The US Senate has voted to confirm the nomination of Michael Whitaker as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for a term of five years. The Senate's unanimous vote on 24 October gives the FAA its first full-time chief since April 2022. Whitaker is US president Joe Biden's second pick for FAA chief after previous nominee, Denver International airport chief Phil Washington, in late March 2023 withdrew from the confirmation process amid an expected lack of approval votes from a Senate committee. Prior to his confirmation by the Senate, Whitaker was the chief operating officer of electric air mobility vehicle manufacturer Supernal, which is owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Previously he served as deputy administrator for the FAA from 2013 to 2016. Before joining the FAA, Whitaker was group chief executive of IndiGo parent company InterGlobe Enterprises. He also worked at United Airlines for 15 years in a variety of roles, the White House says. The Senate's confirmation of Whitaker could clear the way for the legislative body to approve its own version of the FAA reauthorisation bill that was passed by the House of Representatives on 20 July.

An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot seated in the jump seat in the flight deck of a Horizon Air Embraer 175 was foiled in an attempt to disrupt engine power on a flight to San Francisco from Everett, Washington. Regional carrier Horizon is a subsidiary of Alaska. The 22 October flight was diverted to Portland International. All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight, Alaska says. "The jump-seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines," Alaska says, adding: "The Horizon captain and first officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident." According to the Multnomah County sheriff's office, Joseph David Emerson, 44, was arrested at 04:11 on 23 October and charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft. Portland, Oregon, where the Horizon jet landed, is the Multnomah County seat. The event is also being investigated by the FBI, whose Portland bureau says in a statement that it "can assure the travelling public there is no continuing threat related to this incident". Emerson is scheduled to be arraigned in a court in Portland at 14:05 on 24 October

AerCap has agreed to lease 28 new Boeing aircraft to Turkish Airlines. The aircraft, comprising 25 737 Max 8s and a trio of 787-9s, will be delivered between 2024 and 2026, the Irish lessor says. Additionally, AerCap has reached an agreement with the Turkish flag carrier to extend the leases on six used Airbus A330-200s. Fleets data indicates that AerCap also manages five aircraft in service with the Star Alliance airline: three A321s, including two Neos, plus a 737-800 and a 777-200.