Flight Safety Detectives

Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the details in the NTSB preliminary accident report about the March 22, 2026 fatal collision between an Air Canada Jazz regional jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. The preliminary report offers a detailed timeline of the key events in the minutes before the accident.  The airliner struck a fire truck that was leading six other emergency vehicles across an active runway to deal with an emergency situation. The fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway. Shortly before the truck entered the runway, a controller ordered the fire truck to s...

In this recording of April’s livestream, Todd Curtis and John Goglia focus on all things related to aviation mechanics. John and Todd just completed their participation at the latest AMC MRO maintenance competition and they share the unique perspectives on the past, present and future of A&P mechanics. 👉 Hear what more than 500 competitors from across the globe achieved at the 2026 Aerospace Maintenance Council competition. 👉 Understand how the current shortage will impact everyone from the largest airlines to general aviation pilots. 👉 Hiring! A&P mechanic skills are valued in aviation and many other indus...

Todd Curtis and John Goglia did some digging beyond the official investigation of the tragic March 22, 2026 collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada regional jet and an airport fire truck operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This incident raises serious questions about airport ground safety—and what they have found may surprise you. John digs into critical factors that could have contributed to the accident, including: - Why the fire truck may not have been visible on radar - How the lack of a transponder on emergency vehi...

Controversial proposed landing fee increases at two airports in Mesa, Arizona could have ripple effects nationwide as more airports adopt user fees. What may look like a routine pricing update could significantly impact flight schools, student pilots, and the overall pilot training environment. John Goglia, Greg Feith and Todd Curtis dive into a critical safety concern. As costs rise, pilots may shift training to less expensive, uncontrolled airports where they will miss out on essential real-world experience communicating with air traffic control. That tradeoff could have real safety implications. John brings insider perspective from his...

The aviation industry is facing a critical challenge—the growing shortage of aviation mechanics. Todd Curtis and John Goglia break down what’s driving it and why it matters now more than ever.  From an aging workforce to surging global demand for air travel, the need for skilled technicians is reshaping the future of aviation careers. Go inside the high-energy Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), where students, military teams, and industry pros compete head-to-head in real-world technical challenges. Top employers are also there actively scouting their next hires. As airlines boost pay to attract talen...

Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis take you inside the critical first day of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. Using the recent runway collision at LaGuardia Airport as a case study, they break down the unique challenges investigators face from the moment an accident occurs. You’ll hear how the NTSB “Go Team” mobilizes—often from different corners of the country—and what happens when key personnel are delayed. Greg shares insights from his experience as an Investigator in Charge (IIC), including supporting leadership on scene and preparing officials for high-stakes press briefings where every word...

This recording of a Flight Safety Detectives livestream was recorded soon after the fatal collision between an Air Canada plane and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport on March 22.  Greg Feith, Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the early facts related to the crash and compare the event to incidents they have investigated in their past roles with the NTSB and accident investigation.  The comparisons to the deadly crash near Reagan National Airport are striking. They look at recent developments that are politicizing the NTSB and how that may be impacting aviation safety....

The very system designed to save lives in the air becomes a hidden danger on the ground. Todd and John break down a January 2026 NTSB safety alert warning first responders about the risks posed by Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) after an aircraft accident.  While BRS have saved countless lives by deploying parachutes in emergencies, the explosive activation system can be dangerous after a crash. Hear about three real-world incidents where first responders were put at risk—either because they didn’t know a BRS was installed or didn’t fully understand the danger.  As these systems...

Developing: a routine training flight in March turned into a fight for survival. When a student pilot and instructor flying a Cessna 172 lost engine power over New York’s Hudson River, they were forced to make a split-second decision: attempt to get to Stewart International Airport near the United States Military Academy at West Point or put the aircraft down somewhere else. About five miles short of the airport, the crew realized they wouldn’t make it back. They decided to ditch onto a patch of ice in the river at night. Miraculously, both...

What really happens in the hours and days after a major aviation accident and who controls the story? Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the issues and suffering creating when people speculate after a plane crash. To illustrate the point, they focus on a 2003 Charlotte, North Carolina Beech 1900 plane crash that drew intense national media attention.  John led the NTSB field investigation, navigating not only a complex accident scene but also a storm of media speculation and aviation “experts” offering opinions long before the facts were known. John shares the inside story of sever...

Recording of the monthly livestream!  Flight Safety Detectives go live to answer your aviation safety questions. This month, Greg Feith, Todd Curtis and John Goglia answer questions about TWA Flight 800, the recent Bangor plane crash, and the influence (or lack thereof) of corporate media on NTSB findings and decisions.  Flight Safety Detectives answer questions from the audience the 4th Monday of each month. Send yours in to flightsafetydetectives@gmail.com. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your...

Take a deep dive into the iconic air traffic control scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. What host Todd Curtis uncovers might surprise you. Revisiting the tense near–midair collision sequence, Todd analyzes how accurately the film portrayed the real-world challenges pilots and controllers faced in the 1970s when reporting UFOs (now known as UAPs). As shown in the scene, two separate airline crews and air traffic controllers hesitate to report what they’ve seen—even after a close call.  Todd painstakingly reviewed the footage over a dozen times to create an NTSB-inspired transcr...

The NTSB report of a fatal Piper Navajo crash in Medford, Oregon in December 2021 leaves important aviation safety questions unanswered. This fatal crash is attributed to spatial disorientation but facts available lead to serious questions about the fuel tanks and more. The pilot had flown from his home in Nevada to Medford but had to have the fuel system repaired. Days later when the repairs were complete, the pilot took off in low ceiling conditions. The aircraft made a sharp right turn, entered the clouds, and then descended sharply, with the pilot pulling up shortly before hitting t...

This episode looks at two aviation accident investigations that were highly complex for very different reasons. One is the well-known TWA Flight 800 investigation where John Goglia and Todd Curtis were both directly involved. The other is a lesser-known 2002 crash of a Cessna 208B aircraft that is the subject of a book by author Leslie Kean.John and Todd review the crash of TWA Flight 800, an investigation where John was involved as an NTSB Board Member and Todd as support for Boeing. They explore the complexity of the investigation and the efforts made to understand the accident. They...

In a live episode for members recorded on Jan 26, John Goglia and Greg Feith offer their first findings related to Sunday's crash a Bombardier Challenger 600. Both are familiar with the plane and share the issues that need investigating and the steps the NTSB is likely to take on scene. Investigators need to talk to people present that day and learn what happened leading up to the flight. They also will need to look into whether the plane was deiced, when and what fluid was used. Runway conditions could have been a factor in aircraft and en...

FAA data shows a steady decrease in U.S. accident rates for general aviation in recent years. But the data may not show an accurate story.Todd Curtis and John Goglia take a deeper dive into the data. Comparing the FAA rates to a NTSB table listing accidents in general aviation shows that the NTSB data implies that general aviation aircraft crashed roughly 50 times more frequently than airlines and other air carrier flights.Pilots should check out the website for the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC), an organization that partners with the FAA and...

A just-issued NTSB advisory warns operators of several Hawker jet models of a dangerous stall tendency not adequately explained in the aircraft's documentation. Todd Curtis and John Goglia share important background and details.The advisory was issued based on findings from two fatal Hawker jet crashes, one in 2024 and the other in 2025. Both occurred during post-maintenance flights to test the stall warning system. Interesting - the NTSB also noted that it could not find any experience, training, or qualification criteria for pilots tasked to perform a stall test flight or any additional plan or procedures for performing...

In a December livestream event Todd Curtis and John Goglia tackled listener questions. Listen as they take a deeper dive into some of aviation safety’s most important topics:TWA 800 investigation – was it a coverup?Getting NTSB reps on the show to discuss investigationsTaxiway issuesHow the media affects air crash investigationsUpdates on the Louisville crashListen and get updated on these topics and more.  Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safe...

A veteran crisis-communications expert and author of “Transport Management: Successes and Failures” (2026) joins the show. Linda Tavlin draws on more than 35 years of experience to discuss how transportation organizations—especially airlines—should communicate during major accidents and crises. Linda and John Goglia reflect on their long professional history, including work on major aviation disasters. They illustrate how poor communication during crises often worsens outcomes, while good communication can significantly reduce long-term damage.Linda shares a story about two airlines she helped train. After both had major accidents, one airline followed her approach to communicating about the accid...

The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) on November 28, 2025, that ordered nearly 6,000 A319, A320, and A321 aircraft be grounded to check for a flight control computer issue. Todd and John recorded this show while gathering details about the grounding in real time.The show was recorded as John gets phone calls and emails from colleagues during the show and Todd prepares for a television news interview. This episode shows how they gather facts and data on unfolding aviation safety events like ADs.The affected aircraft had to be on the ground...