Latest news with #EmbraerE175
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United Airlines disables Starlink on jets after cockpit-radio disruptions
The Brief United Airlines grounded Starlink WiFi on Embraer E175 jets due to cockpit radio interference. Pilots reported static while communicating with air traffic control after Starlink antennae were installed. United and SpaceX say the issue is minor and expect service to resume after testing. LOS ANGELES - Pilots aboard some United Airlines regional jets experienced a surprising form of turbulence recently — radio static tied to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, United has temporarily disabled Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on its Embraer E175 aircraft after pilots experienced interference while communicating with air traffic control. Though the airline says the issue was not considered a safety risk, the static was traced back to newly installed Starlink antennae. United is now working with SpaceX to investigate and resolve the issue, which may delay the rollout of the high-speed satellite internet system on more aircraft. What we know Initial findings offer a limited but telling view of the issue, which appears to be directly tied to Starlink's recent onboard installation and its interaction with cockpit radio systems. Roughly two dozen United Embraer E175 jets had been outfitted with Starlink equipment. Pilots began experiencing static during radio transmissions, prompting a pause in service. United issued a statement calling the issue "fairly common" with new Wi-Fi installations. The Points Guy first reported the shutdown, citing internal memos and a public statement. Starlink service remains suspended on the affected aircraft as tests continue. What we don't know Despite the swift pause in service, key questions remain about the scope of the interference and whether it could pose broader challenges as Starlink expands in commercial aviation. Whether the static interference could escalate under different flight conditions. How quickly the issue can be resolved and Starlink Wi-Fi restored. Whether other airlines using Starlink have experienced similar communication issues. The backstory Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has rapidly expanded its presence in commercial aviation, marketing itself as a faster, more consistent alternative to traditional inflight Wi-Fi systems. The company has already signed deals with several airlines and boasts global coverage through its low-Earth orbit satellite network. But its rollout hasn't been entirely smooth. While high-speed connections are appealing to travelers, compatibility with sensitive cockpit electronics is now under scrutiny after this United incident. What they're saying "United and Starlink teams are working together to address a small number of reports of static interference during the operation of the Wi-Fi system," the airline said in a statement published by The Points Guy. "This is fairly common with any new airline Wi-Fi provider. We expect the service to be back up and running on these aircraft soon." Neither the FAA nor SpaceX has commented publicly on the issue, though both are expected to weigh in if additional safety testing is required. Big picture view This isn't just about in-flight Wi-Fi. The incident highlights how deeply Elon Musk's businesses are embedded in critical infrastructure — from internet satellites to rockets transporting astronauts to the ISS. It also comes at a time when confidence in air travel safety is already shaky due to aircraft malfunctions and staffing shortages in U.S. aviation. What's next United and SpaceX are expected to release an update after reviewing the interference issue. In the meantime, the airline has halted the Starlink rollout on additional aircraft. If the problem persists, it could spark wider industry concern — not only about in-flight internet safety, but about how much of the travel and tech ecosystem now depends on Musk's companies. The Source This report draws primarily from The Wall Street Journal, which first linked Starlink equipment to radio interference aboard United regional jets. Additional details were provided by The Points Guy, which obtained and published United Airlines' public statement. No FAA or SpaceX statements have been issued as of publication.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United Airlines Shuts Down Starlink WiFi Service on Its Planes After the Antennaes Caused Problems With Its Jets' Equipment
Air travel in America has been beset with headline-making troubles, from a shortage of air traffic controllers to Boeing planes suffering from catastrophic quality control. Now add Starlink equipment — yes, SpaceX's satellite-based internet provider — that's interfering with radio communications on some United Airlines regional jets, according to The Wall Street Journal, leading the airline to shut down the WiFi service aboard its Embraer E175 jets. Whenever they communicated with air traffic controllers, pilots were getting static interference on their radio transmission, which was then linked to the recent installation of Starlink antennae. The WSJ reports that the airline doesn't think it was a safety issue. "Starlink is now installed on about two dozen United regional aircraft," read a statement from the airline, published by The Points Guy, which first broke the story. "United and Starlink teams are working together to address a small number of reports of static interference during the operation of the Wi-Fi system, which is fairly common with any new airline Wi-Fi provider. We expect the service to be back up and running on these aircraft soon." Presumably the airline is now hard at work making that happen. Airplane safety was thrown into high relief earlier this year when a helicopter collided with an airplane in Washington, DC, which killed more than 60 people. Besides safety, another hidden concern is Musk's increasing entanglement with critical parts of the nation's infrastructure, from DOGE to SpaceX rockets being used to ferry astronauts back and forth between Earth and the International Space Station. Despite Musk's recent falling out with Trump over federal spending, Musk and his companies remain pillars of transportation and commerce. There appears to be no plans to phase out SpaceX spacecraft, for instance, regardless of grandstanding from Trump. The inclusion of the Starlink equipment on airplanes is just another piece to Musk's growing empire — and evidence that society relies on him a lot, whether for good or ill. More on Starlink: Something Surprising Is Destroying Elon Musk's Starlink Satellites
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FAA, NTSB investigate close call at New York's LaGuardia Airport
May 19 (UPI) -- A near collision between two commercial jets at LaGuardia Airport in New York City earlier this month is under investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed Monday. A United Airlines Boeing 737-800 and an American Eagle Embraer E175 nearly collided on the same runway, right before an air traffic controller quickly canceled American Eagle's takeoff clearance, according to the FAA and NTSB. Confirmation of the May 6 incident at LaGuardia comes the same day nearby Newark Liberty International Airport suffered its fourth air traffic control outage since April 28. The FAA is also investigating those incidents. The close call at LaGuardia occurred at 12:35 a.m. EDT, as an air traffic controller discovered United Airlines flight 2657, with 107 passengers and six crew, was taxiing on the same runway as American Eagle, which was cleared to take off for Buffalo Niagara International Airport. As the American Eagle plane reached more than 100 knots for takeoff, air traffic control received an automated conflict alert after the United plane, which had landed from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, missed its designated exit point from the runway. American Eagle was ordered to abort takeoff. At the same time, a Spirit Airlines pilot was also transmitting on the same frequency, which according to investigators, blocked the emergency communication. "I thought United had cleared well before that," the controller was heard saying.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta Air Lines revives Pittsburgh-Orlando route with seasonal weekly flights starting December 2025
Delta Air Lines is planning a weekly seasonal flight between Pittsburgh and Orlando beginning December 2025 and running through April 2026. It will be the first time Delta (NYSE: DAL) will serve the two airports since 2019. The new flights will be on Delta's regional carrier, Republic Airways, and on the Embraer E175 regional jets that carry 75 passengers. They will begin Saturday, Dec. 20, and last through April 11, 2026. The flight leaves Pittsburgh International Airport at 9:50 a.m. and arrives at Orlando International Airport at 12:20 p.m. The return flight leaves Orlando at 1:05 p.m. and arrives in Pittsburgh at 3:25 p.m., according to the Delta website. Delta started selling tickets for the flights Saturday. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-nashville-NEWDLTARTS0525-2c455e3fde4a4b079c79ebdda29a9a57.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
06-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Delta Air Lines Adds 14 New Flight Routes to Palm Springs, Orlando, Nashville, and More
Travelers have new flight options for winter getaways later this year. Delta Air Lines introduced 14 new flight routes that include popular vacation destinations including Nashville; Orlando, Florida; and Palm Springs, California. Sun-seekers planning to visit Orlando will have new seasonal offerings from Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR), Kansas City, Missouri (MCI), Nashville (BNA), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PIT), and Indianapolis (IND). The routes will operate on Saturdays only between Dec. 20 and April 11, 2026. All of the flights will be operated on Embraer E175 aircraft. Orlando has become a popular destination for families looking to explore the expansive resorts, such as the Four Seasons Resort and Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Orlando and the surrounding region are also home to theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Legoland Florida. In addition to the Orlando routes, the Atlanta-based airline will also operate on Saturdays between Austin (AUS) and Palm Springs, California (PSP), with the service starting and ending on the same dates as the Orlando routes. The Coachella Valley, home to Palm Springs, La Quinta, and Indio, is home to a variety of hotels and experiences such as the newly renovated La Quinta Resort, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, and the newly opened Palm Springs Surf Club, which features seven-foot waves. The airline will also begin new service between New York City's LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) and Huntsville, Alabama (HSV), on April 14. Delta also recently announced several limited-time flight routes for college football fans. The airline will operate special sections as city to city flights for fans to easily catch their favorite games, such as a route from Austin (AUS), home of the Texas Longhorns, to Columbus, Ohio, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes for the Aug. 30 game. Other games include LSU at Vanderbilt on Oct. 18, Tennessee at Florida on Nov. 22, and LSU at Oklahoma on Nov. 29. A full listing of the college football routes is available on Delta's website.
