Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

A stowaway has been found dead in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane that had landed in Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) from Europe. The aircraft was undergoing maintenance shortly after its arrival when the body was discovered by airline employees. Police in Charlotte have opened a homicide investigation into the death. Details on the stowaway have not been made public at this stage. Stowaway Body Found In American Airlines Landing Gear Credit: Charlotte Douglas International Airport According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the stowaway’s body was found by technicians as the aircraft underwent a routine maintenance inspection…

Since their debut in the skies, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II have captured the imagination of aviation enthusiasts, military strategists, and defense analysts alike. Both are considered crown jewels of American air power, often compared to one another as representatives of fifth-generation fighter technology. But while they share stealth, advanced avionics, and high maneuverability, their roles, designs, and futures diverge in striking ways. In our guide, we will see how the F-22 and F-35 compare, exploring their history, design philosophies, and what makes them so distinct in the modern aerial battlefield. Unlike many simple comparisons,…

This $10 billion order is the biggest to date for the CH-53K, of which the Marine Corps plans to procure 200 airframes. Sikorsky announced on Sep. 26, 2025 the award of a $10.8 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build up to 99 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps over the next five years. The order, which covers five contracts from Lots 9 to 13 over five years, is the “largest-quantity order to date for the aircraft” which will “ensure consistent deliveries” of the helicopter between 2029 and 2034, the press release said. Of the Corps’…

OMAAT reader Carl had a frustrating misconnect on an award ticket, and asked for my advice. I think this is interesting to discuss in a post, because it highlights how incredibly frustrating it can be when things go wrong, and you get the runaround from all parties. United to Eurowings misconnect on Air Canada award In early July, Carl booked six award tickets from Chicago to Hamburg using Air Canada Aeroplan points. The itinerary had the family flying from Chicago to Rome on United, and then from Rome to Hamburg on Eurowings, which is Lufthansa’s low cost, regional subsidiary. The…

When Airbus began proper development of its jumbo jet, it had already launched the A300, A310, A320, A330, and A340. The expectation was that it would be called the A350. Yet, circumstances transpired that led to the jet being called the A380. This included a significant financial crisis that nearly killed the project and the realization that jumping from a jet the size of an A340 to the A380 would require a larger jump in numbering. Launch Customer(s) Singapore Airlines Manufacturer Airbus Aircraft Type Widebody First Delivery October 15, 2007 Last Delivery December 16, 2021 Number Delivered 251 In this…

The F-16V Viper significantly improves the Hellenic Air Force’s ability to operate jointly with its Rafales, its future F-35s and other NATO platforms. Lockheed Martin announced on Sep. 23, 2025, the delivery of the 42nd upgraded F-16V Viper to the HAF (Hellenic Air Force), marking the halfway point in Greece’s modernization program. “This milestone strengthens Greece’s role in allied operations and underscores our commitment to delivering mission-ready capability,” the company said. The HAF is currently upgrading 84 of its F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft to the F-16V Viper Block 72 configuration, as per a 2018 contract with Lockheed. The F-16V Viper…

Ugh, this is just beyond sad… Body discovered in American 777 during maintenance The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating a tragic discovery that was made this morning (Sunday, September 28, 2025). Shortly before 9AM, detectives with the CMPD’s homicide unit were called to American Airlines’ maintenance hangar at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). While conducting routine maintenance on an American aircraft, mechanics discovered a stowaway in the landing gear, who was pronounced deceased on scene. An investigation is now being conducted into what happened, and to collect physical evidence. Details are limited beyond that as of now, though JonNYC…

The United States aviation system is facing one of its most pressing challenges in decades: a shortage of air traffic controllers, compounded by a lack of instructors to train the next generation. This guide explains why the bottleneck exists, how it affects safety and efficiency, and what solutions are being explored. Readers can expect a balanced examination of training complexities, policy responses, historical context, international comparisons, and forward-looking solutions that could shape the future of US airspace management. Air Traffic Control (ATC) is the backbone of modern aviation, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of thousands of flights daily. Yet…

The miles & points world has all kinds of different enthusiasts — some people are only interested in miles & points in order to save money on travel, while others are interested in miles & points because they love airplanes. I know there are plenty of people who are very frequent flyers but can barely tell the difference between an Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. In this post, I’d like to share how I easily identify planes in a split second. Of course there are lots of methods for doing this, but I’ll share my techniques (and maybe other hardcore…

Over the past decade, airlines have put more focus on premium cabins as a way to strengthen revenue. Economy fares have become less reliable as a profit driver, and markets on both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific have faced oversaturation. Carriers have responded by investing in more business-class seats, launching new premium economy products, and upgrading service standards to capture travelers willing to pay more for comfort. For instance, American Airlines is bringing its new Flagship Suite to the 777-300ER, the A321XLR, and the 787. Even low-cost carriers such as Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest have moved to add extra…