Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper disagreed with the NTSB’s probable cause of a midair between two helicopters on Nov. 6, 2003, at Zamperini Field in Torrance, Calif., and ruled that “Defendant United States, acting by and through the conduct of its ATC, their supervisors and the FAA, caused serious injuries to Gavin Heyworth and caused the death of [Robert Bailey and Brett Boyd.]” The NTSB concluded that Heyworth, a student pilot flying a Robinson R22, failed to comply with an ATC clearance, thus causing the midair with an R44 flown by Bailey and Boyd. Judge Cooper concluded that the controllers did not conduct a proper position-relief briefing; failed to issue a safety alert to either helicopter; failed to scan the runways to the maximum extent possible; failed to maintain adequate vigilance and positional/situational awareness of airport traffic; and failed to issue clear and concise instructions to Heyworth. Cooper ruled that “Heyworth did not violate any rules or regulations in the path he took in complying with the second clearance to land.” The case for damages is expected to be held later this year.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Judge Finds FAA Liable for 2003 Helicopter Midair

U.S.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

David Jack Kenny

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Preliminary and final accident reports, November 2024

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: November 2024

Gordon Gilbert

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Aircraft touched down on the runway then departed onto a grassy area

Passenger Lands King Air C90 after Pilot Medical Issue

Mark Huber

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Black Hawk had landed on a private airstrip that was also a snowmobile trail

Snowmobiler Who Collided with Army Helo Awarded $3.3M

All five passengers drowned after autorotation into NYC's East River

Jury Awards $116M in Doors-off Helitour Crash

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

More In Accidents

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: November 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, November 2024

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

Passenger Lands King Air C90 after Pilot Medical Issue

Aircraft touched down on the runway then departed onto a grassy area

Snowmobiler Who Collided with Army Helo Awarded $3.3M

Black Hawk had landed on a private airstrip that was also a snowmobile trail

Jury Awards $116M in Doors-off Helitour Crash

All five passengers drowned after autorotation into NYC's East River

NTSB: Poor Pilot Training, Monitoring Led to Fatal C90 Accident

Pilot also violated company's sterile cockpit rules

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: October 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, October 2024

No Solid Clues Why Citation Didn’t Climb before Crash

Witness said the engines didn't sound normal on takeoff

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