Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The U.S. Marine Corps has deployed a unit equipped with MQ-9A Reaper drones to the South China Sea to provide support to Philippine forces there amid a series of clashes with Chinese vessels. The unit is deployed on a temporary basis and the drones are unarmed, a Marine Corps spokesperson told Defense News in a statement.“At the request of the Philippine government, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 1 is temporarily deployed to the Philippines to support Philippine regional maritime security through shared maritime domain awareness,” the spokesperson said.“The temporary stationing of unarmed MQ-9As to the Philippines demonstrates mutual commitment…

Chase Ultimate Rewards has just launched its latest transfer bonus, which matches an offer we saw earlier this year, I wouldn’t consider this to be the most exciting offer on earth, though there is potentially value to be had. Chase offering 70% bonus on Marriott Bonvoy transfers Between November 14 and November 30, 2025, you can receive a 70% bonus when you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy. Chase Ultimate Rewards Marriott Bonvoy transfer bonus This promotion is being offered on Chase’s end (in the United States), and is hard coded into the transfer ratio, meaning you should…

When it comes to transatlantic routes between North America and Europe, we typically think of long-haul odysseys and overnight red-eye flights. However, under certain technicalities, flights between these two regions can be a lot quicker, with some this month taking as little as two hours and 15 minutes. It is worth noting from the outset that this is possible when we include Greenland as part of North America. This is geographically the case, even though it is more European culturally and politically, thanks to its close ties to Denmark. Furthermore, Cirium, an aviation analytics company, lists flights from Greenland among…

When one of us first argued in Foreign Policy in 2022 that Israel and the Gulf states should form a U.S.-backed multinational rapid-response force, the idea seemed ahead of its time. The Abraham Accords were still fresh, and the notion of Arab and Israeli troops training and operating side by side seemed politically remote. Now, three years later, the logic has not only endured — it has been tested repeatedly in crisis after crisis.The region has outgrown ad-hoc securityThe merit for this concept, which we began developing in 2019 while leading Marines in the Middle East, has only strengthened. The…

A few days ago, I wrote about how controversial airline vlogger Josh Cahill got into a spat with Air Côte d’Ivoire. I shared my take on the incident, and then received an email from his PA asking to interview me, and telling me to put my money where my mouth is, whatever that means in this context. I asked you all for feedback on how I should handle this situation, and I very much appreciate all the thoughts people provided, so I want to report back on the approach I’m taking… My response to Josh Cahill, plus an invitation of…

Evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization Samaritan’s Purse is set to gather in Greensboro on Friday to celebrate the retirement of its Douglas DC-8 aircraft. The plane will turn off for the last time, as it will be replaced by a more modern Boeing 767. These aircraft are part of its Airlift Response Center, which supports aviation operations transporting millions of pounds of cargo to countries and communities that need support during natural disasters, conflicts, or humanitarian crises. The DC-8, registration N782SP, has been part of Samaritan’s Purse fleet since 2015. It was refurbished and re-engined on purchase, and has been…

Last month, three drones rigged with explosives detonated outside a prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, Mexico, besieging six cars parked outside with a blast of nails, BBs and metal fragments. The attack was orchestrated by a cartel, Mexican government officials confirmed, and targeted an anti-kidnapping unit of the Baja state attorney general’s office. It is the latest high-profile example of first-person view drones being used by cartels to replicate military tactics being used in Ukraine. Defense News previously reported that members of Latin American drug cartel operatives had joined Ukraine’s foreign fighter volunteer units to gain FPV drone training. Earlier this…

If you could only ever redeem miles through a limited number of frequent flyer programs again, which would they be? I’ll share my picks, and then I’m curious to hear how my choices compare to those of others. What makes a frequent flyer program useful? Admittedly this question is entirely theoretical. For those of us in the United States with access to credit cards, the reality is that you never really have to commit to just several frequent flyer programs, as the major transferable points currencies give you access to dozens of partners. That kind of flexibility is invaluable. Furthermore,…

United Airlines will be taking delivery of new widebody aircraft in 2026. These are the Boeing 787-9, of which the airline already has 47 examples. Of the future 141 on order, one of them, N27997, will feature the standard interior, while the rest will come with a new seating layout and cabin design, with what United calls the “Elevate” interior. These will feature updated seats in all three classes (Polaris, Premium Plus, and economy), along with the most premium-heavy seating layout of any US-registered widebody, and will enter service in early 2026. United had previously accumulated a total order of…

Some Transportation Security Administration employees who worked through the six-week federal shutdown without pay have begun receiving $10,000 bonus checks, after US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the awards during an event in Houston on November 14, 2025.   The payments follow days of public discussion about whether air traffic controllers who also stayed on duty would receive similar recognition from the federal government.  Noem said the bonuses would go to TSA officers who “went above and beyond” during the shutdown. She handed out the first checks at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), where long security lines during the protracted US government shutdown drew national…