Brize Norton. The activists entered the airbase on electric scooters. Red paint was sprayed into the engines of two Voyager aircraft, causing an unknown amount of damage.
Brazil, about 5 km NE of Praia Grande, SC: A Golfier Balloons G32-13000 caught fire in the air and crashed about 5 km northeast of Praia Grande, Santa Catarina. At least eight of the twenty-one occupants perished and the balloon was destroyed. The incident occurred around 8:18 am, when the Santa Catarina Military Fire Department (CBMSC) was called by telephone 193 to respond to a fire involving a hot air balloon. The first team to arrive at the scene, coming from Sombrio, found the balloon basket on fire on the side of the PRG-411 road, on a slope. Next to the burning structure, there were four fatal victims. In addition to the Arcanjo-01 aircraft, a search began in a wider radius since the impact and the dispersion of victims indicated a highly serious scenario. Of the victims, 13 were removed alive before the arrival of rescue teams.
