ARC NEWS
Deaths of two pilots confirmed after LaGuardia ground collision
March 24, 2026
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has confirmed that the two pilots of an Air Canada Express MHIRJ CRJ900 were killed in a ground collision at New York's LaGuardia airport on 22 March. In footage broadcast by Sky News, the port authority's executive director Kathryn Garcia tells reporters that the aircraft collided with a firefighting vehicle on the airport's runway 4 at around 23:47 local time. The aircraft, operated by Air Canada partner Jazz under the flight code AC8646, had arrived from Montreal. It carried 72 passengers and four crew members, according to a "preliminary passenger list", Jazz says. Garcia says 41 of the people on board, along with the fire vehicle's two occupants, were taken to hospital, and that some have suffered serious injuries. Jazz states: "The exact number of injuries and fatalities is not available at this time." The airline's president Doug Clarke adds: "We are fully committed to co-operating with the relevant authorities to determine what happened. We will share updates as soon as verified information becomes available." LaGuardia has been closed until 23:00 today. The US National Transportation Safety Board says it has launched an investigation into the accident.


FAA certificates higher MTOW 787-9s and -10s
March 24, 2026
The US Federal Aviation Administration has certificated an increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) for the 787-9 and -10 ahead of its entry into service with launch customer Air New Zealand. Boeing states that the first of the jets built to the new production standards are "now progressing through ticketing and delivery activities", and that all 787-9s and -10s assembled since December are structurally capable of being certified at the higher weight. The upgrade increases the MTOW of 787-9s by around 10,000lb (4.54t), which delivers over 300nm (560km) of additional range, or an increase in payload of around 3t. On the larger -10 variant, the 14,000lb increase in MTOW extends its range by more than 400nm or allows an extra 5t of payload. "Certification of an increased maximum takeoff weight for the 787 reflects years of rigorous engineering, testing and close coordination with our regulators,” says Lisa Fahl, Boeing's vice president of 787 engineering. "This certification approval has followed a structured, data-driven program of analysis to validate structural loads, performance and systems behaviour at the higher weight that will deliver more capability and new opportunities for our customers." Boeing confirms that Air New Zealand is the launch customer of the 'iMTOW' programme, and the carrier's general manager of strategy, networks and fleet says that the weight increase "gives us greater ability to carry additional payload on our ultra long-haul routes – an important enabler for our network ambitions, supporting trade, tourism and better connectivity for New Zealand." Fleet data indicates that the carrier is expected to take delivery of the new 787-9 in April, with another due in July and two more in 2027. They will be the first GE Aerospace GEnx-powered aircraft that will join its existing fleet of 14 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered 787-9s.


Garuda full-year loss balloons as MRO costs bite
March 23, 2026
Garuda Indonesia Group's full-year loss before income tax widened from $81 million the year prior to $354 million in 2025 as maintenance costs surged and revenue eased. Accounts filed with the Indonesia Stock Exchange show that the carrier's revenue for the year fell 5.85% to $3.2 billion, largely driven by an 8.3% fall in scheduled passenger revenue, while charter services were broadly steady. Operating expenses, meanwhile, rose 20% to $468 million, as a 23% increase in maintenance costs to $661 million offset lower flight operating and network expenses. It cited increases in heavy checks, utilisation patterns and cost inflation for the increase in maintenance costs. Garuda has previously signaled that it is working to rapidly reactivate stored aircraft as it continues to rebuild its post-pandemic operations. Fleets data shows that at 31 December, the Garuda Indonesia group (including low-cost subsidiary Citilink) has 102 aircraft in service and 38 in storage. Overall, the group reported a net loss of $319 million, compared to $69.8 million in the year prior. At the end of the year, Garuda had $943 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $219 million at the start of 2025, boosted by a $1 billion cash injection from sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia during the last quarter.


LOG ON

CONTACT
SGS Aviation Compliance
ARC Administrator
SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
54 Maxwell Drive
Woodmead North Office Park
Woodmead
2191
South Africa

Office:   +27 11 100 9100
Direct:   +27 11 100 9108
Email Us

OFFICE DIRECTORY
Find SGS offices and labs around the world.
The ARC is a mobile friendly website.